“Finish dressing,” I said, moving off the bed and away from him. “I want to get back to the trailhead.”
Seeming to pick up on my shift in mood, Jake reached for my hand. “I was only joking, Julia. I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s fine.” I meant it—I wasn’t angry with him, just with myself for getting moony-eyed over a one-night stand. I stepped farther from his reach. “I’m worried about my animals. They haven’t been seen to since yesterday morning. You have people on your ranch to fill in for you when you’re not there. It’s just me at my place. I’ll wait for you outside.”
Before he had a chance to speak, I left the cabin and stood on the porch, silently seething. I forced myself to remember that it was Jake I was dealing with and not Rodney. I wanted to continue to have an amicable working relationship with Jake, so I couldn’t let myself get caught up in old memories that might poison our interactions. But damn it, even the excuses had sounded all too familiar. Rodney used to claim to be joking when I objected to what he said to me. It wasn’t an excuse I’d accept, not ever again.
Jake and Rodney weren’t the same person, and neither was I. Eight years had passed since I’d ended it with Rodney, but first loves leave a nasty mark when they go sour.
“I’m sorry,” Jake said as he came from the cabin, pulling his pack on.
I waved off his apology and started walking back to the main trail. We had to scramble up the muddy slope. More than once, he offered his hand to help me, but I ignored it. Once we reached the trail, I picked up the pace, not bothering to make conversation with Jake.
Inside, I was thinking of all the things I wouldn’t say. I wanted to point out that he’d talked as much as I had last night and throughout the previous day’s hike, but it wasn’t worth it to go there. I had nothing to prove to him, so I let it be.
Lesson learned. Again.
In my haste, I tripped over a root and went staggering forward several paces. Jake was right alongside me, and moved fast enough to grab my arm to steady me. I kept moving, pulling myself away with a mumbled thanks.
“Julia,” he said, but I didn’t pause.
I didn’t know if it was worry about my animals or my desire to get away from him that drove my feet forward. I was relieved when the trailhead came into sight. Once we reached the parking lot, I headed straight for my truck, unlocked it, and tossed my bag inside. I was about to get in when Jake’s hand on my arm stayed me.
“It was a bad joke. I really didn’t mean it. I had fun with you,” he said, his expression unexpectedly serious. “Yesterday and last night. If you want a repeat, you know where to find me.”
I hesitated. I’d enjoyed myself, except for those moments in the cabin this morning. I thought I’d moved past the old hurts, but his comment about talking too much stung. Joking or not, it was hurtful. I couldn’t think what to say to him now. The breezecaught a lock of my hair. Before I could reach for it, he tucked it behind my ear, his touch warm and gentle.
I didn’t see Rodney now, only Jake. The cowboy next door who could be a good guy when he wanted to be. My nights were usually lonely, but last night hadn’t been. I’d felt not just desired but appreciated and understood. It had felt good.
So I was a little tempted to take him up on his offer. But only a very little when I remembered how easily his words had poked at old wounds. Besides, there was no chance of our relationship developing into anything real. And I wanted real. Despite not being able to have a baby, I wanted a man to love me, to see me as the sun and the moon.
For true love, I might have put up with a little hurt. Might have been willing to talk through it and try to come to a better understanding. But it wasn’t worth the effort for a fling. Flings were supposed to be fun, not remind me of the ways I’d been hurt before.
I got in my truck and closed the door, speaking to him through the open window. “Last night was…memorable, Jake, but not something we should repeat. That wouldn’t be smart for either of us.”
“No pressure,” he said, holding his hands up in the air. “Drive safe going home. I’ll see you, Julia.” He walked away, and I forced myself not to look after him.
I kept my gaze focused forward and my thoughts on the day ahead of me. My animals needed me, and I had work to do to build my practice. Having anything more than a one-night stand with Jake wasn’t in the cards. And it sure as hell wouldn’t be smart.
SEVEN
JULIA
Attending the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association meeting was an easy way to network with the local ranch owners. Once a month, the members got together at Bite and Brew—it was one part gossip and one part informative. The gossip always involved who was doing what and with whom, which I did my best to steer clear of.
Declan Morris, the other independent vet in town, got swept up in it when his now-fiancée, Shannon Cafferty, almost lost a warmblood she’d been eyeing to the Black Hat Ranch simply because the owner had an ax to grind against Shannon. Word spread fast that Declan had been at the center of the controversy, and many of the ranchers had been prepared to run him out of town until he proved himself by getting it all straightened out.
Trust and respect were valued commodities in this town and if you didn’t have either, well… time to move on. These same ranchers also had long memories and carried grudges for even longer. Even now, Declan was still working overtime building that trust up again. I had to admit that his troubles were good formy business, even if I wouldn’t wish what happened to him on anyone.
Obviously, trust goes both ways. Becca, the owner of Black Hat had also violated trust. Because of her behavior, neither Declan nor I will work with her. According to this morning’s gossip, Becca was using the new corporate chain and was deeply unhappy at the lack of personalized visits. I took that to mean that no one there was taking her up on her flirtations or her fishing for competitor information. It seemed that Family Veterinary Care wasn’t treating her like family.
“Julia!” I looked up to see Shannon and Josh Cafferty headed my way. “It’s been a while, how are you?” Shannon asked.
I stood up to hug the siblings. “Good. I caught some of the events your horses were in at the rodeo. Looks like you did well.”
Shannon blew on her knuckles, then rubbed them across her chest. “I know, right? My girls did fantastic in the juvenile barrel races. I couldn’t believe it. Granted, they had the best riders. And with Cal Pierce planning to open his rodeo school, I’m sure I’ll have more parents interested in my stock.”
I agreed. Thanks to Amy Thorne organizing the charity rodeo and Cal choosing to set up his school here to be closer to his new family, little Poplar Springs was going to become a lot more interesting to rodeo competitors of all ages.
