Garrett didn’t want to think about anything in her pants. “Why don’t you rest for now? I’ll put the beans in the crock pot to cook on high. If you do as I say, you can ride over to Matthew’s place. Tara needs someone her age to spend time with. She considers you a second parent. As cool as you might think you are, you’re still an adult. She needs friends.”
Riley’s shoulders slumped, and she picked at the blanket in her lap. “I know.”
Garrett returned to the kitchen and took care of the beans. “What else did you plan on cooking?” he asked.
“I planned to fry up some pork chops and make cornbread. Tara made granola to add to an apple crisp for dessert,” she said, fiddling with the hem of the dress.
“Did you eat lunch? Once we drop Tara off, we can go for a short ride if you like,” he suggested, feeling empathy for her situation.
Her eyes lit up, and she smiled. “Yes, I ate lunch. I’ll do anything to get some fresh air. I don’t care if an entire field smells like cow manure, I’d gladly walk it.”
“We won’t be doing any walking, and I’ve gotten my fill of manure today. One of the bulls got loose, and it took the hands over an hour to capture him. We have a shipment ofcattle coming in on Thursday. I won’t get home until late,” he said, while he put the bowls away.
“What kind did you get? Who did you use? I love attending auctions. Do they have sheep or goats here? It’s not the best place for a huge herd of sheep, but it’s enough to gather up wool and mohair. Mom showed me how to process, spin, and ply the wool and then dye it. I love using it to knit and crochet in the winter months. If they have goats, you can make all kinds of fancy butter, cheese, and soap.”
For the first time since meeting her, Garrett saw Riley excited about something. Her eyes sparkled as she went into detail about what she made on her family ranch. Her voice muted as he watched her body shift from depression to hope and dreams.
“I want a small ranch where I can raise a few of each. Someday, I’ll do it. First, I have to get Tara through college, and then I can have a life of my own. I’m not complaining. She’s smart as a whip, and I’m incredibly proud of her. She feels the same way about school as I do about ranching,” she babbled.
“I’m done,” Tara announced. “I’ll vacuum the floors, and then we can leave.”
She went into the laundry room and started in Garrett’s bedroom. The machine whirled as she worked, making it impossible for Garret to converse with Riley.
“Do you need to do anything before we leave?” he asked.
“I’ll use the bathroom and put on my shoes,” she said, rising from the couch.
Garrett palmed himself in the forehead. The air still carried a chilly wind, and Riley didn’t have any socks. Tara moved to the living room, still vacuuming. He entered the laundry room and grabbed a pair of his socks. It’d at leastkeep her feet warm until he bought her some of her own. Tara finished, and Riley still never came out of her room.
“Can you check on your sister?” he asked Tara as she put on her shoes.
“Sure,” she said, hopping up and running into the primary bedroom.
Garrett waited and they still didn’t emerge from the bathroom. Thinking something amiss, he knocked on the bathroom door.
“Everything all right in there?”
“Yeah. We’ll be out in a sec,” Riley assured him. He heard muted whispers as the two engaged in a heated exchange. Returning to the living room, he waited for the two women.
A few minutes later, they emerged. Riley appeared pale as Tara followed behind her. The crutches shook as she crossed the room to the garage.
He ushered Tara to get in while he helped Riley. She placed her crutches gently against his truck and waited for him to lift her. He examined her face, attempting to figure out what bothered her.
“Do you feel all right?” he asked, gazing at her.
“Yeah,” she said, nodding. “Tara’s excited about meeting this teen. Did Rachel say how she knows her?”
“I didn’t ask. Her father, Jared, works here and does a damn fine job,” Garrett offered as he drove toward Matthew’s place.
“Remember, after dinner, please ask Matthew to bring you home. It’s a school night, and you need a good night’s sleep for the exam. Do you want me to make flash cards while you’re gone?” Riley asked, turning to see Tara in the backseat.
Her sister rolled her eyes, making Garrett chuckle.
“I’m not five. You don’t have to quiz me,” Tara said, giving Riley attitude like any teen her age.
“You don’t have to bite my head off. I’m reminding you about the rules,” Riley said, sounding like a mom.
“I get it. Geez, can you give me room to breathe?” Tara argued.
