When they reached the barn, Garrett turned to Julio. “Thanks for the trust. I won’t let you down. You know I have money in the bank. If you need help with anything, I can pitch in with funds.”
“Thanks for the offer, but we’re fully funded by someone you’ll meet eventually, Kassie Winters and her family. Leo started the team at her request,” Julio explained. “We’re damn glad to have you. Funny thing, we planned on talking to you about this but not until you worked for us for a while. The hands respect the hell out of you. Now, I’ll have to find someone to run the ranch. Mac may have other issues with his leg down the road. It’ll help to have a backup.”
“If you’re considering someone to take my place once I join the team, you might consider Riley. She has ranch experience and knows how to run one. I’ll see you Tuesday if Mac’s doing all right,” he said as he got out.
“Thanks,” Julio said. “We’ll keep Riley under consideration.”
Retrieving Gus, he mounted him and headed toward the cabin. The day took an unexpected turn, and the feeling of belonging felt good. Hearing Riley tell him he was hers the night before filled his soul. Maybe he stumbled on a way to feel happy here. As bad as it seemed, hitting Riley with his damn truck was the best thing he’d ever done.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
“Did you finish your essay?” Riley asked the sulking Tara. Ever since their talk, her sister had given her the cold shoulder. Recalling how many times she did the exact same thing to her mom, she did what her mom always did: absolutely nothing.
“I’ll finish it tonight,” Tara snapped at her.
“If you have time to listen to murder podcasts, you have time to finish your essay. Headphones off until you finish your homework. You still haven’t caught up, and we can’t have you falling further behind,” Riley explained softly.
“You’re not my mom, Riley. I killed her,” Tara said, walking into her bedroom and shutting the door.
Riley sighed. Maybe she needed to put Tara into counseling. She blamed Tara’s issues on her dad. If only her dad drank and fell asleep, compared to the angry man who came home, hurling all sorts of accusations and hurtful slurs. As soon as they settled, she’d use the emergency fund to find someone who might find the words to help Tara feel better about herself. Goodness knows, she explained, accidents happen on a ranch all the time.
The door opened, and Garrett entered, smiling at her. She wanted to rush to him and wrap her arms around him, but everything felt new, and Tara might come out of her room at any moment. Acting like her parent, Riley refused to allow Tara to see her bring multiple men home. For now, she preferred to keep things between her and Garrett.
“Where’s Tara?” Garrett asked as he reached her. Riley held him at arm’s length as she pointed to her room.
“She’s upset with me,” she confided.
“Maybe a horse ride will make her feel better?” he suggested, waiting for Riley to give her permission.
“I don’t know if she’ll go,” Riley said, biting her lip.
“Why don’t you get your boots on? I’ll talk to her,” he said, heading toward Tara’s room.
He knocked on her door. “Tara, it’s me. May I come in?”
When Tara gave him permission, he entered, leaving Riley to finish getting ready. Excitement ran through her at riding Storm. Putting on her boots, she waited at the table.
A few minutes later, Garrett came out without her sister. “She’s fine. She and Kara are texting, and they plan to watch a show together.”
“When? She needs to finish her essay,” Riley asked, getting her jacket.
“You know, kids these days,” Garrett said, shaking his head. “They have each other on the computer, and they’re watching it together.”
“Ugh. Life seems so much easier for them. Or I’m getting old because I want to say when I was your age, we bicycled to our friend’s home and watched it together,” Riley said, giggling.
“I’m older than you, and I feel the same way,” he told her as he went to the laundry room for a clean shirt after his tussle with Matthew.
“I’m glad it’s warming up a little. It’s the perfect time to plant things and get seedlings going. You have the perfect spot for a garden shed to start them,” she told him as he went into the laundry room.
“I’ll keep it in mind,” he said, rising and removing her new hat from its hook. “Don’t forget this.”
“Never,” she said, grinning. “What happened to your nose?”
“Nothing. We live on a ranch. Let’s get going,” he said briskly.
When they arrived at the barn, Riley jumped out, excited about the ride.
“Hold on to your horses, Riley. We have to figure out your cast. Can you pull back on the reins without hurting, and what about your leg?”
