“How’s that working?”
“It’s not. Smart-ass.”
Finishing up, they mounted the horses and moved on. “Maybe she’s the one,” Marshall finally said.
He gave his brother an incredulous look. “Are you kidding?”
“No. Think about it. You’ve been the epitome of easy come, easy go. You’ve already spent more time thinking about Ella, who you’re not sleeping with, than you have any of the women you’ve slept with over the years.”
“Damn, Marshall, you make me sound like I nail every woman I meet.”
“No, but you haven’t been serious about any of them either.”
“That’s not true.”
“Okay, but you haven’t been serious about anyone in a long, long time. Unless you count the one you dated for several months last year. But I never thought you were serious about her anyway.”
They stopped again and dismounted. “I’m not serious about Ella.” But he could be. If Ella would go for it, but he knew she wouldn’t. “I just haven’t gotten her out of my system. Once I do we can be friends.”
Marshall stared at him then busted out laughing. Chase wanted to slug him. The only thing that stopped him was knowing Marshall had a hell of a right cross and if Chase hit him first he’d feel free to use it and not hold back because of Chase’s damn shoulder.
Chase told him to do something anatomically impossible. Marshall laughed even harder.
“Are you finished?” Chase asked when his brother finally quit laughing.
“Yeah, and it sounds like you are too.”
*
Ella had goneto a couple more girls’ nights out and had gotten to be friends with Hazel. On one of her Sundays off, Ella went over to the equine therapy ranch to see what it was all about. She had an idea of course, but she hadn’t realized what a large operation Hazel’s ranch was.
“How’s work?” Hazel asked her.
“Good. Damaris and Marshall are easy to work with. And it’s nice being paid for what I’m actually doing. Unlike my last job.”
“Damaris and Marshall. Not Chase?”
“Didn’t I mention him?”
“No.”
“Well, I should have. But enough about me. Will you show me around?”
“Sure,” Hazel said, letting the subject drop. The whole enterprise was impressive, and from what Hazel said they were quite successful in rehabilitating horses with a variety of injuries. They used a cold water treadmill that helped reduce inflammation as well as a swimming pool so the horses could strengthen their legs without the pounding they’d take in weight-bearing therapy.
“Are the majority of your patients barrel racers?” Ella asked, noticing the barrels set up in one of the pens.
“Yes. At first that’s all we did but now others come to us as well.” Hazel looked at the pen and said, “I used to barrel race. In fact, that’s how I got into rehabbing.”
“Used to?”
“I had a bad accident barrel racing. Raindrop, my mare, and I both needed therapy. Hers was more successful than mine. She was able to race again. I wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry—that must have been hard.”
“It was. You may have noticed my limp.”
“I figured it was temporary.”
