Page 87 of Buck ’Em Cowgirl

I gave her a small nod, watching as she stepped out of the stall. I followed, securing the latch behind us and giving Ginger a final pat goodbye.

Outside, the crisp evening air wrapped around us as we made the short walk up to the main house.

“So,” Fable murmured. “The ride. You never answered Harleigh.”

“Guess I didn’t.”

I hoped she couldn’t see the smile tugging at my lips.

“Was I the friend?”

We stopped at the front door, and I grabbed the latch and turned it open. “That’s very presumptuous of you, Fable.”

She laughed and followed me inside the house. “Come on,” she said, and I turned to see her smiling, the corners of her lips kissing her cheeks.

“What if it wasn’t?”

I folded my hands as I leaned against the countertop, washing my hands in the sink and gesturing for her to follow when I was done.

“Then I’d be embarrassed.”

“Why’s that?”

She was desperately trying to hide her smirk.

“Because I assumed it was me and definitely jumped out of my bed when I heard you on the camera.”

“So you did watch me . . .”

“Stop it.” She threw her hands up before dropping onto a stool at the kitchen island.

“I’m making pancakes,” I announced, grabbing what I needed.

“Mmm. No syrup.”

I paused mid-step, glancing over my shoulder with a dramatic gasp. “No syrup?”

She shook her head. “Too sweet.”

“Not possible.” I shot her a wink before pulling the griddle from the pantry and setting it on the counter.

I gathered the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar—and got to work making pancakes.

“It was about you,” I admitted.

“I know.”

I was quiet, working on the pancakes and placing them on the griddle.

“When my mom died, I became obsessed with avoiding bull riding as much as I could. I was so fucking angry with my dad.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded. Fable understood grief, that hollow kind that never leaves. I wasn’t sure why I was telling her this, but with her, it didn’t feel like I had to guard every word.

“I moved in with Gatlin for a bit—we lived above Bob’s mechanic shop in town.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh, you moved out, moved out?”