Page 29 of Colt

“You.”

“Me? How’s that?”

“You look like you’re ready to bolt.” She laughed when he chuckled.

“Maybe I am. I only seem to get into trouble anytime you’re close.”

“So, you’re calling what we’ve done, trouble.”

“It sure as hell can be.” He drank the lemonade down, put the glass in the sink, and turned to leave.

“Why can’t we see if this goes anywhere?”

“Because you’re my boss, and I like my job too much.”

“You think I’d fire you?”

“Hell, woman, you already did and that was over nothing. If we did see if this went anywhere, what happens if it doesn’t? You’d fire me in a heartbeat. As you keep telling me, I’m on downhill spiral, and I sure as hell don’t want to start over anywhere.”

“You know I’m teasing you about your age.”

“Yeah, but let’s face facts, I’m too old to start at the bottom again.”

“What if I promise not to fire you if it doesn’t work out between us?”

Colt huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, like that would make a difference. You’d find another reason, Chelsea.” He shook his head. “As much as I’d love to see if it would amount to anything, I don’t want to chance it.”

“So, we just stay away from each other?”

“It’s for the best.”

“Best for whom? I can be honest here and tell you, I like being with you.”

“Look, I love how good it is between us, but it’s too risky.” He sighed. “I can’t start over somewhere. I’m sure I could get another job due to my experience, but, likely, it wouldn’t be a manager position.”

“I understand that.” She shrugged. “Okay, we’ll stay away from each other.”

His eyes narrowed as he stared at her.

“Don’t try reverse psychology on me.”

“Is that what I’m doing?”

“What you’re doing is driving me up a fucking wall. Have a good evening,” he said, as he opened the door, and walked out.

She walked to the door to see him sauntering across the yard toward the barn and no doubt, cussing the entire way, she thought with a laugh.

“I’m not giving up, Colton Monroe. I’ll wear you down.”

After putting her glass in the sink, she decided to start looking for a riding instructor.

****

Colt walked out of the barn, into the cool October air, wondering where the hell summer went. He made his way into the spacious barn that was to be used for riding lessons. The smell of fresh hay and wood shavings filled his nostrils as he spotted Chelsea chatting with a petite woman by one of the horse stalls. Both women turned to look at him as he approached them.

“Colt, this is Christine Jones,” Chelsea introduced, gesturing toward the woman next to her. “Christine, this is Colt Monroe, the manager here at Cotton Boarding.”

“Ma’am,” Colt said politely as he reached out to shake Christine’s hand. His eyes couldn’t help but linger on her delicate features; the soft waves of light brown hair cascading down her shoulders, and the warm hazel eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight filtering through the barn windows.

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