Page 47 of Colt

“I’m sure he’ll do a good job.” Brian smiled.

“He seemed happy to get more work.”

“I think the Cotton barn is a good choice for a riding stable,” Brian said.

“Cotton barn?” Chelsea laughed.

Brian shrugged with a grin. “It’s just what we’ve always called it so everyone knew which barn we were talking about.”

“I like that.” Chelsea smiled.

Brian grinned, touched the brim of his hat, strode past her, then walked toward the storage room.

Chelsea casually strolled down the aisle, searching for Colt. She remembered him saying he would be here at six in the morning. Just as she was wondering where he could be, he entered the barn and walked toward her while holding a cup of coffee. But when he saw her, he stopped in his tracks, took a deep breath, and then walked around her to enter his office without saying a word.

“Not going to happen, Monroe,” she muttered to herself as she followed him to his office, opened the door, and stepped inside.

“I just got here, Chelsea. Give me a break.” He sat down behind his desk.

“You can’t ignore me.”

“Watch me,” he retorted back.

She placed her hands on his desk and leaned forward to look at him straight in the eye.

“I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Then stop doing it.” He stood and glared at her. “That was uncalled for.”

“You don’t understand—”

“You’re damn right, I don’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

They stared at each other until Chelsea sighed then walked out and headed back to the house.

****

The following day, she sat at the kitchen table with her mother, unable to stop thinking about Colt. She knew she had upset him yesterday. Upset? What a damn understatement.

“What’s on your mind, Chelsea?” Sylvia inquired.

“I messed up,” Chelsea replied quietly.

“What happened?”

“I made a fool of myself in front of Colt.”

“Colt?”

“Colt Monroe, the manager here.”

“Do I have to pry it out of you or are you going to tell me?”

Chelsea chuckled before opening up to her mother about what transpired between her and Colt, and how angry he had become with her.

“I can’t blame him for getting upset. You embarrassed him, Chelsea. He’s right, he’s the manager and knows his job. Why did you do that?”

“I was jealous, Mom. I have strong feelings for him, and I know that woman. She’ll screw anyone with a penis and hasn’t been dead longer than three days.” Chelsea grinned when her mother laughed.

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