Page 5 of Colt

“Yes, that’s so,” she said.

He almost smirked as she lifted her chin in defiance.

“Is your husband with you?” Colt glanced over her shoulder before returning his gaze to her. He knew she was alone.

“No. We’re divorced.” Chelsea’s tone became slightly defensive.

Colt raised his eyebrows. “So, you plan on running this place all by yourself?”

She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “All by myself? You think I can’t handle it because I’m a woman?”

“I didn’t say that. But as you well know, it’s not easy to manage a place like this. No matter how well you treat the horses, there will always be owners who disagree with your methods.”

“My barn, my rules,” Chelsea stated firmly.

Colt couldn’t hide his amusement as he ran a hand over his mouth.

“Well, good luck with that. While that may be true, people will still try to push back against your rules.”

“Maybe you could help me with that, as my manager.” Chelsea looked at him expectantly.

Colt stared at her in surprise. “I don’t know about that.”

“What? Why not?” she asked, clearly taken aback.

“Let’s face it, Mrs. Kennedy. We never got along in the past. We clashed all the time,” he said firmly as he stepped closer to her.

“Because you insisted on treating me like a child,” she snapped as she stepped forward.

“You were a child,” he said between clenched teeth.

“This isn’t getting us anywhere.” Walt sighed, breaking up their exchange. “Look, Colt, do you really want to start looking for another job at your age?”

“Yeah, Colt. Do you really want to start looking for another job... at your age?” Chelsea echoed mockingly.

Walt let out a resigned sigh. “You two need to work this out. It’s too hot in here for an argument. I’ll be inside.” He turned and walked away, saying over his shoulder: “I hope you don’t change your mind, Chelsea. And Colt? Stop being so damn stubborn.”

Colt sighed and watched Walt leave the barn. He turned to face Chelsea once again.

“At my age?” he repeated with a scoff.

“Well, let’s see. You’re on the wrong side of forty now...” Chelsea jabbed at him.

“Hold on, if I recall correctly, you’re not that much younger than I am,” Colt retorted.

“You’re seven years older than me.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Since we… clash, I’ll take a look at the job postings on the Feed Store bulletin board for a new manager.” She strode down the aisle of the barn toward the doors. “Have a good day. And just so you know, once I purchase this property, you’ll have two weeks to pack up and leave, if you haven’t already,” she added as an afterthought, then continued walking outside.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.

As he strode along the dusty aisle of the barn, memories flooded his mind. He couldn’t help but think back to when she had first arrived here, a young and eager girl ready to work. Back then, he never paid her any mind; after all, she was just fourteen while he was a young man of twenty-one. But as they worked side by side day after day, he could see her developing a crush on him. He knew he had to nip it in the bud before it got out of hand. She was too young and naive for anything to ever come of their relationship.

So, he never gave her any slack in her chores, even when she would get tears in her eyes from his harsh treatment. He felt guilty, but it was for her own good. Being cruel

to be kind was the only way he could protect her from getting hurt.

She wasn’t the only one with a crush on him among the girls who worked at the barn. But he treated them all the same, determined not to lead any of them on.

Everything came crashing down the day she showed up in short shorts that barely covered anything. He saw red and immediately snapped at her to go home and change into jeans. When she protested, he reminded her that if she wanted to continue working there, she needed to abide by his rules.

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