Page 10 of Holding The Reins

CeCe Ashby is almost eight years younger than me, but she’s all woman now. That clumsy, semi-awkward girl she used to be is long fucking gone.

When I heard her on the phone just now, declaring her freedom, I hung back near the barn so I could let her finish her conversation. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I just lost myself for a minute or two in the simple vision of her. The way the light hit her long ponytail in the morning sun and the smooth, sleek style she’s wearing now is a far cry from last night’s mass of waves and curls that hung down her back. Drunk CeCe was my long lost best friend and when the bar closed, she hugged me goodbye, those waves trailing down my arms. The strawberry scent of her hair hung onto my clothes until I got home, where I proceeded to remind myself I really need to get laid if I’m thinking about CeCe like this.

“Where on earth did you come from?” she asks as she focuses on my face.

“Cleaning tack for Mama Jo.” She still looks confused so I elaborate. “I help Wade three times a week now.”

“Oh… so because hockey is over, you think you’re a cowboy?” She laughs, flashing me a perfect smile as she tugs the front of my cowboy hat. I let go of her and stand, holding out a hand to help her up.

“Part-time cowboy, at least,” I retort.

“I guess I should be thanking you for helping Wade,” she replies, looking around her familiar surroundings that I’m sure feel just a little emptier since Wyatt passed. I can see it in her eyes as she takes in the mountain behind her.

“It’s kind of weird here now. I really wish I would’ve come home more before he got sick. I was so… involved with my own things,” she blurts out.

I nod, because I know exactly how she feels. So was I. I didn’t get back nearly as much as I should’ve for the man that saved my life, for all intents and purposes, until he was sick and unable to fish or ride or even sit on the porch and drink bourbon just shooting the shit like we used to.

Silence fills the space between us for a beat, filled with years of family connection and memories.

“Alright, guess I gotta go find this quarterback of a mutt now,” she says, rubbing the back of her skull and wincing.

“You okay?” I ask.

She doesn’t look okay. She looks dizzy.

“Yeah, I think so…” she says, as she teeters to her left.

“I think I’ll just go with you.” I decide, grabbing hold of her arm. “If you did give yourself a concussion, I don’t need you going down all alone in the field.”

“You don’t have to come, it’s not your problem I can’t handle my crazy dog.”

“I’m coming, just go get some damn shoes,” I command.

She must have a concussion because miraculously, she listens and comes back out the door in record time, her socks long gone. She’s wearing flip flops and holds a fresh mug of coffee. We begin to wander the long drive that passes the cabins in search of Harley.

“Life support this morning,” she muses holding her mug up.

“Sounds about right, you were a handful last night. Come to think of it you’ve been a handful for me since you rolled back into this town.”

“What do you mean? Aside from almost hitting Gemma—which I don’t regret by the way because she’s a colossal bitch that never deserved Cole.”

I nod because I don’t disagree.

“I didn’t cause you any trouble for the rest of the night.”

“You just had me out on the dance floor having to stop almost every man in the place from hitting on you.”

“What do you mean? I had a chance for a one-nighter and you blocked me?” She giggles like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

I don’t find it funny.

“You were in no shape to make that decision, and that’s the last thing you need, judging by the phone call I just overheard.”

She stops in her tracks and turns to face me.

“A: Don’t eavesdrop, it’s rude. And B: I’m not looking for a husband but it’s just… I need to meet new people. I didn’t have a good relationship with Andrew and Ginger says—”

I scoff, interrupting her, “I’m going to stop you right there. Ginger Danforth is the last person you should be taking relationship advice from.” I look down at her, her eyes have that fiery look in them like she’s gonna sock me one.

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