Page 14 of We Redeemed the Rain

“Tag?”

I replaced my hat on my head, exhaling long and loud. “When Billy called, I said no problem without battin’ an eye.”

A moment of uncomfortable silence set over us. I’d drop dead before I would allow Jesse to miss his trip because of a scheduling mistake on my end. I couldn’t do that to Cade. The road trip they took every year was a sacred memorial, akin to religion. And it meant a lot more to Jesse than just time away from the ranch.

“I could?—”

I held up my hand to stop him. “This was my mistake and the solution’s my responsibility.”

“But backing out could hurt your contracts.”

“I’m not backin’ out.”

When all the kids showed up to the rodeo tomorrow and there weren’t any sheep to ride, rumor would travel thatMeadowbrook Performance Horsesdropped the ball. Folks didn’t appreciate contractors like me not following through. One strike and I could be out of work. Backing out wasn’t an option.

I shrugged, unsuccessfully hiding my agitation. “I’ll call around and find someone to fill in.”

I avoided looking at him because the truth was between uslike an elephant—there wasn’t anyone else. My trainer, Cook, didn’t work weekends because he competed in the rodeo circuit himself. My only other employee was an elderly man, who daily defied the laws of aging and physics by hobbling out to feed the horses and muck stalls anytime I was on the road. Letting that man behind the wheel of my truck and twenty five foot trailer full of investment would be downright irresponsible.

“Like who?”

I shrugged. “Let me worry about it.”

We pretended everything was fine by chatting for a couple more minutes about stuff going on at Meadowbrook that day. Inside, I kicked myself over and over. The universe sure was cooking up a fantastic day. My fingers itched to flick the lighter again and relieve some tension making a mess of my insides—yet another thing to be pissed about. How could I so easily need tobacco all over again? Should've never lit up the first one.

Jesse lingered back while Cade stalked off to the barn. He spoke quietly. “Tag, we can work something out. I don’t feel right about leaving you high and dry.”

“What would he say?” I nodded toward Cade.

Jesse caught eye contact and the deep green there looked burdened, reflecting his quiet and constant pain. “He’d be upset…at first. But he’d be fine.”

I huffed. “Man, say it like it is. That boy’s been countin’ days.”

“Yeah, he has.”

A beat of silence passed again. “Let me fix my own problems, Jesse.”

“You sure that’s how you want it?”

I nodded once. “That’s how I want it.”

“Alright.” He took a few steps closer to me and held out his hand, palm flat between us. “Under the circumstances, I feel awkward doing this…”

I glanced at his hand, not understanding at first.

He made a waving motion with his open fingers. “Hand them over, boss.”

I sighed, realizationdawning.

“You’d do the same and you know it.”

I fished the pack of cigarettes out and slapped them into his hand, rolling my eyes. “Damn you.”

“I know.” He dropped them into his shirt pocket and stepped off the porch. He turned back slightly, saying over his shoulder. “Sorry.”

“It’s all good. Probably needed that.”

He smiled. “You definitely did. Your lungs still have about five more years till they fully regenerate.”

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