Page 45 of We Redeemed the Rain

Jesse’s voice was low, too. “But good thing I did. She’s great behind the wheel. You can take the sheep now, Tag.”

“I don’t have the time to entertain her at the rodeo.”

“Entertain?” Jesse scoffed as he raised the trailer doors, latching it. “She’s going to be fine. Loosen up. You said you were friends.”

Tag growled, “That’snotwhat I said.”

“Well, you need to be thanking me. Meadowbrook can’t afford to lose a contract.”

“I was just about to call—” Tag stopped abruptly when one of my low-top Chuck Taylors accidentally brushed the gravel.

We all stared at each other for a long, uncomfortable moment. I stuffed my hands into the silky pockets of my white tennis skirt. The breeze ruffled the wisps of my hair against my neck. A sheep bleated in agitation, a tinny sound filling the silence as their little hooves stamped into the trailer bed. “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t, but I really don’t mind helping, Tag.”

Jesse raised his eyebrows at Tag, likesee?

Tag turned to me, his eyes meeting mine. “You’re a guest. Don’t you have something to do?”

I shrugged. “I’ve got three whole weeks. What’s one day of driving?”

Tag shot Jesse a disapproving look before correcting me. “Threedays. The rodeo runs all weekend.”

“Oh. Do you stay in a hotel?”

Tag’s face relaxed, he thought he found the way out. “Nope. Isleep in the semi so I don’t need hotels. Even if you wanted a room, this particular rodeo's in the middle of nowhere. Trashy motel territory. I wouldn’t blame you one bit for stayin’ here.”

“Is there room for two in the semi?”

Jesse and Tag responded at the same time.

Tag said, “No.”

Jesse said, “For sure.”

Tag deadpanned at him. Looked like he wanted to have a few private words. And Jesse’s pleased expression proved he knew how to push Tag’s buttons and enjoyed doing it.

“Perfect! I think it sounds like an adventure! I’m in.”

Jesse piped up, “Can you be ready in thirty minutes?”

“Yeah!” My gaze found Tag’s. He looked away, a soft touch of red traveling up his neck. “If I get the green light, that is.”

Tag’s shoulders dropped with a deep sigh. “Alright.”

Jesse told Cade to walk me up to the house.

On our walk, I learned Cade was eight years old, and had lived at the ranch since he was five. And there were only a few weeks left of his summer break.

“Is Tag always so…” I groped for the right word, not wanting to talk ill of him.

Cade filled in, his mossy green eyes darting up to mine. “Crabby?”

I held in a laugh. “Yeah. Crabby.”

“Mostly.”

“Any ideas why?”

His shoulders lifted in an exaggerated shrug. “My daddy says sometimes people are all tore up inside because they don’t know the difference between surviving and living.”

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