Page 36 of Tough Love

I walk to my treatment room and plop onto the office chair. Phone in hand, I slide it open and tap the messages icon. Ruby’s messages are top of the list.

Hey, Adds. Checking in to see how things are going. Awesome news, I have a job at an inn not far from you. Will let you know when I hit Montana.

Adds, answer me, girl! Or I’m coming to hunt you down...

Adeline Howard, I am on my way.

I huff a laugh and text her back.

Hey, Rubes. I’m good. But I can’t wait to see you if you’re serious about Montana, that is.

The three dots appear on my screen.

Already left NYC. See you in a few days.

Like four days, Rubes, don’t drive like a crazy woman, please!

Fine, old lady. Four days, tops.

Yay!! Can. Not. Wait!

Me too, babes. Me too.

Chapter Eleven

HUDSON

Isend the colt around the yard again. Harry hangs over the rail, barking orders. But all I can think about is Addy. The pain in her voice, in her eyes when she told me about Jewls. And how she blames herself for it. It was like someone had sucked the oxygen from the room and replaced it with electrified concrete. I had expected some kind of trauma related to horses, but not that. Not losing her champion partner to something like a snake in a hedge jump. That’s beyond belief.

“Hudson!” Harry snaps.

I shake my head and realize I have let go of the lariat. The colt is standing near the rail, facing me. Fuck. The last thing I need is the old man getting it in his head that I can’t do my job. Sweet Jesus. I snatch up the lariat and send the colt around.

“I want him under saddle in the next month,” Harry says.

“Yep.”

“Also, how is Addy coming along with her lessons? She needs to be on that roundup.”

“Good. Back on the horse, just need to get her moving out.” A slight exaggeration. But we have extra lessons now, so she won’t be far off from riding out in the fields.

“Nice work, son. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Yup.”

He stands there for a moment, studying me, as if what I’m not saying is written on my face and in my body language. The same way I look at a horse. Reading body language. But he shakes his head and wanders back to the homestead, and I cluck my tongue to send the horse into a lope.

When he handles the basic commands at all gaits, I bring him to a halt and throw a blanket over his back. He shuffles on his feet, nickering, but doesn’t shy away. Good start. I rub his face and talk softly to him before sliding the blanket off and back on again. After a few rounds of blanket treatment, when he is calm with the new weight, I call it a day and walk him back to his pasture.

I saddle up my own dark gelding, Rocket, and lope down the laneway. Charlie trots beside me. Time to check on my mares in foal. I will have to schedule another visit for them with Addy. It’s been almost a month since their last checkup. I make good time to the mares’ paddock and ride between them.

Everything appears fine. Their bellies grow bigger with every week that passes. I make a mental note to bring Addy down on Saturday after her lesson. Twelve foals will make for a fine little herd to sell, either broken or green. And it will be a boost for the ranch’s finances nonetheless.

I ride home and put the horse and tack away, making a beeline for the homestead. There is one last section of fence line to be done. Reed can help me. I walk through the front door. “Reed?”

“Kitchen.” His voice is flat. Probably trying to think of a way to weasel out of the fencing.I have news for you, little brother.I file through the foyer and into the kitchen. He is reading a sheet of paper at the kitchen table.

“We have that last section of fence left. You’reit, lover boy, let’s go.”

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