Page 10 of Undone

Reaching for the coffee pot, she refilled her cup and screwed the lid on before finally speaking. “I need to check on the horses, then I’m headed into town for supplies. Wanna come with me?”

Into Poplar Springs? The town and its people that always seemed to view me as some sort of weird alien? “Uh, sure?” With another grunt, Shannon nodded and stomped out the door. “Well, that’ll be one way to avoid Josh, if only for a little while.”

SEVEN

ZOE

The trip to town with Shannon really was an unexpected but welcome distraction from everything connected to Josh. I didn’t need anything, especially since we were hitting the feed store, but I was happy to get away from Lost Valley Ranch for a few hours and not think about being Josh’s arms.

I’d never set foot in Martin Ranch Supply in all my years in Poplar Springs, but Shannon was perfectly at home in the crowded shop. I trailed behind her as she plucked supplements, treats, and buckets of mystery products from the shelves and loaded them into her cart, then followed her to the checkout.

“There’s my friendly neighborhood ginger,” the old man behind the counter said with a grin as Shannon plopped her purchases in front of him. “How’s life at Lost Valley Ranch these days?”

“Every day is sunshine, you know that, Mr. Martin,” she said, smiling back at him. Shannon pointed to me. “I don’t think you’ve met my friend Zoe. She’s staying with us for a bit, helping us update our website.”

“Welcome! What do you think of Poplar Springs so far?”

I choked. “I, uh, I grew up here, but I’m happy to be back for a bit.”

Mr. Martin frowned. “Why haven’t I met you before, then? Especially if you’re friends with this one. Where do you buy your supplies?” He frowned at me and I was sure he was thinking I was someone who would drive to a different town to make my purchases.

Shannon laughed. “Oh, she doesn’t ride, and she doesn’t have any pets.”

“Is that a fact?” he asked, looking dubious that such a thing was possible. “Never and none?”

Shannon and I glanced at each other.

“I had a bad experience a long time ago. I fell off a horse and broke my arm,” I said, hoping it would end the conversation. I wasn’t going to mention my mother’s claim of pet allergies, which to my knowledge, had never been substantiated.

“It was Jude,” Shannon explained. “You know he’s not one to spook, but he got surprised by a snake.”

“Right, it wasn’t his fault,” I added.

It didn’t matter that Jude was a mellow horse. The fact was that the accident had left me perpetually wary of the massive animals—especially if they were less than three feet away. Even the life-sized fiberglass horse in a model saddle by the door made me flinch as I walked by it.

I felt slightly more at ease at the grocery store until I remembered that Hastings General Store was an unofficial gathering spot for the town gossips. I tried to keep a low profile while Shannon filled her cart and greeted various people I didn’t recognize.

But then I spotted a face I’d never forget at the end of the pasta aisle. Sure, the woman was a few years older, but the hairstyle remained unchanged, an immobile cap of dyed blonde hair that sat on her head like a helmet.

Mrs. Neuhaus, the nosiest neighbor on Honey Hollow Lane.

I tried to duck behind Shannon, but it was too late. I knew I’d been spotted when an overloud “Helloooo” rang out.

“Uh-oh,” Shannon said under her breath.

“Zoe Wilson, dear, I haven’t seen you inages,” Mrs. Neuhaus trilled as she barreled toward us and parked her cart so that it was blocking us in. “How are you? And how are your parents? We’ve missed them around here since they moved. Myrtle Beach, wasn’t it? Although I have no idea what South Carolina could offer that we don’t have here.”

Well, other than miles of beaches and no busybodies. Or at least,differentbusybodies.

“Hello, we’re all doing good, thanks.” I bobbed my head and looked around for a quick escape.

“And Shannon, you’re lookinghealthy,” Mrs. Neuhaus said, as she looked Shannon up and down as if she were a horse.

“Whateverthatmeans,” Shannon said under her breath before giving the older woman a tight smile that looked far more like a grimace.

“It’s been too long! What’s new with you, Zoe? Married with a few babies at home, I’m guessing?”

I tried to keep my eyes from bugging out of my head. “Uh, no. Still just me.” I held up my left hand and waved my naked fingers at the woman.

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