Page 75 of The Stars in the Sky
She represented Hamilton Development? What happened to the guys in the suits? Not that a woman can't be a developer, but she didn't look like she was his regular contact, because he shook her hand, like it was an introduction.
Then he stood back from her, arms crossed, trucker hat back on, an expressionless look on his face. She smiled at him flirtatiously and touched his bicep.
Um, no. He was mine.
He took a step back. She looked like she was pleading with him, and he relented and led her to the ranch office.
I didn't like this one bit.
I went back in the barn and waited for the vet to get there, feeling helpless. The wranglers tried to get Happy to drink, but he wouldn't do it.
About a half hour later, Dr. Andrew Sullivan walked in, a young, red-haired Irishman with freckles. He shook hands with Jimmy, Janine, and Stephanie, and introduced himself to me, with a thick Irish accent as Sully. Then he walked over to Happy and started to examine him.
I waited to the side with the rest of the wranglers, for as long as I could stand it, then I had to leave the barn. Too much tension. It really did feel like the waiting room of an ER and we were waiting for the pronouncement by the team of surgeons. I felt like everything was crashing around me. Happy was in distress. Developers tormented Will. And I needed to deal with my shit about him.
As I walked outside, I saw the development lady stalk back to her fancy car and drive off in a huff, and then I saw Will, off to the side, his face looking thunderous. I ran over to him and tackled him, grabbing him around his waist, hugging him tightly. He squeezed me back, burying his face in my hair.
He didn't say anything, he just held me.
After a little bit, he spoke. "Don't need this shit."
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, nuzzling his chest.
"No," he answered in my hair. But he kept going. "I got a colicky horse. Pushy developers who want my land, thinking that some fucking cunt is going to sway me. She fucking made a pass at me just now. It’s total bullshit."
Oh no. "Seriously?"
"She started taking off her shirt. Like that would convince me to sell."
Now I got pissed too. "Fucking cunt," I hissed.
"I yelled at her to get her ass out of here and she hightailed it. But shit, it's tempting to sell because they're buying up the neighbors. I could sure use the cash to pay for things like horse surgery or my mom's treatment. Can't bring myself to do it and it's killing me."
"Will, you can't sell."
"I know, darlin'."
I felt a horrible trembling come over me. Like I was going to be sick to my stomach and collapse at the same time. But I had to say it because it was true. "If you have to euthanize Happy, and I hope you don't, but I'll support you." And then I burst into tears.
He looked at me, anger dissipating, finger under my chin. "Marie." He hugged me even tighter.
"Can't believe I’d say that. Can't believe I’d think that. But I can't believe you . . . I can't, it's too hard."
"Shh, darlin'. Maybe the horse will be okay."
I sobbed, but managed out, "Maybe you can make some money and buy up the neighbors. Is that a pipe dream?"
"No, it's not. The avocados are coming in now, we should be harvesting a good crop this year. Prices are up too. It's not impossible to be able to come up with a down payment on the neighboring parcel."
"We should go talk with them," I sniffled.
He nodded. "You okay?" he asked.
"No. I feel totally responsible for Happy being sick. I saw that he hadn't eaten the other day. I should have said something sooner."
"Not your fault," he said. "It happens." He wiped away a tear on my cheek with his hands.
"I'm really not happy that some woman made a pass at my man."
