Page 31 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
“I know.”
Yes, I’m up later than usual, which is rare for me as I never sleep in. It’s probably because I was awake waiting for Ava to come in last night. Not from the fact that I shared my bed with a beautiful woman for the first time in years, allowing me to actually have a decent couple hours of good sleep.
His brows furrow as he looks at me with concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I brush him off.
He doesn’t believe me, but he also knows me well enough not to push.
“Family dinner tonight?” he invites.
My left brow shoots up as if to ask him, are you serious?
I can’t remember the last time I joined the family for dinner, and three nights ago when Ella pulled me into picking Ava up from the airfield with her doesn’t count.
“No,” I decline without having to think about it.
“C’mon, son, you cannot keep running from us. We’re your family,” he insists.
A barely audible scoff makes its way past my lips. “I’m not running. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Barely.”
“Well, that’s the best you’ll be getting from me.”
“Zane—“
This conversation is about to take a direction I’m not in the mood for, so I quickly excuse myself. “I have work to do.”
He doesn’t look pleased with how quickly I am to dismiss his request, but he can’t force me. I pat his shoulder as I walk past him and into the stables. I appreciate my father for trying to bring me back into the family fold, but it’s been too long and I’m used to life as it is. It’s better this way for all parties involved.
I am headed for Jaz’s stall when Duncan comes rushing my way, looking disheveled and out of breath. What now?!
“Sir...” He heaves, trying to catch his breath, bent over, his hands on his knees.
“Yes, Duncan, what is it?”
“It’s Lilly. She’s—“
I don’t let him complete that statement as I take off for the Sunset stables.
The sight that meets me there is one I’ve been scared of happening for weeks but knew was inevitable anyway. Lilly is lying at the corner of her stall, breathing labored, foam coming from her mouth, panic in her wide eyes as she tries to get to her feet to no avail.
I kneel by her head, my heart cracking wide open when I see how much pain she’s in.
“What happened?” I ask Kipp, one of the ranch hands who is in here with her.
“I found her like this when I came in to clean and feed her,” he explains.
“Vet?”
“I’ve already called him. He’s stuck on another call but will be here as soon as he can,” Duncan replies, rushing back in.
This is why I’ve been insistent on having a personal vet here at the ranch. We cannot keep outsourcing, but my old man is stubborn and refuses to listen.
Lilly was doing so well yesterday, so seeing her in her last moments less than twenty-four hours later is a shock to my system. I knew this day was coming, but it doesn’t make it any less painful for me or her. I’ve been through this so many times ever since I came up with the idea of Sunset stables, but it never gets easier.
“Give us a moment, please,” I request.
