Page 18 of Spur of the Moment
I got busy hooking the trailer up to the truck. “Saw what?”
“You lined it up perfectly yourself.”
“Had to get good at doing it alone without you here.”
She was silent for so long that I paused, looking over my shoulder at her. She was biting the inside of her cheek, staring at her boots with her hands now shoved in the back pockets of her jeans.
“Lettie-”
“I’m sorry," she said softly, her eyes cast down.
I turned to face her but kept my distance. “Don’t be sorry.”
She looked up then, her eyes slightly glassy. “Well, I am, Bailey. I’m sorry I left.”
I stood there staring at her like an idiot. After about a minute of silence, she turned and walked away. I debated going after her, but thought better of it. We’d have plenty of time to talk during our trip. I didn’t want to start it out on a bad note, so for today, I’d drop it.
I finished hooking the trailer up and locked the truck before heading to my own truck to go home. I still had to pack and wrap up my chores on my parents’ ranch before leaving tomorrow.
Hopefully, the sixteen hours between now and when we left was enough time to let things cool down. Otherwise, this was going to be the longest three days of my life.
10
Lettie
It felt like I had just fallen asleep when my alarm went off. I tossed and turned all night with the anticipation of going on this trip for the rescue and being alone with Bailey for three consecutive days, causing my mind to race. I didn’t pack anything last night since the majority of my clothes were still in duffel bags. I grabbed one that I knew had my summer clothes, pulling some out to lighten the load since we wouldn’t be gone too long.
After getting dressed, I slung the bag over my shoulder and headed for the kitchen. Grabbing a banana off the counter, I turned to find my dad starting a pot of coffee.
“The sun’s not even up yet,” I said.
He grunted, pouring the ground beans into the top of the machine.
“You’d think after waking up at the crack of dawn for so long, you’d be a morning person at this point,” I mumbled.
He stabbed at a button on the machine before opening one of the cabinets and pulling two mugs out. One for him, and one for my mom, who I knew was still in bed.
“Don’t forget to send me updates. Bailey knows what horses to bid on, and I don’t want one more than what’s on that list.” He eyed me, his typical frown plastered to his face. “I mean it, Lettie.”
I rolled my eyes, peeling away at my banana. “Yeah, yeah. Only the horses you say. I’ve got it, Dad. You can trust me.”
He grunted again as Bailey’s truck lights lit up the driveway through the kitchen window as he pulled in next to the house. “That’s my cue. Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too. Be safe.”
I tossed the remnants of my banana in the trash after taking a few bites and headed out the front door, making it down the porch steps as Bailey unlocked the dually. I opened the back door, tossing my bag in, then got in on the passenger side.
He opened the driver side door, the rising sun just barely illuminating the sky behind him. “Good morning,” he said as Rouge jumped in the truck, hopping into the back seat.
I reached back to scratch the top of his head. He was already panting, anxious for adventure.
“Morning. You gonna keep my dog forever?”
He closed his door. “Not my fault he likes me better.”
I scoffed. “He does not.”
Bailey twisted in his seat to look back at Rouge. “Me, or Ms. Huckleberry-ass over here?”
