Page 84 of Spur of the Moment
Lettie
Red’s muscles vibrated under me after I slowed him to a walk. We’d galloped through the field and once we hit the end of the property, I sat in the field to enjoy the sandwich I’d packed for the ride. I missed coming out here alone and listening to the sounds of the birds chirp as the wind rustled the leaves in the trees.
This was the only thing I wanted to do today. Since it was my birthday, Bailey had made a rule of not working on the barn today. There were a couple more minor details I wanted to finish inside, like screwing the name cards for the horses into the stall doors, and tidying up all the sawdust everywhere.
I’d get to it tonight, whether he liked it or not. I had to take advantage of my energy when I had it. There were too many days I forced myself through our work when I’d much rather be inbed. I took on the barn project not realizing how big of a chore it would be, but working on it with Bailey made it bearable.
Shifting to lean down to open the gate to the pasture, I undid the latch and pulled on the fence, the metal groaning as it swung open. Red stepped through, sidestepping to allow me to close it behind us. He was a natural with gates, doing the moves perfectly without me having to instruct him what to do.
“I thought you’d never come back,” Brandy yelled as I swiveled my head to find her ambling over to me.
“I debated it,” I admitted. Every time I was out there on Red, the thought crossed my mind. Everything was simpler out riding. The chaos of thoughts swimming through my mind ceased, and the world quieted. It was a peace I’d never stop chasing after.
She stopped in front of Red, looking up at me. “I can put him away for you. Head on inside.”
I arched a brow, suspicion creeping in. “Why?”
She shrugged, and it was anything but casual. “Figured you’d want to shower after a long ride.”
“Brandy...”
She grabbed the reins, a smile stretched across her face. “C’mon. Get off the damn horse.”
Swinging my leg over, I dismounted, reveling from the ache in my legs. “Please tell me you didn’t-”
She held up her hand with the reins to stop me. “Go inside before I drag you in there myself.”
I pursed my lips, accepting my fate. I wasn’t oblivious, I knew they had something going on in there, and I had the biggest suspicion it involved my birthday.
She walked off in the direction of the barn as I made my way over to the house, slowly easing up the porch steps and through the door. As soon as I stepped into the entryway, my eyes landed on the house full of people.
“Surprise!” Hands were thrown in the air, confetti went flying; someone was even blowing one of those noisemakers where the paper unfolds and it makes an obnoxious sound.
Despite not wanting a party, I couldn’t help but smile. It proved how much they all missed me, and just how much I missed all of them. When I was in college, my friends barely texted a happy birthday and went about their day. But the people I loved in Bell Buckle? They went all out.
I couldn’t help the tears that welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away, taking everyone in.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” my mom said as she wrapped her arms around me. She had one of those cardboard party hats on her head, the string damn near choking her out.
“Thanks, Mom.” She let go, and I took in the rest of the room. There was a sign that read “Happy Birthday, Huckleberry” that hung from the ceiling, blue and white streamers strewn about, and a blue tablecloth on the table that was lined with all kinds of blue snacks that I had no doubt were all huckleberry-flavored. In the center sat a cake that looked just like the one Bailey made me on my eighteenth birthday.
Moving my gaze, I found Bailey standing in the corner with the biggest grin on his face. He uncrossed his arms and closed the distance, wrapping me in his hold as he lifted me off the ground. A shriek passed my lips as he swung me around, then angled his head up to me and planted a firm kiss to my mouth.
“Happy birthday, Huckleberry,” he mumbled against my lips.
I pulled back, looking down at him. “Did you do all this?”
His green eyes gleamed up at me and I wanted to fucking melt. “Did it all for you. Thank God you went on a long ride.”
He set me down as my brothers came up, one by one telling me happy birthday, hugging me, joking with me. All of this - the party, the people, the laughter - it ingrained into my bones that there really was no place like home.
“Personally, I thought a birthday card would have been enough,” Beckham joked.
“I know what to get you for your birthday,” Lennon grumbled.
Beck placed a hand over his heart. “Aw, you’re getting me something? That’s so nice. I’m not getting you shit for yours.”
Lennon scoffed. “That’s fine. I wouldn’t want it even if you did get me something.”
