Page 35 of Spur of the Moment
“I didn’t pusheveryoneaway.”
“Oh, so what? It’s just me? I’m the problem?”
She shook her head, taking a step toward me, the toes of our boots touching. “No, Bailey, you were never the problem.”
“Then what was it?”
She set her palms on my stomach, looking down at where she connected with me. “Can we talk about this later?”
Tell me about beating around the damn bush, and I’ll tell you Lettie was the reason behind the invention of that idiom.
“Sure,” I clipped. I grabbed the leash from where it was looped around her hand and moved around her to hook it on Rouge’s collar where he sat by the AC.
Lettie was jamming a pin in this conversation, and I didn’t have to be an idiot to know it wouldn’t be brought up again. She might as well have put a lock on it and thrown away the damn key. She didn’t owe me an explanation, but for my sanity, I selfishly wanted one.
If she really left because of me, I’d have no choice but to become a stranger to her again. I wasn’t sure how that would affect my work on their ranch, but I’d figure it out when we got back to Bell Buckle. As much as I hated the idea of losing her so soon after just getting her back, I’d force myself to do it if that’s what would make her happy.
19
Bailey
We were five minutes away from the auction house when Travis called my cell phone, his voice coming through the speakers of the truck.
“Did I catch you two before you checked out of the hotel?” he asked.
“Just left. Why? What’s up?”
“If you’re up for it, I need you to head over to a kill pen today.”
Lettie straightened in her seat, breaking her silence. “A kill pen?”
“I just got off the phone with Beckham. He said he saw an old bronc posted on their Facebook group. Guess he’s been bucked off of him a time or two and wants himto retire here.”
Though he didn’t show it, Bekcham had a heart of gold just like Lettie and their mother. It came with the territory of being around these thousand-pound animals. They knew how to tug at your heart strings.
“He wants a crazy old bronc retiring on our ranch?”
Taking note of the way she saidourranch, I glanced at Lettie. Maybe she really did intend to stay in Bell Buckle.
“They’re only crazy if you make ‘em so,” Travis said.
“We can stay another night, it’s no problem,” I interrupted, already knowing Lettie would be up for it. Just like her mother, she never could say no to a horse, regardless of its background.
“Great. I already called the auction house, told them you’ll be coming tomorrow to pick up the other four.”
“Five,” Lettie corrected.
Travis was silent for a beat before his sigh filled the cab. “I figured that would happen. Keep me updated. And Lettie, no more horses. You’re lucky that’s a stock trailer.”
Knowing Lettie, she’d walk the damn horse from Billings all the way to Bell Buckle if there was no room in the trailer. Her dad should know her by now. Nothing stopped her if she set her mind to it.
“No promises,” she said as she leaned back in her seat.
“We’ll be ready to help unload thesix,” he overemphasized the number, “horses when you get here tomorrow evening. Char’s barbecuing, so come hungry. I’ll text you the address. Though his job is shitty, the guy is nice, so I expect you two to berespectful.”
My mouth instantly started watering at the thought of Mrs. Bronson’s cooking.
“We will. See you then,” I said.
