Page 76 of Spur of the Moment
Her eyes softened. “I’m happy you’re back, sweetheart. That ranch didn’t feel like home with you so far away.”
I did miss the ranch while I was gone, but I wasn’t sure if it was the reason I came back. Home wasn’t just this town or that ranch. It was Bailey. He was my home, the person I felt most myself around. Being away made me finally realize that.
My mom pulled me in for a hug, rubbing her hands up and down my back. I swallowed, clearing the emotion that was creeping up my throat. It’d been too long without one of her hugs.
***
Five o’clock was fast approaching, which meant we were that much closer to diving into a home-cooked meal at my parents’ house and cracking open an ice cold beer. The morning chill had disappeared all too quickly, leaving only the miserable heat. This time of year was the worst for freezing mornings and blazing afternoons.
We’d had people at our booth all day, asking about the rescue, how we got started, how long we’d been doing it. Everything you could want to know, they asked about it. My voice was tired from talking all day, but it felt good connecting with people. The more people we talked to, the more people would be aware of horse rescue and how much work went into it. There were no days off when it came to rescue.
“You finally going to tell me where you were last night?” Brandy asked once we finally had a moment with no one standing at our table.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure you know.”
“I’m just wantin’ to hear you say it out loud,” she confessed.
I leaned against the table, facing her. “I slept at Bailey’s house.”
A knowing smile crept up her face. “AtBailey’s house orwithBailey?”
“What do you think?”
She shrugged. “I wouldn’t know.”
“WithBailey,” I admitted.
“It’s about time!” my mom shouted from behind me.
My cheeks heated.Of course, she heard.
My mom came over to us and Brandy held her hand up to her for a high-five.
“Uh, excuse me?” a quiet feminine voice interrupted.
I turned away from Brandy and my mom, focusing my attention on the woman who’d approached the booth. Her amber hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and freckles sprinkled her nose and the apples of her cheeks.
“Are you guys hiring?” she asked hesitantly.
“No, sorry. We do need volunteers, though, if you’re interested. I can tell you a little bit more about the rescue, if you’d like,” I replied.
“I would, but I’m really trying to find a job around here. You don’t happen to know of any, do you?”
Brandy nudged my arm. “The feed store,” she mumbled.
I smiled. “Oh, yeah! My brother is hiring. He’s the manager over at Tumbleweed Feed. I can give you the address. Just walk on in and apply. I’ll put in a good word. What’s your name?”
I grabbed a pamphlet for the rescue and flipped it over, scribbling the address on the back. “Oakley,” she said as she took thepamphlet from me.
“Lettie,” I replied. “Nice to meet you.”
Her eyes lit up, a smile stretching across her mouth. “You too. Thank you for this.” She held up the paper.
“Of course. And if you get the urge to spend some time with the horses, just let us know. All the information is in there for Bottom of the Buckle.”
She nodded, stashing it in her small purse. “Will do. Hopefully I’ll see you around.”
She walked off, getting lost in the sea of people littering the street.
