Page 86 of Spur of the Moment
“Regardless, it looks great, you guys,” my dad assured us before cutting into his steak. What was it with cowboys and their steaks?
Brandy set her too-full glass of wine down. “We’ll be able to move rescues in there in no time.”
Reed was eyeing her drink like it was poison when Callan said, “I’m thinking of getting a few more lesson horses after winter. I’m hoping lessons will pick up after the snow melts.”
“You can always use Red,” I offered.
“Thanks, Lettie, but I don’t want to use him if you’re riding him. He’s getting old,” Callan pointed out.
“That’s why Brandy’s going to break that gray for me.”
“You’re what?” Reed demanded.
Brandy didn’t bother looking at him, she just picked up her wine and twirled it in the glass. “I’m breaking that horse for her in a few months once my schedule opens up.”
Reed dropped his fork. “No. That horse is fucking crazy. Won’t even let me near him to shoe him.” He pointed at me. “You’re not riding him.” His finger moved to Brandy. “And you’re not breaking him.”
She set her glass down with a clink before she even took a sip, her furious eyes shooting fireballs at Reed. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“Like hell, I don’t. That horse is dangerous.” Reed wasn’t going to budge on this, and with the two of them, this would turn into all-out war.
Bailey, sensing the situation heading south, piped in. “Alright, guys. We can discuss this another time. We’ll see how the gelding behaves in the coming months and re-evaluate then.”
I looked at him in shock. What in the mature just came out of his mouth?
“I’m going to get a beer,” Reed grumbled, pushing back from the table and disappearing inside.
My mom sat at the end next to my dad, her lips pursed as she watched all of us. She knew there was something between Brandy and Reed, but none of us ever bothered to ask what caused them to hate each other so strongly. Whatever it was, they weren’t letting it go.
“I know what will cheer him up,” I said.
Bailey must’ve seen the up-to-no-good look in my eye because he narrowed his. “What’s that, Huckleberry?”
I smiled. “You’ll see.”
Through the glass doors, I saw Reed popping the top off his beer and taking a long swig. I stood from my chair, taking note that everyone had a heaping portion of potato salad on their plates. Grabbing the bowl with the remnants of potato salad, I casually headed for the door like I was going to bring it inside, but as I reached the slider, Reed opened it, stepping out.
I lifted the bowl and dumped the contents over his head, the potato salad sliding down the sides of his face. He didn’t even bother to squeeze his eyes shut as he glared at me. The corners of his mouth quirked as everyone laughed behind me from the table.
“Gotta be able to play at your own game, Reed,” I sniped.
“I’ll get the hose,” Bailey said from behind me, his chair scraping against the porch.
Reed reached up and grabbed a fist full of potatoes. I took a step back, knowing his intent. He came closer, and I spun, running down the porch steps. As my feet landed in the grass, I was sprayed with freezing water. My screams filled the air as Bailey chased me with the hose, soaking me from head to toe. I caught Reed standing at the top of the stairs, holding the potato salad as a threat if I decided to climb the stairs to the safety of the table.
“Not very good at getting us back, are you?” Bailey said through a laugh as he grabbed hold of the back of my shirt and pulled me to him so my back was to his chest.
I turned, wrapping my arms around his neck and reaching up on my tiptoes like I was about to kiss him, but as he closed his eyes, I snatched the hose from his hand and aimed it at him. His eyes flew open and he reached for me, his laugh filling the air as I struggled to keep the hose out of his reach. With my height, that was impossible.
I stumbled back, and we both fell to the ground, the hose falling out of our reach as it flooded the grass. But I didn’t care about the mud, or the bugs, or the running water. Not with Bailey on top of me, his weight making my body light up like the night sky on the fourth of July.
We laid there, our breaths evening out, our smiles never waning, as we got lost in each other. Bailey Cooper made me the happiest girl in the world.
44
Bailey
The porch lights on the house illuminated all of the bright smiles around me as everyone relaxed at the long table after the best birthday party Lettie’s seen in her twenty-four years. At least, it better be. I put it together, after all.
