Page 11 of When I Forgot Us
She took in the myriad calluses covering his palms and set the tumbler down on the nearest stall door. The horse inside eyed the mug while chomping on the feed in the wooden box. “Point taken. I’m not fond of putting myself through unnecessary pain.”
“Is anyone?” A sharpness lit the words, and he gave her a look she didn’t understand.
What happened to the congenial man she’d joked around with in the kitchen yesterday? “A masochist?”
The sudden tightness in his shoulders relaxed. “Good point.”
She tugged on the gloves, then clapped her palms together. “What first, boss?”
All the horses chomped on their morning meal, and the gentle symphony mingled with the smell of hay and molasses. She brought the gloves up to her nose and inhaled. “Well, I know I like the smell of leather.”
“Glad I gave you the clean gloves.” Chase handed her a green water hose. “Check every horse’s water bucket. If it’s lower than half full, fill it up.”
A trio of men strode into the barn. Footsteps and laughter tore through the serenade, but the jovial mood radiated off the cowboys with enough force to put a smile on anyone’s face.
The tallest of the group tapped the brim of his hat. “Morning.” He faced Chase. “We’re rounding up the herd in the northeast pasture like you asked. Wanted to double-check you want them moved to the south, southeast.”
“Yep. Thanks, Chuck.” Chase relinquished the hose to her and approached the cowboys.
Michelle concentrated on walking and not tripping over the hose trailing behind her. She started at the far end of the barn and worked her way toward the double doors stall by stall. Each horse greeted her with an ear swivel as they raised their heads from the grain.
One horse, a big red one with silver in her mane, dropped kernels on the straw-covered floor and ambled over to check the water bucket with Michelle. She patted the horse’s shoulder and unknotted a tangle in her mane. “You’re a pretty girl.”
“That’s Sasha.” Chase called out from several stalls down. “She’s one of the cowboys’ favorites.”
“Why is she in here and not being ridden?” Sasha nosed the water, then plunged her entire muzzle deep into the bucket and swished it side to side. Water sloshed out over the rim, drenching Michelle from the knees down. She yelped and jumped backward. Sasha snorted into the water, blowing bubbles and continuing to splash.
“She pulled up a bit lame last week. Vet recommended we put her on stall rest for a bit.” His voice came closer. “By the way, she likes to splash.”
Michelle shot him a hard glare and smacked at her damp jeans. “No kidding. You could have warned me.”
There was no real malice in the admonishment. So what if she walked around in wet jeans all day. There were worse things.
“I could have.” The laughter in his eyes said he’d wanted to see how she’d react.
Rolling her eyes, she backed out of the horse’s way and proceeded to the next stall. “Anything I should know about him?” She aimed the hose at Chase. “Better tell me now before you end up drenched too.”
He held up both hands in mock surrender. “He’s a good one. Wouldn’t dream of making a mess.”
She eyed Chase, the water bucket, and the horse, making sure her eyes narrowed and her mouth pinched. “I’m not sure I believe you.”
“She’s got you there.” The cowboy from before rode past the double door. “Don’t let him fool you, ma’am. He’s a prankster. Good as gold all the way to his bones, but he loves to prank.”
“Oh, really?” That made it even better. All that time in the hospital and the uncertainty afterward had turned her sullen and listless. It was nice to have a jump in her pulse and a skip in her step. Getting to kid around with a man like Chase seemed both odd and familiar, a sensation she ascribed to her whole life lately. She leaned forward and tightened her hand on the spray nozzle. “Maybe we see how you like it.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” He matched her narrow-eyed stare and set his hands on his hips.
It was such a traditional old western showdown pose that she laughed outright. “You look just like that guy from the movie I watched last night.”
“Which movie?” He thumbed his hat back. “I need to know if I should be offended.”
“Sam Elliot.” She’d been sure to read his name in the credits because the man’s steadfastness had reminded her of Chase.
“Can’t be offended at that.” Chuck reined his horse around. “We’re headed out. Try to stay out of trouble.”
“No promises.” Chase pointed at her. “If I get into anything, it’ll be her fault.”
“Oh sure, blame the only person here who has no idea what they’re doing.” She huffed loudly and filled up the bucket in the stall behind her.
