Page 27 of Begin Again
“What’s stopping you?” I glance back at the other man and see him in the same spot, his hands draped over the edge of the truck bed, still gnawing on the sliver of wood between his teeth. “You boys don’t seem like the kind to care what the town has to say about you.”
Cooper starts to take a final step into me, but Dakota clears his throat. “Coop.”
Out of the corner of my eye, an SUV rolls to a stop behind my truck on the main drag. The window rolls down and I don’t have to look to know who is in the driver’s seat. “Mornin’, boys,” Chief Danny Sloan calls through the window. “What seems to be the trouble?”
“No problem, Sloan.” Dakota offers him a smile over his shoulder. “Just sayin’ hello to an old friend, that’s all.”
Sloan looks at me with a cocked brow. “You know these boys?”
“News to me,” I say, earning a laugh from the chief.
The door to Sullivan’s swings open with the ring of the bell, catching our attention. An older man I’ve never seen before walks out and cases the scene. His lanky frame and handlebar mustache underneath the white cowboy hat remind you of what a rugged cowboy in these parts should look like. “Everything okay out here?” his baritone voice rings out.
“Your boys are harassing our newest local, Red,” Sloan yells to the older man.Red…that’s the name I’ve heard Joseph andBill Wyatt mention when talking about Cooper and Dakota before.
“Cooper Hayes!” Charlie comes barreling out of the hardware store not even a second later. “I told you to stop comin’ around here! How many times do I have to tell you before you get it through your thick skull? I am not going on a date with you. And if you don’t stop bothering Xavier, I’m gonna tell Daddy. I bet he’d love to know you’re still bothering our guests.”
Dakota rolls his eyes and steps away from my truck, shuffling around the back of the one parked next to me. Cooper isn’t as easy to give up. He stands his ground, fists clenched at his sides.
“C’mon, boys,” Red says with a deep chuckle. He tips his hat toward Sloan. “We don’t need any trouble ’round here. Let’s go.” Red offers me a tight smile and a curt nod, and something in those steely blue eyes sends a shiver down my spine.
“This isn’t overXavier,” Cooper says as Red plants a hand on his shoulder, directing him away. Dakota is already ahead of them on the sidewalk. It would seem this fight is over…for now. I don’t think this will be the last time I see them. And now, thanks to Charlie, they know where I’m staying. The thought of them showing up at the ranch settles a heavy weight in my stomach.
“Xavier,” Sloan calls, interrupting my thoughts. “Do yourself a favor and stay away from those boys, huh? Nothing but trouble. You too, Charlie!”
“Yeah, yeah, Danny,” Charlie says, waving him off.
“Wouldn’t want your daddy knowin’ ’bout this, would ya?”
Charlie’s head whips back around to him. “You wouldn’t.”
“Only if you promise not to get involved with him again.”
“I swear on my mother’s grave, I amnotgetting involved with the likes of Cooper Hayes again.” Charlie’s eyes meet mine for a brief second, her tongue poking out to wet her lips when she looks away. “He’s following me, Danny. Just ask Xavier.”
“Well, maybe youshouldtell your daddy, then. He’s ’bout the only one Coop listens to besides ol’ Red.” Sloan puts the SUV into gear and begins to slowly roll forward. “Just stay away from ’em, yeah?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
A FRUSTRATED GROAN ECHOES down the hall of the barn where I finish the newly installed indoor wash stall. The old one suffered from age and a poorly designed plumbing system that did nothing but cause issues and random leaks. The amount of secret mold hiding behind the paneling wasn’t surprising when I saw what was happening behind those soft boards. Drilling in the final screw to hold up the mounted plastic shower caddy, I chuckle, hearing another groan of frustration come from the indoor riding arena.
“Sounds like things aren’t going so well in there,” I yell down to Shadow, who’s poking his head out of his stall. He huffs in response before retreating inside.
My curiosity gets the best of me, and I decide to see how things are going. Surely, it can’t bethatbad.
Reaching the arena, I lean against the doorframe and watch as Charlie and Lady kick up dirt, hauling ass around three barrels in the shape of a clover. Charlie rounds the center barrel and pushes Lady forward to the opposite end of the arena. Even when they reach their destination, Lady doesn’t slow down until after a few more gallops.
“Sixteen-point-seven seconds!” Charlie’s friend Katy yells from the other end with a stopwatch in her hands. She and Jackson have been here almost every night since we went to thebar almost a week ago. While Katy helps Charlie in her riding endeavors, Jackson usually putzes around. Sometimes he finds me and offers to help with whatever I’m working on. It’s been nice having the extra hands, especially while working on the shower.
Charlie tosses her head back in frustration, covering her face.
“It’s a good number!” Katy all but yells, frustrated herself. This is how it’s been every night: Charlie disappointed in her time, while Katy tries to encourage her but ends up annoyed with her best friend’s need to be perfect.
“That’s slow, Katy. That’s on the high end of a typical time!”
“You’re just getting back into it, Char. You can’t be too hard on yourself,” Jackson says.
“You need to get out of your head,” I call down the arena, and all heads turn toward me.
