Page 53 of Making a Cowgirl

Dax couldn’t remember a time in his life when he was happier. His whole life seemed to be leading up to finding someone like Sarah. She was everything he wanted in his future. It wasn’t just the connection he felt either. It was the way she’d managed to impress him from the first moment he’d watched her in that chicken coop.

Sarah was the kind of woman who continued to strive to reach a greater potential. He stood outside the corral, watching her work with the yearling he’d assigned to her, and he couldn’t deny the pride that continued to fill every free part of him.

Her brows were creased in the most adorable show of focus as she moved that stubborn horse into the steps that were required to earn the trust and respect between both parties.

Someone moved in beside him, leaning against the corral fence.

Brielle.

Dax’s eyes cut to her for a moment before returning to Sarah.

“She’s actually pretty good at it, isn’t she?”

He nodded.

“Wow.” They stood there, and Sarah glanced at them for a moment before she continued working. Brielle turned, leaning her shoulder into the metal bars and smiling at him. She tilted her head in that teasing way she used to. “So… you two seem to be hitting it off really well.”

Dax didn’t bother meeting her gaze. “Yup.”

“What are you going to do when she has to leave in a few weeks?”

His jaw hardened. He’d done so well up until now not thinking about the one thing that could hurt their relationship. Sarah still planned on leaving. And he had no intention of moving just yet. A small part of him secretly hoped he still had enough time to convince her to stay here. There had to be a reasonable compromise she could make with her parents.

But even if she couldn’t, he would like to think that their relationship was more important than the money they’d cut her off from. It wasn’t an easy life, but money wasn’t everything. The thought that she might return home just for her inheritance made his stomach churn.

“Oh.” Brielle’s soft voice made it clear that she understood the fact that he didn’t have any answers for her. “It’ll work out. Things like this always do.”

“Not always,” he grumbled. Dax worked his jaw. “There’s a lot going on with her family that might prevent things from going the way I’d like them to.”

Even though he wasn’t looking directly at her, he could tell she was surprised. Her body stiffened and she grew suspiciously quiet.

Dax heaved a sigh and faced her. “What?”

“She’s talking about her family?”

He lifted a shoulder. “So?”

“I just thought it was odd. She hasn’t told me anything about her family. Just why she’s—” She shook her head. “Sarah must trust you a lot if she’s sharing more with you.” Brielle nibbled on her lower lip and glanced away, brushing some hair from her face. “What are you doing with the horses after you get them trained?”

It was odd the way she changed the subject so quickly, almost like she knew something that Dax wasn’t privy to. He almost asked her to expound on what she had almost said, but he shook off the urge.

“Shane Owens, the guy who owns the country club—”

“I’ve heard of him.”

“Right. Well, his equine therapy program is due to start here soon, and the horses that Sean is working with won’t need as much training. I’m preparing a few more to start their program.”

A soft smile touched Brielle’s lips. “You’ve always been pretty good with that sort of thing. I have to admit the way you are with horses is one of the reasons I was drawn to you.” She reached out and pushed his upper arm with her fingers. “It’s too bad you’re taken now.”

He chuckled. “You have no interest in settling down.”

“True. But you’ve been one of those constants in my life that I think I’ll have a hard time letting go of.” She pressed her lips together into a thin line and her eyes grew serious. “Do you think if I had been ready to settle down like Adeline, that we could—”

Dax held up a hand and shook his head. “Don’t go there, Bri. You know as well as I do that going down the path of ‘what if’ will only get one or both of us hurt.” There was a time when he’d thought about proposing just because they’d always been so close as friends before they’d experimented with their romantic feelings.

Those feelings were gone now, and he had no desire to dredge them up again.

“You’re probably right.” She heaved a sigh. “What am I going to do, Dax? Adeline is married and now it’s my turn, and I’m…” Brielle shook her head and then rubbed her nose.

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