Page 66 of Told You So
“Wait, wait, wait.” I drape my arm over Trinity’s back. “Are you saying you don’t hate Bethany anymore? Are you starting tolikeher?”
She doesn’t turn around to answer me. “Don’t get all worked up,” she mutters.
I barely hear her over the clucking chickens and the horses. “You’ll have to speak louder. I don’t think I heard you right, Sam.”
“Screw off!” she shouts this time, and I laugh at the turn of events. “This week really is full of surprises,” I tell Trinity, and she blinks lazily at me.
Bethany’s Range Rover hums up the gravel drive a moment later, and I steel my nerves. Today I have to act like I have my shit together. “What could go wrong,” I breathe out and head toward her car.
I’m not sure what I expected her to be wearing today, but she takes my breath away as she steps out of the car in a pair of hip-hugging jeans and her cowboy boots. It’s easy enough to forget my nerves as she smiles at me.
Jesse ambles toward me in jeans, a pair of boots that look brand new, and a well-worn Star Wars t-shirt—one of his favorites, I imagine.
“Hey, kid.” I give him a friendly tip-of-the-hat.
Both of them eye me up and down, but while Jesse’s look is more curious, Bethany’s seems appreciative, and I flash her a smile. “Hey, good lookin’.”
“Hi.” She rests her hands on Jesse’s shoulders, almost like she’s using him as a shield. “You sure look the part today.”
I tip the brim of my hat to her with a wink. “Why thank you, mi’lady. You two don’t look too bad yourselves. I’m glad you came out.” I nod to the horses behind me. “Want to meet your trusty steed for the day?”
The screen door to the house swings open and shut, and I hear Sam’s boots on the steps before she appears around the corner of the stable.
“Howdy,” she says, her blonde waves catching in the breeze. Her eyes land on Bethany first, skirt quickly to me, then she locks eyes with Jesse. He quickly looks away. “Hi. I’m Sam. Welcome to the Miller ranch.”
Bethany squeezes Jesse’s shoulders. “Go on, J. Introduce yourself. This is Sam’s ranch and her horse you’ll be riding.”
“I’m Jesse,” he says, but he peers around at the horses, and the ranch, and the chickens walking around outside their coop. There’s a lot to see out here, and I can imagine he’s anxious to take it all in.
“Well, Jesse, it’s nice to meet you. I brought you something that is going to make Shasta your best friend in the whole world.”
“Sam knows horses better than anyone I know,” I tell Jesse. The easiness between us from the other day at my house isn’t gone, but tampered in this new place with a stranger standing in front of him. “She must have something really special for you.”
She holds out a few large carrots. “Why don’t we give the horses a snack and get to know them a bit better?” Sam hands Jesse and Bethany a carrot each. “This will put them in a good mood.” Sam smirks at me. “And Nick’s going to need all the help he can get on ol’ Target today.” She shows Jesse how many times to break the carrot and Bethany steps closer to me.
“I thought you were the horse guy,” she says, curious. She glances from Sam to me.
“Oh, I’m a horse guy—I groom them, and muck their stalls, and exercise them—but I don’t actuallyridethem.”
Her brow furrows. “Why not?”
“Just isn’t really my thing,” I tell her, not wanting to go into too much detail and scare Jesse away from riding.
Her eyes widen. “Oh yeah, I do remember something Reilly said the other day about you riding.”
“Yeah, bad experience once, but I’ll make an exception today.” I wink at her.
Bethany doesn’t press for more information, but I can tell she’s curious.
“So, Jesse,” Sam says. “Have you ever been around horses before?” She’s trying to gauge his interest and experience, like she does with potential boarders who think they’re interested in buying a horse.
“When I was younger, I rode a pony,” he tells her. “But I don’t really remember it. I like horses though.”
“Then you’re in for a treat.” She stops in front of her gray mare. “This is Shasta. I’ve had her for years. She’s very special to me—I think you’re really going to like her.”
Sam runs her hand down Shasta’s muzzle, then down her neck. “You can pet her if you want. She’s gentle, just be aware of her feet.” She pats Shasta’s shoulder blade. “Shasta’s big and can’t always see you. Okay?”
Jesse nods, staring at her leg like it’s going to stomp on him.
