Home. The word sounds nice, and I wish I could stay here for a while longer and lick my wounds. I wish I didn’t have to go to Star Mountain.
2
CANDICE
I take a deep breath,cross my arms in front of my chest, cock my head to the side, and pray that if I repeat myself slowly and clearly this time, my brother will get it through his thick head.
“Nathan Booth is not coming here,” I say, pausing after each word for emphasis. “Period. End of story.”
“Candice, come on,” my brother says, giving me a stern look, in what I’m sure is a bid to remind me that he’s older, and that I should do what he says.
“No,” I say, tapping the heel of my boot against the ground and jostling my leg. Damnit, my nerves are showing. Beau will be sure to catch on.
“Why not?”
“Because,” I say, taking a deep breath. “We don’t need people like him at Star Mountain Horse Rescue.”
“Who exactly do you mean by people like him, Candice? Because you’re looking at one,” Beau says. “He’s my best friend.”
“Sure. But while you went on to graduate summa cum laude from college and become a vet, Nathan has spent the last four years gallivanting around rodeos and stock shows, winning every buckle possible, and spending those winnings at every barbetween here and Texas,” I huff, feeling myself getting angry just thinking about him.
“So? He earned that money fair and square and he can spend it how he likes,” Beau says.
“He’s a playboy,” I respond flatly. “He’ll cause trouble here and in town. He’ll flirt with all the women.”
“So what? What harm is there in flirting with women or going to the only bar in town? Relax, Candice. There’s hardly any trouble he can get into here.”
“It only takes one bar. And drinking and fighting is what got him into this mess in the first place.”
“Look,” Beau says, “I don’t know what that incident was all about but that’s not the Nate I know. He might like to party, but he’d never hurt anyone without reason,” he continues, referencing the fight that landed Nathan in jail, hence why he needs somewhere to do community service.
“I’m sure that’s the version of himyouknow…”
“Then what’s the problem? Nathan won’t cause any trouble in town, I promise.”
“He’ll be here though, on our property, working withmyhorses, and causing trouble forme. Owner and manager of Star Mountain Horse Rescue.”
“Co-owner,” Beau fires back.
I don’t meet his stare, because he’s right. We own Star Mountain together, and if he wants Nathan to come here to do his community service hours then there’s nothing I can really do to stop him. Sure, I could pull the manager card, because while Beau looks after the wellbeing of our horses and treats all the rescues, in addition to our small but growing herd of goats, I manage all of the operations of this place and work with all of the horses day in and day out.
“Fine,” I grind out. “He can come.” Nathan Booth’s face flashes in my mind as I say the words: stupidly handsome withcut glass cheekbones, piercing blue eyes, and a swath of chestnut hair that is often hidden under a Stetson of the same color. He’s clean shaven, probably because he thinks his face is too pretty to hide with a beard.
Beau grunts in response and says, “He’ll want to bring his horse.”
“Why? Because tormenting the ones we have here won’t be enough for him?” I snort.
“Don’t say that shit, Candice,” Beau says. “You know I’d never be friends with someone like that. You might want to deny it, but Nate’s one of the best horsemen around. On top of being the best reiner in the country.”
I squirm hearing my brother’s words, because I can’t deny he’s right. He’d never be friends with, let alone tolerate, someone who mistreated their animals. Plus, the few times I’ve watched Nathan compete, I’ve been begrudgingly impressed with how good he is. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that there are plenty of competitors who run their horses into the ground, creating basket cases who need serious rehab. Which is exactly where I come in, along with the rest of Star Mountain Horse Rescue. Guys like Nathan just make more work for me.
“Fine, fine,” I tell Beau. “But I’m charging him out the ass for board. And he’s staying in the bunkhouse with the others. I’m not having him in my house.”
“Our house.”
“Sure,ourhouse, but he’s still not staying in it. We don’t have the space.” That’s not strictly true, as there are three bedrooms. But there’s only one bathroom and I willnotshare a bathroom with Nathan. It’d be like sharing a bathroom with a pig.
Although, most pigs are smarter than Nathan is, and cleaner too, I’m sure.
