Page 52 of This Time Around
Alrighty then.I knew when to keep my mouth shut.
“You know,” she said, her voice growing quiet and tinged with concern.“I love her.I love her like a sister, so I’m really glad she’s finally ready to do this.”
I was reaching for the handful of boxes I could grab and stopped, peering at her over my shoulder.
Her face had lost her initial excitement and she was staring at the house.
“Hate what’s happened to her.Losing her parents, then her husband, especially in such similar ways.It’s not fair and it’s not right for it to happen to someone as amazing as Rebecca.This is good for her.She needs it.”
I grunted in approval.She was going somewhere with this and I didn’t like the direction she was moving.I pulled out a huge stack of boxes and leaned them against the tailgate.
“I liked hearing about you too, from Brooke.”
“Yeah?”I reached in and slid out another stack.
“Yeah.And I’m not lying when I say I’m a huge fan of yours.I really am.”She settled her hip against the tailgate, blocking me from getting the stack of boxes out of the bed.
I looked at her and waited, expecting the bomb.
“Don’t hurt her,” she whispered, and I felt that hint of pain and fear even from Rebecca’s friend straight to my gut.“She’s had enough hurt and from what I know, you’re just temporary.Don’t do something where we all have to fight to pull her back from hell again, Cooper.”
I’d considered that, obviously.But seeing the fear of that reality happening so fiercely in her friend’s face, the reality of it slid through my veins and landed in my gut.
Shit.What in the hell was I doing?
“I hear you.Honest.”
She pushed off the tailgate and grabbed a half-dozen boxes.“Good.I’m glad.And by the way, your ass looks really nice in those jeans, but don’t tell Ryan I said that or he’ll cut me off of his for a week and that’d be a bummer.”
A surprised laugh ripped from my throat and I stumbled, reaching down to pick up at least two dozen boxes.“Your secret is safe with me.”
“As long as Rebecca is, too,” she sang, walking ahead of me.
But her point was made, even through the joking tone in her voice.
“Don’t worry about the calves,” she said as we reached the bottom steps.“I’ll let Rebecca know about them and she’ll either come out when we’re done here or call the vet she uses, but my guess is they’re still rattled from the storm.Animals are strange like that.”
I set the boxes against the side of the house right outside the front door.My boots were muddy and I didn’t want to track anything inside if I didn’t have to.
“You sure?”
“Haven’t ever lived on a ranch but I practically grew up with the Marx family.I’m sure.”
“Thanks.I’ll head back out then and take care of the horses.”
“Good.”She grinned at me again.And I had the sneaking suspicion she didn’t want me inside so she could take care of her girl.
I’d let her.Rebecca had good friends to be there for her.They’d help her, they’d keep it light and goofy, and if the heavy creeped in, they’d know what to do about that, too.
I tipped the bill of my KU hat to Kelly.“Thanks again.And don’t worry, I’ve heard you loud and clear.”
“Most people usually do.”Her laughter rang through the air.“I’m not known for my quiet nature.”
I finished hauling off the boxes, Kelly meeting me at the front door to pull them in and once that was done, I climbed back into the Kubota I’d used and parked it back in the barn.
Then I went to the horses, saddled up Blue and took him for a little ride to get some exercise.
The whole time, replaying Kelly’s warning in my head.I needed to have a serious discussion not only with Rebecca but Max too.
