“She couldn’t land anywhere better.”
Jensen gazed out at the horizon. “Except back with her family.”
I couldn’t ignore the flicker of pain in Jensen’s eyes. I pulled her to me, wrapping an arm around her and resting my chin on top of her head. “You’re going to give her a new family.”
“I hope it’s enough.” She whispered the words against my chest.
“Enough what?”
J pulled back so that she could meet my gaze. “Right now? She’s just surviving. I want her tolive.”
I wondered if Jensen was aware just how much she had in common with the horse she was going to be taking in. Maybe they could bring each other back to life. “When are you—?”
My words were cut off by the sound of tires on gravel, and I recognized Walker’s truck. I instinctively took another step away from Jensen as if Walker would be able to sense the thoughts I was fighting so hard against, the ones I was certain he’d deck me for if he knew I was having them. He’d probably ban me from ever entering the Cole property again, too.
My hands tightened to fists, but I forced a grin. “Hey, Walk.” He didn’t look happy. Had he seen us hugging?
Walker ducked between the fence rails. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey, big bro, what are you doing up here?” Jensen grinned up at him.
“Mom said you’re adopting another horse. A senior one.”
Jensen’s mask, the one I fucking hated, slipped into place at her brother’s tone. “I am.”
Walker eyed her carefully and gentled his voice. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” There was the slightest flicker of doubt in Jensen’s voice, and the hint of fire in her eyes was now long gone.
I had a sudden urge to deck my best friend.
Walker took a step towards his sister. “You’ve had so much going lately. You’re overworked. You’re not sleeping. Are you really sure adding another horse is really a good idea?”
Annoyance flitted across Jensen’s face. “I know what I can handle.”
Walker sighed. “Are you sure about that?”
“Walker.” My single word was a warning.
Of course, Walker didn’t heed it. “Come on, you can’t think this is a good idea. The last thing she needs is another responsibility on her plate.”
A muscle in my cheek ticked. “Actually, I think it’s a great idea.”
“Hey, jackasses.” Both Walker and I started at Jensen’s interjection. “Thanks for fighting over what’s inmybest interest. But, guess what? I don’t need permission or approval from either of you. And now that you’ve completely ruined the happy buzz I had going, I’m going to leave. You two can stay out here all night and argue about what’s best for me, it won’t change a damn thing.” Jensen started for the fence line.
“J,” Walker called. But she didn’t even slow.
“Fuck.” I rubbed at my temples.
Walker whirled on me. “You really think this is a good idea?”
I watched as Jensen got into her SUV and took off. “She has a point. It doesn’t matter what we think. But, Walk,”—I turned to face him—“when she talked about that mare, it was the most life I’d seen in her eyes in months.”
“Really?” He looked towards J’s vehicle, disappearing in a cloud of dust.
“Really.” And I would do anything to keep that spark of life in Jensen’s eyes.
12
