That was brutally honest. He had needed that hate to keep him going. It was something to focus on, and I admit I had latched onto mine for everything it was worth.
“I’m still figuring that out.”
“Do you want to talk?”
I shrugged, still unsure of what I wanted.
A clap of thunder reminded me why I was here.
I wished I had brought my sunglasses; I didn’t want him to see my tears.
“Tell me about them, your parents.”
“You knew them,” I said on an exhale.
“Not like you did. I was didn’t pay attention much to anything that wasn’t barrel racing or you.”
Whoa.
Maybe it would feel good to talk about them. Rodrigo hadn’t worked with them for very long before the accident. William didn’t like to talk much about them now. At first he did, but then it became too difficult, too painful. It was like their memory had faded. I was the only one who carried it around with me, everywhere I went.
“Dad knew a lot about horses. He put my knowledge to shame. I swear he could speak with him in his head. He never needed a lead rope; the horses wanted to follow him. Every day after work, he’d sit down in the living room and have exactly one beer, no more and no less. And Mom, god, I miss her voice. You know, she would have some strong opinions about the way you treated me and the way I reacted. I can almost hear her yelling at me now. She told me not to let you walk all over me.”
I let out a sigh and wiped at the tears that I hated so much.
“I really am sorry, Emma, about everything.”
“I know,” I said softly.
I pulled my legs up to my middle and wrapped my arms around them just as the rain came pouring down.
Riley wrapped an arm around me and tucked me into his side. I was once again caught by the smell of his cologne, the rain, and horses.
Physical comfort wasn’t something I had felt from anyone since Mom and Dad died. It’d been seven years, and a physical act of comfort felt foreign. I wasn’t sure if I liked his touch or not, but I knew its implications. He was trying.
Riley Reys didn’t do sappy shit or care about anyone else’s feelings. Yet here he was with his arm wrapped around me, and I could feel his pulse. It was calm and steady, like the storm and the rain.
I decided not to pull away. I wasn’t sure when I’d ever have another moment like this again, with someone who actually took the time to comfort me. I wouldn’t expect this from Riley, but it was nice just to experience it, just this one time.
We sat in silence while we waited out the storm.
?
The next da,y Riley was there bright and early to run through the morning chores. He occasionally chatted or asked a question, and I didn’t ignore him. I showed him again how to saddle up Tigger, whose leg was rested up. I showed him the proper way to groom a horse, including the cleaning of the hooves. We washed halters and mowed grass.
His father’s car pulled up the drive, and life went back to normal. Rodrigo returned to work the next day.
“Anything interesting happen while I was gone?” he asked.
“No, not a thing,” I answered.
Rodrigo didn’t need to know about what happened between Riley and me. Riley admitted to his mistakes and apologized. I was still pissed, but I would eventually forgive him. His company last night helped defuse some of my anger, and I was having a hard time holding onto it. I just couldn’t forget. I would forgive, but I wouldn’t forget the two sides of Riley Reys. I just hoped the good one stuck around longer.
??
Like clockwork, Riley was there to help with chores and learn whatever I was willing to teach him. A week passed in this newfound truce we had, and it had felt comfortable.
I would prefer it stay this way. Riley was now tolerable and had made me laugh a few times. I thought maybe I could eventually be his friend, if he kept trying. I was willing to let down a few walls, but I wasn’t ready to break him all down. I still had my reservations.
