Talk later? The hell about?
Randy hesitates, watching Rose. “You need a ride back?” he dares to ask.
Before I can process what Randy’s intentions are toward Rose—and none of them good—I answer for her. “She’s not done. Youare.”
His gaze flicks to me. Randy isn’t a fan of mine. He respects Dallas to hell, but apparently his loyalty doesn’t spread to the rest of the Thorne family. Just the man who gave him some sort of superior title.
I’d fire him just for these last sixty seconds if I didn’t need him. There’s a bit of a stare-off until he winks at Rose. “Yeah, we’ll catch up later.” He nods to Barry and Nelson like he owns them and the three march out of the stables, boots scuffing deliberately against the dirt.
I curse under my breath and turn to Rose. She wipes her forehead with the back of her hand, lips quirking as she jumps off the table.
“Did you get any work done?” I don’t know why I’m being a dick. Rose has yet to slack on the job. It might take her a while to understand what we do here, but she’s not one to bullshit around.
But hell .?.?. she hasn’t laughed with me like that.
She blinks, then licks her lips like she was caught doing something wrong. “Not only did I make a list, I ordered everything.”
I take the clipboard she hands me and scan it. The order list looks all right, I suppose. But something is still off. She’s nervous about something. “From who?”
“Sal’s Saddles,” she says quickly.
Wait. What? “They weren’t on my list of approved vendors.” I’ve heard of them, but Dallas and I never used them. They’re too new to be trusted with quality supplies.
I lower the clipboard. “Why?”
She shrugs like they were the obvious choice. “They were cheaper.”
“That doesn’t mean they’re better, Rose. And you can’t go using vendors not on the list. We vet them. We check theirmanufacturers first. If there were any recalls. It’s not like buying a pair of shoes.”
She doesn’t seem the least fazed by my frustration. Tilting her chin, she sets her hands on her hips. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have gotten rid of me for the whole day.”
“What are you talking about? We had work to do.”
“We just did inventory last week. We were fine.”
I hold up the clipboard of newly ordered supplies. “Then what was all this?”
She shrugs. “So you’ll be a little overstocked. Maybe next time you’ll think twice before giving me busy work.”
I close the small distance between us but nothing about my advance is inviting. Rose backs up until she hits a stall. The horse rustles behind it.
“Why don’t you tell me what you four were talking about before I got here.”
Her eyes widen, but she answers quickly. “Rodeos.”
My jaw clenches. “What about them?”
“Why don’t you hold any here at Blue River Ranch?”
I inhale and decide I’m too tired for this conversation. “Rodeos are a lot to plan. And I’ve got my hands full this summer. Let’s get you home.” I turn toward Tuscan’s stall.
I half expect her to push me on the subject, but she doesn’t.
She’s definitely nervous about something. She’s avoiding my eyes and there’s an unease about her, I feel it down to my bones.
“You comin’?” I ask, leading Tuscan outside.
She watches the horse with new interest and nods.
