“Whatever,” I said, throwing an empty bucket at him so it landed at his feet. “Leave me alone so I can start making all of my big changes.”
Josh laughed and walked out of the barn into the sunshine.
I paused and leaned on the stall fork, thinking about what it would be like to get Declan’s advice. Maybe we could go out for a quick drink and talk about everything he knew. That sounded innocent enough, right? Surely no harm could come from it.
But then I pictured how I’d feel when I was loosened up with a few drinks. How hard would it be to keep it professional with him looking so damn fine? And how foolish would I feel if Iaccidentally crossed a line, and he had to remind me that we were client and doctor and nothing more? He’d already turned me down once; I wasn’t about to go there again.
And maybe those high tech, big business breeding practices weren’t right for Lost Valley anyway. I wanted my business to be profitable, but not at the expense of the health and safety of my horses. One of our main selling points was how natural we kept the process. Simple. There was value in tradition, and the people who sought us out were the types that appreciated our attention to detail and care for the horses. I couldn’t imagine setting up any sort of laboratory for everything that would be required for a big business breeding operation like the one that Declan was used to or what Becca seemed to be doing at her place.
My shoulders slumped. How was I going to make changes when all I wanted to do was preserve the past?
FIVE
SHANNON
“Ican’t believe you talked me into this,” I told my sister and Zoe as we walked across the parking lot to the entrance to the Squeaky Wheel.
“Come on, Shan, when was the last time you stepped out just for fun?” Zoe chided me.
Long before Belle got pregnant, but I wasn’t going to fess up to that. And I certainly wasn’t interested in going out after that damn ultimatum Josh gave me. When I didn’t immediately answer, my best friend elbowed me lightly.
“See? Your brain needs a break and what better way to do that than kicking back at your favorite bar?” Zoe said.
“But you hate coming here. Maybe we should go someplace else. Or we could go back to the ranch.” I was whining and I knew it, but between Belle getting ready to burst, Josh breathing down my neck, and Declan back in town, I couldn’t focus with my thoughts in such turmoil.Fun? What’s that?
“I don’t hate it-hate it…. exactly,” Zoe said. “At least, not anymore.”
“Besides, I haven’t been here since…” Fiona’s voice trailed off as she tried to remember. “Gosh, I think we came here to celebrate after I graduated from college.”
They each hooked an arm through one of mine and practically frog marched me up to the door.
“Listen up, Shannon Cafferty, I didn’t get all dressed up just to hang out with you at home watching Netflix and listening to you mope,” Zoe chided me. “So, we’re going inside, we’re going to order some of those drinks you were tipping back when you broughtmehere, and we’re going to have a good time? Got it?”
My lips twitched and I started to grin. “Dammit, when did you become so bossy? I thought that was Fiona’s job.”
“I’m letting our future sister try her hand at being bossy. God knows she needs the practice if she’s going to marry our brother,” Fiona teased as I gave in and let them drag me inside.
It was early on a Friday night but the place was already hopping. The band was playing “Copperhead Road” and dancers were working their way around the parquet floor while those sitting around the dance floor were stomping their feet and singing along.
“There’s an open bar top near the mechanical bull. Let’s grab it and then order drinks,” Fiona said, pointing to the right.
We wove our way around the tables and reached the bar top just as the waitress finished wiping it off. When she turned around, she blinked at us in surprise. “Caffertys,” she shrieked, leaning in to hug Fiona and me at the same time. When she stepped back, she looked at Zoe. “And future Cafferty, right?” When Zoe nodded, she leaned in to hug her too.
“Kayla?” I stared at my old school friend in shock. “When did you start working here?” Last I’d heard, she was dating one of the hands at a ranch out in Half Moon and they were talking about getting married. Why was she still in town?
Kayla cringed. “Yeah, well, remember that guy I was dating? Daryl Thomas?” I nodded. “Turns out, that wasn’t his real name and that job he supposedly had out at the Lucky Stars Ranch was one big fat lie. The asshole charged up my credit cards and emptied out my bank account before he took off for who knows where. Started working here about a month ago so I could pay down my bills.”
All three of us gasped. “Oh my God, Kayla. I can’t believe that happened to you. Did you file a police report?” I asked her and she nodded, frowning.
“I sure did. Got a ten minute lecture from deputy Alvarez while she was typing up the report and then when Sheriff Thorne walked in and heard what happened, they ganged up on me, lecturing me about scammers. I mean, sure, I’m not going to click on links in text messages or emails, but this guy picked me up at a bar and we wereactuallydating for months. How could I have known he was some sort of… grifter?” she finished.
“You couldn’t,” Zoe said and reached out to squeeze her arm. “At least, not the way he played it.”
“And if you do find out where he is, keep in mind, we’re all ranchers—we know how to bury a body where no one will find it,” Fiona chimed in. We looked at her in shock.
“Fi!”
She shrugged. “What? It’s true. Don’t mess with country girls. Everyone knows that,” Fiona said making the rest of us laugh.
