“Your father is stressed as well,” mom added. “In different ways. He’s trying to make this place something that will be profitable for future generations.”
“Not mine,” Olivia said. “And Jace is hardly going to be reproducing.”
“Hey, I could adopt,” I said.
“And Max, well, he’s going to move away for college, that’s definitely happening,” she added. “I’m just saying the truth of it all. It’ll be left to you, Jace.”
“It’ll be split between all three of you,” mom said. “And you don’t have to think about that because we’re staying around for a long time. Trust me.”
I nodded. “Can we get to the profitable part now then because I would for us to afford nicer equipment.”
“Good luck,” Olivia said. “We’re not gonna have the budget for that. I’m still trying to calculate how we’re going to feed four horses now with the grant we got, and trust me, it’s not that much when you factor all the other costs in. And our horsebox only has room for two, so we’re gonna need to get a new one before Saddle Up next year assuming the whole point was for him to show them off and whatnot.”
It was all over my head. I didn’t know what dad wanted with the horses, something about studding them out, but in their current condition, nobody would want that. “Anyway, I’m just here for more coffee to take back to stable, and some cupcakes. It looks like you’ve enjoyed them.”
“Max filled a plate up,” mom said.
“I had half of one,” Olivia said.
“We shared half,” mom added. “They’re very good. Buttercream is a little too sweet.”
My eyes rolled. “It’s basically just sugar, of course it’s sweet.”
“Ok, well, I’m gonna head down to the giftshop and take stock. Then I’ll swing by and see the horses.”
A shudder ran through me out of nowhere. “They don’t look too good,” I told her. “We’re gonna need more treats for them, actually.”
Olivia huffed. “I’ll add it to the list. Actually, I’ll take a booklet out to Lolo, and we can discuss what he might need for the horses,” she said. “I think that would be best, actually.”
Soon, it was just me in the kitchen, packing a tote bag with two thermoses filled with coffee, a clear container with three cupcakes, the max it could fit until they were all smushed together. I took a third thermos, a smaller one from the cupboard for the soup Lorenzo had requested.
I was stoked to go to the guesthouse, again, where I hoped, I would live to give myself some space away from the family. I shouldn’t have still been living at home, although we had plenty of space and the last time, I ever felt like we were all under each other’s feet was during Christmas dinner last year. My mom’s mom visited with her new boyfriend, and the road to the ranch got snowed in so we were all stuck together for a week, and there was no escaping them, even in the barn or coop… and I definitely hadn’t wanted to visit the stable back then.
The guesthouse was as I remembered from visiting it and the occasional evening I’d stay there and pretend I was having a vacation. I spotted the boots by the radiator and my brow furrowed.“Lorenzo,” I called out. “Are you in here? Did you come back?” I walked through the house to see his fancier pair of boots by the bed. It wasn’t unusual to have so many pairs of boots, even the expensive ones. “Guess not.”
I’d seen him buy the food in the store, so it shouldn’t have surprised me, but seeing all those tins and nothing much else was still a wonder this man hadn’t keeled over from a lack ofvitamins. I heated a tin of soup, poured it into the thermos, and sliced some breads before adding it into my tote.
My sister was in the stable with Lorenzo when I went back. They were talking about things they might need and she was just giggling and swishing her hair back over her shoulders like she was trying to trap him with her pheromones.
“I brought supplies,” I announced, using my newfound confidence around horses to saunter into the stable. Still not making direct eye contact with Mary as she peered over her stall.
“Well, we’re just a bit busy,” Olivia said.
“Oh, I’ll let mom and dad know you’ve decided to help with the horses then,” I said. “I think we’ll all be happy to have another set of hands free to help.”
She stared at me, her eyes narrowing as if trying to tell me she wanted me to leave her with Lorenzo, and he just looked at little booklet my sister had with her. It was one of the only things my dad still asked for in paper copy, a monthly subscription for people who owned animals. It was where we bought chicken feed in bulk alongside now, all the of the stuff for the horses.
“I think we might actually be ok with just more of the nutrient rich feed,” he said. “It’s a little more expensive, but since all the horses are underweight, they won’t be eating too much of it so it’ll go further.”
A single nod and smile. She wasn’t going to roll her eyes or scoff at him for asking for something for the ranch, and yet when I wanted an auto feeder for the coop, she practically threw pitchforks and daggers my way.
“I guess I’ll put the order in then,” she said. “And how’s Mary getting on?”
“Well, she’s on the same stuff,” he said. “I think I’ll take her for a little walk around, just to give her a little exercise and a chance to look at her new friends.”
“Good idea,” I said at the same time as my sister. I could see those daggers once more. “I’ll stay in here then, and—watch.” I wanted to be several paces away from Mary at all times, in case she decided today was the day to prove me right on my fear.
Olivia left as Lorenzo put a bridle on Mary. I watched with curiosity, wondering if he was about to ride her, but he stopped at the bridle.
