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There’s something about hearing a horse greet you with a whinny. Maybe it’s the fact that an animal can be so connected to you. Maybe it’s because he literally relies on you to take care of him.
Or maybe it’s because horses really do know how to make a best friend out of someone, and that in and of itself is a remarkable quality in a creature.
Born to Be Wild had befriended me the moment he was coherent enough to do so. He was given a stall by Jack’s office so we could keep a close eye on him, and he always seemed to be at the stall door, watching everything going on that he could. He recognized my voice by the third day. It didn’t matter where I was in the barn, but if he could hear me, he would whinny to let me know. Sometimes I would even holler something around the corner, just to see if he was paying attention. He never let me down, even when Jack and I were arguing about the Raiders and the 49ers, Born to Be Wild seemed to yell at Jack, just to show he supported my side.
The week after we’d rescued Wild, Greg came by the stables to see him. I almost panicked, thinking he would try to get the horse back. Jack could sense my worry, so while Greg was shooting the breeze with Dave, Jack said, “He’s ours, Nova. Nobody’s gonna take him.”
I felt a little bit of relief, but couldn’t completely relax until Greg finally left the ranch.
“You’re happy to be away from that loud-mouthed asshole, aren’t you, buddy?” I said to Wild, feeding him a few of the potato chips I was eating. He blew some air out of his nostrils as a response.
“Gross!” I laughed, wiping the side of my face. “Save that for the people you don’t like.”
I gave him another chip and rubbed the side of his face before I turned around to leave, only to come face-to-face with Ben. I hadn’t spoken to him for an entire week since that day on the mountain. I’d seen him around a few times, mainly from a distance, but I was never within five feet of him like I was now.
Choosing to be a bitch, I crumpled up the empty chip bag and proceeded to make my way into Jack’s office. Peripherally, I could see that Ben was annoyed, but I was surprised he followed me into the room.
“Come on, Nova. Don’t give me the cold shoulder.”
I tossed the bag in the garbage, then washed my hands in the sink. I took my time, deciding if I should speak to him or not, and then grabbed a paper towel when I turned to face him. He was standing there with his hands in his pockets, but instead of indulging him in conversation, I tossed the paper towel and turned away to do some work.
“Oh, come on,” he complained again. “I’m really sorry, okay? What I said that day... Whatever you’re upset about, I’m sorry. I was a dick, I was out of line, and I know I don’t deserve your friendship, but I just want you to know...I really want it. I want to be friends with you.”
I let silence take over while I thought about his apology. It was decent—it felt sincere—so I really did feel obligated to accept it.
I turned around to face him again, ready to make amends, but also completely on the defensive. I didn’t want to be burned by him a second time.
“Okay, fine. Apology accepted. And I also apologize for saying things you weren’t man enough to hear.”
“You’re a brat, you know it? Just like that horse of yours. I think you two were a match made in heaven.”
“We must be kindred spirits,” I replied sarcastically.
“Maybe that was the connection you were feeling out there.”
His humor caught me off-guard, and I laughed.
Then he added, “That vibe must have just been floating around out there with the sweltering heat, but I surely hope the other vibe wasn’t coming from the horse, too.”
I tried not to laugh harder when I threw a box of tissues at him, and that’s when Austin came into the office. He said nothing, but Ben made a quick exit without a word either.
I picked up the box of Kleenex and set it back on the counter.
“Are you working?” he finally asked.
“Uh, yeah, just filling out some paperwork.” I sat down at the desk but turned my chair to face him. “Are you working?” I smiled, knowing he’d been doing bookwork for his dad.
“So, you’re working—getting paid—to have a few giggles with Ben?” he asked, instead of answering my question.
I stared at him, not at all liking his tone.
“I mean, I’m used to seeing you and Jack have a blast with each other,” he continued, “but I’m not used to seeing that. You know...having good times with the one person I’ve asked you to stay away from.”
“Don’t do this, Austin.”
“Don’t do what? Don’t be the boss?”
“Oh, so now this is business related? Okay then, I’m sorry, sir, for socializing while I’m on the clock. It won’t happen again.”
“Nova, don’t be a bitch.”
“Excuse me?” I scoffed with disbelief.
He sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
“Are you sure?” I asked carefully. “Because you seem really upset with me.”
“With Ben.”
“Why? He only apologized for being a prick to me last week.”
“So, what were you laughing about? What a total asshole he is?”
“Seems like you’re being the asshole. And I’m working, Austin. If you’re going to get on my case for fraternizing with Ben, then you’ll have to scold me for spending time on my personal life right now with you—”
“Don’t be like that.”
“Be like what? You challenge the one thing I take pride in—my work ethic—and use it against me.”
“That’s not—” He stopped short and then sighed. “I only said it out of frustration. It was stupid, and I’m sorry.”
“But it’s how you feel,” I stated.
He sat at the counter and rubbed his face with his hands. “Ben’s not even allowed in here,” he sighed. “After stealing so many of the drugs and stuff in here over the years, he’s not allowed to come in here. He knows that.”
I took a moment to consider that, and then sat across from him. “I understand. But I don’t believe he was even thinking about that when he followed me in here.” Austin gave me a curious look, so I added, “At first, I refused to talk to him.”
He slightly raised an eyebrow, but then chose to let it go. He reached across the counter to take my hands in his. “I’m sorry I reacted like that. It had nothing to do with you, and it was very unfair of me to talk to you that way. Professionally and personally. And please forgive me for calling you a bitch. That was truly uncalled for, and I’m so sorry for that.”
“I forgive you for calling me a bitch. Let’s be honest, I can wear that role well whenever I want. But how do I know you’re serious? You know, about the personal part of the apology.”
He slowly smiled but took the bait, and he was around to my side of the counter to kiss me in three seconds flat.
“I love you,” he said softly, holding me close.
“And I love you, too.”
He leaned his forehead against mine for a few seconds, and then gave me one last kiss. “I’ll see you tonight,” he said when he left the office.
I waved before he shut the door, and then sat at the desk again.
I thought about the past week since that day on the mountain. Austin and I only talked about Ben once, and that was the day after when he again asked what had made me upset while talking to Ben. I only said that Ben wouldn’t open up to me about his past, and that he’d tricked me into revealing some of mine.
Austin did end up filling me in about a few things, and I could see where all the different emotions were coming from. Especially Clara and Heath. Apparently, Ben had been stealing more than just the drugs in Jack’s office, but also money from the petty cash fund, and he’d even hocked a few items now and then. That all happened two years after Amy’s death, and Austin didn’t even know about it at the time. Dave and Marlo kept it quiet because the family was already going through so many struggles. Austin was still friends with Ben at that point, and he was for a few years after, but all Austin would say was that they “drifted apart.”
I didn’t want to be in a tricky situation by siding with one or the other, so I promised myself I would stay out of it.