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A drill sounded next to my ear as I held Jasper’s head for Doc, the local veterinarian. Jasper’s sleepy head rested heavily on my shoulder as my back ached and my head pounded in time with the drill.
“He has some bad points in there,” Doc said. He looked at me, his headlamp blinding me.
“He’s been dropping a lot of feed lately.” My eyes scrunched closed and I shifted his heavy head.
“Almost done.” He finished with the power tool, rinsed Jasper’s mouth, and did one final check. The mouth speculum clicked close and he slipped it off Jasper’s head so he could check Jasper’s front teeth. “He’s all good, now. He should be able to eat much better with those sharp points taken off.” I nodded as I wiped my hands on my jeans. He proceeded to fill out his notes and handed me an invoice. It was higher than I expected, but Kaleb had advanced more than enough to cover it. I sighed as I handed him the cash. Horses were expensive.
“You have a nice group of horses.” He folded the cash into his back pocket. “When you get the therapeutic riding stable up and running, let me know. I’d love to help you out.”
“Thanks, that means a lot. Horses are always trying to injure themselves.” I shook his weathered hand.
“Don’t I know it.” He laughed. “My wife keeps rescuing more from the kill pens every weekend. We now have more horses than cows on the place.” He grabbed his equipment and headed out to the vet truck.
I closed Jasper into a stall so he could wake up without hurting himself and rubbed his forehead. “Well, old boy, you’ll be able to eat better.” His head hung to his knees as he slept off his sedation.
Whistling, Pete strode into the barn, throwing some hay to the horses that were awake from their procedures. He paused to rub his horse, Gaston, on the nose and whisper in his ear. Melanie found herself a good one in that man. He was kind and gentle. A pang pushed through my heart. I wish I had that, but the one man that was able to hold my interest was unavailable. Oh, how I wished things were different. He was at the Kisment house with Veronica; while, I was out here, perpetually single.
“Hey Dee,” Pete approached where I was rubbing Jasper’s head. “Are you going back to the ranch tonight?” I nodded. “Great. Can you give him this?” He handed me a large white envelope that was thick and heavy. My eyebrow quirked at it. “It’s an engagement party invite. Melanie has yours.” Pete said.
“Sure, no problem,” I said. I looped Jasper’s lead rope around the hook on the door. “When are you able to take the horses back to Lindsay’s?”
“I was planning on tomorrow if you want to help,” he said.
I nodded and turned to the door.
“A bunch of us are heading to Cowboy’s Bar this evening for the band. You and Kade are welcome to join us.” Pete drug a hose over to fill a bucket of water for Jasper.
I raised my eyebrow at him. “We aren’t a couple.”
“I know... Tell Kaleb too if it makes you feel better.” He whistled as the water splashed into the empty bucket.
VERONICA CHITTERED on and on while I attempted to concentrate on the bulls bucking on the TV. I rubbed at the headache brewing at my temple. The overhead fan whooshed around, spreading the stagnant air of the closed-up house. Our trip to town was short and sweet. Sunnydale was small and didn’t have much for entertainment. Veronica didn’t want to go to the cattle sale barn and watch the sale today, or stop at Susie’s Café, or go to the park to watch the baseball game in progress. We stopped at the pharmacy that also sold alcohol and tacos. Then, headed home which was how I ended up in the living room watching TV while she talked to fill the silence. I couldn’t concentrate on what she was saying because my leg pounded from the pain, counting the seconds until the medications kicked in. Shifting in my seat, I leaned against the back of the couch.
Delilah flounced into the house, her hair swinging with each step as the screen door slammed behind her. Outside, the wind whipped against the house, causing it to groan and shudder.
“A storm is coming,” she drawled. She moved through the living room to the hallway to Kate’s room. “By the way,” she stuck her head back into the living room, tossing me a large envelope. “People are going to Cowboy’s tonight. You’re invited...Did you take your medications?”
“Yes, mother.” I rolled my eyes at her, catching the envelope with one hand. “What’s this?”
“An invite for Pete and Melanie’s engagement party.” She smirked before disappearing into the other room.
“A night out will be fun.” Veronica clapped her hands together. “When are we going to go?”
“Usually the band starts at seven or eight,” I said, watching the fan blades circle.
Veronica squeaked.
I winced. The pounding in my head increased to a blinding pain. “I’m going to my room.” I reached for my crutches and hopped toward my bedroom. The door to Katie’s room was cracked. Delilah sat in the middle of the bed hunched over a laptop. Her fingers flew over the keys with rapid clicks. I tapped the bottom of the door with the end of my crutch, causing the door to swing in more.
“Are you going?” My voice cracked and I cleared my throat.
Her head snapped up. “I don’t know. You’re taking Veronica?”
“Um...”
“It’s fine. I don’t know if I’m going. I have some things to do in town, so I’ll see when I get done and how I feel.”
She went back to typing on her computer. I wanted to tell her how there was nothing between Veronica and me. The only girl I wanted to go out with was her. The words caught as a tangled ball of yarn in my throat: scratchy and immovable. My shoulders sagged and I turned back to head to my room across the hall.
“Dee, I would like you to come,” I said softly before shutting the door behind me.
By the time Veronica drove Kaleb and me to the bar, it was crowded. The band set up on a stage above the sawdust-covered dance floor. Several people leaned up against the wooden bar that ran against the back wall. Pete waved at us from a booth in the back corner. He had his other arm slung around a cute brunette. Damien sat next to him, nursing a beer.
“I see some people I need to talk to.” Kaleb patted me on the back before slipping into the crowd.
“Veronica, these are my friends, Pete and Damien.” I nodded to each.
She extended a well-manicured to each man. The brunette slid over closer to Pete, extending her hand.
“I’m Melanie. Delilah said you are staying at the ranch.” Melanie pulled Veronica into a conversation while she slid closer to Pete. Damien retrieved a chair, so I didn’t have to slide into the booth, which would’ve been hard with my cast. My eyes searched the sea of faces. My heart dropped when I couldn’t find the one person that I wanted to be here. Pete and Damien grinned at me when I turned back to the table.
“Are you looking for someone in particular?” Damien leaned his elbows on the table. His empty glass resting between them.
“Or are you just stretching your neck?” Pete quipped, before stretching his arms behind his head. I didn’t know what to say to either one. Both grinned at me with that mischievous twinkle in their eyes. A pang hit my chest. I missed my two best friends. We had been friends since grade school when Damien’s family moved to town. I propped my bad leg on the edge of the booth.
“Nah, I’m just looking for Damien’s next date.” I shot back.
Damien snorted and Pete waved down a waitress. He held up five fingers. “I don’t date, man. You know that.” Damien muttered, mock glaring at me.
“You’re missing out on the best part of life.” Pete drew Melanie to his side and kissed her full on the lips. She blushed a deep pink before wrapping her hands around his neck and kissing him back. I was happy for Pete, and a little jealous. Veronica’s eyes bore holes into me. I caught her gaze and the corner of my mouth tipped up. Lindsay carried a tray with five beers over my head to set it down on our table.
“I didn’t know you worked here, too.” I grabbed a beer and handed her a couple of dollars.
“Yep, gotta make ends meet.” She pocketed the change and passed out the rest of the glasses. “I might take up boarding horses, though.” She snapped her gum. “If all horses are as easy as Delilah’s”
“Delilah’s?” Confusion clouded my mind. I glanced at the rest of the group, but they didn’t seem bothered by Lindsay’s comment and had moved on to other conversations.
Lindsay shrugged. “Yep, those ten horses are loving life on my uncle’s ranch. My old horse is enjoying their company.”
“Ten?” I felt like a broken record.
She nodded and hurried away to another table. The band started playing country songs. Pete drew Melanie onto the floor where they two-stepped and spun around. I sipped my drink while Damien stared down into his glass, watching the bubbles rise to the surface. Veronica slid closer to me. I could tell she wanted to dance, but I was still in a cast and not very stable. Again, my eyes searched the room for the one person I couldn’t find. The song changed to a slow, romantic beat. Couples swayed on the dance floor as the lights dimmed.
“Kade, what’s going on with us?” Veronica whispered, shooting looks over at Damien, who was staring out at the crowd with a scowl on his face. I turned towards her. I drew in a big breath about to answer when she placed her finger on my lips. “Let me continue first, I thought we had some sparks or something. But I realized I was wrong. I wish there were something between us. But you look at Delilah like the world revolves around her.” My mouth opened and closed like a fish. “Is there anything between us?”
I shook my head. “I love you like a sister, and I care for you and little Claire because of Ben.” She stood up and wrapped me in a hug. I hugged her back.
“Then go talk to her.” She whispered as tears glistened in her eyes.
What was with everyone and telling me to talk to Delilah? At that moment, Delilah walked into the room. Our eyes met over Veronica’s shoulder. Delilah’s gaze hardened. She squeezed her way up to the bar to talk to Lindsay.
“I’m going home. I miss Claire. You take care, Kade Kisment. And don’t forget to visit us soon.” Veronica wiped away a tear, kissed my cheek, and walked to the door.
My emotions rolled. She knew, and I think everyone knew, except for me and Delilah. I gathered my crutches and made my way to the bar. Delilah leaned against the bar, flirting with a cowboy from another ranch. I elbowed my way in between them, cutting off the cowboy with a stare.
“Dee, we need to talk,” I leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“No.” She glared at me before placing her drink on the bar.
“Yes.” I grabbed at her hand to keep her attention on me.
“Give me a good reason to talk to you instead of him.” She gestured to the lanky cowboy next to me. I glanced at him. He tipped his hat back on his head and smiled broadly at me.
“You drive me crazy... just come outside.” I tugged on her hand, catching her gaze. She stood still at that moment, her eyes searching my face.
“Okay.” She left a couple of bills on the counter. I smirked at the cowboy before I maneuvered both of us through the crowd as best as I could with the crutches, meaning I didn’t smash anyone’s toes or spill anyone’s beer.
The night air was cool and brisk, the stars twinkled in the sky, and a full moon lit up the parking lot. A couple of smokers vacated a bench when I came out. I hobbled over to it, nodding to them. I sank onto the rough-hewn wood and leaned my head against the block building. Cars flew by on the highway not far away. A couple argued by their truck and another couple kissed under a large palm tree. She blocked out the light from the moon as she stared down at me.
“What do you want to talk about?” She crossed her arms over her chest. The plaid shirt gaped showing a white tank underneath. I dragged my eyes up to her large brown ones. The mascara and eyeliner made them larger than ever. I missed the way they seem to peer into my soul. I cleared my throat.
“Do you want to sit next to me?” I slid over on the bench and she perched on the edge. “Veronica and I aren’t together.” Her eyebrows went up, but she didn’t say a word. I swallowed against the lump in my throat and continued. “Her husband, Ben, was my traveling partner on the circuit... A bull made creamed corn out of his body...and ... I made a promise to him... to take of care her and Claire.” Tears threatened as I thought about that day, the horribleness of the accident, and how fast he died. The words lodged in my throat. Delilah reached for my hand and stroked it with one long finger. “She is like a sister to me.” I managed to croak out.
She wrapped me in a hug as I fought to keep my emotions together. “So not a current or ex-girlfriend?”
I shook my head.
“That’s good. She was irritating the snot out of me. Hovering but not doing anything to help,” she said with fire flashing in her eyes.
“She probably never had to care for a sick person before. Ben was very smart with their money. Both of his girls are set for life.”
“Why do you have to care for them, then?” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and folded her feet under her.
“Veronica isn’t good with money. I take care of their finances and provide emotional support for both her and her daughter. It isn’t easy to lose someone.” I drew back to stare into her eyes. The swirling browns and golds pulled me in as time stood still.
“I know. I lost you,” she whispered. She leaned into me. Her lavender perfume engulfed me. Her full, pink lips parted inches from mine. With my heart hammering in my chest, I closed the gap and pressed against her. It was soft and slow, just a connection. Our lips moved against one another, rekindling a passion that was burned a long time ago. She pulled back from me. My fingers ran down her scalp to tangle in her black hair.
“Why do you need money so bad?” I asked, I had to know why.
“What?” Her forehead wrinkled as confusion colored her eyes.
“I overheard you and Kaleb talking the other day.” I brushed my fingers over her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. Swallowing, I attempted to get the right words out to ask her about the money and the horses. “I assumed he is paying you to be my nurse, but why did you need an advance?” Her eyes snapped open as she leaned away from me. The loss of her warmth left me shivering. Wrong words, Kade. I wanted to take them back the minute I said them.
“I made a rash decision and now have to deal with the consequences.” She twirled a bit of hair around her finger, not looking me in the eye.
“But tell me why. I might be able to help you.” I grasped at the hand to still it, silently begging her to tell me what was going on. She stared at me for a long time, so long that I wasn’t sure she was going to answer. She turned in her seat and brushed her hair back.
“Melanie and I are starting a therapeutic riding stable.” Her shoulders drooped. “We had everything ready until Mr. Giffery died. Then, we had to start over. He was putting up the money for us and the land.” Her spine straightened and she looked me in the eye, challenging me.
“But why do you need the money so bad?” I thought she had a great job in the hospital.
“I quit my job.” Her eyes got wide and frantic. “I can’t go back. I have anxiety attacks just thinking about going back to work in the hospital. Then Kaleb said I could take care of you for the amount I need.” She smiled at me slyly. “As long as you follow the doctor’s orders.”
I didn’t know what to say. She always tended to downplay how bad things were. With the little she told me, she must be hard up for cash and all to start a therapeutic riding stable.
“For kids?” I set my arm around the back of the bench to bring her in closer to me.
“Yep.” She scrolled through her phone and pulled up pictures of a little girl with pigtails on a little brown pony.
“She sure is cute,” I said, an ache settled deep inside of me.
“They make everything worth it.” She gazed at the photo with love and my heart constricted for her. I pulled her into my arms and held her. This woman was everything my heart needed. All I had to do was convince her of it. Music floated through the open doors of the bar. She sighed and leaned her head against me as the stars twinkled in the night sky.