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Nash glared at Noelle, probably regretting the fact that his brothers had offered her a job.

Knowing she was at risk of being fired on the spot for her audacity, she glared back. She felt too strongly about his odds of recovering to back down now. “Way too young,” she affirmed flatly. “He’ll be out of retirement soon. Mark my words.” Months of physical therapy after a riding accident in her teens had taught her a thing or two about miraculous comebacks. A little faith and a whole lot of can-do spirit could go a long way.

Triss Ward gave a tinkling laugh. “If my daughter says you’ll be riding broncs again, then you’ll be riding broncs again. She was once told she would never ride again either, and look at her now.”

“Yeah, look at me now.” Noelle glanced ruefully at the leg propped in front of her on the hospital bed. She wasn’t sure why her mother was tossing compliments around like candy in front of Nash. Behind closed doors, she rarely had anything kind to say.

Her mother ignored Noelle’s comment and went on to inform them that she and Mr. Ward would be hard to reach for the next month, since they were embarking on a tropical cruise. “Maybe we’ll drop by Dallas on our way home,” she cooed. She ended the call before Noelle could formulate a protest.

She stared darkly at the phone after it went silent. “That’s it. I’m moving to Antarctica next.”

“And leave me stranded again? Pretty sure that’s a violation of our new friendship pact.” Nash sounded so vehement that Noelle’s eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.

It was a few seconds before she could work up the courage to meet his gaze again. “I take it I still have a job at Canyon Creek Ranch?” She hated how uncertain she sounded. Her confidence in general had been shot to the floor in recent weeks.

“I’m not letting you off that easy, if that’s what you’re really asking.” His jaw hardened as he took a seat on the other side of the mattress. “What makes you so sure I’ll be riding broncs again?”

“Because it’s what you really want to do.” Sometimes things were as simple as that.

His glare eased a little. “It takes a lot of elbow grease to do what I do for a living. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m down an elbow.”

She lifted her chin. “I haven’t forgotten.”

He flicked his fingers irritably against the bed linens. “Why do you even care?”

“Because that’s what friends are for.” She didn’t have a better answer than that at the moment.

He gave a huff of disbelief. “As much as I’d like to believe that, something tells me you would’ve kept running if my brothers hadn’t offered you a job.”

She dropped her gaze. “Not without saying goodbye.”

“Again, why?”

“Because you were kind to me from the beginning.” She raised her head again. “You made small talk, held open doors, and grabbed a coffee with me before you even knew who I was.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake.

Nash’s handsome features twisted into a wary expression. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing. Sometimes I say dumb things when I’m this tired.” She started to slide her leg off the bed, no longer able to meet his gaze.

He reached out to plop his left hand down on the mattress, hemming her in. “I thought we agreed to be accountable to each other.” His voice was harsh. “To me, that implies some level of honesty.”

There you go, pulling the friendship card again!

“Fine.” She briefly closed her eyes. “Have you ever heard of Ward Accounting Solutions?”

“I think you know the answer to that.” He straightened. “Does that mean you’re related to the owner?”

She nodded wryly. “Denver Ward is my father.”

His expression grew shuttered. “Any particular reason the daughter of a multi-millionaire has been serving as a lowly horse trainer out in the boonies?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” She gave him a sad smile, knowing he was far from a pauper himself. “I think it’s safe to say you loco Carson brothers don’t keep climbing on bucking broncos for the money.”

He was silent for a long moment. “Nope,” he finally admitted. “I reckon it’s because it’s in our blood.”

“Bingo.” She pointed knowingly at him. “That’s exactly why you’ll be back in the saddle soon.”

CHAPTER 2: UPHILL BATTLES