Page 21 of Cowboy SEAL Homecoming

He flipped her off and she laughed. It very nearly felt like having a brother, or what she’d imagined having a brother would be like. When she turned to face Gabe and Alex, they were staring at her somewhat openmouthed.

She ignored the errant thought she didn’t feel particularly sisterly to Alex, and she was step-related to him. “What?” she asked.

“We’ve been trying to convince Jack to get on that horse all damn day. It took you about three words.” Alex was frowning at her.

Becca flashed him a smile. “I bet you never tried to be nice.”

“He hates when people are nice to him,” Gabe returned.

“Well, apparently the thing he hates is the thing that got him up there.” She shrugged. “You’re welcome.”

“She’s smart,” Gabe said, somewhat in awe, as though he were surprised.

“And she’s right here,” Becca said. “You can stop talking about her as if she weren’t.”

Gabe laughed, good natured as ever. “Yes, ma’am.”

“So, when are you going to get on a horse?”

Gabe cleared his throat. “Today was Jack’s lesson.”

“Uh-huh. And what about you, Alex? Did you get on a horse, or did you just give Jack shit all day?”

Alex’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “I grew up here. I know how to ride a horse. I don’t need any lessons.”

“Really? Want to race?”

He took a step forward and opened his mouth to say something, but his leg seemed to give out a little bit on the hard step forward. He corrected quickly, but up until that point, she’d thought Alex completely healed of his injuries. He didn’t noticeably limp the way Jack and Gabe did. Clearly he was mostly healed, but that near stumble pointed to some residual effects.

“It’s almost dinnertime. It’s your turn, isn’t it?” Alex said, his voice flat and his expression inscrutable.

“It is indeed,” Becca returned, forcing a pleasant smile. “Come on, Pal,” she murmured to the horse, giving his reins a tug as she walked toward the barn. “Hope you like salad,” she yelled over her shoulder, hoping to get a laugh or a smile at least.

She got both from Gabe, neither from Alex. Not exactly a surprise.

Though she felt good about herself for helping get Jack on the horse, she was a little bit concerned about how she might have made Alex feel in regards to his injuries. She needed to be more careful. She couldn’t let the fact that the guys gave each other shit make her think she could do the same.

She didn’t know them as well as they knew each other. She didn’t know their vulnerabilities, though it was hard to imagine Alex having any. Still, she had to be more careful.

She took Pal into the stable and led him into his stall. She talked to the horse as she brushed and groomed him. Since she’d never had friends, had never actually gone to school, she had always talked to the horses. She’d participated in a few homeschool outings once she’d gotten older and Mom had finally relinquished some of her tight-fisted control, but the ranch animals had been her friends. It was a one-sided relationship, sure, but when it was all she had, she had to go with it. Had to get what satisfaction out of it she could.

“It’s not so one-sided, is it, baby?” she murmured, brushing Pal down. “But I do need to get better with actual people since actual people are going to be here.” Actual people. Mostly men. Soldiers. Hurting. Healing.

“I just have to remember no matter how obnoxious they are, I can’t provoke them. It isn’t fair.”

“Neither is treating us with kid gloves.”

Becca screeched and dropped the brush. She pressed a hand to her heart as she turned to find Alex walking toward her.

“Why are you eavesdropping on me?”

“Why are you talking out loud if you don’t want to be overheard?”

She turned back to face the horse, grabbing the brush and focusing on finishing the job. Brush, comb, wash. All while trying to fight the embarrassment swamping her. “I wasn’t talking about treating you with kid gloves,” she muttered.

“It’s exactly what you were doing.” He’d gotten closer, had to be standing at the entrance to Pal’s stall for his low voice to be that clear. “Unless you can explain some other reason why you think provoking us would be unfair.”

Becca frowned at Pal’s flank, trying to find the words that would refute that, but he had a point. Maybe she was talking about treating them differently, but there was a reason. A good one.