Page 16 of Save A Horse (Texas Rose Ranch #1)

Daisy

I ran into my room, plopping on the bed. I pulled my legs up to my chest and let myself cry for a little bit. I hadn’t cried in so long- not since my mom’s funeral. I wasn’t an emotional person like this, and I hated crying. I sat up on the bed, letting the tears I had left flow down my face.

His words echoed, ‘He told me to leave you be. He told me that I was to leave you alone…I wasn’t supposed to let anything happen between us. This was supposed to be strictly business.’

How could Colt do this? How could he not even bother to tell me?

He asked me out. If he made a promise like that and had an intention of keeping it, then why did he ask me to the bar?

Why did he dance with me? Why did he touch me or kiss me…

more than once? This was on him. He was at fault, not me.

I only followed the signs. I guess the only thing I could blame myself for was letting my guard down.

I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling the weight of his words. What kind of promise is that? Why would his dad ask him to make a promise like that in the first place? That part didn’t make any sense. I couldn't wrap my head around it .

The memories of our laughter and smiles as kids when we played, talked, rode horses together, and went for a joy ride in his truck came flooding back.

How could we ever go from that to this? It didn’t seem real.

All the sweet memories we shared were now overshadowed by this one.

.. this one stupid thing that might just be the absolute breaking point.

The room was quiet, but inside I felt a storm passing through.

I wanted to scream but knew not to because the Lord only knew what Walt would do in that case.

There would be no denying that something was wrong then.

I wish Colt could see how I was last night.

I wish he could see how I have been when riding through the fields with him while I’ve been here and feel how I have felt.

Maybe then he would see how much he means to me.

Even after all these years apart, Colt was still a steady presence. But now, I wonder how much longer he will hold a place in me. The fear of losing him again broke my heart, and all I could do was cry.

I finally went into the bathroom, wiping away my tears.

I cleaned my face and gave myself a little pep talk, taking a deep breath.

‘You’ve got this. You’re strong. You’ve gone through a lot harder than this and still came out on the other side.

’ I took another slow, deep breath and walked outside, stopping myself for a moment on the porch to feel the breeze.

“Hey, Daisy.” I looked at Walt standing there with his dog, Hank. “I’m headed to give the cows some hay. Come along. You can help unload.”

“Yes, sir.”

I was happy about the distraction. Somehow, Walt was always right on time, and I appreciated it. We drove to the field, Hank sitting in the back and wagging his tail. I rubbed his head, him clearly enjoying himself.

I walked over to the bed of the truck where Walt was tossing bales of hay onto the ground.

Hank was running, barking excitedly at the sight of the cows in the distance.

The thudding of the hay hitting the ground was oddly soothing.

For the first time since I’ve been here, I was thankful that there was so much work to be done.

“Come on, Daisy! Grab a bale!” I did as Walt instructed, making sure to drop the bales where he wanted me to. It felt good to be out here and away from everything. It was good to be away from Colt right now.

I reached for another bale, feeling its roughness.

I let out a grunt with the weight of the bale pressed against my chest as I walked it to the fence where some of the cows were now coming closer.

I tossed the hay down, letting the animals come even closer to the food.

For a moment, I forgot about everything.

“Look at them go!” I turned to Walt, seeing a slight smile on his face.

I wondered how many times he has smiled since Ivy passed.

After losing my mom, I could only imagine what it would feel like losing your absolute best friend.

That must have been so hard on Walt. I knew it was hard on my dad, especially with how sudden it was.

I couldn’t help but smile, though, loving the fact that I could see Walt like this. Maybe he needed this as much as I did.

“Thanks for this.” I glanced at Walt. “I needed a break.”

“Hey now. This is still work.” He slightly smiled at me, and I gave him one back. In that moment, I felt a little lighter, and I saw Walt in a different light.

We stood by the fence for a while longer, watching the cows munch on the hay, enjoying every bite. I smiled as I watched them, their movements bringing me a bit of calmness. I thought of how I used to do this with my dad. I always enjoyed those times, and sometimes, I wish I could have them back.

“I used to do this with my dad. ”

“I remember." He paused for a moment. "He’s a good man.”

“Yeah. He is.”

“It’s not hard to be a little jealous, is it?”

“Hm?”

“They get to take it easy and just enjoy life.”

“Yeah, they do.”

“That must be nice.”

“Walt, can I ask you something?” He turned to look at me. “Do you ever think about retiring?”

“Does your dad ever think about it?”

“I wouldn’t know what he thinks about.” I hadn't had a good, heart to heart conversation with my dad in a long time.

“You haven’t spoken to him in a while.” It was a statement rather than a question.

“He is proud of you, you know. He just wants you to be happy.” I was unsure what to say to him.

“But to answer your question, I do think about it sometimes. Honestly, though, I would still want to stay here...maybe live in the cabin at the far end of the ranch. I’d still do work around here, but…

I think Colt could handle the responsibility of taking on this place.

” I nodded, still unsure what to say to him. “Do you think so?”

“I don’t know if I’m the best person to ask about this.”

“You two were friends growing up. I know you didn’t come around as often after…you know…but almost sixteen years of a friendship like the two of you had has to count for something. You don’t spend that much time with someone and not learn things.”

“He’d take this on. This is where he’s meant to be.”

“Well, we should head back to the house before it gets any later. I don’t know about you, but I’m about to starve out. What do you say we go to the house and grab a sandwich? You have to keep up your appetite for everything else we have to accomplish today.”

“Good thinking.”

We got back in the truck, Hank taking his place in the back seat.

He was so well-trained. We didn’t talk on the way back, so it gave me time to think about what Walt said.

‘Almost sixteen years of friendship like the two of you had has to count for something. You don’t spend that much time with someone and not learn things.

’ I knew Colt. Even after this time, I was sure I still knew him.

You don’t just get up one day and change everything about yourself.

Being back here, I have slowly seen that same boy I wanted to spend every minute with come out and open up to me again.

It was like our friendship was a flower needing water, and it was starting to bloom again.

But what was I going to say to Colt? I honestly had no idea.

Maybe all I needed to do was give him time to explain.

I still couldn’t believe Walt asked him to promise him something like that, and I couldn’t believe that Colt had agreed.

I wasn’t sure how I’d react to any sort of explanation from Colt, but if he offered one, I would at least listen.

Forgiveness would be hard, no matter what his reasoning might be.

And if he didn’t come to me to explain, then I would know that whatever happened between us was a one-time thing, and I would let it go, keeping this summer as what was meant to be…strictly business.

As we approached the house, I could feel my stomach growling. Walt parked the truck next to the house, and he opened the door for me.

“Thank you.” He opened the door of the house for me, too, and there was never a time I could remember when Walt ever let Rose, or any other woman, open their door if he had any kind of say .

“I’ll grab the bread, cheese, and lunch meat.

You get the fixins?” I nodded, knowing exactly what he meant and what I wanted.

I grabbed the mayonnaise, tomato, and lettuce from the fridge, then sliced and cut up everything.

I could taste the sandwich; I was so hungry.

Walt put out two plates with the start of a sandwich for each of us, and I layered on the toppings.

“Good?”

“Didn’t you get the pickles?”

“No, but I will.”

“You can’t have a sandwich without a good pickle on the side. I canned them myself. They’re good. You have to try them.” I got a fork out from the drawer and dipped it in the jar, pulling out a few and adding them to my plate. I ate one of them.

“They are good.”

“Come on, now. Don’t be stingy with them. Pass me the jar.” I did and took a bite from my sandwich, hearing a small whimper. We both turned to look at Hank, who was sitting by the door. “His food is in there by the door. There’s a scoop already in it. Get him one."

“Of course. We can’t forget about you, Hank.” I scooped up some food and poured it into Hank’s food bowl. He went to eat as soon as the first bit of kibble hit the bowl.

“Looks like he is as hungry as we are.”