Page 3 of Stirring Up Trouble (Saddle Up #1)

"I'm not here to placate you. If anything, I'm the person who's supposed to keep it real.

You have to trust that I'm going to be honest no matter what.

It's what you asked for when you brought me on.

I could be off with my own family working on the farm.

You know it's my favorite time of year. Picking season means all the ladies in skimpy tank tops and jean shorts show up.”

She sighed as if picturing them. While Leslie was bisexual, she liked to say she was about ninety-five percent gay.

That other five percent was reserved for a certain athlete, namely Bellamy Bellport, and movie star Ean Garner.

She’d met the former while on a trip with me to visit Maddox.

As for Ean, she was just obsessed with his movies.

Considering both of those men were gay and in long-term relationships, I often reminded her she didn’t stand a chance with them. Even when I argued that logic with her, she told me that I should shut up and let her have her fantasy.

So I have. Who am I to rain on her parade other than a caring friend who doesn't want her to be so delusional?

Leslie would do whatever Leslie wanted.

I nodded my head towards the gates. She fell into step without me having to say a word. That was the great thing about our friendship.

Sometimes words weren't even necessary. We were close enough to not need them. I knew that she had my back, which is exactly why I asked her to call in that favor to the Colemans.

“Did they say when they'd get here?” I question once we were in the office. I grabbed my checklist for the day and a pen to mark off the mile-long list.

“Probably late tonight. Maybe tomorrow morning.”

I scowled. “Did you ask them where they’re going to stay? Or maybe suggest a place?”

She bit her lip and looked at me through her lashes. “I was kind of hoping you'd take them in, you know, since this is for you.”

I set the clipboard down on the desk and placed my hands on the wood top. The feel of it calmed me as I stared my friend down.

“You want me to take in some complete strangers onto my family property after just having the biggest scandal this county has ever seen? What kind of shit is that going to stir up?”

She leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms.

“It could stir up a number of things, but that's not our problem.

You asked me to find people, and I did. Now we can try and put them in a bed and breakfast, but that's just going to eat into costs. You have plenty of room in that big ol’ house of yours.

I know for a fact that Ms. Connie would love to cook for those people.

She's all about accepting anyone and everyone.” She paused.

“The real problem here is your comfort level.”

I opened my mouth to correct her. She raised a hand in my direction to tell me to stop.

“Don't try to placate me and say you're fine.

We both know you would much rather be in that house alone until you're cranky and barely able to walk around.

I'm not asking you to fall in love with one of the men.

I'm simply saying that you could give them somewhere to sleep at night while they break their backs to make sure this thing goes well.”

I took a deep breath as I let her words settle over me. She was right. I did have to get past my discomfort of having others around. If they weren't specifically vetted by me, I always worried they were up to no good.

Considering how many people my stepfather brought around that were exactly that, it wasn't a far-fetched idea. And to be honest, my family name used to hold prestige. People would come around wanting a piece of us in some way. It wasn't unheard of for them to try and run a con.

This wasn't the case for these guys though. They were doing me a favor just like Leslie said. And it would definitely encourage them to work harder if Ms. Connie fed them. Her cooking could turn anyone’s bad mood around.

It would also ensure that they show up on time because they would just ride with me or Leslie to the arena every day.

She’d agreed to help me out with the rodeo if she could stay in one of the guest rooms. I’d easily accepted the ultimatum because her family would rope her into working with them if she remained on their land.

It benefited me to keep her close, even when she was a fucking pain in my ass.

Decision made, I nodded once in her direction.

“Fine. I'll set it all up. Let me call Ms. Connie so she can make up their rooms. I know she'll be more upset with me if I bring people home unannounced than if I don't.”

Leslie chuckled. “Let me get out of here then and start on that list of yours. I don't want to hear her bite your head off about a last-minute change.”

I placed the clipboard into her extended hand as I waved her out of the office. I heard her whistle a tune as she left. Though I couldn’t place the song, its mournful melody was enough of a tease to know she was poking fun at me again.

Ignoring Leslie’s taunt, I called Ms. Connie.

“You just left here, boy. What do you need?”

I chuckled at the bark in her tone. “I’ve got a favor to ask…”