Bossing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch #4) - Kennedy Fox Page 0,34
I can’t do either.
Chapter Eleven
Elizabeth
I cannot believe it’s already the end of June. Between helping with Gavin and Maize’s wedding and studying for my exam, this month has flown by.
The wedding was absolutely stunning, and Maize looked gorgeous. It was a small affair for a Bishop wedding with only one hundred guests, all made up of friends and family. The day was perfect—full of food, dancing, and a few tears of happiness. Grandma Bishop has already started asking them for more great-grandbabies, though I secretly hope Maize gets pregnant soon too. They’re so cute together, and we’re all thrilled they got their happily ever after.
Other than the wedding, I’ve done nothing but stay glued to my state board exam notes for the past four weeks. When my nose wasn’t in a book, Connor was quizzing me. He was a huge help and pushed me when I needed it the most.
Though I worked hard as hell, with his help, I proudly got a ninety-five, almost a perfect score. While I was in school, I worked under Connor’s license, but now that I’ve graduated, I had to wait. I’ve checked the mail every day for the past week but haven’t received my Authority to Practice letter yet.
Now that I’m done with everything, I don’t really know what to do with myself. It’s strange not to have a mile-long list of things to do. The sun has barely risen, and I’ve already had two cups of coffee. Mom and Dad worked the night shift, and Ethan’s out working on the ranch, so the house is quiet. After I eat some avocado toast, I realize how much my mind is wandering. The mail won’t come for at least another six hours, so I need to keep myself busy. Instead of pacing the house and driving myself crazy all day, I decide to do something I haven’t done in a long-ass time.
I go to my room and tidy up. Then I get dressed, brush my teeth, and put my hair up. By the time I’m ready to go, a half hour has passed.
“Where’re you goin’ so early?” Mom asks when I walk down the hallway, my boots clapping on the hardwood floor. I almost didn’t see her standing near the fridge. When she turns around, she looks exhausted, but she’s worked fifteen-hour shifts every day for the past week without a day off, so I don’t blame her.
“I think I’m gonna ride some trails,” I say.
“Really? You haven’t done that in years.”
I beam. “Yep, time to change that.”
After I say goodbye, I hop in my truck and drive over to the horse barn. It’ll be nice to clear my mind. When I was a teenager, I used to ride all the time, but I became obsessed with my grades once I entered high school. My parents stressed the importance of a high GPA, and they were right since it opened the doors for me to become a vet.
When I turn toward the B&B, I instantly smile. Instead of going straight to the stables, I stop in and grab a muffin.
“Where are you goin’?” Uncle John asks. He looks up at my cowgirl hat with a grin.
“Was thinking I’d go for a ride today,” I explain.
“It’s gonna be a good day for that. Won’t get too hot until one, and you’re early, so you might miss the extreme heat.”
“Perfect. I didn’t even check the weather,” I admit, taking a bite off the top of the muffin. “Need to clear my mind.”
“Ahh,” he says with a knowing nod. “It’s a good day for that too. Have fun. You need anything, lemme know. I think Grayson is out there getting ready for his morning lessons.”
“Great!” I leave out the back door and walk toward the barn. A few horses are already lined up, and I see Grayson brushing them.
“Hey, Elle. Surprised to see you here,” he greets.
“Has it really been that long?” I ask, trying to remember the last time I saw him.
I finish eating my muffin as he goes to the tack room and returns with some bridles. “If we’re talking about you riding, it’s been years I’d bet. Need somethin’?”
“Sadly, I think you’re right. Was thinking I’d ride down to the lookout.”
With a grin, he walks to the end stall and leads out an Arabian beauty. “You should take Spirit. She’ll keep you awake, and she runs like the wind.”
“Thanks.” I find myself smiling as I take the lead rope and move her out of Grayson’s