heels.” Her mother seemed overjoyed at the idea, even though there was no way that was actually going to happen. “You’re not going to wear that shirt, are you?”
Liv’s fingers ran down the stripes and she let out a nervous laugh. That was more than enough henpecking for the morning. “How about I promise to tell you every last detail if you just let me get on my way.”
Momma pinched her daughter’s cheeks and slapped her on the backside. “Well, I suppose I can agree to that. Now get out of here before you’re late.”
Laughing, Liv went outside and loaded up the old convertible with her photography equipment. She knew better than to think that this was anything but business, especially with West breathing down her neck, but she certainly didn’t want to rain on Momma’s parade. After their scare with their finances last night, a distraction—no matter how embarrassing—was exactly what they needed.
The drive to the Slade’s cattle ranch wasn’t far at all, and Liv wished for more time to pull herself together as she headed down the dirt road to the old homestead. She’d spent countless hours down here with West, and later with the boys. So strange how everything had changed three years ago when West had decided he’d had enough. A few maples here and there and a creek broke up the pasture that cut across the powder blue horizon that was fuzzed with graying clouds. A storm loomed further out, near the mountains by Old Man Funch’s place. When they were teenagers, Ray Funch had chased them out plenty of nights from his cornfields and forests.
She looked down at her phone to see that River had texted: Meet me at the barn.
Her heart twisted painfully at the familiar meeting place. West had asked her to marry him there. What an agonizing trip down memory lane. The highly functional, slate gray horse barn was situated near four acres of pasture. She parked her car under the lean-to overhang—a storm was coming and she didn’t want the open convertible to be caught in the rain. Liv pushed open the door as it loudly growled on its hinges, stepping out onto the loose dirt of the driveway. Her pulse beat out an erratic rhythm when she saw River Mackenzie lead a horse out from the barn. In those boots and ripped jeans, he looked part rock, part country star. He raised a casual arm in greeting. Those biceps she’d noticed yesterday bulged against his sleeves.
Immediately she raised her camera to capture what she could. Instead of a cowboy hat, he wore a black ball cap that shielded his face from the bright glint of the morning sun. He glanced over at the dark clouds on the horizon, and she caught the sharp angle of his jaw. Of course, his fans would eat these shots up. She was, too. Girl, get a hold of yourself.
He circled back to her and grinned. “Well, well, Liv Bridges. You don’t waste a second.”
She sheepishly lowered her camera and felt an embarrassed smile slip past her. “I can’t let a good moment go to waste.” At least West was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she’d get this done before he showed up. She approached the hulking chestnut mare on a leading rein, pressing a gentle hand against the sinewy neck. “This is Bartleby,” River said.
Ah, this was her son’s mare then. His horse was named after the cat in True and the Rainbow Kingdom. She decided not to point that out. “You ride?”
“Not well. I was a farmer’s son. We mostly grew up with tractors and four wheelers.”
Finally, something she could show him up on. The Slade family had shared their barn of animals with their neighbors, which was partly how she’d grown so close to West. She rubbed Bartleby’s mane. “You call yourself a country boy?” she teased.
He grinned in response. “You can ride?”
“I know my way around a horse.”
“I figured with the way you were dressed.” His gaze went to her boots and lingered on her legs before they made their way to her face, not in an obnoxious perusal, but he was definitely being flirtatious. He winked. “You make a cute cowgirl. Maybe you can show me the ropes?”
“No, no.” She shook her head, her heart pleading with her, but she adamantly refused to go there. Instead, she made up an excuse. “I’m not letting you break your pretty little neck before you pay me.”
“Oh, it’s all about money, is