Take the Reins (A Cowboy's Promise #2) - Megan Squires Page 0,8
was the youngest. “You’re not shoeing yet, right?”
“No, I’m not shoeing yet. Don’t worry. I’m following doctor’s orders.”
“But you’re working for this guy?”
“Yes.” Josie was going to need another drink if her sister kept up with the inquisition. “I’m going to break his horses. And I’ll be staying on his property while I do it.”
“Do you think you should be working with animals already? You still have another month until that cast comes off.”
“I can start their training with one good arm. I need to make money, Carly. Plus, I’m starting to go stir crazy. I’m not good at being idle. You know that.”
“I get that. But you just made my point for me. You do need money and Brian owes you for what happened that night. Monetarily. If you would’ve just involved the police instead of handling things on your own…”
Well that certainly wasn’t going to happen. Yes, Josie noticed the way Brian had stumbled from his car, his legs tangling and feet tripping up like his shoes were two sizes too big. The dense smoke billowing from the hood of her crushed-beyond-repair vehicle did little to obscure his inebriation. Of course, he’d been drinking. She could even smell it on his breath as he wailed his apology over and over in a heartbreaking admission of guilt.
Shock hadn’t allowed her to register her own pain at that time. But Brian’s pain was clearly etched in the creases of his tired eyes and in the purple bags slung below them. If Josie had lost her soul mate in the way Brian had just weeks earlier, she figured the bar would’ve been her preferred hideout, too. She knew he’d drained his savings to pay for his fiancé’s funeral, a memorial every citizen of Riverburn had attended. Cancer was an unforgiving evil that had just upended his marriage, his bank account, and his future. Josie was not going to turn the remains of his shattered life on its head. She just couldn’t do it.
“From here on out, talking about the accident is off limits.” Throwing her head back, Josie depleted the last of her drink and slammed the bottle down before pushing up from the dining table. “Got it?”
“Yeah,” Carly relented. “Got it.”
She followed Josie the few feet to the sink where she settled her empty bottle in the basin that housed a Jenga-like pile of dirty plates and dishes. With her backside pressed against the counter, Carly folded her arms and squinted out the window, a look of curiosity crossing over her face. “You expecting company, sis?”
“Nope. I wasn’t even expecting yours.” Josie jabbed her sister with an elbow and when she didn’t budge, Josie followed her gaze through the curtained window on the opposite wall of the trailer.
“Then who is that?”
“Speak of the devil,” Josie grumbled before grabbing the handle to the screen door and flinging it open.
“Which one?” Carly wondered aloud, hot on her sister’s heels. “We were talking about a few different devils. Marcie. Brian.” Carly bumped her shoulder into Josie’s once she caught up and added, “And from what I can see, the only thing devilish about that man is his good looks.”
Eyes rolling so far she feared they’d get stuck, Josie grunted. “What on earth is he doing here?”
Right then, Seth looked up through the windshield and when his eyes met Josie’s, something a whole lot like butterflies expanded in her stomach. What on earth was that all about? She knew she shouldn’t’ve downed that beer without a little something in her belly first.
“You forgot this,” Seth said with a grin as he exited his truck and paced toward the two women—one with her mouth agape in unabashed gawking and the other with her lips pursed so tightly they’d almost turned white. “Your hat,” he clarified in an unsure voice as he passed off the ball cap in question. “Thought you might need it.”
“Could’ve waited until tomorrow.” Josie jammed the hat onto her head and when she felt the daggers her sister shot through a silent yet judgmental expression, she ground out a reluctant, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Seth flipped his attention toward Carly who was still all smiles. “Hey there, I’m Seth. A friend of Josie’s.”
“Carly,” she answered in a rush. “A sister of Josie’s.”
“Welp.” Josie clamped her hands together. “Thanks for the hat, Seth. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow—”
Seth sidestepped around her. “This is your trailer?”
Josie delivered a softer version of the sarcastic remark that wanted to fly out. “Yep. That’d be the one.”