He catches up to me. “Hey, I’m sorry. I’m just looking out for you. If you say she’s the real deal, I’ll back off.”
“She’s the real deal.”
“Fine. I won’t say another word.”
We ride in silence to the next watering hole. Quinn may be from a crappy crime-ridden family, but he’s the closest thing to a brother I’ve ever had. “I haven’t told her about Cam because if she knew my secrets, she’d feel pressured to tell me hers. I think she may be running from an abusive ex. Then again, she told me last night that she’s never had a boyfriend. She’s been through the wringer, for sure. Someone like her doesn’t just end up on the streets.”
“She was homeless?”
I instantly regret saying anything. Though I trust him like a brother, I don’t want him viewing her differently. “You have to promise you’ll never repeat that or make her feel like any less of a person. If you do, I’ll kick your ass into next week, and you’ll look far worse than any bucking bronc would leave you.”
He grins. “Oh, you think you can kick my ass?”
“I’ve done it once. I’ll do it again.”
“I was seventeen. I’m older and bigger now.”
“Yeah, but I was fifteen at the time. Pretty embarrassing for you, if I recall.”
“You’re goddamn right it was. But somehow I ended up supplying you with weed and buying you a phone.”
“It’s my charm. Nobody can resist it.”
We reminisce about our sordid past on the way to our next stop.
After we drop off the samples and the horses at the main ranch, I thank him. “You don’t have to keep helping me around here. I’m sure you have better things to do.”
“I don’t have better things to do. Why do you think I’m here all the time? Hey, speaking of that, do you think Maddox would mind if I crashed in one of the empty apartments for a while?”
“Sick of living in your mom’s guest house?” I narrow my eyes. “You could rent anything you want. Why live here?”
“Maybe I like being around people who don’t treat me like a pariah.”
“I’ll talk to him. I’m sure it’ll be okay.”
“Thanks.” He looks at his phone. “And just so you know, I may have better things to do after all.”
“Like?”
“Like going to flight school, baby.”
“You’re serious about this?”
“As serious as a fat man at a buffet, brother.”
I imagine how great it would be to offer VIP flights and helicopter tours. It would put DHR on the map of private ranch destinations. I can’t wait to tell Devyn.
Chapter Eighteen
Devyn
“You’re getting good,” Aaron says as I ride Jasmine around the paddock.
For weeks, he’s been giving me riding lessons on my days off. Jasmine is one of the smaller, gentler mares, and she’s been very patient with me. I walk her in a circle, then turn and go the opposite direction.
Andie gives me a thumbs-up from the other side of the paddock. She’s been trying to be my friend. I know she means well, but I’m not sure I’m ready for friends like her. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.
Aaron helps me down off Jasmine, and we walk her back to her stall. I glance around in thought. “Is it expensive to build a stable?”
“Depends. One like this, yes. Why?”
“You should have one at the lodge. You’re always having to take an ATV over here and move horses back to the lodge for the guests. If you had a stable there, wouldn’t it be more efficient? And there are plenty of ranch hands to swing by and feed them or whatever. Think of when you’re booked solid—you know it’s going to happen. The lodge is getting more popular. It sure would make things easier.”
He smiles. “Don’t lie. You just want to be able to go riding whenever you want, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I also think it’s good for business.”
“You’re right. I’ve been turning over similar ideas in my head. Maybe we could work on it together.”
“I think I might like that.”
“Devyn!” Andie sees me from the south stable and rushes over. “You should join me Sunday by the pool. It’s my only day off, and I like to make Maddox feel like building it last year wasn’t a wasted investment.” She leans close. “I think he just likes to watch me walk around in a bikini.”
“Pool? I don’t, uh, swim.”
“That’s okay. You can lie out and get some sun while keeping me company.”
“Sunday is a turnover day. I’m usually pretty busy.”
“No guests are arriving until Wednesday,” Aaron says. “You don’t need to get everything done Sunday.”
“Still—”
“Come on. It’ll be fun,” Andie says. “Besides, I always swim during Vivian’s nap. It’ll be boring without you. What do you say?”
Aaron gives me an encouraging nod. I know how much he wants me to be friends with his friends. I guess he’s never had occasion to test their loyalty. He’s never found out that with some friends, you’d be better off with enemies.
“What time?”
Andie squeals in pleasure. “Two o’clock. Vivian’s naps are like clockwork. We should have a full two hours to ourselves. I’ll even make margaritas. Sound good?”
Sounds like torture to me, but to make Aaron happy, I agree.
Andie leaves, and Aaron steps away to answer a phone call. I stand by the arena, mesmerized by how the trainers are able to make horses move exactly the way they want them to. A horse backs up, something I’m told is hard to teach, and Mickey, the head trainer, looks pleased.
He catches me observing. “Want to give it a try?”
“Me? I can hardly ride.”
“I’ve seen you. You’re a quick learner.” He waves me over. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
I climb over the fence and go to him.
“Georgie won’t bite,” he says, giving the gelding a pat. “He’s our newest boarding horse. Never been formally trained.” He hands me a crop and the lead rope attached to his halter. “Training a horse to back up is called backing, and it’s easiest to do when you’re standing on the ground. Once he’s got it, you move to saddle training. Stand about four feet in front of him with the rope extended and lightly tap it with the crop while moving toward him. That will make him back up.”
“I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. I’m right here.”
I do as he asks, and Georgie doesn’t move. “I’m doing it wrong.”
“Tap it a little harder. The rope barely moved when you did it the first time.”
I add a bit of force, and the horse obediently steps back. “He did it,” I say enthusiastically. “Good boy, Georgie! Good boy.”
“Well done,” Mickey says. “Lighten your grip now—it’s his reward for doing his job. Would you like to try another trick with him?”