“Bree,” he whispered. “You’ve been on my mind, girl, and now, here you are, in Idaho. It’s almost too crazy to be a coincidence.”
“Let’s go ask Red about this bull.”
Jace put his hand on her shoulder as they walked toward the truck. Just moments ago, she was thinking she’d give anything to have him here, and now, he was. She slowed her pace, and when she did, Jace put h
is arm around her and pulled her close to him.
“You must be Red,” she heard him say. She struggled with explaining who Jace was, but she had nothing.
“I am. Red Dugan. Nice to meet you.”
Jace moved forward to shake Red’s hand, but his other arm remained around Bree’s shoulders.
“Jace Rice. Nice to meet you, sir.”
“What brings you to Idaho, young man? I take it you know Bree.”
“I do know her. And as far as what brings me to Idaho, I’m guessing it has more to do with Bree than I was initially led to believe.”
Red laughed. “I think I’m gonna like this story.” He motioned for them to take a seat at a wooden picnic table on the lake’s shore.
“I was sent here to see you about a bull. You know anything about that?”
“A bull?” Red laughed again. “Don’t know nothin’ about any bulls, young man. Who’d you say sent you?”
“That’s the thing. My mama said my daddy wanted me to check out a bucking bull at your ranch. When I asked my daddy about it, he clammed up in a way that should have told me somethin’ was fishy.”
Bree noticed Jace rubbing his left knee; it wasn’t the first time he’d done it since they sat down.
“There isn’t a bull for sale at the ranch, is there?”
“Not that I know of.” Red shook his head and chuckled. “I’m guessing you’re right. This lady is why you’re really here.”
Bree blushed when she realized they were both looking at her. “I don’t know anything about this.” She looked back and forth between the two of them.
“I doubt you do,” said Jace, leaning closer into her. “But your sister knows you’re here.”
“Of course she does. My whole family knows I’m here.”
“My mama. Your sister.”
“Really? Do you think this was planned?”
Jace nodded his head. “As much as this sorta thing can be.”
“But…why?”
Bree saw a look pass between Red and Jace. Maybe this was something they should wait and discuss when they were alone.
“Jace, is there something wrong with your knee?” The last time he rubbed it, she saw him grimace.
“It’s no big deal. I pulled a ligament in an accident up at the ranch. Which is why it was easy for my mama to get me to make the drive down here. Haven’t been much help to anyone up there.”
Red turned and faced the other direction, out toward the lake, and laughed harder. “This is quite a set up. Your mama played you pretty good, son.” He turned back around to face them. “But by the looks of things, you aren’t too disappointed about missing out on a bucking bull.”
Red winked at Bree and looked over at the horse. “Tell you what,” he tossed his keys over to Jace. “You drive my truck across the road, and I’ll ride ol’ Spike back myself.”
“It’s okay, I can—”