“No shit, good to have you back, brother.” I’m not even telling him the reason I’m back.
“It’s good to be back. You ready to put me to work?” I make it known I’ll help in any way I can. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with the Spencer family. My own animals have been well taken care of by my parents and one of the neighborhood kids. Not that I have a farm to this magnitude, but it still shouldn’t be this way.
“You sure you have time for this shit?” he asks.
“I wouldn’t offer it if I didn’t.” My eyes move back to Laney. She’s sitting atop her horse, putting her through the paces. The Spencers’ horse farm is one of the best in the state. They raise thoroughbreds and breed championship horses. It’s big money, but everyone knows shit can change at the drop of the hat.
“I appreciate it. You say hi to Laney yet?” That question takes me off guard. It’s not something he’d usually ask. Maybe he’s worried about her more than she is about him.
“Not yet. I guess I better make my presence known.” We shake hands, my eyes locked and loaded on Laney.
“Yeah, she’s been in a weird mood lately, quiet for some reason.” He leaves me with that statement. Trying to figure out what the fuck is going on with my best friend is culminating in the pit of my stomach.
“Are you just going to stare at me all day or are you even going to say hello?” the little spitfire says. She’s lucky we’re out in the open, or I’d be doing a fuck of a lot more than that.
“Well, hello to you too. Just sitting here admiring the view before I’m put to work.” I’ve made my way over to the round pen where she’s at, my hands hanging over the railing, still taking in her beauty. Her green eyes blaze with fire, the firmness around her lips only making me want to kiss it away. Too bad we’re right in the middle of where everyone can come and go as they please, or I’d be tempted to do just that.
“Hey, sugar.” I give Laney a smile I reserve only for her, and she damn well knows it.
“Creed.” She nods her head, but I see the subtle way she shifts in her saddle. Yep, I’d say the way I feel about her isn’t one sided. Though something tells me she’s going to give me a whole lot of hell before she forgives me.
“Still the same ol’ stubborn Laney, I see.” I’m poking the bear, and I damn well know it.
“Hmm, same ol’ horse’s ass, Creed.” God, how I’ve missed her. Being away for nine damn months has been too fucking long. And, clearly, running from her didn’t help this pull that the two of us feel.
“You’re not wrong about that, sugar.” I lick my lower lip, winking at the same time. I watch as Laney rolls her eyes at me.
“There’s plenty of horses that need to be worked, if you’re looking to do something besides stare at me all day.” When she called me bawling her eyes out, asking for help, I let her know that this shit would stay between us. Rhett didn’t need to know. He’d be liable to take it out on Laney, and I may be a dickhead, but not to that extreme.
“How about you give me a hug for old times’ sake, then I’ll take my ol’ broken-down butt to the barn and work some horses.” I may as well go for broke since she’s already madder than a wet hen.
“Dream on.” She turns her horse around, giving me a view of a whole different side that does not disappoint.
Two
Laney
“The absolute nerve of that man. You make one stinking phone call, and now the darn fool thinks he can walk around proud like a peacock,” I tell no one, well, mainly my horse, Lucky. She doesn’t respond, never has and never will, but she sure does get to listen to me. Making that phone call broke a piece of me, but there was no way Rhett and I could survive at the pace we were going. Heck, I was working ten to twelve horses a day, working on the books, making sure our website was up to date, and not to mention the emails, let alone the phone calls that were coming in non-stop. Before Daddy had a stroke, I’d ride a few horses, while he’d oversee the hands and horses. I’d work on a couple of our younger stallions and then be back in the office. Everything was smooth sailing until it wasn’t. Not that I blame anyone, well, maybe the man upstairs a little bit, but even then, it’s not by much. It’s just a hard pill to swallow, Daddy not recovering like we’d hoped, Momma being glued to his side, which we all love, but I’m sure the nurses are ready to throttle her at times.