Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69468 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Look at that progress.” Kat whistled low as she walked up to the arena gate.
“Thanks.” I accepted her praise a bit easier than I had Colt’s.
“I had a meeting with Maverick today about various horse-related issues.” Kat’s tone was conversational, but my back tensed nevertheless. “Linus’s long-term future came up.”
“How so?” My voice came out too wary. I’d told the equine hospital to send Linus’s bill to me, but it had yet to arrive in my email. All week, I’d been on edge, worried the hospital might have billed Maverick instead and that all this rehab would make Maverick and Kat less inclined to keep the horse.
Kat’s mouth twisted as she studied Linus for a long moment. “I’m not sure if he’ll ever be back in riding shape.”
“He needs us.” I was more than willing to fight for him. Hell, I’d pay to board him if it came to that. He’d come too far for us to abandon him now.
“He does.” Kat’s expression softened. “Maverick is thinking about having some school visits this fall. What would you think of showing off your rehab work with Linus? Older kids might find it fascinating.”
“Sure.” I would have agreed to pretty much any option for keeping Linus at the ranch. My stomach, however, gave an unhappy jolt at the thought of a group of kids crowding into the barn. “Not much on talking though.”
“You’ll do fine.” Kat smiled with far more confidence than I felt. “Speaking of futures, where do you see yours headed?”
“What…do you mean?” Damn it. Despite the unusual start to my day, my speech had been doing well until my brain did one of those weird hiccups again.
“Do you see yourself being a hand long-term?” Kat met my gaze with shrewd eyes. “Or maybe you have a future as a vet tech or something like that? I’m sure Jude appreciated the help last night. Luna’s been on him to take on more assistants for years.”
“I’m good.” I firmed up my voice along with my jaw, not wanting this conversation any more than I had the one with Colt. I was having enough trouble figuring out what the future held with Jude, let alone any professional future for myself. What was so wrong with taking things one day at a time?
“For now.” Kat was undeterred from whatever mission she was on. “Everyone’s pulling for you, Carson, no matter what you end up doing career-wise. Maybe you’d rather do something entirely different. Work with veterans—”
“I’m good,” I repeated myself in a slightly louder voice.
“Sorry.” Eyes going cloudy, Kat stepped back from the gate. “I won’t push.”
“Thanks.” I exhaled hard. I was likely being something of a dick. “Don’t mean to snap.”
“It’s okay.” Kat’s disappointed tone was at odds with her words. “I imagine you’re sick of questions and everyone hovering.”
“Good folks care,” I hedged. “But tiring.”
“I’m sure.” Kat turned toward her office. “I’ll leave you to your work.”
What she really left me to was my churning thoughts. Was my place at the ranch in jeopardy as much as Linus’s? Did I need to do more to prove my worth? Alternatively, were people expecting me to tire of being a hand? This might not be the future I’d planned on, but I was content enough here.
Unbidden, a vision of working alongside Jude wandered into my brain and refused to leave. Damn Kat for suggesting such a thing might be possible. Any future with Jude seemed tenuous at best, let alone the sort of partnership where we could work together personally as well as professionally. My chest filled with want regardless of how unrealistic the notion was.
Next to me, Linus snorted.
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” I gave an uncomfortable chuckle to the empty arena. Dreaming was likely to lead to heartache. Better to stay satisfied with the present moment and the status quo.
Chapter Twenty
Jude
“It feels like I haven’t seen you in ages.” Luna regarded me over her beer.
“You see me every day,” I countered, twirling mine on its cardboard coaster. She and Mitch had dragged me out for an after-work beer at the small Lovelorn bar we occasionally frequented. The two of them were in good spirits, relaxed because they had a babysitter for the night and were headed for a movie after this drink.
“You know what I mean.” Luna gave an airy wave. “When was the last time we did this?”
“It’s been awhile,” I hedged.
The last few weeks, I’d been particularly scarce, sneaking time with Carson in the evenings. We hadn’t had another sleepover, but we managed a fair bit of shared meals, gaming, and plenty of sex on the nights we could see each other. On the other nights, we texted, a pleasant string of contact. I no longer had time to feel lonely, a welcome development. Apparently, though, I hadn’t been as discreet as I’d thought if Luna had noticed me ducking her invites.