Page 73 of Country Contract

“Yeah, feels kind of good after the summer we’ve had.” I look over at Jake. He seems better as each day passes by.

“So, how’s things at home?” I ask as we ride around the perimeter of the herd.

“Honestly, my mom is the happiest I’ve ever seen her. She’s even doing better at work. Standing up for herself and all sorts of shit she didn’t do before. I think she might even leave that shithole.”

“Where would she go?”

“I guess she’s been talking to Edith at Pan and Cake. She’s thinking about retiring soon and doesn’t want to shut the place down. My mom might start over there to learn the ropes. She’s practically running Louis’s place, and the hours would be better.”

“What’s her boyfriend think of that?” I watch his brows furrow for a moment.

“He thinks it’s the move she needs to make to be truly happy. Mom wants to try and convince Edith to make Pan and Cake an all-day café, a rival to Louis’s.”

“We need another all-day spot in town. Everyone goes to that diner for her, anyway.”

Jake beams at my simple statement; it wasn’t hard to say because it’s true. A displeased look crosses his face, but he fixes it quickly.

“Anything else going on?”

“Nah. Just all fucked up over Lena’s transfer.” I try to think back on what he’s talking about. All I can pull out of my ass is that he’s definitely not in love with her, but she’s his closest friend in town. They’ve always been close.

“Transfer?”

“Yeah, she got this scholarship to a school a few hours away. It kind of sucks not having anyone to bullshit with on my days off.”

I joke with him a little more about ways to mend his broken heart, but he doesn’t want to hear any of it. No break to mend, he swears.

Getting back to the stable, I find Harlow grooming Legacy. She isn’t dressed for riding. She’s wearing black leggings tucked into her riding boots and a black hoodie. Her long hair is tossed on the top of her head in a messy bun with plenty of loose hair falling out of place. She sees me stop just outside and hop off Star’s back.

Untying Legacy, Harlow walks her over to her stall and gives her a treat from her hoodie pocket. She watches me carefully as she takes long steps in my direction.

She looks dead tired, just like Cassidy did when she got home after errands. When she reaches me, she gives me a soft smile, but it lacks the vibrance that usually shines through. It’s like her candle is about to burn out any minute.

“Want me to untack Star? I was looking for her.” Star’s already nuzzling into Harlow’s shoulder. Their bond is obvious.

“Don’t worry about it, Harlow, I’ll take care of them both,” Jake calls out just as he comes up to us.

The air is almost icy, the sky full of clouds, the grass more brown than gold. We all stand just outside my family’s stable waiting for someone to make a move. Jake’s energy is the brightest out of the three, and he just told me about his closest friend leaving.

Why are Harlow and I suddenly out of sync?

“Yeah, he’s going to take care of it. You can tend to Star tomorrow; I won’t be taking her out,” I say while holding her gaze. “Jake, put the English tack on the saddle stand byStar’s stall and hang up mine in the tack room.” I don’t look over at him; I just keep looking into Harlow’s dark eyes.

I don’t think much of it as I take her hand and walk her down the dirt path toward my truck and her car.

“You going to tell me what’s going on with you?” I ask as I open her door for her.

I see a fire light a little behind her eyes, and she pulls her lips in for a second before holding her bottom one captive in her teeth. When she releases the pink flesh, there’s a quick rush of air that she puffs out.

“Not here.”

I nod and jut my chin toward her seat. Without argument, which is completely unlike her, she gets in. I follow behind her to the bunkhouse, and once we get there, we silently head inside.

“I’ve been out working all day. I need to shower and change. Grab a change of clothes.”

“Why don’t you just shower and come back?”

“Because I want you at my place tonight. This isn’t your home, Harlow. This is a guesthouse. If you need someone to talk to, let me give you the comfort of my own home. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but in the month that I’ve known you, I know this isn’t typical.”

---