Page 36 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

“Everything okay?” Selah’s frown became even more pronounced.

“Yeah. Just working through some stuff. No need for you to worry,” Ben was not going to drop the news from this morning on her. At least not yet. He didn’t want to set back any progress she had made. Since the abduction, Selah didn’t roam too far away from the main house, but today, she was at least out and getting some fresh air. Ben hoped with time, his feisty sister would heal from her ordeal. Only he was fearful it wasn’t over. Until they could put all this madness to rest, he would support her in any way he could, and Whisper was a helluva salve for the soul.

Selah shrugged. “Now that you have a new woman in your life who has you smitten, someone has got to care for Whisper.”

Ben patted his golden girl on the head. “She knows she’s irreplaceable.” Whisper neighed and seemingly danced in the dirt. “I think she might be antsy for a ride.”

“Um . . .” Selah dropped her gaze and pretended to refocus her attention on brushing Whisper’s golden mane. “N-no. That’s okay. You can take Whisper out since I hadn’t planned on going for a ride, just doing a little grooming.”

Ben could see the apprehension on her face. He readjusted his Stetson. “You know . . . it’s been a minute since we’ve been riddin’ together. Why don’t you mount up Whisper, and I’ll hop on Gingersnap.” Ben needed some time alone, but his gut was telling him he also needed to spend time with his sister.

“I’m sure you’re super busy. You don’t have to . . .”

“Yeah, spending time with you is the worst.” Ben lifted his arms and pretended to self-check his armpits. “I showered before I came out, so you ain’t got no excuse.”

Selah didn’t look like she wanted to go for a ride. Instead, she glanced over her shoulder toward the hidden gun closet. Nervously, she pressed her lips together, then turned back to Ben.

The fear he saw in her eyes was too much. He hated it. Ben had to do something but didn’t want to embarrass her, so he walked over to the closet, typed in the security code, and opened the door without saying a word. He pulled out his old faithful, a double-barreled shotgun, a 44 Magnum, and a 9 MM pistol. “When’s the last time you’ve been shootin’?” Ben figured with the revelations from earlier, it might not be a bad idea if his sister started to keep a piece on her.

Selah couldn’t remember the last time she’d discharged a gun. It had been years. She hadn’t particularly liked them, not for sport or anything else. Until recently, she had felt relatively safe and didn’t need one. Fast forward to the present, and everything made her jumpy. The least little sound had her on edge, “it’s been a while.”

“Let’s change that. Now, mount up. Not taking no for an answer.”

It was clear from her expression that Selah didn’t want to, but she also didn’t argue. Moments later, they trotted the horses out of the stable and into the sunlight. Ben wasn’t sure if it was the fresh air or Whisper, but Selah’s eyes had a little sparkle. It was enough to warm his heart. She did need this, and a big part of him did too. “You beat me to Cressida Creek, and I’ll give you Bertha.”

“Bertha? Your classic pick-up truck. The one you keep hidden in the garage under that tarp and only bring out for special occasions or dates with Dillyn?”

“Yep.” Ben was encouraged by the excitement in her voice. “The one and only.”

“No way!”

“You know I don’t play when it comes to Bertha.”

Selah still wasn’t a hundred percent sold that Ben wasn’t joking. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “She’s yours if you can beat me. But understand this, if you want my truck, you’ll going to have to earn it.”

“You know I can beat you, right?” Selah reminded him as she pulled a scrunchie around her wrist to tie her hair into a ponytail.

“That happenedonce,and I was distracted.”

“You weren’t distracted. You just got whooped.” Selah laughed.

This was the sister he’d always known. The one with fire in her belly and the embers of her competitive spirit had certainly been lit. But in all honesty, so had his. “You ain’t winning on this day, baby girl.” Ben wrapped the lead rope around his fist and tightened his hold. “Once we reach mom and dad’s oak tree . . . it’s on. The first one to the creek wins.”

Selah pressed her lips together and nodded in understanding. She gathered herself and sat a little taller in the saddle.

Even Whisper seemed up for the challenge. As the golden mare edged up to the Cash matriarch’s oak tree, it was clear that this would be a real race. Selah had no intention of losing, and Ben had no intention of giving her Big Bertha.

“Ready?” Ben asked.

“Ready,” Selah responded.

And just like that, the race was on as they rode the greatest known creations after a man at top speed.

*****

The water at Cressida Creek was clear, cold, and refreshing. The horses had had a workout and were bent over quenching their thirst. Two of her bodyguards had also arrived a few minutes after they had, but they gave them a wide birth.

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