Page 3 of Undone

“Come on, give me some credit, Josh,” Shannon shot back. “My breeding program is way better than what’s out there.”

It was true. My sister had an eye and a gut instinct that no one could touch, plus the technical skills to ensure successful matches. The problem was the Lost Valley Ranch breeding program struggled to stand out in a crowded market. Without more visibility and recognition to drive up demand, we couldn’t secure the prices her horses deserved, which meant the program often ended up running at a loss.

I huffed out a sigh. “I know it is, I’m sorry. All I’m saying is we’ve gotta make some changes around here if…” I trailed off, realizing that I’d already said too much.

“If what?” Shannon frowned. “What are you saying?”

“Nothing.” There was no use in worrying her. Worrying wasmyjob. “It’s just that we’ve got some expenses I wasn’t anticipating, plus those upgrades we need to make to both the property and the equipment. It’s a lot, and we’re stretched thin.”

I rubbed my eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to tell my sisters that we were closer than ever to losing the ranch. Losing everything our family had built; everything that had been entrusted to me. The weight of the responsibility was crushing, especially when I saw all the ways I was falling short. It had gotten so bad, even those morning sunrises had lost their shine.

“Well, then Zoe will be a big help,” Shannon said. “She said she wants to spend time with each of us to figure out what we want to highlight on the website to bring in more clients.”

I sighed. Spending time with Zoe and having her digging into everything that was wrong with this place was exactly what I didn’t want.

“Shannon, having Zoe change up our website won’t make a difference, okay? It’s a waste of time.” I pointed outside. “I need to be out there working, not spending time talking about what I like or don’t like. You two can play your little computer games together—I’mgoing to worry about how we can pay for tractor repairs and fill my next roping class.”

I grabbed my hat from the back of the chair, shoved it down on my head, and stormed out of the kitchen.

And ran smack dab into Zoe.

We collided with a grunt and a squeal, and I reflexively reached out to steady her. Even just the quick sensation of my hand wrapping around her arm gave me a flash of the way things used to be between us. Back when everything was simple.

In a queasy instant, I realized that she’d probably heard everything I’d just said.

“Zoe, I uh …”

She moved away a few steps and straightened her back, waiting for me to continue. It was an unexpected reaction, because the Zoe I knew would’ve scurried down the hallway in tears instead of facing a confrontation.

“Listen, I’m sorry you heard all of that. I know I got a little…heated, but it wasn’t directed at you, exactly, I swear.” I shuffled my boots and crossed my arms. “I don’t mind you being here. I just don’t think the whole website thing will do any good.”

Zoe narrowed her eyes at me.

“Is that a fact?”

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and nodded my head. “It is.”

“Well, allow me to share a few facts withyou, Josh Cafferty. I’ll have you know that the Lost Valley Ranch website is an absolute disaster, and it’s no wonder you can’t fill your classes,” Zoe said in an unfamiliar, icy tone. “Do you know that half the class registration links are broken? And the calendar feature glitches when you try to check outthe Saturday schedule? And don’t even get me started on the breeding stuff. The last time it was updated was five years ago! Then there’s the lack of security. You’re damn lucky no one has hacked you.”

She stepped closer and glared at me. “It’s your website, your ranch. That means it’s your call whether or not to let me do one of the things I happen to do well, and that’s fix websites. The Josh CaffertyIonce knew wouldn’t hesitate to do everything possible to make things work.” She blew out a breath and pushed her hair behind her ears. “There’s nothing wrong with accepting help, you know.”

It wasn’t just what she was saying. It was thewayshe was saying it. Shy little Zoe had morphed into a spitfire, and I wished her anger wasn’t directed at me, even if I did deserve it.

I started to respond but she lifted her hand to stop me. “Save it.” Then turned on her heel and stormed down the hallway.

I was loath to admit, I probablydidhave to make time for whatever Zoe was planning, as much as I fought against it. If I wanted to do what was best for the ranch, I was going to have to let her in, no matter how much it hurt.

THREE

ZOE

Ihad hoped the porch swing’s gentle glide would calm me, like a baby in a rocker—but so far, it wasn’t having any effect. Maybe because I was still feeling angry enough to reload all of my luggage into my Jeep and leave Lost Valley Ranch forever.

Then where would I go? I thought about the awful conversation I’d been subjected to a week prior, which had precipitated my coming here in the first place. My two now-former roommates had called a house meeting—the first of its kind—and told me that my night owl tendencies were a disruption for them. I was so shocked by their claim that I hadn’t been able to muster up a response. How was it possible that being in my room with the door closed and working on my computer with my headphones on was adisruption?

Then the truth came out. My roommates’ sorority sister from college was moving to town and needed a place to live, making me, who’d answered an ad to live there, expendable. I always believed that keeping to myself and hanging out in my room made me the perfect roommate, but they’d turned it around on me and accused me of being antisocial and unfriendly. They wanted to live with someone who wasmore like them. I didn’t want to fight, so I’d agreed to move out by the end of the month…which was just a week away, leaving me practically no time to find some place new.

Which was the reason why I was currently rage-swinging on the Cafferty’s front porch. Shannon’s offer to come home to the familiarity of the ranchandhelp out at the same time was too good to refuse. But then Josh had to go and say the very thing I was afraid of…that I wasn’t welcome.

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