Page 13 of Embers of You
Holding my hands up in surrender, I tell her, “Fine, I’ll go rest for a little.”
She nods her approval before I reluctantly leave to go to my own small house. As I’m walking the short distance, I see Dad out on one of the riding mowers, but he’s just sitting on it without actually moving. He looks like he’s staring out at something in the distance, but when I try to figure out what he could be looking at all I see is the vast landscape of the property. Nothing in particular, just the land.
I wonder what he could be thinking about. What’s going through his mind that made him stop and just…stare. I watch him for a few moments, wondering if I should make my way out there to see if he’s okay. Maybe offer him some help if he’s stuck or ask if the mower broke down on him.
Just as I’m about to walk over to check on him he seems to come out of his trance, starting up the mower without a problem and continuing with what he was doing. I debate meeting up with him at the barn to ask what that was about but decide to put off the potential fight for another day.
Plus, I really am exhausted. As soon as my head hits my pillow, I’m asleep.
When I wake up it’s dark out, and I know I’ve slept longer than I meant to and now my whole schedule is thrown off. This isn’t the first time this has happened and won’t be the last. I stretch out my stiff limbs as I get out of bed.
I get dressed, readying myself for what has become routine tending to the property, just as I always do. It’s the perfect time because Ma isn’t around to yell at me to stop helping, and Dad isn’t around to fight with me about anything else.
Since Amity is so close to the ocean, it’s always on the colder side, especially at night, no matter what time of year it is. So, I throw on my jacket once I’m dressed and head out to the barn. It’s around midnight, and the only light outside is from the moon and the stars. I’ve walked this entire property so many times over my life I can do it with my eyes closed.
The barn illuminates with the motion sensored lights, and a couple of the horses shuffle around in their stalls. Ma used to give horseback riding lessons to children before she got sick. Growing up, I would help out, but my real passion was barrel racing. I spent my time training and working with other riders whenever they wanted to learn. We still have all the horses because she couldn’t part with them and swears they have therapeutic powers for her, even though she doesn’t ride anymore.
I approach Sandy, Ma’s main horse for her lessons. She was born here when I was young, and we raised her. She’s twenty-eight now, and her age is starting to show, or maybe Ma is right, and they just have some special connection. She’s always said that about her and Sandy. She said she could feel when Sandy was sick, and maybe it’s the same the other way around.
The Palomino mare huffs as I approach. She already knows about the peppermints I’ve got stashed in my pocket because I give her one every time I come out here.
“Hey girl,” I say with my hand outstretched toward her.
She takes the offered peppermint from my hand before I rub her nose as she chews on it. “I’m back to help out. I want to help take care of you all.”
She huffs again like she understands, and I’d like to think she’s thankful I’m here. I give the other horses treats as I make my way down to the biggest stall on the end where my old barrel horse stays. Juniper, my Appaloosa, nods her head at me as soon as I’m in view and I chuckle, handing over a peppermint, rubbing her nose as she chews.
I’ve missed riding horses, either leisurely around the property or from the pure rush of adrenaline that comes with a barrel race. It’s been too long since I’ve felt that, too long since I’ve let myself sink into the familiar comfort of the saddle. One day soon, I’m going to have to get back on a horse again. Running my hand through the fluffy fur that’s starting to shed off Juniper I get an idea to try and spend more time with Sutton. We’ll just have to see if she’ll go for it.
CHAPTER 7
Sutton
My phone rings,and I look at the screen, scoff at the name, flip it over, and put it down while getting back to grooming the excitable yorkie on my table.
“There’s no way I’m talking to her, no I’m not,” I coo at the little dog currently wiggling her butt at me.
My ex-best friend seems to be switching off with my parents on who’s trying to get a hold of me. I refuse to talk to any of them after what happened. I need to process, and even then, I’m not sure I’ll ever really understand or see them the same.
I continue to run my clippers on the dog’s coat while she tries to give me kisses and jump onto my shoulder, and I chuckle at her persistence. Jerry Lee has been fairly quiet all morning, but I realize now he may have been sleeping. Because when he suddenly starts barking, I just shake my head.
“Who’s going to tell him he’s not a dog?” I ask the yorkie. She tries to sneak a wet kiss again, and I laugh.
The door to the salon opens, but I don’t think it’s Trish, because she’s not scheduled with any clients today, and the nextdog on my schedule isn’t due to be dropped off for another hour. Immediately, I think it’s this dog’s mom coming early. I walk around the table, making sure the dog, who thinks she’s a jumping bean, doesn’t go flying off as I greet whoever it is.
“Hot guy,”Jerry Lee squawks and I freeze. He’s only said that when it’s?—
“Good morning, Sutton,” Jameson greets with a wide smile as he comes into view.
My mouth goes dry at the sight of him here again. My eyes rake over his distressed jeans, navy T-shirt, and backwards cap on his head. Everyone knows that is every woman’s kryptonite and how dare he come in here looking like that. He has to know what he’s doing.
“Shut up, Vern,”Jerry Lee’s squawk pulls me out of my frozen state, and I attempt to fix my face to hide the fact that I’m probably practically drooling over this man who just walked in.
“Uh, good morning. How can I help you?”
“I actually had a question for you.” He smiles, and I expect his question to be asking for my number again. I don’t know if I have the strength to turn him down again. Especially with him looking like that, even though I know I should. I’m not here to fall in bed with the first local who’s nice to me.
“Sure, what’s your question?” I try to sound cheery, putting on my best customer service voice.
