Page 78 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
A detail Finn had not heard earlier. He glanced at Karen, who was leading one of the horses into the arena.
He wondered if she knew.
He ignored the question and instead enjoyed the time chatting with Josiah. He and Zach had only recently moved out. While the three of them had been roommates for only a few months, it had been enough for Finn to realize how much he enjoyed Josiah’s company.
And since Josiah and Lisa were most definitely an item, and Finn planned on being with Karen long-term, the relationship between him and the veterinarian would be around for a long time. He wanted it to be a positive one.
The women laughed as they worked, putting the horses through their paces as he and Josiah, and eventually Ashton, watched.
The older man was head foreman at the Silver Stone ranch, and probably as much a fixture as the worn boards on the side of the building.
He offered Finn a firm nod before all his attention turned to the animals. “I hear you might want some of our old-timers.”
“If Karen says so.”
That got a grin out of Josiah. “She trained you fast.”
It was tempting to grin back, but Finn knew nothing was officially settled, so nothing was guaranteed yet. “She built a good foundation. Easy to get the ones who are well-trained back into behaving when you start them off right.”
A bright laugh sounded from inside the arena. Lisa wore a smirk that stretched from ear to ear as she led a grey mare up to the railing. “Always good to hear you know the true way the world operates.”
“You sayjump, and I sayyour bones?” Josiah offered.
The older man beside them snorted, attempting to turn it into a cough. Ashton straightened, eyes twinkling as he shook his head. “I think this conversation is a little over my head.”
Finn gave Josiah a wink, turning to Ashton as Lisa moved out of earshot. “I’m sure Karen will have a list of exactly what kind of animals we’ll need from you. Been wondering something—you heard how Sonora is doing with the animal rescue? She got a decent turnover rate happening yet, or she struggling?”
“That woman’s a damn miracle worker. I swear she puts a spell on anyone who comes in her door, because ninety percent of them leave with an animal.” Ashton lifted a hand and got into lecture mode. “She needs to not be so stubborn, though. Plenty of people around here would give her a hand with the hardest parts of the business, yet she’s all determined to do it on her own. Makes no damn sense.”
“She’s independent, all right.” Josiah was grinning now, elbows leaning on the railing.
“Best kind of woman there is,” Finn agreed. He and Josiah exchanged another glance, because over the past while, it had become all too clear that Ashton had a major crush on sweet Sonora Fallen.
It was equally clear the man would swear up one side of the barn and down the other that no such thing was true.
Teasing on the sly to make the sixty-year-old admit the sheer amount of time he spent with her—or thinking about her—had become an amusing pastime.
Ashton headed off to give Kelli a hand. She offered Finn a wave from across the yard before leading the animals back into the barn.
Karen came to join him. Contentment on her face, she stepped in close and wrapped an arm around Finn’s waist. With a happy sigh, she cradled the top of Dandelion’s head and pressed a kiss to his furry little nose.
“Public display of affection. I like this,” Finn told her, tipping her hat back to turn it into a true PDA.
“Icky.” This from Lisa, laughter in her voice as she climbed over the railing and all but threw herself at Josiah. “Cover my virgin eyes, they’re kissing.”
Josiah swung her in a circle, a laugh booming out over the landscape. “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”
“Hey. You’re supposed to be on my side.” Lisa wrapped her legs around him and kissed him thoroughly. “There. Now I have boy cooties as well.”
Karen laughed softly as she stood beside Finn, arm still around his waist, head leaning against his shoulder, and Dandelion cradled against her chest. “We should get going.”
“Talk to you tomorrow. We’ll pass on a hello to dad from you,” Lisa said cheerfully before she grabbed Josiah’s hand and tugged him toward the house. Josiah waved over her shoulder.
Which left a very confused and yet content Finn standing at the railing with Karen.
She reached for his crutches, extending them to him. “I’ve been plotting about what would make me happy tonight, and it involves you taking me out to dinner. Think that’s possible?”
He followed her to the truck. “I think that’s very possible. Anything in particular you’re hungry for?”
