Page 36 of Unforgettable Cowboy
On the other hand, Dakota Sunshine was worth a lot of money—enough to qualify as grand theft.Bailey didn’t regret taking the mare, but she wanted this situation resolved.She wished she hadn’t involved Wade, but she had.Keeping the horse on the Tree Fork had seemed harmless enough when she’d made the deal with Wade, but now, as she conjured up possible consequences of her actions, all sorts of awful scenarios played through her head, all involving her getting an old man arrested.
He didn’t know, and you had permission to take the horse.Jenna owns at least half of the mare, if not all of her.This isn’t about getting into trouble, but rather your friend not getting screwed over by her ex.
Uh huh.
That was the trouble with living alone.It was easy to let fears blossom with no one there to help gain perspective.
You could talk to Hayes.He knows the score.
Or she could talk to her mom who didn’t know the score.Just catch up with one another without worrying about men or horses.And she hadn’t yet told her about Wade.She reached for her phone and Helena answered almost immediately after the call was connected.
“Bailey!”She sounded delighted, then her voice shifted to wary-mother mode.“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine with me.”She wished she could unload about Jenna and the horse and her worries about accidentally involving the Matthews family.She couldn’t bring herself to do it, so she went with the more pressing news.“Wade had an accident a few days ago.”
“Oh no.”
Bailey filled her mom in on the details, sounding remarkably nonchalant as she mentioned that Hayes was back taking over the ranch until the Parkers returned.She finished with: “I’m glad Hayes was able to stay because that frees me up to go.Wade’s slated to make a full recovery if he behaves himself.”
“Glad to hear it, stubborn old buzzard.”
“You didn’t go with Steven this week?”
Last year her mother had met a man as gun-shy as she was.They enjoyed each other’s company and then retreated to their neutral corners.A match made in heaven and one that her mother found satisfying.
“Not this time.He’s guiding that entitled nature photographer I told you about into the Absarokas and I don’t have the patience for people like that…anymore.”The last word was laced with grim humor.“How’s life on the homestead?”
More complicated than expected, thanks to Jenna and Hayes.
Bailey’s throat closed a little, which made her voice sound thick when she said, “Actually pretty good.”The memories were there, but she was beating them back.
“And you’re still planning to head south immediately after the rodeo?”
“Yes.I’m excited to start hitting the shows.”She had more stock than she’d ever had, which meant that she could concentrate on selling rather than creating for a few months.
“I worry about you traveling alone.”
Of course she did.She was a mom.“I’m trying to get a dog.”
“What an excellent idea.Something big and intimidating I hope?”
Bailey thought of smallish Storm, who’d stolen her heart with a pair of soulful brown eyes.“Well…”
“Or a Chihuahua,” Helena added.“They’re freaking scary.”
Bailey laughed and promised to keep her posted on Wade’s recovery and her future plans before hanging up.The trailer seemed abnormally silent after the call, but Bailey felt better.Her mom had overcome odds and so would she.The situation with Dakota Sunshine would soon be resolved and her growing feelings for Hayes would be dealt with in a time-honored way—by time and distance.
Only this time she wouldn’t have to leave a note.
Chapter Nine
“You got apuppy?”Trev sounded amazed.“Mr.Free as a Bird?”The phone-averse Matthews brother had finally called to touch base with his family.
“I don’t have her yet.I can pick her up in three weeks.”
“Big commitment,” Trev said.
Hayes opened his mouth to say it was no big deal when it struck him that his brother was right.Because of his profession, he hadn’t committed to a pet since leaving the Tree Fork Ranch at the age of nineteen.Things weren’t much different on the dating scene.None of his relationships ended up being long or exclusive.He’d let his lifestyle get in the way and hadn’t minded one bit.He liked his freedom, and tended to date women who felt the same.
