Page 73 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
Spencer
Spencer couldn’t concentrate on what he was doing. Not when he looked over his shoulder at the long driveway every five minutes.
“What’s got you so distracted this morning, Spence?” Damien asked from where he stood brushing Toby. The two boys were up early, exercising horses that didn’t get out the day before.
Harbinger eyed Spencer warily, but didn’t back away as Spencer rubbed his nose. “Just tired.”
“You’re never tired. Ever since we were kids, you could get by on basically no sleep. Though, you weren’t nearly as moody then.”
“I’m not moody.” Spencer looked to the cloudy sky above, wishing the sun would make an appearance. It hadn’t rained since the afternoon before, but he didn’t want it to start again. He wasn’t meant to sit around a barn.
No, he was supposed to be working near some beach on the Australian coast, far away from the memories that made him run in the first place.
“Spencer?”
“Hmm?” He looked back at Damien.
“How long do you plan on staying?”
Well, that was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it? He wanted to be there among the horses and the fields, but how could he stay when everything was so messed up?
When he’d never told anyone why he left?
When they didn’t want him?
“Not long.” It was the only answer he had.
“What does that even mean? Months? Weeks? Days?”
Spencer sighed and turned to face his brother. “How long do you need me here?”
“No, don’t do that. I’m not your excuse to come home, and I’m not your excuse to leave. I want you to stay, Spence, but only if it’s what you want.”
“I don’t know what I want.” He thought he did. It was so clear. Traveling gave him the independence that kept him from getting hurt. He didn’t have to rely on anyone but himself. Since returning home, all he’d felt was hurt. His parents. Victoria.
None of it was as easy as picking up and heading to a new city every few months. Of walking the shoreline in France or working tours in the Whitsundays on the Australia coast.
Damien tugged on Toby’s reins and led him back into the barn.
Spencer watched him go before turning back to Harbinger. “When I leave, are you going to go full-jerk again?” Not like he’d ever snapped out of it.
Harbinger didn’t react to the words.
The sound of tires on gravel reached his ears, and he turned to see Hadley parking in front of the house. She jumped out of the car with a grin on her face as she surveyed the ranch.
Somehow, the rich beach girl fit on their little ranch. Her blond hair was pulled over one shoulder in a single braid and a hat already sat on her head.
He grinned at he took in her outfit. She wore denim overalls over a blue plaid shirt.
“You look like a real rancher now,” he called. At least, she looked like a rancher you’d see in the movies.
Her face lit up from the inside out as her eyes found him. Running over, she stopped at the fence, putting one foot on the wooden beam to climb over it. She landed on the other side, stumbling before righting herself.
Through all this, her smile never wavered. “There’s my guy.” She brushed past Spencer, holding a hand out to Harbinger.
The traitor horse sniffed her fingers before nuzzling himself against her.
“You being naughty for Spencer this morning?” she asked. “Good.”
