Page 34 of Bray
“It’s notmymoney,” she clarified.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m sure you know of what happened back in the winter, with Mr. Trout and my dad.”
Lainey had told me all the gossip about that one. For a while, I was glad Trout was only fucking with my water and suing my butt instead of wanting to marry it.
“Yes,” I said.
“Well, he gave my father money to pay off his debts in exchange for marrying me. As you know, that didn’t work out. I still have that money. A half a million dollars.”
My eyes widened and I kinda freaked. “I don’t want a half a million dollars!”
She giggled. “I know. But I don’t want it either because it’s filthy dirty, but I’m not giving it back. I think it’d be ironic to use that money to pay the bills for the legal issues he’s caused.”
I thought of what she was saying. Bray looked amused. We were quiet long enough that she kept going. “I truly have no intention of touching that money. In fact, I’m trying to figure out how to give it away to a charity. Not that you’re a charity,” she added hastily.
“Ellie…”
“It’s not my money. You wouldn’t be taking it from me. It’ll make me feel really good knowing that we’re using Trout’s money to pay for his own bad behavior. Don’t you?”
I wouldn’t be taking the money from Ellie. I’d be taking it from Trout. I looked to Bray, who nodded.
“Okay, as long as I can tell him where the money came from.”
She gasped. “Oh yes. Please let me be there so I can see his face!”
I heard Trig grumble in the background.
“Trig, too.”
“Thanks, Ellie,” I said, feeling something I hadn’t ever before.
“You’re my sister now. I’ve always wanted one. I got Lainey and Molly, too.”
She hung up and I flung myself into Bray’s arms. I couldn’t help the sniffles and watery eyes.
“You okay, kitten?” he asked, stroking my hair.
I nodded. “I’m great.”
“See? Family.”
“Yeah, family.”
20
KATIE
“If we’re stayingat your place, we gotta get a bigger bed, Kitten,” Bray said as we drove away from his second shoeing job. He’d gotten up with me at dawn and helped with the morning chores. From growing up on his family ranch and then picking a career as a farrier which specialized solely in horses, he knew his way around a stable. He made feeding, brushing and mucking stalls look hot. And the tasks were done in half the time.
I put the horses out in the pasture for the day to graze, ensuring the water trough was full. Then Bray had insisted I go with him on his scheduled jobs–plusthe ones he delayed the day before, not wanting me to stay home alone.
I didn’t know much about making and fitting shoes, but I made a decent assistant, helping him keep the more skittish horses calm. While I knew what to look for when a horse was lame or had issues with their hooves, Bray’d also showed me how to clean and trim hooves under his supervision. Like Lainey said, I had a way with the animals, so I enjoyed it.
“Bigger bed?” This morning, I woke up sprawled half on top of Bray, my head tucked under his chin, my leg thrown over his waist. I’d never slept with anyone before and I’d been embarrassed I’d pretty much accosted him in my sleep.
Did people sleep like we had or did they take up their own room on their own side? Had I smothered the man? Was he complaining because he needed his space from me?
