Page 56 of Flowers To Give

The bronco neighs wildly, immediately beginning to buck. The first small buck throws Jeremy back, one hand grabbing onto the horse’s mane to stay on and the other swaying in the air above him for balance. He squeezes his thighs against the bareback horse and grips onto the mane for dear life, hooking his feet underneath and holding on as the horse bucks. He has to stay on until the bronco calms down, that’s the only way they’re going to get the horse back in the stable. Focused, he maintains his balance over the horse’s center of gravity as the bucking continues.

The horse stops kicking his back legs and neighs once more, going back on its hind legs. Jeremy leans forward instead of backward, holding on tight and pushing on the horse’s head to get him back to the ground. It works, the horse getting back on all four hooves while throwing his head from side to side. Jeremy leans forward more, rubbing down on the neck to calm the horse.

Clapping explodes from around Jeremy. He looks up at the crowd that has formed and watches as his coworkers applaud his performance. Clay rides up beside him, “That was some fine work, Munday.”

“Thanks,” he’s turning his head to Clay but stops as his eyes land on another face in the crowd.

Riding the once wild bronco over to the crowd, he asks, “Merle? What are you doing here?”

“I told you I’d come and visit, didn’t I?” Merle smiles, “That was quite a show.”

“Just in time for all the drama,” Jeremy jokes, still rubbing up on the dramatic horse’s jumpy coat, “I have to take this horse back, but afterwards why don’t we-”

“Hey!”

Jeremy and Merle turn their heads to the voice, Clark approaching them. His brow is furrowed, chest puffed as hesays to Merle, “Rezai. I don’t remember inviting you back to my ranch.”

“I’m not here for you. I’m here for him,” Merle explains, nodding upward to Jeremy.

“Didn’t I tell you to lay off Jeremy?” Clark huffs.

Merle raises a brow, “Are you his keeper? Jeremy, what were you just saying? After you take that horse back then we should do what?”

“Yeah, Jeremy, what’s that? Because you’re supposed to be working,” Clark asks him, crossing his arms.

Clearing his throat, Jeremy is very aware that most of the crowd has not dissipated. In fact, many people have inched closer to hear the confrontation better. Jeremy shrugs, voice at a steady volume as he says, “I was just going to show him around. And, I don’t know, talk a little.”

“Talk? About what?” Clark prods.

Biting his lip, Jeremy lowers his hat to cover his eyes as he tells him, “Merle’s asked me to come live with him in LA.”

The crowd murmurs amongst themselves, Jeremy daring to look around. Yana’s staring up at him, concern written all over her face that he’s just spilled the truth to nearly the whole ranch. Looking over his other shoulder, Barry’s glaring at him with an expression of pain. Barry’s eyes flick away, seething and staring at Merle instead.

Clark’s laughter cuts through Jeremy’s perception, “Jeremy, you can’t be seriously considering his offer.”

“And what if he is?” Merle steps in, “Would that be so out of the realm of possibility?”

“Yes, it would,” Clark states as fact.

“How’s that?”

“Because,” Clark glances up to Jeremy before stating plainly, “He’d never leave me.”

“Oh, I see now,” Merle nods.

Clark crosses his arms, “You do?”

Merle gestures between Clark and Jeremy, “You’re his old crush, aren’t you? His first kiss.”

Jeremy’s stabbed in the heart, Merle pinpointing Clark perfectly. He can’t believe that Merle remembered that little tidbit from their first night together, struck by the sudden exposure. He bites down on his lip and refuses to confirm the suspicion.

“Old crush? Jeremy, what’s he talking about?” Clark asks Jeremy.

Merle replies instead, “I started to put it together at the party when you said you two were childhood friends. You kissed him when you were younger and then took it back, right?”

Some audible gasps are heard, the audience more intrigued in this conversation then they were with the bareback bronco riding.

“Jeremy,” Clark’s face is pinched with betrayal, “You told him that?”