Page 34 of Roped in Rawhide

I clear the untimely lust from my throat. “How long are you in town?”

“Trying to get rid of me already?”

Awkward laughter bubbles from my discomfort. “What? No way! I love having you here. You’ve been a tremendous help.”

Mama June nods in that suspicious way of hers. “Tremendous indeed. While your head is in the clouds, I’ve been making sure the customers are taken care of.”

“Thank you,” I murmur and tuck my chin. “There’s just… something on my mind.”

“Want to talk about it?”

My gaze whips around the crowd gathered for the farmer’s market. Every Saturday, our store’s parking lot is transformed for the event where all the local businesses set up a booth to sell their goods. My parents came home to give me a hand with the holiday traffic. The weekends surrounding the Fourth of July are always packed. This year, it’s on a Saturday so Mama June came home for the final one of this month while she was at it. She’ll probably stay until August just to keep badgering me.

Shoppers are browsing while enjoying the laidback atmosphere. Betty Lou waddles her way around the makeshift square, receiving treats and greetings from anyone who notices. Her quacks are heard loud and clear as if she’s in charge of keeping everyone in line. It’s a whirlwind of activity that brings me great joy, but definitely not the place to discuss my personal problems.

“Maybe later,” I say to appease her. “We should focus on selling the fresh produce.”

“Your father has it covered.” She gives him a tender smile that reflects the love they share. “There’s a bit of a lull at the moment, which gives me the opportunity to chat with my youngest daughter.”

And here I foolishly thought I was off the hook. “Yippee.”

She laughs at my feigned enthusiasm. “How’s Big Red?”

I blink at the unexpectedly bland question. “Good as new.”

Chance kept his word and fixed whatever he broke in under a minute. That man needs to learn about boundaries. My bottom lip gets trapped between my teeth as I imagine teaching him a lesson.

A hum breezes from my mother. “You can’t drive that rust bucket on a road trip. It won’t make it out of the state, let alone to southern Illinois. Why did you have to buy a horse so far away? And one that’s not even broke yet.”

That earns her a frown. “First of all, horse prices in Minnesota are criminal. Boon started under saddle the last week of May. He’ll have sixty days of training when I get him. Second, give Big Red more credit. We’ve been through a lot together.”

My scars throb at the reminder. If I would’ve been driving any other vehicle that day, I fear my fate would’ve been far worse. As it was, I had to be pried out and stitched back together. They wanted to total my truck after the accident, but I wouldn’t hear it. That old Chevy saved my life.

“Ask Chance to go with you,” Mom’s suggestion breaks apart the dark memories.

“Why…?” My voice is too breathless. “Why would I do that?”

“His truck is more dependable. It’ll also make me feel better knowing you’re not alone.”

“Paisley can come with me.”

Mama June scoffs. “And leave her baby behind? Keep dreaming.”

“How about Ryder?” But that’s a waste of breath.

My mother’s flat look confirms it. We haven’t heard much from my brother since he took off to chase better odds at getting to the National Finals Rodeo. He might have a shot if his roping scores keep up.

“Chance is your best bet,” Mom argues. “You’ve been spending a lot of time together lately. I figured you were friends again.”

“We’re in… a weird place.” And that’s putting it lightly.

“Do you still love him?”

My jaw drops. “Mom!”

“Oh, please. It’s not a secret that you used to.”

“That’s when I was young and didn’t know better.”