Chapter 14
TAYLOR
“I’m running behind. I’m so sorry. Tell everyone I’m sorry. And I smell like horse.”
My car was too old to have the call with Cam go through the dash so I held the cell to my ear.
“Red, it’s fine,” he reassured.
“The afternoon tour got behind because of the afternoon thunderstorm. We had to delay until the weather let up. Fortunately, the group of six from Arkansas was easygoing and didn’t mind.
But the horses had been covered in mud and it took twice as long to get them hosed, then brushed down, fed, and the stalls prepped for the night. ”
He huffed. “I bet that was a mess. If you haven’t forgotten, we live on a ranch. You smelling like horse means you’re gonna fit right in.”
Dinner with the Wilders tonight was a first for me and I was blowing it already by being late. Cam had kept me to himself all week but his mother had lured him in with the promise of strawberry shortcake. I had to admit, it was a pretty good lure. My stomach rumbled thinking about it.
The last time I’d seen the Wilders, at least some of them, was when Mr. Wilder was in the ICU and I’d admitted that it was because of me he’d been hurt.
“My car’s also giving me trouble,” I added.
“Oh?”
“It’s having a hard time starting.” I patted the steering wheel in the hopes that it made my car feel better. Dumb, right?
“This a new thing?” he wondered.
I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “A few weeks.”
I heard muffled conversation for a few seconds, then Cam said, “Shep said to bring it by the shop in the morning and he’ll take a look at it.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Just like that, I had help. I told Cam my problem and he helped me fix it. It also was no big deal when your brother was a mechanic. “Okay, but only to find out what’s wrong. I don’t have the cash now to pay for a new part.”
“Red, I think Shep will give you the family discount.”
“Duh!” I heard that shouted in the background. It was probably Shep, which made me laugh.
Butterflies circled my stomach. “Oh yeah? Special family rate?” I blinkered and turned onto the county road that headed toward the Wilder ranch. Cam’s small house was on the huge piece of property, but his driveway was on a different road than Mr. and Mrs. Wilder’s place.
“I’m keeping you, red.”
God, that sounded good. Felt good. I wanted it so bad. To make the past week the rest of my life.
“Cam, I–”
My car sputtered, made a few jerky knocks and pings, then stalled.
Startled, I blinkered, then pulled to the side of the two-lane road.
“What’s the matter?”
I stared at the blank gauges on the dash. The radio went off. “My car died.”
“Okay, where are you?” His voice had shifted from playful to serious.
I glanced around. “On the side of Miller Road just past the old farm stand.”
Glancing in the rearview mirror, I saw a car approach, slow, then pull up behind me. I frowned, then whipped my head around to look out the back window. I recognized the car. “Cam, my father just pulled up.”
I knew his old white 4Runner because he’d had it for ten years, but also because the front blinker light had cracked and he’d put yellow electrical tape over the hole.
“What? Okay, I’m already outside. We’re on the way.”
When the SUV’s driver door opened, it wasn’t Dad that climbed out, but–
“Oh my God. It’s Rod.”