Chapter 6
REACTION TIME IS HOT
After repairing the barn door and getting the hay baled, I stick my head out of the barn when I don’t hear the girls outside.
Tatum and Love have three girls, two of which are Sadie’s best friends. When their youngest is old enough, I’m sure she’ll be one of Sadie’s best friends, too. But when I can’t hear those girls squealin’ or hollerin’ about something, it’s worrisome.
“Sadie!” I call out, cupping my hands to my mouth as I face the pasture. “Sadie!”
Behind me, in the distance, I hear the high pitch of her playful laughter, and I follow after it. Near the edge of the stable, I spot them, Sadie and Quinn.
Sadie’s sitting on top of her favorite mare, Daisy, and she’s got Quinn brushing her mane as she ties dandelions in it, cheeks rosy. Sadie reaches back to grab her stash of dandelions off of Daisy’s rear, and nearly slips. She’s fallen off of just about every horse we own and has been just fine.
But Quinn.
Her reaction is immediate, abandoning the brush and flowers to catch Sadie in her arms, eyes wide. Sadie laughs, which takes Quinn off guard, but the way her body takes a few seconds to relax and return to her tasks makes my chest tight.
“Vaughn!” a voice calls, and I spin, abandoning the sight of the two of them, which is good. I don’t need to be feeling anything for anyone, especially not a twenty-something who is only here for a short time.
Sadie. The ranch. This fucking rodeo. That’s my focus. My only focus.
Dirk, the postman, stands behind me, passing me a thick, weighty envelope with URGENT stamped over the top, the letters red, a warning of sorts. It’s been years since I’ve had news that wasn’t bad, if I’m honest.
“Thanks, man,” I tell him, and then I turn back and watch Quinn and Sadie from the porch until the sun sets.