Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
INDY
Ididn’t sleep well last night, I’m not sure if it was the sound I heard outside of my cabin, or Finn still being missing. Either way, I got up extra early morning with hopes that he’ll be found safe and sound.
Echo was also ready this morning, he’s been prancing around waiting for me to hop up and take him out for a ride. Offering him a carrot, I laugh and wait for him to finish. Once he’s done, I place my foot in the stirrup and push off the ground.
When I’m situated on his back, Papa smiles at me from across the pasture and waves me off.
His gray hair’s flowing in the breeze, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen him wear it like that.
It’s normally in a braid down his back. I love seeing his hair down, it makes me think of when I was a little girl, and we’d brush our hair together, and braid it before bed.
Nudging Echo with my boots, the two of us head for the camp.
Today’s going to be a good day, I can feel it.
Once we crest the hill, I spot Summer walking toward her camper’s bunks.
She hasn’t noticed me yet, so I get a few moments to just admire her.
The way she walks with such sure steps, like nothing in the world could ever get to her. I’d give anything to be that confident.
The moment doesn’t last long enough before she looks up, lifting her arm in a casual wave which I return, offering her a smile that she most likely can’t see.
Riding over, I hop down and allow Echo to roam, he won’t go far so I’m not worried about not holding the reins. Summer walks my way, one arm in her pocket and a slow smile on her face. “Morning, Honey.”
My face heats, thinking of the way she used that very same nickname while we were both unclothed, and intimate. How she moved above me while I fucked her with my mouth.
She leans in and whispers, “You’re blushing mighty fierce, somethin’ on your mind?”
Shaking my head, I laugh and look away. “I’ve never met anyone as cocksure as you are.”
“Is that a bad thing?” She asks, holding a hand against her chest as if wounded.
“I think you know the answer to that question.” Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms and turn to look toward the mess hall where the rest of the counselors are making their way out to start their day.
“If it’s not such a bad thing, meet me at my cabin when it’s lights out.” She runs her tongue along her teeth and smiles.
“Maybe,” I tease, grabbing Echo’s reins and heading for the barn.
Jare’s already here tacking up Beam and Burst for their mini rides. Each camper will ride while Jare and I walk around the ring with them, and we have two rotations so the horses don’t get overwhelmed.
“There she is, ‘bout time too!” Jare laughs, and I realize the growth this man has shown in the past two years. Going from an angry teen who hated the world, to a man people can count on… He’s made leaps and bounds, and I’m so glad to have him here.
“What? I’m early!” I protest, looking at my watch and earning another laugh from him.
“I’m just fuckin’ with ya boss,” he says, finishing the belts under Burst’s stomach. “These two are a match made in heaven. I’ll tell ya, Reese is jealous he can’t work with calm ones.”
“He’s welcome anytime,” I smile.
I can hear the kids readying for the day as I lead Echo into his temporary stall while I work. He doesn’t protest, only whinnies when I shut the half door to his stall. Jare offers him a red apple and Echo snorts.
“He prefers green,” I chuckle, showing Jare the green apple from my bag.
“Well excuse me,” he says, holding up the red apple and taking a bite. “I didn’t want to share with you anyway.”
Watching him be sassy with Echo, remembering how gentle he is with the kids, and how he takes over without being asked when I need an extra hand makes me sigh.
“What?” He tilts his head, taking another bite.
“I’m just–I’m incredibly proud of you Jare,” I smile, realizing how adult-ish I sound.
“Yeah, I’m pretty proud too,” he admits, looking around before coming to wrap his hands around my middle. Lifting me off the ground he spins us around and puts me back on my feet before the campers turn the corner and the real fun begins.
“Why can’t I have that one!” One of the little girls says, pointing at Glinda. I can see the appeal. She’s gorgeous, but I like to save her for when Burst or Beam show early signs of fatigue, and I’ve got other campers yet to come through.
“Glinda is a special girl,” I laugh, earning a scowl and little foot stomp. “She’s resting while Burst and Beam here do the work.”
“She can work first then!” She protests, smashing her little fists against her arms. “She’s nice, I can tell.”
“She’s very nice,” Jare says, taking over for me. “But Beam here is the most special horse we have. Wanna know why?”
He’s gathered the attention of most of the other kids now too, and they all lean in to hear what’s so special about her.
“She’s a secret agent,” he whispers, looking around as if someone really important might overhear. Beam nods her head confirming this whole charade with a flick of Jare’s wrist.
The kids gasp, and one of the little boys’ hands shoots straight up into the sky. “I want that one!”
Jare laughs and puts his finger over his mouth to get them to quiet down. “It’s a secret, okay? No one but us can know.”
They all murmur some kind of agreement and just like that, Glinda is forgotten. The counselors are a little less talkative today, though this group isn’t as chatty as River’s.
“Everythin’ alright?” I ask Kyle, the leader of the second half of camp. This is his first year here but his application was stellar, and the references I called had great things to say. Plus, since he got here, he’s been nothing but amazing.
He shrugs and looks over at Molly, who’s worn a sour expression all day. “Molly and Zaye got into it last night, neither of them are talkin’ right now.”
“I didn’t know they were close,” I must think out loud because Kyle shrugs and shakes his head.
“It’s probably somethin’ stupid,” he says, “it’ll blow over I’m sure.”
“Yeah, ‘course.”
I’ve known Zaye for a while, and she isn’t one to just let things go. I don’t think whatever had her arguing with Molly will blow over. If anything, I have a feeling it’ll boil over.
But I can’t exactly deal with it right now, I’ve got two last riders to walk, and then Burst and Beam deserve a break for lunch.
Jare offers to stay with me after we take all the gear off the horses and give them a quick brush down before we let them roam in the small pasture behind the barn. Mama packed me a lunch, but I know he usually has lunch with the Harris’s so I smile and assure him I’ll be alright for an hour alone.
It’s peaceful in the barn, especially with Echo here. He’s a big piece of my calm. I’m not sure what I’ll do without him when he goes. He’s been my companion since he was born and I was six. Tears threaten to break through, and I swallow them down with the last of my peanut butter sandwich.
“Ain’t nothin’ gonna happen to my boy,” I remind myself, looking at him. His white star shaped mark on his otherwise tan body always makes me smile. As if I plucked him from the stars myself.
Leaning back on a bale of hay, I tilt my hat down and close my eyes. I’ve got a little time to relax. Not long after I close my eyes, and my body starts to unwind as it drifts off, music starts blaring from upstairs in Jare’s space.
“Leave it to Jare for a mid-day dance break,” I mumble, standing and stretching my hands over my head. Walking over to the bottom of the loft stairs, I shout up. “Can you turn that down?”
“Indy?” His voice startles me. Jumping clear outta my skin, I turn, finding Jare standing behind me looking up at his loft. “You need somethin’ in my loft?”
“No I–,” I start, feeling my body start to run cold. “I was restin’ and then the music turned on. I thought you were upstairs.”
“I just walked back over,” he says, looking between me and the door to his loft. It’s open, which isn’t common for him, especially with the smell. “Go get Mr. Harris.”
“Jare,” I grab his arm when he starts up the wooden ladder. “You should wait. What if…” I don’t want to finish that sentence, and by the look on his face he doesn’t want me to either.
“Go,” he says, his voice stern. “I won’t go in on my own, I promise, but I also don’t want whoever is up there to get away. Now, quick as a bunny.”
Running over to the Harris’s, I burst in without knocking, hollering for Mr. Harris. His wife turns from the sink at my sudden arrival, holding her chest.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Harris, I didn’t mean to startle you, but I need Mr. Harris for a minute.”
“He’s in the den,” she says, throwing her hand out with the dish cloth.
I swallow, and address him directly this time, “I need you to come to the barn.”
The moment he notices my expression, he moves with a swiftness I’ve never seen. “Is it Jare?”
“No, it’s...” I’m not sure what it is to be honest, so I don’t finish my thought. Instead the two of us rush out the door to the barn where, true to his word, Jare’s waiting on the landing just outside of his door.
“What’s the–”
But Jare lifts his finger and holds it to his lips, and then points up to the loft. Mr. Harris must understand him, because he climbs up after him, silent as a mouse.
The two of them slowly enter the space, and I can hear their footsteps, trace them with my eyes as they walk around. Soon, the music’s cut off and I can hear them whispering.
I want to know what they’re saying, and whether or not they found anything.
Jare pokes his head out of the doorway and offers me a thumbs up, but his mouth is in a firm line.
I can hear the campers on their way to the barn, their excited voices carry over the wind. “Do I need to postpone the campers?” I whisper-shout up the stairs.
“No,” the men say in unison, and if I didn’t have five adults coming my way with campers, I’d walk right up there to see exactly what they’re hiding.
River’s group is the first on the schedule after lunch break, and all five kids are so excited, they squeal and chitter as we prepare the horses.
“I thought Jare was helpin’ you today,” River says, eyeing the spot where the ladder meets the floor.
“He was, but Mr. Harris needed his help doin’ somethin’ for Papa.” I lie, and I hate how easily it rolls off my tongue. If anyone understood my suspicion, it would be River.
They don’t call me out, though I have a feeling they want to. Instead they continue helping me tack up Burst and Beam for the afternoon, so we can get these kids learning.