Chapter 13
Wes
“Do you actually want to ride any of them one of these days or just do the dirty work?” Jameson asks, entering the barn as I bring back the wheelbarrow I used to clean out the horse stall.
“I think they like thinking I’m their bitch.”
“They don’t think that. They’re probably wondering why you sneak them treats but don’t do anything else with them.”
“I clean up their stalls and brush them.”
“Next step is riding.”
I look over at the biggest horse, Juniper, remembering she was Jameson’s barrel racing horse for a while. She’s large with black and white spots, which I’ve been told is called an Appaloosa.
“She would take good care of you if you wanted to give it a try,” Jameson encourages.
“Maybe one day.” I look over at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be holed up with your new wife?”
He huffs out a laugh. “I tried, and she insisted she had to work today. But I’ll be whisking her away for our honeymoon in a couple of days. Would you mind coming by here to check on everything while we’re gone?”
“Not a problem.”
“Thanks, man, and if you need anything from me let me know.”
I shake my head. “You’re good.”
“No, I owe you. If anything comes up that you need from me, please let me know.”
“You don’t owe me anything. Don’t worry about it,” I insist.
He just shakes his head, but doesn’t try to stop me as I head out.
I go right to the animal shelter because even though I’ve taken Bruno in for the time being, I still want to check in and help out.
Gloria said she would call if anyone comes in with interest for Bruno, but I also want to check in person, just in case.
She gives me a big smile when I walk through the door but it’s one I don’t match, I just give her a head nod in greeting.
“How’s Bruno doing?” she asks brightly.
“Good, he seems to be comfortable. Has anyone shown any interest in him?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet.”
“Is it because he’s living with me? I don’t want to hold him back.”
“No, not at all. He’s still on the website, and I’m sure he’s much happier at your house than he was here.”
I nod, knowing he is, but I feel bad having him get too comfortable when he’s going to end up going to another home at some point.
“I got a good one for you to walk today if you want,” Gloria offers brightly.
I nod again, not saying anything as she leads me to the kennels and up to a chocolate Lab who wags his tail as soon as he sees us.
“This sweet boy is Maverick,” she introduces. “He was picked up the other day and I think he has a family looking for him, so we’re doing what we can to find them.”
I take the leash off the hook and lead him out. He’s a lot more energetic than Bruno, which I don’t mind. He sniffs the ground, going to several bushes and trees on our walk, but just like with any dog, my favorite thing is that we don’t have to talk.
Part of me wants to talk about the situation with Bailey that I can feel it escalating. Or at this point it’s escalated past the point of no return because touching her again made me realize I’m not going to be able to stop.
She likes the sound of it too, I know she does. If she wants to act like a brat and be treated like one, then she’ll get punished like one. But when she behaves she’ll get rewarded, even though she may enjoy the punishments I have planned with the way she keeps testing me.
My phone goes off in my pocket, and I think for a moment it might be Bailey, but when I pull it out, I’m met with a message from someone I didn’t expect.
Chris: Hey.
Chris and I served together for years. He was my copilot the day that changed our lives. We talk every once in a while, but at least for me, every time we talk I feel the memories surface. They’re so much worse, than the pain radiating in my leg, a physical reminder of that day.
Wes: How’s it going?
He doesn’t respond right away, and it’s slightly concerning that he’s reaching out, and I can’t help but wonder why. I feel like I only hear from my fellow soldiers when I’m being told someone else has died.
I’ve witnessed and experienced so much death, it’s easy to be numb to it, but it also makes me question many things about my own life. Like when I wonder why I’m still here yet they aren’t.
Apparently it’s survivors’ guilt. At least that’s what I’ve been told. I don’t really care what it is. I can’t help that it takes over my thoughts at times like this. Just like I can’t help when the memories of that day assault my mind. Or the funerals. Or anything else from my past.
When my arm is yanked I realize I stopped walking, and Maverick is clearly not happy about it.
We continue down the trail, and I wait for Chris to reply. He doesn’t live near me, and the last I heard he was somewhere in the Midwest. But I think the last time we spoke was over a year ago, so he could be living anywhere now.
Chris: How you been?
I furrow my brow at the screen. I remember him being similar to me when we worked together. Not a big talker, so this seems even weirder that he’s just wanting to have a conversation out of the blue.
Wes: Fine, I guess. You?
Chris: Fine. Been thinking about that day a lot.
I stop dead in my tracks once again. Maverick busies himself with a bush, and I stare at the screen. One thing we never talked about was that day. It’s been ten years, and there’s nothing more that could really be said about it.
We went through it. Our lives were changed. End of story.
What else is there to talk about?
Chris: Do you?
I don’t want to respond. I don’t know where he’s going with this conversation, but I don’t want to be a part of it. There’s a small voice in the back of my head that tells me I should at least say something, but I’m not going to entertain an in-depth conversation about the worst day of my life.
The day that completely altered who I was as a person.
Wes: I try not to.
Chris: Ok.
His response throws me off, but I don’t know what else to say. I lock my phone and put it back in my pocket, trying to do anything I can to take my mind off the odd exchange. Maverick and his adventurous nature helps with that.
But I know what distraction I really want.
The tall, gorgeous woman that lives next to me and enjoys driving me insane is exactly what I would like right now.
Actually, that may be exactly what I need. More-so, it may be just what she needs too.
I left her exactly how I wanted to, wet and needy. I thought she may actually give in that night, but she’s too proud. And she’s had years to convince herself that she hates me, which is fine, it makes it a little more fun for me.
It’ll make it even better once I finally break her down. She’ll crawl, beg, cry, and do whatever I want because she wants how I can make her feel.
The best part is, her body can crave me, but there’s no risk of her developing feelings for me. If there’s one thing I know about Bailey Collee, it’s that she isn’t one to fall in love. Neither am I, which is why it would be perfect if we can enjoy each other’s company and move on with our lives.
I bring Maverick back to his kennel, his food dish is full so he’s happy to go back in and start eating, which makes me feel better about having to lock him in the cage.
On my way out, I give Gloria a small wave, then pull my phone out to text my little distraction.
Wes: Ready to play, Angel?