Chapter 7
7
Margot
M argot had been through worse. That’s what she kept telling herself when she pulled up in front of the Keagans’ property the following Monday. Liam’s oldest brother had approved her request to work on the ranch while Prada was in their care. Thankfully, she only had to do a couple hours of chores to pay for everything they’d agreed to.
She’d opted to come in the evenings after Liam got off work, hoping that Caleb wouldn’t be out and about. There was something about his judgmental nature that had her hating herself even more.
It wasn’t that she needed his approval. That was the furthest thing from her mind. She didn’t care about what Caleb thought. It was more that she already knew where she fell short, and his words were a reminder.
She straightened her shoulders as she stared at the barn through the front window of her car. This would be her fresh start. Margot might not know where she wanted her life to go from here, but she knew she needed to step up and take care of Prada. Her horse was the most important thing to her right now. If taking care of her meant that she had to get her hands dirty, then she’d do it—at least until she figured out where she wanted to go from here.
Margot released a nervous breath and climbed out of the car. She headed for the barn, rounded the entryway, and then stopped cold in her tracks.
Caleb glanced up from where he stood beside a saddle. He had a rag in his hand and a bottle of what looked to be cleaner or oil at his feet. His curiosity immediately shifted to disdained recognition, and suddenly it felt like she’d been transported back to high school where she had to put on a fake fa?ade if only to survive.
She flashed him a smile and waved her hand. “Hey, Caleb, is Liam around?”
He shook his head and muttered something she couldn’t hear. Then he thumbed over his shoulder toward the back of the barn. “I think he’s taking care of your horse right now.”
“Thanks,” she chirped and then hurried down the aisle toward the back. The barn was bigger on the inside than it looked from the exterior. She picked up her pace, letting her fingertips graze the stalls to her right. She could still feel Caleb’s eyes on her even as she got farther away. He was just going to have to get used to seeing her more. She wasn’t about to let him stop her from taking care of her horse.
Right as she got to Prada’s stall, Liam materialized. His eyes met hers, and all at once their last conversation came back to mind. She could see it now. There was no doubt that he had feelings for her. A twinge of guilt mingled with a desire to just give in and let him take care of her. It would be so easy to give in after the disappointments she’d endured in New York.
But that wouldn’t be fair.
Liam was a good guy. From her very first memory, she could tell he’d end up with someone amazing.
Margot darted past him and into the stall. “How’s my girl doing today?”
Liam turned, blocking the entrance with his tall frame. “She’s acclimating well. I think she likes it here.” He lifted an arm and leaned against the frame of the stall door as he continued to stare at her.
She was caught in his gaze, unable to move. “Well, what’s not to like?’ Margot said with a soft smile. She’d said it quietly, but she had little doubt he heard her. Liam smiled back, seemingly pleased with her compliment.
“Well, I haven’t had a chance to let her out to get some exercise. I was just about to set her out to pasture so I could clean up her stall?—”
“Liam,” she said, “you can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
She snorted. “You work long hours already. You can’t come home and take care of Prada, too. It’s just… too much.”
“It’s not a big deal,” he said with a chuckle.
Margot shook her head again. “Caleb wouldn’t like it, and you know that. He doesn’t even like that I’m here in the first place.”
“I don’t care what Caleb thinks. He’s being ridiculous.”
“No, he’s made a good point.” It was hard to admit that out loud. “I’m not working, so I can’t afford to have you taking care of Prada. This is the only way I can make sure she’s getting the care she needs.”
“But I would?—”
“Don’t tell me that you will do all the work I’ve already agreed to do. It’s not fair to anyone—especially not you.” She ran her hands along Prada’s back, then gave Liam another smile. “Besides, if I ever decide to move away again, I’d like to take her with me. And if I do that, I’d like to know that I can take care of her all on my own.”
His smile disappeared. “You might move?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know what I might do. I was a dancer before I came home. There aren’t exactly any ballet companies around here, so the most logical outcome is that I will be leaving here and going somewhere else. That’s why I’m going to learn everything I can about what Prada needs.”
Liam went quiet. He stepped back into the aisle. “I suppose if that’s what you want…”
“It is.”
He leaned just out of sight, then came back into view with a large shovel in hand. He held it out to her. “First, you’re going to have to clean up the horse pucky.”
Margot stared at the shovel.
Liam chuckled.
Her eyes darted up to meet his. “What?”
“That look on your face pretty much says it all.”
Margot frowned. “What look?”
“ That look. You really don’t have to do everything you promised. I’m happy to help?—”
“No,” she interrupted, taking the shovel from his grasp. “I have to do this. I promised myself I would. Not only that, but I promised your brothers. I can do this.” She said the last part a little quieter and more to convince herself than anyone else. “I have to.”
Margot wrinkled her nose. Being in this stall with the horse was one thing. It wasn’t so bad smelling it. She’d gotten used to such smells throughout her childhood. But to actually scoop everything up and put it in a pail was a whole other ballgame. She refused to let Liam rescue her.
Liam took Prada by her lead and guided her down the aisle toward the door. There was a pail on the floor, and before Liam had left, he’d placed a pitchfork against the wall. She wasn’t sure if she was going to need it—in fact, she wasn’t even sure what she’d use it for if she was using the shovel to clean up.
It couldn’t be so hard. There were people who did this sort of work with their eyes shut. She’d get the hang of it.
Margot shut her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, then released it. Now was as good a time as ever to learn a new skill.
Over the next two hours, Margot learned just how hard it was to muck a stall, organize the brushes and tools they used when dealing with her horse, and get the feed where it needed to be. There were several mishaps, such as when she accidentally stepped into the bucket and nearly fell down.
Thankfully, said bucket wasn’t full of her horse’s waste. Still, she wasn’t exactly thrilled that she’d hobbled around for a few steps before she could get the bucket to loosen itself from her boot.
Her hands had blisters, and her skin felt warm to the touch from being out in the sun too long. By the time she was able to take a break, she was worn out. She wasn’t even sure that she was allowed breaks like a normal job. This wasn’t exactly normal.
She came out of the barn and stared out at the corral where Liam was working with a different horse. She hadn’t seen Caleb anywhere recently. Her gaze drifted from the corral to a nearby patch of a grassy field. It was surrounded by wildflowers and large shade trees. It almost looked like half of the sets she’d helped paint over the years for stage performances.
Except this one was real. She could almost smell the floral notes in the air even from where she stood at the barn door. In that moment, she lost track of time. One second she was still in the barn, and the next she was in the field, stretching out her legs and putting her body into positions she hadn’t done since she was preparing to go on stage. She moved her leg out behind her and pulled it up to her head from behind.
Her muscles spasmed and screamed in protest, but she ignored them and gave in to the stretch. Margot’s whole body was tight and in desperate need of getting warmed up. And yet, instrumental music played in her head as she flitted and danced across the meadow.
The movements came back easily to her, and she was careful not to put too much weight on her bum leg. Something flashed out of the corner of her eye as she spun around, causing her to gasp and stare at the intrusion.
Liam stood at the edge of the meadow, just watching her.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and laughed. “Sorry, I needed a break.”
“You’re good,” he said.
“Thanks,” she whispered back. “But I’m actually a little rusty.”
“No, you’re really good,” he returned, moving closer. “That was really impressive.”
She warmed at his compliment. Granted, he didn’t know what he was talking about, but she couldn’t fault him for that. Liam likely hadn’t gone out to see the ballet—not a real one, at least.
“Don’t let me stop you,” Liam insisted. “I want to see more.”
Margot laughed again. “I actually think that I’ve had enough for today. I probably shouldn’t overdo it.” She shuffled forward, her limp more pronounced. “Besides, I’ve got another date lined up for tonight. I’d rather not drop dead from exhaustion at the end.”
“You have a date? But it’s Monday… and it’s getting late.”
She smiled, tilting her head slightly. “People can go on dates during the week, Liam. It’s pretty common. And back in the city, all the fun didn’t start until it got dark.”
He coughed and looked away. “I know that. I just… Who is it with?”
Margot shrugged. “You wouldn’t know him. He’s not local to Copper Creek. He’s just driving down because I can’t go all the way to the city.”
Liam shook his head. “I don’t like it. You shouldn’t go out with someone you don’t know.”
This time, her laughter was more genuine. “How else am I supposed to find the guy who’s worth my time? I have to date in order to meet someone.”
“You should make sure they’re vetted.”
“And how would I do that?”
“I don’t know,” he said, “but you shouldn’t just go out with someone you can’t trust. What if he’s a serial killer? No one wants to have to find your body on the side of a road somewhere between here and the city.”
“You’re overreacting. It’s going to be fine. We’ve been chatting for a few days now.”
Liam gave her a flat look. “That doesn’t mean a dang thing, Margot, and you know it.”
“All I know is that I can’t stay home. My dad is driving me crazy.” She motioned toward the barn, desperate for a change of subject. “Are you all done with Prada?”
He grunted but didn’t say a single word. It would be foolish to believe he wasn’t miffed over her dating someone new. Once again, his confession came to the forefront of her mind before she could shove it aside. He didn’t know what he was talking about.