20. Bailey
Bailey
I parked the truck and trailer behind the large metal shop where the pens were set up on the property.
“It looks like a normal ranch,” Lettie observed as she took in our surroundings.
Killing the engine, I asked, “What were you expecting?”
“Not this.”
Unhooking my seat belt, I got out of the truck, leaving Rouge in the back seat. Lettie met me by the hood, crossing her arms as she surveyed the area. Her gray tank top hugged her curves, and my eyes landed on her breasts being put on display by the position.
“You here for Travis?” a voice interrupted.
Clearing my throat, I turned my attention to the ordinary looking guy.
I guess when you think of someone who runs a kill pen business, you think of some old, ugly brute.
This guy was anything but that. Hell, if I didn’t know better, I’d think he worked in some office out in Missoula.
The smirk on his lips told me he definitely saw where I was looking seconds before.
“Yep. Here for the bay bronc,” I said.
He nodded, gesturing for us to follow him.
Lettie walked ahead of me and my eyes fell to the Kimes Ranch logo etched onto the back pockets of her jeans.
I was a goner for everything Lettie Bronson.
I couldn’t keep my damn eyes off her. It was like I needed to make up for all the lost time.
Or my brain was trying to ingrain her image in my head in case she took off again.
She may say she was staying for good, but there would always be that little part of me that feared she wouldn’t be here when the sun rose.
He led us to the pen at the end of the row, the horse standing in the corner with his head hung low, his tail swishing to bat away a fly.
“Every so often we get a retired rodeo star in here. Hate to see it,” the man said as he leaned his forearms on the fence. “Glad you guys are getting him out of here.”
Lettie’s face was pure confusion and disbelief, but she kept her comments to herself as she turned to the horse.
He held his hand out to me, and I shook it with a firm grip. “Austin.”
“I’m Bailey. This is Lettie.” I gestured to Lettie after dropping his hand .
He nodded at the two of us. “Nice to meet you both.”
“So, why do you do it?” And there she went, her thoughts coming out in full force.
He turned back to the horse, his posture softening as sadness crept into his voice. “Got to pay the bills somehow.”
“Can’t work a different job, like everyone else?”
I pursed my lips at her bold question.
Austin kicked at the dirt. “You’re right. I could. But then these horses would end up in the same situation, but with a monster who doesn’t care about them. At least I feed ‘em, water ‘em, give them a little bit of peace before they head off.”
As much as I hated the reality of this, he had a point.
“Well, we can load him up if you’re ready,” I said before Lettie could ask any more questions.
Austin nodded, reaching for the halter on the gate.
“I’ll open the trailer,” Lettie mumbled before turning on her boot and stalking off.
Once out of ear shot, I said, “Sorry about her. She’s a little sensitive about all this.”
Austin unlatched the gate and stepped inside the pen. “No biggie. Everyone is. I don’t blame her. Seems like she’s got a big heart.”
On instinct, I reached up to tilt my hat down, but stopped myself, remembering what Lettie said at the bar. I turned to see her swinging the door to the trailer open without a glance in our direction. “She’s somethin’ alright. ”
Austin led the horse past me, heading in the direction of the trailer. Though retired, the horse’s muscles still rippled with each step, his bulky frame evidence to the years of hard work he put in. He loaded him in the trailer with no problem, the horse clearly having done it a million times.
“Travis has my number. If you guys ever see any come through here that you’d like, just let me know. I’ll hold ‘em for you.”
He stepped out of the trailer and Lettie swung the door, latching it shut.
“Thanks, Austin. We appreciate it," I said.
He tipped his chin. “‘Course. You two make it home safe.”
“Will do,” I replied.
Lettie was silent as she got in the truck. I double checked the door to the trailer and the hookup on the hitch to make sure everything was secure. Satisfied, I got in the truck to find Lettie watching Austin walk back to his double-wide.
She may have been babied her whole life, but Lettie sure held her own, regardless of the situation.
She was soft on the outside, fucking beautiful, but that mind of hers was harder than steel, never afraid to voice its thoughts.
I guess that could take people off guard and make them uncomfortable, but not me.
My Lettie was a force to be reckoned with, and I was damn proud that she never let anyone dim that side of her.
She was a little firecracker, and I was bound to get blown away, but for some damn reason, I wanted to play with fire. It was time to show her just how much she lit up my world.