39. Lettie
Lettie
There was an Art & Wine festival on the main strip in town. Nonprofits and small businesses lined the streets with booths, showcasing the products they sold or the cause they supported .
“Lettie,” my mom said from behind our canopy tent. I turned from the table where Brandy was talking with an elderly woman. “I want to show you this.”
I made my way to her, seeing the paperwork she had in front of her.
“Here’s a copy of last year’s budget and expenses.
You can take a look at that while we have some free time today.
Animal rescue is always going to be financially difficult, but we save a lot of money having Brandy gentle the horses, growing our own hay, and with Reed as our farrier.
Callan donates a portion of the funds his riding lessons bring in, which is way too generous of him, but he refuses to stop.
We’re very fortunate, but I want you to see how close to rock bottom we’ve almost hit before. ”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll take a look at it.”
“Of course, sweetie. I’m confident you can get into the groove of things with BOTB, but I don’t want to throw it all at you at once. It can be overwhelming,” she said as she stuffed a few papers into the folder she brought with her to every rescue-related event.
“I’m really glad I get to be a part of it on a bigger scale. I love working with the horses in any way that I can, but I’m ready to learn this side of things.”
Her eyes softened. “I’m happy you’re back, sweetheart. That ranch didn’t feel like home with you so far away.”
I did miss the ranch while I was gone, but I wasn’t sure if it was the reason I came back. Home wasn’t just this town or that ranch. It was Bailey. He was my home, the person I felt most myself around. Being away made me finally realize that .
My mom pulled me in for a hug, rubbing her hands up and down my back. I swallowed, clearing the emotion that was creeping up my throat. It’d been too long without one of her hugs.
***
Five o’clock was fast approaching, which meant we were that much closer to diving into a home-cooked meal at my parents’ house and cracking open an ice cold beer.
The morning chill had disappeared all too quickly, leaving only the miserable heat.
This time of year was the worst for freezing mornings and blazing afternoons.
We’d had people at our booth all day, asking about the rescue, how we got started, how long we’d been doing it.
Everything you could want to know, they asked about it.
My voice was tired from talking all day, but it felt good connecting with people.
The more people we talked to, the more people would be aware of horse rescue and how much work went into it.
There were no days off when it came to rescue.
“You finally going to tell me where you were last night?” Brandy asked once we finally had a moment with no one standing at our table.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure you know.”
“I’m just wantin’ to hear you say it out loud,” she confessed.
I leaned against the table, facing her. “I slept at Bailey’s house. ”
A knowing smile crept up her face. “ At Bailey’s house or with Bailey?”
“What do you think?”
She shrugged. “I wouldn’t know.”
“ With Bailey,” I admitted.
“It’s about time!” my mom shouted from behind me.
My cheeks heated. Of course, she heard.
My mom came over to us and Brandy held her hand up to her for a high-five.
“Uh, excuse me?” a quiet feminine voice interrupted.
I turned away from Brandy and my mom, focusing my attention on the woman who’d approached the booth. Her amber hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and freckles sprinkled her nose and the apples of her cheeks.
“Are you guys hiring?” she asked hesitantly.
“No, sorry. We do need volunteers, though, if you’re interested. I can tell you a little bit more about the rescue, if you’d like,” I replied.
“I would, but I’m really trying to find a job around here. You don’t happen to know of any, do you?”
Brandy nudged my arm. “The feed store,” she mumbled.
I smiled. “Oh, yeah! My brother is hiring. He’s the manager over at Tumbleweed Feed. I can give you the address. Just walk on in and apply. I’ll put in a good word. What’s your name?”
I grabbed a pamphlet for the rescue and flipped it over, scribbling the address on the back. “Oakley,” she said as she took the pamphlet from me.
“Lettie,” I replied. “Nice to meet you.”
Her eyes lit up, a smile stretching across her mouth. “You too. Thank you for this.” She held up the paper.
“Of course. And if you get the urge to spend some time with the horses, just let us know. All the information is in there for Bottom of the Buckle.”
She nodded, stashing it in her small purse. “Will do. Hopefully I’ll see you around.”
She walked off, getting lost in the sea of people littering the street.
“She seems sweet,” Brandy said.
“If that son of mine has half a brain, he’ll hire her,” my mom added from behind me.
I turned around, raising an eyebrow in question.
“It’s about time my kids start settling down,” she said, as if that was enough explanation.
“With an employee?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Better that than some city girl.”
Brandy’s jaw dropped. “Mrs. Bronson,” she gasped.
“Nothin’ wrong with them. But Lennon deserves a sweet girl, and from what I saw, she fits the bill.”
“Mom, you can’t go around playing matchmaker for us,” I griped as I gathered up the papers on the table to start packing them away.
“Isn’t that a mother’s job?”
Brandy laughed while she began folding the table cloth. “It better not be. My mom has terrible taste in men. ”
Brandy’s dad had left their family when she was twelve after her mom found out he’d been cheating on her their entire marriage.
There was a backstory with her father I didn’t know much about other than his tendency to sleep around.
He wasn’t home much when we’d hang out at her house, and if he was, Brandy would ask if we could hang out at my parents’ ranch.
Thankfully, Brandy was an only child, so he didn’t leave her to raise a bunch of children on her own, but even being a single mom to one child was hard.
Ms. Rose was like a second mom to me and I was now realizing it'd been too long since I’d seen her.
I’d have to plan a visit as soon as I had a free moment.
Brandy no longer lived with her, having moved out shortly after she turned eighteen, but she visited her every other weekend, regardless of whatever boyfriend she may or may not have around.
My mom got to work loading the truck as Brandy and I took down the canopy tent.
Brandy eyed me. “Was he good? You’re not giving me any details, girl! I’m practically chomping at the bit here.”
I started working on the metal leg opposite of hers, collapsing the tent. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
She scoffed as she worked on her pole, trying to maneuver her hand without using the finger that she’d broken. She’d already taken off the splint. “Oh, please. You told me about vomit guy. Plus, I already know you two have kissed. I mean the rest.”
Brandy was my best friend. I couldn’t not tell her about it.
I made sure my mom was out of earshot and told her about last night, leaving certain details out, like how his hand felt wrapped around my neck, or the words he’d muttered with his head between my legs.
Just thinking about what he did to me made my cheeks heat.
I couldn’t wait to get back home to Bailey.