29. Josh
TWENTY-NINE
JOSH
“ W hat the hell is going on over there?” Fiona demanded without so much as a “hello.”
I scowled into the phone and tried not to hang up on my little sister.
She was the quintessential youngest child; brash, loud, charming, confident, and ready to rumble at a moment’s notice.
It was as if the world had to stop when she decided I was worthy of a phone call, much like when she’d called to get car advice.
Not that she’d bothered to respond to the numerous messages I’d left her after that incident.
“Jeez, Fi, nice to talk to you too,” I huffed. Indigo leaned into the curry comb as I made the calming circular motions along the horse’s side.
“Shannon told me you and Zoe are hanging out again. I think you’re making a huge mistake.”
“I didn’t ask what you think,” I snapped back at her. I tossed the comb into my grooming kit and reached for the hard brush. I tried to focus on Indigo’s grooming instead of Fiona’s meddling .
“Josh.” She sighed. “I’m only saying it because I’m looking out for you. I remember what happened…”
“Yeah, everyone does. Zo and I dated for a summer after my freshman year of college. We split up because it made sense for both of us—she was about to start college herself, and our lives were going in different directions.”
She snorted. “You’re really going to pretend that breaking up was what you both wanted? You were a wreck for months. Remember when I came to visit you at school?”
“What are you talking about?” I paused, the brush hovering over Indigo’s flank. “I thought I showed you a good time at Tech.”
“Revisionist history. Allow me to remind you what actually happened when I came to your campus for a weekend visit. I was expecting frat parties and keg stands.”
“Hey, hold on. You know I never would’ve allowed that. You were only a junior in high school.”
“Please,” she said, and I could almost hear her eye roll.
“Don’t pretend like we all didn’t start drinking early.
Anyway. I was all excited for a weekend of college fun with your cute friends and all I got was you moping around because of Zoe.
We spent way too much time at that tacky coffee shop, then we went to see that terrible emo band that made me feel depressed.
You were miserable the whole time I was there, and it was all her fault.
I don’t think you should give second chances to someone who could make you feel like that.
I still have a grudge because she ruined my first real college weekend. ”
I had forgotten about the details of Fiona’s visit.
Or more likely, I had pushed them out of my head.
The truth was that all reminders of the dark period were almost too painful to think about, because breaking up with Zoe all those years ago had wrecked me.
Logic and practicality aside, I had been heartbroken over the breakup .
“I was just trying to be a responsible big brother. I needed to protect you from those wicked college guys. You were cute back then.”
“Joshua Cafferty, I will have you know that I am still cute! I’m insanely cute!”
I finally laughed at her indignation. “I wouldn’t know, you never get your ass back home, so I haven’t seen what you look like in forever. What’s keeping you so busy in the big city? A guy?”
“ Psh ,” she snorted. “Hardly. And you don’t get to ask me about my love life if we can’t talk about yours.”
“Speaking of your love life, one of your old high school buddies is working here now. Eli Carter. Remember him?” I was baiting her on purpose.
“Josh, you didn’t! I despised Eli Carter growing up. We competed against each other in everything, and he won more times than he should have, the bastard. Now I’m definitely not coming back.” She paused. “Unless you need triage when Zoe breaks your heart again.”
“Thanks, but that’s not going to happen,” I answered confidently.
“We’re in a different place now. We’re grown-ass adults, not teens who don’t know how the world works.
We’re in this…whatever it is with our eyes wide open.
Even if she decides to stay on the ranch until her grad program begins, we both know that there’s an end in sight because neither of us wants to do a long-distance situation. ”
“What if she changes her mind and decides to stay permanently?” Fiona asked. “I mean, you are quite a catch.”
I laughed and shook my head as I worked my way down Indigo’s body with the brush. “I doubt that’ll happen. She’s had her eye on this program in New York for a while. It’s a big deal for her. I wouldn’t want to hold her back from her dreams. ”
“Hey, you never know,” Fiona said softly. “ You’re a big deal, Josh.”
“Aw, thanks,” I said, my heart softening toward the fiery redhead on the other end of the line.
“Just know this: If she hurts you again, I’m coming for her. And you can tell her that. I’ve been taking kickboxing classes and my hooks are deadly. Got it? I’m talking lethal force.”
“Fi, holy moly. Stand down, woman! I’ve got this, okay? And anyway, I’m the big brother. I’m supposed to be taking care of you.”
“Nope, not anymore,” Fiona answered. “At this point, we’re all taking care of each other. Caffertys for life.”
I chuckled at her bringing up our childhood chant, the one we’d shout before heading off into the woods for adventures.
“Caffertys for life,” I repeated back to her, raising a fist in the air.
“I miss you,” she said. “And Shannon. You guys doing okay, Zoe stuff aside?”
I sighed. “Yeah, a little better now that we launched the trail riding program.” I paused. “No, it’s actually a lot better, thanks to the program. But you know how it goes. Every day there’s a new fire or twelve that I have to put out. It’s exhausting.”
“Yeah,” Fiona agreed. “But you’re doing an amazing job keeping the family legacy alive. I might not say it out loud enough, but I feel it in my heart. Thank you for taking it on.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I responded, focusing way too hard on a piece of mud embedded in Indigo’s coat. I cleared my throat. “Anyway! You need to get your ass back here for a visit, you hear me?”
“I’m not setting foot back at Lost Valley until Eli’s gone. No way. ”
I smiled. “We’ll see about that.”
I finished up and left Indigo in his stall with some tasty oat treats, then did a walk through, checking on the other horses.
Goliath gave me a grumpy look as I passed his stall where he was on limited activity.
I lifted the latch on the gate to say hello and make sure he was okay.
Given his age, I’d been leery about treating his injury myself.
Thankfully, I’d caught the doc when I called, and Julia Letts had come right over to examine the injured Shire.
“How are you doing, old man? Hanging in there?” Goliath tilted his head as if he understood what I said.
I stroked my hand down his neck and flank.
“I know you’re strong and built for battle, but you have to be careful around anything sharp.
” Thankfully, the laceration wasn’t jagged and he hadn’t required stitches, but to be safe, the doc had cleaned and patched him up.
Before leaving, she gave us instructions to watch for any onset of cellulitis, which could be disastrous for any horse, but harder for a horse of Goliath’s size.
When Goliath settled down, I headed back to the house.
It wasn’t that late and I wondered if Zoe might still be up.
I hadn’t seen her much over the last few days.
She’d been working with that realtor and two days ago, she’d gone into town to take those headshots for Mr. Bridger at the bank.
She was supposed to meet with him today to discuss any changes and pick up her check.
I could see her Jeep parked out front and I had a slight spring in my step at the thought of spending some time with her.
Until I walked inside.
I heard the music and laughter before I opened the back door. In the kitchen I found Zoe and Shannon dancing around with— “What do you have smeared all over your face and hair?”
They both turned, surprised to see me and I stared at them in confusion. “You look like you fell in a vat of yogurt. What are you doing? ”
Both women’s faces were covered in a thick, white substance. Shannon’s hair was pulled up into a high bun and both of them had smeared the same stuff into their hair. I remembered some comedy I’d seen from the nineties with Robin Williams and I couldn’t help it—I started to laugh and laugh.
They both frowned at me, which only made me laugh harder. Shannon put her hands on her hips while Zoe crossed her arms and they glared at me, which didn’t help.
“I’ll have you know, Joshua Cafferty, that we’re giving ourselves home beauty treatments,” my sister said.
“With what?” I must be overly tired because watching them fumble through trying to explain whatever they were doing just got funnier and funnier.
Zoe rolled her eyes. “It’s plain yogurt mixed with honey. It’s supposed to make our skin soft and our hair more manageable.”
“Yeah, Josh, you don’t want us to get wrinkles and look old before we hit thirty, do you?” Shannon added and I snorted.
Finally, I held my hands up as I got my amusement mostly under control. “Neither of you have wrinkles or anything wrong with your hair. If you ask me, it’s a complete waste of food.”
That set Shannon off and I could see her gearing up to argue with me. Given that she looked like a melting snowman, I didn’t think I had it in me to listen to her without laughing. But instead, she picked up the bowl, which looked like it had more of that yogurt stuff in it.
“Maybe you should try some, big brother. Might do that sunblasted face of yours some good.” The way Shannon was looking at me, it came across more like a threat than an offer.
Thinking the best solution was a hasty retreat, I backed up toward the hall, intending to get to my office and shut the door before any of that stuff touched my skin.
“Nope. I’m good. I’ll leave you…uh…ladies to your evening.” Then I managed as dignified a scuttle to the safety of my office as I could.