Chapter Seventeen
Saturday morning arrived. As promised, Garrett produced two burner cell phones for each of them. The new ones appeared to have the latest gadgets, delighting her sister.
“You’re sure Julio and Rebecca don’t mind tagging along? They probably think I’m insane about always having someone with her,” Riley said, biting her nails.
Garrett covered her hand with his. “Stop it,” he admonished. “They’re taking Megan to pet the farm animals and spending time with the family. They’re rather close. Julio didn’t say how he knew them, but Rebecca and Kara have a very strong bond. Tara will be in good hands.”
“Do we have to take a wheelchair? I can get around on the crutches if I need them. I’ve walked without them for two days now,” she insisted for the hundredth time.
“No. You’ve done great all week. Don’t waste your energy. I’ll push you wherever your heart desires,” he assured her.
“I borrowed Tara’s computer. I made a list of some potential horses. Obviously, they don’t have them all listed. We have to consider the price range. Do you have a limit per horse?”
“I have a little nest egg. If I see something I want, we’re good,” he told her stiffly.
“Oh, good. I’ve always wanted to pick a horse because I wanted it, not because of budget restraints. Molly was my best horse, and they practically paid me to take her.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “She hasn’t stopped talking about this horse sale. Promise her something else next time,” she teased.
Garrett chuckled. “You haven’t stopped talking about Kara and her farm. I think you’re even.”
“How long will it take us to get there?” she asked Garrett. “Oh, Tara, bring me the envelope,” she called as Tara went into her bedroom.
A minute later, Tara handed her a wrinkled yellow rectangle. Riley counted the money twice, then pulled out forty dollars and handed it to Tara. “Since they invited you for the day, why don’t you spring for pizza?” She debated a moment and handed her another twenty.
Tara flung her arms around Riley’s neck. “Thanks, Riley. If we’re treating today, you should take some for yourself. You always dip into the emergency fund when I need something for lab class or when I catch bronchitis. This time, you need to take some for yourself,” she encouraged.
Riley bit her lip and pulled out sixty dollars. “I’ll take it as long as we agree to put back anything we don’t spend.”
“Deal,” Tara explained. “Do you need help getting dressed?”
“If you don’t mind,” Riley said, rising with her crutches. “How long until we leave?”
Garrett shook his head. “You’re as bad as Tara. We leave in an hour. It’ll take us about two and a half hours to get there. I want to inspect a few before the auction starts. Can you be ready by then?”
“Yes,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “We’ll hurry.”
They entered the bedroom, and Tara rushed to get the coverings for Riley’s arm. After Riley undressed, they slid them on and Tara stood outside the shower in case her sister needed help.
“Can you help me dry my hair? It gets too heavy with my arm,” she called from the shower.
“Yep,” Tara agreed as Riley washed her hair and scrubbed her body. When she finished, she turned the water off and slid back the curtain to see Tara holding up a dress.
“Where did you get this?” Tara asked, admiring the lavender colored dress.
“Rachel gave me a bag as I left her house the other day. It contained the dress and a matching sweater,” she said, stepping out of the shower.
Tara helped her dry off and removed the cast covers. “When do you have to return to get these off?”
Riley shrugged, not planning on going back.
When the time came, she’d take a hacksaw to the cast. They couldn’t afford another doctor’s visit.
Her bill to Garrett kept getting longer by the day.
Reminding herself to add the two phones, she sat in the kitchen chair they dragged into the bathroom for Riley to use.
“Tell me you’re wearing the new dress,” Tara insisted. “It’ll be pretty on you, and you don’t have to wear a bra,” she added.
Riley stared at the cute outfit. It’s not like she wanted to wear the hideous dresses. Wanting to feel pretty instead of an aging geriatric, she nodded. “I have to try it on. It may not fit.”
“It ties in the front. We can make it work,” Tara assured her. “Oh, Riley, let me do your makeup. You haven’t dressed up since you went to prom. Mom worked for hours on your dress, and you looked like a princess.”
“I don’t know. It’s a bit much for a horse sale,” Riley hedged, staring at the dress.
“I’m sure you’ll go out for dinner or something. You don’t want to appear as if you belong in a nursing home in your twenties,” Tara exclaimed as she ran to her room. A minute later, she returned with a small makeup bag. “I’ll dry your hair first, put the dress on, then I’ll do your makeup.”
“All right. We need to hurry, we only have an hour,” Riley said nervously.
For the past week, she and Garrett stayed up after Tara went to bed to binge-watch her new comedy series.
His hand played with hers, and he kissed her goodnight.
She touched her fingers to her mouth, imagining the feel of his lips against hers.
Butterflies hit her stomach when it occurred to her, they’d be alone the entire day. Did he like her? Using Tara’s favorite word, she hadn’t gone on a date in ‘forever.’
Tara dried her hair and used the brush to curl the ends.
They moved into the bedroom to slip into the dress.
She sat on the bed as Tara worked the material up her legs.
The massive bruise matched the dress, making her giggle.
Riley stood while Tara adjusted it over her waist and slipped the straps over her shoulders.
Tara pulled the ties into a bow, pushing her breasts up.
She stepped back and admired her sister.
“It’s perfect, Riley. You resemble Mom,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Come on, let’s do your makeup.”
Riley made her way into the bathroom and halted in front of the mirror. She saw her mother’s image staring back at her, and tears filled her eyes.
“Don’t cry,” Tara admonished. “You’ll make your face all blotchy.”
Riley laughed. “Thanks, Tara.”
She sat down while Tara put her new skills to use.
When she finished, Riley barely recognized herself.
When did she stop caring about her appearance?
She supposed the many nights she lay awake, worried her dad might hurt Tara.
At first, Riley convinced herself she imagined his hostility toward his youngest daughter.
Then, Tara kept having little accidents while in her father’s care, while Riley worked the ranch.
Then the drinking got heavier, and the accusations started.
“Riley, if you want to get going, you need to let me put on your boots.” She moved into the bedroom, where Tara slipped on her cowgirl boots.
They didn’t quite match, but horse sales tended to get muddy.
Regardless of Garrett’s vow to push her in a wheelchair, she planned to stay on her feet to study the horses up close.
Riley rose and smoothed out the dress while Tara handed her the matching sweater.
“Tara,” Garrett called from the kitchen. “Julio and Rebecca pulled into the driveway. Do you need more time?”
“No, I’m done. I only need to grab my backpack,” she yelled.
She gave her sister a hug and grinned excitedly as she scampered out of the room.
Riley went into the bathroom, suddenly nervous about her appearance.
She fixed a wayward curl, slipped the lip gloss in her pocket, and made her way to the kitchen.
Tara practically leapt from the porch and sprinted across the yard, yelling goodbye, showing her excitement about hanging out with another teen. Garrett waved as Julio backed out of the driveway. Shaking his head, he entered the cabin, intending to help Riley.
His breath caught in his throat as he saw her standing in her doorway, appearing unsure of herself.
The dress color complemented her skin. He loved her hair down, with a slight curl at the ends.
Her eyes seemed unusually bright, and her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink as he stared at her in awe.
“You look stunning. You’re almost too pretty to take to a horse sale. ”
Riley glanced down, playing with the bow string, which seemed to hold her breasts in place. His heart raced, anticipating them bursting out of the bodice. “I told Tara it seemed too much,” Riley said, turning around. “Give me a minute, and I’ll change.”
“No,” he demanded as he strode across the room toward her. She twisted toward him as he took the sweater from her and placed it around her shoulders. “I like you in this. It sure beats those ugly dresses I bought you. I should’ve never listened to the saleswoman. Where did this come from?”
Riley stared down at her boots. “Rachel gave it to me. Please don’t think I’m ungrateful. I appreciate the ones you purchased for me.”
His thumb grazed her cheek. The urge to carry her to the bed and make love to her grew stronger as she gazed at him innocently. Her breasts threatened to spill over the top as the dress emphasized her small waist and curvy hips and backside.
“I didn’t think anything about it,” Garrett murmured as he cupped the back of her head, angling her for his kiss.
The ones they shared over the week grew in intensity.
This time, the spark grew into a flame as their tongues caressed and tangled for control.
Riley gave as good as she got. She moaned and leaned into him.
Her good arm wrapped around his neck as he pulled her body against his.
His hand slid to her bottom, feeling the firm, tight muscles, making him let out a feral growl.
“Hmmm,” she breathed as he stepped back. Desire showed in her eyes, and he wanted to fulfill her wish desperately. His dick throbbed almost painfully as he cleared his throat.