Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
The grand opening of the equine therapy business was mere hours away. The Rolling R barn where the therapy took place had been cleaned and decorated with banners. A table of light refreshments was laid out in the corner, along with brochures of services and rates.
Payton had brushed Mabel until she shone and was currently whispering encouragement to the gentle mare as she wound ribbon through her mane. Payton had agreed to work as a therapist in the program and was stepping back her time in the family business. She’d had no conversation with Griffin since the evening last month when they’d attempted to smooth over the past hurts.
Austin had sent a couple texts and made a few calls to Griffin, but all had got unanswered. Following the blowout at dinner, Owen had reached out and they’d talked through their past ghosts to be on better terms. Austin knew that Payton was hurt by Griffin’s rejection, yet she remained focused on her new job and the excitement of following her dreams was a distraction.
Payton caught him looking, and gave him a sunny smile. “I can’t wait to show off all your hard work.”
Austin crossed to her and kissed her. Mabel whinnied her encouragement. “You mean celebrate all our hard work. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Payton leaned her head on his shoulder as she absentmindedly stroked Mabel’s mane. “I never expected when I answered the add for the room to rent that I’d also find a career. And a boyfriend.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she flinched. “Boyfriend kind of slipped out. We haven’t talked labels yet.”
Austin’s gut clenched that Payton would even need to doubt his feelings towards her. “I’m your boyfriend. When the time is right, I hope to be more. But boyfriend works for now.”
Payton’s smile glowed even more brightly. “I have everything I’ve always wanted.”
She didn’t say it but the thought loomed over them just the same. Everything except my brother.
The barn door opened, a pool of sunlight flooding where they stood. “We open at 2 p.m,” Austin began then realized who had interrupted.
As if summoned by their thoughts of him, Griffin stood in the doorway, hands in his jacket pockets, body half turned to run.
“Griffin!” Payton didn’t hesitate to run to her brother, who opened his arms for a hug.
“I came to talk to you, but I need to talk with Austin first.”
Payton’s eyes were questioning as she stepped out of her brother’s embrace. Austin was as surprised as she was that Griffin came at all, let alone wanted to talk to him. Griffin didn’t look like he was ready to punch him, but Austin wouldn’t assume.
“Griffin and I will take a walk. Payton, do you mind keeping Mabel company in case any other guests arrive early?”
Taking his cue, Payton returned to Mabel’s side and her earlier task of grooming while Austin led Griffin outside. Payton may have given them their space but he could feel her eyes on them as they left.
Austin chose the path that circled the property as it was probably prudent to stay close until he knew Griffin’s intention.
“I’m not going to hit you, although I’d like to,” Griffin said as if he’d read Austin’s mind.
“Good to know, although be warned I hit back.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
The men stared at each other, and Austin was transported back in time to seventeen, when they were boys who loved nothing more than to give each other a good-natured hard time.
The intervening years had made Griffin harder, as it had Austin. They’d both suffered the kinds of losses that changed a person. And both found love.
“I always knew you’d end up with Sarah,” Austin said, giving voice to his thoughts.
“I didn’t. I avoided love for along time.” Griffin ran a hand along his scruffy jaw, no doubt thinking about those years he’d travelled the globe to avoid the pain of his parent’s death.
“So did I,” Austin conceded. “We’re to so different, you and I. We both ran when life got hard.”
“To be fair, you were chased,” Griffin said with a low laugh. “Everyone hated you.”
It was Austin’s turn for a wry laugh. “I was young and didn’t handle things the best, but I loved her. And our child. She was determined to make that drive and nothing would stop her.” Or no one. He’d sure tried.
“If you hadn’t fallen for her…”
“But I did,” Austin interrupted. “I fell in stupid teenage love and she left her boyfriend for me. We conceived a child and would have raised it together if she’d lived.”
Griffin nodded. “You did right by her in the end.”
“We were teenagers, just barely turned eighteen when she died.”
“Felt like we knew it all back then,” Griffin acknowledged.
“We’re not kids anymore, we’re grown adults. And so is Payton. She’s way smarter and more mature than we were back then. You need to give her more credit.”
“I don’t want to let her down. With our parents gone, I have the responsibility to protect her.”
“She can hold her own. She needs you to love her.”
Griffin’s mouth pulled down. “I do love her. It kills me that we’re not speaking.”
“You can fix that by not being such a stubborn jerk. Go talk to her and apologize.”
Griffin glanced at the barn, then extended his hand to Austin. “I can’t promise I won’t be a jerk again, but I’m willing to put the past behind us. Though I’m warning you if you hurt Payton, I will follow through on that punch.”
Austin accepted the handshake and tugged Griffin in for a half hug. “Understood. Now go make things right with your sister.”
Pacing the barn wasn’t helping and served only to upset Mabel. Payton gave her a final pat before moving to the table to rearrange the brochures. She peeked outside the barn but Austin and Griffin had walked far enough down the path that they weren’t visible from where she stood. And she wasn’t going to intrude by following them outside.
She’d just moved the brochures for the second time when Griffin returned, alone. For a moment, images of Austin unconscious on the ground flashed in her mind.
Griffin shook his head at her panicked look. “Austin’s fine. He’ll be back in a few minutes. I wouldn’t hurt your boyfriend.”
Payton cast a questioning look his way. “You’re okay that he’s my boyfriend?”
Griffin shrugged. “I don’t love it, but he and I had a good talk and I know that I need to accept the facts. You’ve grown up when I wasn’t looking and have a right to find your own way in the world.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you for months! I need to spread my wings and grow.”
Griffin ran his hand along the rough wood of the beam he leaned on. “I understand but it’s hard when I had to pick up everything after our parents died and be the responsible one. You were still in high school. I became a parent of a teenager overnight.”
“I never thought of it that way.”
“I only ever want what’s best for you.”
Payton approached her brother and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. “You’ve done an incredible job of keeping us together, Griffin. I’m happy and can’t wait to see what the future brings. I needed space to grow on my own for a while. But I’ll always be your sister.”
Griffin returned her embrace and for the first time in weeks, Payton felt herself relax. Things were going to be okay between her and her brother. And she had an amazing boyfriend and a new job she loved.
“Are you and Austin…” Payton left the question hanging as she didn’t know how to ask if they’d made up.
“We talked through some things and are in a better place. It will take time to fully move beyond our past.”
“Thank you for trying.”
“If he’s important to you then I need to get to know the man he’s become rather than make assumptions based on the past. I owe that to you—and to him.”
Payton playfully punched him in the arm. “You’re going to be seeing a lot of him, so get used to it.”
Griffin fake groaned. “I’ll never get used to you dating.”
Payton grinned. “Technically we live together.”
“I’m going to ignore that. You have your own apartment.”
“Ok big brother. Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
Austin chose that moment to return. “Is it safe to come back? Our guests will be arriving soon.”
Griffin slapped him on the shoulder. “What can I do to help?”
The three of them made quick work of finishing touches and before she knew it, Payton was surrounded by people eager to hear about equine therapy. Austin shared his own personal experiences and how it helped him overcome struggles.
Payton led Mabel through a demonstration, explaining how horses are uniquely sensitive to human’s stress and can assist in identifying feelings and learning to cope. By the end of the open house, she had her first appointments scheduled and had given information to several community agencies who would serve as referral sources for the program.
For the first time, Payton felt like she was part of something larger than herself. Her family business helped others, as they planned local trips. This went far beyond assisting with someone’s leisure time. Payton would be able to help people deal with difficulties, much like the grief she and her family experienced.
Before Griffin left, he pulled her aside to offer a hug. “I’m proud of you, Pay. This program will do a lot of good in our community.”
“Thanks, Griffin. I’m sorry I won’t be as available to our business, but I’ll still pick up trips on weekends.”
“When you can. Sarah helped me accept the fact that I need to hire someone. Our business is strong and we can afford to bring on a staff member.”
“It’s hard to imagine a stranger working for us.” Payton knew she was making the right decision, but this change felt monumental in ways she didn’t want to fully process.
“Everything will be just fine. It’s time you focus on your dreams.”
Change was hard and Payton had no idea when she’d made the bold move to leave home that it would lead her to a completely new life. But she was more than ready to take the first step towards her dreams.