Page 8 of Stables Spurs Suits
“No. We’re all good here. You should stay for dinner. I mean, you’ll have to shower first. Sally-May would not be letting anyone at her table looking like that.”
“I’ll be okay. Thanks, though. Maybe next time.”
“Sure thing. Well, we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow,” I say, and he waves before making his way to join the muffled voices and laughter waiting inside with the others.
I grab a blanket out of my trunk and lay it over the driver’s seat, then I kick off my shoes and tap the soles against the gravel to try to dislodge some of the muck that clings to the soft brown leather. My socks are wet and filthy too, so I strip them off, shove them into the trunk, and close it before climbing behind the wheel.
At this rate, I’ll be replacing every piece of clothing I own. Connor’s right, I need some boots, and maybe a shirt I can get dirty without worrying about the dry-cleaning bill. I put the car in gear and reverse, catching sight of Atlas in the rearview. He’s strolling up the path, gaze locked on the stunning sunset, the warm light illuminating him in an iridescent glow. His dark denim jeans and olive-green shirt don’t have a speck of dirt on them. You win this round, Atlas Summers, but I’m not giving up. I’ll prove I can make this place better. First, I just need to look the part.
Chapter five
ATLAS
WHAT THE HORSES SEE
Was it mean not to tell Matthew about the Sherpa? Probably, but guys like him don’t belong out here. He’ll see that soon enough and head back to the city where he belongs. They always do.
Skye is on grooming duty today, so I can start scouting for the new horse trail. The ranch sits on only a small portion of the land that the Beaker Brothers actually own. Gramps sold off a section years ago, when he moved to Savannah, and they let the Fletchers use the back four acres to feed their flock when they couldn’t afford the increase in feed prices. Thankfully, after a good year and that little bit of help, they’re doing okay. Well, okay enough to no longer need the four acres, but we have them still grazing it anyway. The sheep do a good job keeping the grass under control, so Dean and Nial have basically given them an open invitation.
That’s the type of people they are. Always looking for a way to help others.
“So, what’s the plan today?” Matthew asks, and I turn and get a shock. Instead of being all buttoned up in a suit shirt and pants, he’s wearing what are clearly brand-new jeans, a blue flannel shirt, and boots. His hair is swept back, still wet from his morning shower, I’m guessing, and his face is clean-shaven. I don’t think I’ve seen a shadow on him yet, but looking at him now, like this, I’m actually wondering what that might look like.
I turn back to Clint’s stall, opening the door and ushering him out.
“I’m headed around the grounds to scout for the new trail. You can help Skye with the grooming if you like,” I tell him as I move down to the next stall. Loki steps forward when he sees me and nudges my hand with his head as I give him a good pet.
“I can help you. I know the land pretty well. I studied the maps.”
I roll my eyes. Typical city slicker thinking a map can tell him about this land. I open Loki’s door and he trots out, but instead of making his way to the paddocks, he turns and walks to Matthew.
“Good morning, Loki,” Matthew says, holding his hand out toward him.
“You know he’s deaf, right?”
“He can see my mouth move.”
“That doesn’t mean he knows what you’re saying,” I reply, and Loki bypasses Matthew’s hand to nudge his chin with his head. It’s actually pretty adorable, and a smile teases at my lips. “But he seems pretty happy to see you. Can you lead him out to the paddocks before he spots a guest walking by and ends up flat on his back?”
“Come on, Loki, let’s get you outside,” he says, stepping forward.
“Still deaf,” I say, and Matthew laughs.
“But he knows what I said anyway,” he replies as he and Loki walk past me like it’s no big deal. It’s a very big deal.
What is it about Matthew that Loki likes so much? A soft vanilla and soap scent lingers behind them as Matthew leads Loki out onto the grass. Maybe it’s his cologne.
“Meet me at the road in five,” I say, and he tosses a wave above his head and keeps walking.
I stop in at the house to grab one of the tablets. The Beakers have been using new sensors for the herd, and as part of the program, the property was mapped by drone. I haven’t been through the unused acres in forever, but it won’t have changed all that much, and while Matthew thinks he knows this place after studying a few maps, there’s a lot that a map can’t show you. I can note the trail over the digital map to show the guys later, jotting down any specific excavation needs too, before we put a real plan in place to make it happen.
I find him waiting at the edge of the paddocks. Loki is with him, and he’s scratching behind his ears.
“You sure you wouldn’t rather stay here?” I ask, and he shakes his head without looking my way.
“Why don’t you want to take a couple of horses?” Matthew asks.
