Page 2 of A Rainfall Promise

“Horse,” she said, patting the beautiful brown neck.

“I mean, who let you on my land?”

“Some hands were leaving and pointed me in the direction that you were.”

“You know, getting information out of you is like pulling teeth, fucking hard. What do you want?”

She beamed at me, as if she was only out here to bug the shit out of me and was doing a good job of it.

“Summer is rolling in,” she announced, as if I couldn’t feel the change of temperature. I was older, but not dumb or senile.

“Your point?” I prodded, making her get on with it. Usually, people backed away from my grouchiness, saying I was too much of a dick to deal with, but not Vicky.

“There’s going to be more tourists than ever. The storms are supposed to be amping up like crazy this year and it wouldn’t hurt to have a few more locals around to offer up some stories, some legends.”

“You mean, raz and daz the tourists? Barking up the wrong tree, Feliz.”

The name should have been a cut down, but it wasn’t. Because it suited her. This woman was far too cheerful for my nature.

“What have you got to lose? Red Mesa has been around for ages, and it’s always supported the community. You get your hands on it and it’s like no one hears from you. Why is that? Why can’t you be part of the area like your Abuelito was? Now that was a good man who had friends and helped out.”

“What do you know about my ranch, little girl? Or my family? You think you can come riding into this town, knowing anything about Sierra Rose Ridge, but you don’t know anything. So, stop pretending that everything you read in a book is going to be the truth out here. Right now, you’re just playing cowgirl to a world you know nothing about.”

Her eyes narrowed and I fought my triumphal grin.

“I know far more than you will ever think, Jose. And that’s pretty sad. This ranch has been passed down to every male in the family, and yet, your dumbass is going to die alone because you refuse to let anyone in and you’ll have no male heirs to pass it on to.”

With that, she called to her horse, turning right around, and riding off, her shirt billowing behind her, and holy shit, watching her storm away was a sight to behold.

Chapter 2

Vicky

Iclimbed off the horse, patting its neck as I walked it to a post. With a sigh, I grabbed a brush and started grooming it. His head reached around, nudging my shoulder and I laughed.

“You win, Blaze. I’ll give you a treat; you’re just like your mama.” I patted his neck before kissing his nose.

“You spoil him.”

“I have too Crystal, you don’t, and you’re supposed to be taking care of my horse for me, you know.”

“No, I keep him here, and help take care of him, I don’t spoil him.” She came around on his other side, picking up a brush as well. “How did it go?”

“Annoying. Jose is the most stubborn, cold-hearted, dumbest man I know,” I ground out, making Blaze stomp his foot. I was going to choose to say that was in agreement rather than at my own attitude.

“And yet, you have the biggest damn crush on him,” my best friend said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, yeah, have you seen the man? He’s all cowboy and rancher, and hotness. But he’s also a pain in my side. He makes it seem like I’m some city slicker that just rolled in one day and never left. But that’s not the case. I remember Jose before I left, but I know he wouldn’t remember me. Nor the name.”

Crystal stopped her brushing to look at me over the horse, a sad smile on her face.

“He’ll never know if you don’t tell him either.”

“Why should I? It’s not like he speaks to me a lot of the time, let alone give me time to express any part of that to him. He is oddly infuriating on a good day.”

“Watching you with your crushes has always been hilarious to me.”

I focus on grooming Blaze, not giving her an answer. Because I knew exactly what she was talking about. When I left this town at a young age, Crystal was my best friend. When I moved away,we stayed in touch. And when I came back, it was like we never parted. So, yeah, she has seen me through all my stages.