When You Fall... (17 page)

“Be careful,” he said, before turning on his heel and heading back to the barn.

#

Don’t even pretend to be hurt, Carter
, she thought. You wanted Mr. Bentley Now and he gave that to you and then some, so don’t even start.
And why didn’t you speak up, say something to that woman?
She asked herself. Speak up and say what?

She knew some women would have been all in that woman’s face, none she knew personally. Gwen, Frankie, and Sandra were a lot like her. Some of her stepsisters had friends that were all about reading people; all loud and in your face. All I-wouldn’t-take-this or put-up-with-that, all I’d-kick-her-ass. She was
not
that girl, never
would
be that girl. She didn’t fight in the streets like some wild dog and never over some dude.

She drove on to town because she didn’t feel like going home, with egg on her face again, which was starting to occur with more frequency. It needed to stop.

She had a good time last night. She’d abandoned her worries over her inability to find a man for an evening of fun and sex, and she was thankful for that. Now she resolved to put that quest for a man behind her. Okay, maybe she thought for a second that it might be a fun thing between them—no strings, no commitments, no wedding to break up—but nope. She had Danielle, the human fire extinguisher, to thank for putting out that small spark.

It was a good thing, too, because he wasn’t even close to her type. Okay, the handsome part was her type she conceded. She wasn’t even going to ponder her family’s reaction to someone not in the African American family. And to think they’d been worried about her marrying a white guy. She could hear her dad now:
So you’ve rejected the slave owner who came over on the Mayflower, and killed the Indians, in favor of one who swam across the river?

She lowered her window, letting the hot air in, moving her mind to other things. There was so much to do to keep busy on the ranch. She could bury herself in work, and she felt encouraged by the thought of working, but mostly of being here, alone with her horses.

#

Thursday

Rafael stepped out of his barn, heading to the house. It was close to lunch, and he wanted to grab something quick. Then it was into town. He spotted Carter bent under a tree, her nice form now seared permanently into his brain. All but her lower body was blocked from his view. He could hear the sound of her saw, working to clear the tree’s lower trunk of branches.

He’d enjoyed himself immensely the other night in her bed; maybe a little too much, as a matter of fact. She was something—bold, funny, and maybe lethal—as she’d moved over him and under him. He stopped and took a breath. She left him with indigestion—his name for the small churning that started in his chest—whenever he gave any thought to her. He looked over at her again, still stuck under the tree.

At least he was finally free of Danielle and he wondered what Carter thought after having met her. Not that it should matter. He’d been moving away from Danielle from some time now, but Carter?

She wasn’t a long-term option. She had said so herself. No more looking for Mr. Bentley, it was Mr. Bentley Now, and those had been her exact words, which was fine by him. He could do short-term while looking for the long. But long-term was his goal, and he didn’t forget that.

He would have to be honest and up-front with her about his long-term plans if she wanted more of the other night, though.

#

Friday

Carter found Rafael the following day behind the counter of Charlie’s Feed and Supply Store. He was in a serious conversation with its owner, Charlie. Carter had learned that Charlie was a female; attractive, young, and probably single. She shouldn’t have been surprised at seeing Rafael standing next to her, not after Danielle anyway. He apparently was Mr. Bentley Now for a lot of women.

Not her problem, she decided. She put on her best smile and walked over to the counter. She needed more of that special feed for Augustus since Doc Bailey had only given her a week’s supply.

Rafael and Charlie both looked up as she approached.

“Hey,” Rafael said, all friendly.

“Hi,” she responded, all friendly, too.

“Charlie, do you know Carter?” Rafael asked.

“I don’t. Not officially. I’ve heard about you though,” she said, extending her hand to Carter.

“Carter Woodson, this is Charlie, the owner. Carter lives next door to me,” he said.

“The old Woodson property. That’s awesome. What are you doing with it?” Charlie asked.

“I’m going to get it in shape. My family is putting it up for sale,” Carter said.

“Great piece of land. What can I help you with this morning?” she asked, smiling.

“I need a 50-pound bag of Purina Equine Senior.”

“How are you?” he asked Carter while Charlie rang her up.

Carter handed over her credit card.

“Fine. Keeping busy. Stopped by your house yesterday,” she said, careful to seem nonchalant.

“I heard.”

“Rafael is very useful,” Charlie said, taking Carter’s card from her hand. The look on her face was a little superior, and Carter translated its meaning:
I’ve been where you are or where you want to go,
it said.

“He’s helped me a bunch on the farm. I’m not sure I would have gotten as much done without him,” Charlie said.

Rafael gave Charlie an odd look.

“Carter, you should get Charlie to talk to you about her horses. She adopts, too,” Rafael said.

“I don’t really adopt. The horses I have were abandoned,” Carter said.

“Sad when that happens,” Charlie said, handing a receipt over to Carter.

“I’ve got to go. See you Charlie, Carter,” Rafael said, moving from around the counter.

Carter watched him leave before she turned back to Charlie, who had a knowing look in her eye.

“He’s a good guy, but not looking for love,” Charlie said.

“That’s good. Neither am I.”

Rafael was gone by the time Carter had made her way outside. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of that exchange. It was their first conversation since he’d spent the night. She’d seen him, of course. He’d waved and smiled. So what was her problem? What did she want? Nothing, was the answer to her question. After all, she’d just tried to break up a wedding and lost her job.
How about we keep it simple for a while, until we know where we are and what we’re doing
, she told herself.

#

Friday, afternoon

Thank God it was Friday, Carter thought to herself, which meant absolutely nothing on the ranch. Work still had to be done; horses were still in need of feeding. But today she’d decided to tackle a labor of love; the round pens, or what was left of them. Her great-grandfather had used them for training, and she’d been giving some thought to training, too.

Wielding a heavy-duty, extra-long mallet, she headed out to tear down the old fencing and start from scratch. Today was destroy day.

Tomorrow she would return to town and pick up enough supplies to build herself a new one pen—two new ones, if she was feeling optimistic, which she still was. She hoped to get the chance to work with Grey and Augustus soon, although she had no clue what she would do with them. Maybe just have them run in circles around the pen, following her. So what. As long as she and those horses were in the same round pen, life was better than good.

She heard Grey neigh. He was a great guy, even-tempered, patient. She spotted him outside in paddock number one, eating contently, while Augustus remained inside the stables, not quite up to getting out yet, but steadily putting on weight. He was a good guy, too, even-tempered like Grey.

She’d been giving serious consideration to asking her dad if she could act as the permanent property manager for the family. She was here anyway, knew as much if not more about this place, and they wouldn’t have to pay her. She would do it for free.

She turned to look over Rafael’s property, a place where her eyes wanted to roam frequently. He was walking toward his truck when he caught sight of her and waved. She waved back.
All we do now is wave to each other
, she thought.

She took her mallet and hit the fence hard, knocking away years of decay. She smiled, looked over at Rafael who was now in his truck and pulling out of the drive, and hit the fencing again.

She hoped she hadn’t ruined something important. She knew he wasn’t sure about her sanity when she’d arrived, but he’d helped her anyway. She had come to value his friendship and hoped she hadn’t messed it up, with her Mr. Bentley Now act.

#

Friday evening

Later on that evening, Carter left the barn, headed to house. She was less sore these days. She was getting used to the life on a farm. She was getting stronger. Maybe there was hope.

She saw a car pull into her drive, recognized it as friend, not foe, increasing her stride to meet it, with a sudden surge of energy. Her girlfriends were here, apparently ignoring her texts insisting that she was okay. They were here to check her out for themselves.

She almost started to cry again, looking at them, knowing what they’d had to do to get here. Gwen and Sandra had husbands and children—young children, which meant sitters and planning and expenses. Frankie was childless. She loved those three.

They spilled out of Frankie’s SUV, hands laden with grocery bags. Frankie held two bottles of wine in her hand and another tucked under her arm. She had a we-are-about-to-get-fucked-up look on her face.

“Hey,” Carter said, smiling, stopping next to them.

“Well, if it isn’t Ellie Mae Clampett,” Sandra said, laughing, glancing at Carter’s dirty jeans and t-shirt.

“All you need are some overalls and straw coming out of your hair and your outfit would be complete.”

“What are you all doing here?” she said, smiling with pleasure, used to their ribbing.

“Wanted to see you for ourselves, make sure you were okay. It’s been two weeks,” Frankie said, smiling.

“I miss you all. I’m so glad you didn’t pay attention to my texts telling you not to come,” Carter said.

“Why would we start paying attention to you now?” Gwen replied. They all laughed as they made their way inside.

Carter cooked burgers for them while she brought them up-to-date on everything: the horses, her run-in with her neighbor—the pepper spray fiasco—and later, her family with their intervention.

“When are you coming home?” Gwen asked when she was finished.

“I’m not. I’m staying here for a while. We’ve lost our property manager so I’m going to fill in until we find another one and put the place up to sell,” she said.

“Nothing is that drastic. I know your folks get on your nerves, and the YouTube video in front of the church didn’t help, but you don’t have to check out of life.”

“I’m not checking out.”

“I thought you didn’t want to sell?” Frankie asked.

“I don’t, but it doesn’t look like I can prevent it. I would be the only one of five not on board.”

“And your family always pushes you around,” Sandra said.

“Not always.”

“Sure Carter. Got to stop trying to please your father. Try to please you for a change,” Gwen said.

“Let’s talk about it later. I’ve had enough talking about me for a lifetime. What’s going on with you all? How are my two favorite twins doing?” she asked, looking at Gwen.

They allowed her to change the subject and spent the next hour or so bringing her up-to-date with their lives. They’d gone through several wine bottles—everyone except Frankie, who agreed on the drive down to be the designated driver.

Around ten, the doorbell rang. Carter stood up.

“Is it safe to answer that?” Frankie asked, looking through the kitchen window at the darkness outside.

“I don’t know how you do it. What happened to street lights? I can’t believe you’re out here by yourself. It’s too dark for me,” Sandra said, standing up and following Carter to the front door. “And what are you hiding?” she asked, coming up behind Carter, who was holding the door partially opened.

“Oh, it’s just my neighbor,” Carter said. Sandra walked over and laid her head on Carter’s shoulder while she gave Rafael the once over.

“Oh, he’s a cutie,” she said, in her slightly buzzed state. She reached around Carter for Rafael’s hand and pulled him into the house. He came easily, smiling that slow and sexy smile, his hair in its natural wavy and windblown state on his head, falling over his forehead, a little into his eyes.

“Look what I found,” Sandra said, pulling him along behind her into the kitchen where Gwen sat next to Frankie. Carter laughed at the looks on their faces as they got a load of Rafael.

“Oh, you’re cute,” Gwen said, standing up, making her way around the table, ending up at Rafael’s other side.

“He’s Carter’s neighbor,” Sandra said as she put her arm around his waist. She placed her other hand under his chin and gave it a squeeze.

“You’re gorgeous, yes, you are,” Sandra said, moving his head side to side with her hand, his chin locked between her fingers, like she was talking to one of her two-year-old twins.

Rafael laughed, smiled that beautiful smile again—so white against the brown of his skin—and all three of them sighed. Carter felt their sighs, but she had already taken advantage of him, and knew he was truly sigh-worthy. But with her knowledge of Danielle and Charlie, she was keeping it cool.

“So, are you married? ‘Cause our girl Carter is looking for a man, as she is always so quick to point out,” Frankie said.

“
Was
looking for a man, and thanks for pointing that out to him, but he already knows. I’m not looking any more,” Carter said, pulling Rafael’s hand from Sandra.

“Since when?” Gwen asked.

“Since now,” she said, making a face.

“Rafael owns the farm next door to us.”

“I like that name, it sounds so sexy. Bet you can be sexy, too,” Sandra said.

“And on that note, thanks for stopping by,” Carter said over her shoulder, as she led Rafael back to the front door. When he was safely on the other side, she shook her head and laughed.

“Did you need something?” she asked, playing it cool, like he hadn’t been in her body a few nights before.