“I can’t tomorrow,” she says with heavy regret. “I’m pulling a shift at the clinic.”
“Oh, okay,” I say. “No worries.”
She smiles and leaves, heading over to where Dax stands with Aaron and Legend. She wasn’t allowed to work with us today—Dax’s orders—given her hospitalization last week. She’d stayed up here at the barn, helping with food and just chilling with the other wives and girlfriends. Regan’s assimilating into the team family well.
“We’re heading out, Tacker,” I hear Erik say, and I twist to look his way. He’s pushing Billy’s wheelchair, Blue walking behind them. “He’s tired, and we’re going to get him back.”
I knew they wouldn’t stay the entire day, but I’m so appreciative of them coming out for a bit.
Leaning to the side, I reach my hand out to Erik. He leans over to shake mine. “Thanks for coming out, brother.”
“Thanks for inviting us,” Blue says with a smile. “Billy had a wonderful time.”
Billy’s smile is wan. He’s totally whipped. I reach out to him, closing my hand into a fist. “Got a bump for me?”
His smile gets a little bigger. While he can’t extend his arm all the way due to contractures, I’m close enough that our fists are able to touch.
“Fist bump,” I exclaim. Opening my hand, I make an explosion sound. “Blow it up.”
Billy rocks with laughter, grinning broadly now before yawning.
They start to move off, but then another thought hits me. “Hey, Blue.”
She turns to me questioningly.
“You know how to bake?” I ask.
“Um… yeah,” she replies, her head tilting. “What’s up?”
“I really need help tomorrow morning with making something. I’m going to screw it up if I don’t have help, and I can’t afford to screw it up. It’s important.”
“No, no, no,” Erik answers for her, taking three steps toward us while pulling Billy’s wheelchair with him. “You promised tomorrow to me, babe, remember?”
Blue looks torn, because I apparently just intruded on their plans. But fuck it… I really need the help and it’s super important.
So I pull out a card I had not ever considered playing, pinning Erik with my gaze. “You remember when you needed a favor and I came through for you without hesitation?”
Erik’s shoulders slump, and he nods. He’s remembering back when things had gone to hell between him and Blue, and he asked me to go check on Billy for him. I’d been on suspension and hadn’t minded in the slightest, but still… he’d told me he owed me one and I could collect at any time.
“I only need her for maybe an hour, dude,” I tell Erik. “And we can do it early, so it shouldn’t interfere with your plans.”
“I’d love to help you,” Blue says with a reassuring smile, putting her hand on Erik’s shoulder. She squeezes, adding to me, “Six AM okay?”
Fuck, that was early, but yes… that works for me. “Sounds awesome. Thanks.”
“What are we baking?” she asks.
“Shendetlie,” I reply.
“What’s that?”
“No clue, but I’ll figure it out tonight and buy all the stuff. Can we do it at your house? I don’t really have anything to bake with at my place.”
“Sure,” she replies, looking very intrigued.
I hope I’m doing the right thing by trying to make this for Nora. It has meaning for her, but I also know tomorrow will be a rough day for her. I want to do something nice as a means of thanking her for sharing her pain with me, and so she knows she’s got a friend to lean on.CHAPTER 15NoraStarlight navigates the rocky trail with ease, her gait smooth and self-assured. I’d saved her from the meat market two years ago. She’d easily been given up by her owners because she’d been a little wily. Yet, when I brought her to the ranch, she was the sweetest girl ever. I think she somehow knew she’d been saved, so she decided to turn over a new leaf.
She’s proof anyone can find happiness even after the darkest of times.
I guess I am, too.
Today’s the anniversary of the darkest day of my life, yet I’ve never felt more alive or free. Riding Starlight across the ranch I own, where I can give back and help others find their own healing, is a symbol this day is not to be feared.
I can be sad. I can reflect. I can grieve again.
But I can also leave that behind when I’m done to face the brightness that is otherwise my life.
True to form, I started my day with the smell of good cooking. Raul was in my kitchen, whipping up huevos rancheros for me. After a great breakfast with strong coffee, we did our morning chores together like we always do. Feed the animals, clean pens and stalls, make sure all troughs are full of water, and exercise any of the horses that weren’t on the rotation for lessons or counseling sessions.