Home by Jenn Alexander

Author:Jenn Alexander [Alexander, Jenn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781612941707
Publisher: Bywater Books
Published: 2020-04-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Kate shoveled fresh straw into the horse stalls in the barn. Her limbs were heavy with exhaustion from the physical labor she’d done all morning, and yet she didn’t slow as she systematically cleaned each stall. She enjoyed the work. It was an almost hypnotic task, and she allowed herself to get lost in the simple, repetitive movements. It was exactly what she needed. Mindless, yet busy enough it kept her thoughts from wandering. From worrying about paying off her dad’s medical bills to her dad’s anger at her when she tried to help him with his therapy, she was mentally and emotionally drained. Add to that the guilt over her last conversation with Rowan, and she felt like an all-around failure.

“You want a hand with that?” Dean asked from the doorway of the barn, pulling her from her thoughts.

“I’m good, Dean. Thanks.”

Dean made no move to leave. “It’s just that you usually have customers come by on Friday morning, don’t you?”

Was it really Friday?

Kate looked at her watch which confirmed that it was in fact Friday and that it was already nearly midmorning. Which meant Rowan would be coming by to pick up the steaks for the restaurant. She came by to pick up beef on Mondays and Fridays.

“Shoot,” she murmured under her breath.

She wasn’t ready to see Rowan. She hadn’t heard from her since their taco dinner, and she was fairly certain their conversation had painted her as a crazy U-Haul lesbian, insisting that Rowan commit to her and Texas. Any spark that had existed between the two of them had surely been extinguished, and while she wanted to protect herself she had not intended on humiliating herself in the process, which was precisely what she had done.

It was barely their third date, and she had practically begged Rowan to promise that she would never leave.

“Do you think that you could handle the customer orders today?” Kate asked.

Dean looked at her for a long moment. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m just really tired. I haven’t been sleeping well, and I don’t know that I’m much of a people person today.”

Dean looked nervous, and she could see he was wavering over whether or not he could fill the orders.

“You wouldn’t have to do much,” she promised. “It’s just the one order today. Rowan from On the Range will come by. Her order is prepackaged in coolers, labeled with her invoice number. All you have to do is take the check and fill out a receipt. They’re in the top left drawer of the desk. You can leave the check in there as well. It’s really easy. You can call me if you have any problems, but I promise you’ll be fine.”

Dean nodded, but he didn’t leave the barn. He stepped toward where she was working, and leaned against the side of the stall.

“Why don’t you take a couple of days off?” he suggested. “You’re working yourself to death. Owen and I can handle the ranch. Take the weekend.

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