Loving Cara(7)
“Because he’s my dad’s brother. They’re twins.”
“And you think your dad’s a jerk?”
“He is a jerk,” Seth insists emphatically.
“I don’t remember your dad being a jerk, Seth.” I check over Seth’s work.
Something is wrong. Well, not something, everything. Every single answer on this sheet is wrong. But as I read through the work, it’s correct. He’s purposefully worked out every problem the right way and marked the wrong answer.
“What the heck, Seth?”
“What?”
“All the answers are wrong.” I frown at him and wait for his answer.
“So?”
“So, the work is right, and you wrote down the wrong answers on purpose.” I sit back in the chair and cross my arms over my chest. Seth squirms in his chair, his mouth set in a tight line as he frowns.
“Doesn’t matter if it’s wrong.”
“Well, yeah, it does because you’re being graded on these, Seth.” I tilt my head and watch him squirm some more. “You are so smart. Why are you doing this?”
His startled gaze meets mine, making my heart ache for this boy. He seems so lonely and sad. I just want to pull him to me and hug the defiance right out of him.
“I’m not doing anything,” he whispers, and looks down at his sheet.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Josh says, returning. His dark hair is wet from the shower and he’s changed into clean jeans and a white tee.
“Why did you put on clean clothes?” Seth asks with a frown. “They’re just gonna get messed up again.”
“Because I’m sure Cara doesn’t want to stand next to me when I smell funky, kid. That’s gross.”
“You smell funky no matter what,” Seth taunts.
Josh’s eyes light up with humor. “Back at you. I’m glad you’re staying over at the other house because I hate to think of what your bedroom must smell like.”
I watch the banter with a huge grin plastered on my face. I don’t think they joke with each other like this often.
“It smells like stupid air freshener because Gram keeps sticking smelly stuff in my drawers and stuff.” Seth wrinkles his nose.
“Take it from me, kid, air freshener in a young man’s room is mandatory.” Josh shakes his head and laughs. “Shall we?”
“Really, I—”
“Yep, we shall!” Seth jumps up and runs out the back door.
“I guess we shall,” I mutter, and stand to follow him.
When we step outside, Seth has already reached a tall, black horse and is petting its nose, talking to it softly.
“What if the horse doesn’t like me?” I whisper to Josh. He smiles down at me gently and tugs on my hair. I want to lean into his touch, so I step away.
“She’ll love you. She’s a gentle horse, Cara. I wouldn’t put you on one of the mean stallions. Magic is a sweet mare and she’s patient with the newbies.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Besides, she’s my horse. I know her better than any other animal on this ranch. You’ll love her.”
“I could love her from afar,” I mutter.
He laughs at me, and as we approach the horse, I hang back and watch Josh and Seth pet Magic, both crooning softly to her. She does seem sweet. She nudges their hands and nods her head as if she knows what they’re saying.
And her big, brown eyes shine with intelligence.
“I’m gonna go get her an apple!” Seth runs back to the house with excitement.
“Come here, Cara,” Josh murmurs gently, and holds his hand out for mine. I take it and immediately love the way his large, callused hand feels wrapped around mine. He tugs me to his side and places my hand on the mare’s nose. “Just pet her.”
“Hi, pretty girl.” I pet her nose, then run my hand down her long, soft neck. “Are you going to be gentle with me?”
Magic snorts softly. I smile at her and continue to pet her gently. Just when I’m beginning to relax, she steps to the left a bit, her heavy foot startling me, and I jump back in surprise.
“Easy, girl.” Josh steps up behind me, his chest pressed to my back, again covers my hand with his, and I don’t know if he’s talking to me or the horse, and frankly I don’t care. “Easy.” He guides my hand down her neck and then leads me to the side of the horse.
“She’s really tall.”
“This is one of the smaller horses,” Seth informs me as he rejoins us with an apple in his hand. He holds it out for Magic and she eagerly, and gently, takes it from him, munching happily.
“Okay, you’re going to put your left foot in the stirrup, and I’m going to boost you up into the saddle.”