Rein In (Willow Bay Stables #3)(3)

Pressing her hands together, she bowed her head and started to speak. “Dear Lord, we thank you for this super yummy food we’re about to eat and for little Christopher because he’s cute. Amen.”

We lifted our heads and smiled, all repeating. “Amen.”

Chaos ensued as the food became fair game.

“Where is he?” London whispered under her breath as she loaded salad onto her plate.

I shrugged and took the bowl from her. “Late, I guess.”

She made a face, and I did my best to ignore what seemed like disapproval.

“Have you made a decision on your job offer, Aurora?” Ray asked from across the table.

“You didn’t tell them?” London’s mouth dropped open.

“Tell us what?” Owen stopped midway through cutting his steak.

Ray’s eyes went wide and sympathetic. I’d mentioned it to her while we’d been cooking, but it had slipped my mind that she might say something. She mouthed “sorry” and I shook my head with a smile.

“Grant offered me a job,” I said, piling more salad onto my plate than I could possibly ever hope to eat.

“Equine for Hearts, Grant?” Owen asked.

I nodded and passed him the salad bowl.

Equine for Hearts was a non-profit facility I’d been volunteering at every Sunday since I turned eighteen. It’s located in Edmonton, a three-hour drive from Willow Bay. Volunteers get a chance to rehabilitate troubled youth by working with horses. It was something I loved, and while my family supported it as a wonderful cause, they were less than supportive of my decision to volunteer there.

“What’s the offer?” Daddy pressed.

I sighed and threaded my fingers together under the table. “It’s just a part-time job for the summer.”

“Doin’ what?” Owen was like a dog with a bone.

“The organization is expanding to facilitate a new program, and Grant is understaffed. He offered me a position Thursday through Sunday helping manage the volunteers and assist with some of the administrative work.” I blurted out the information as fast as it would leave my lips.

Branson’s lips pursed. “You’re going to drive three hours there and back, four days a week?”

I shook my head. “No. I’ll be living in the main house four days a week.”

The table fell silent and I felt my stomach in my throat.

Please don’t ask.

My daddy rested his forearms on the table and tiled his head to the side. “What is the new program?”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, and London’s hand came over my knee under the table.

“The fostering of violent parolees with hopes for an effective release into society.”

I heard a fork clatter as it dropped from my brother’s hand onto his plate. “You’ve got to be f*ckin’ kiddin’ me?” Owen exploded.

“Language,” Ray hissed at him.

“There are only a few parolees and they are hand-selected by Grant himself,” I said, defending these people I’d never met.

“Will they be staying on the property?” Daddy’s stern voice came over the table.

“Yes, but…”

“No buts, Aurora,” Owen growled. “You’re only twenty-five!”

It was in that moment that Wells chose to make his entrance.

“Sorry I’m late.” He rushed through the kitchen and sat down beside me. “The eighteenth hole took forever.”

Wells and I had been dating for over a year now. He was everything my father and brother were not. Larry and Owen Daniels were salt of the earth type men while Wells Donahue had grown up with a silver spoon in his mouth. My boyfriend was from the country club side of our little town and handsome, but in an Abercrombie kind of way.

I’d adored him from afar growing up, but when his father declared bankruptcy early last spring, he’d gotten a job at our farm to help his family get by, and we’d been dating ever since.

“So help me God, Donahue.” Owen’s fist slammed down on the table. “You know somethin’ ‘bout this and ain’t said shit to me, I’m goin’ to use your balls for battin’ practice. You hear me?”

“Owen,” Ray snarled and flicked her eyes toward Ryley who giggled.

She was used to my brother.

Wells’s handsome face tightened as his eyes moved from my brother to me. Today he was wearing a dark blue golf shirt and white golf shorts with his sunglasses pushed up into his light brown hair. “Do I know something about what, Aurora?”

Wells was used to my brother and his outright dislike for him.

“Grant offered me a job for the summer…”

“Working with violent convicts!” Owen interjected.

I stood up abruptly, my chair legs screeching on the floor. “Everyone deserves a second chance!” I yelled, tears starting to well in my eyes.

“Aurora, baby, you have a big heart.” Wells took my hand.

“Why does everyone always make that sound like it’s such a bad thing?” I demanded.

“We just worry about you.” London’s voice dropped into that motherly tone she usually reserved for Christopher.

“You’re so na?ve sometimes,” Owen growled.

Daddy stood from the head of the table. “That’s enough.” His voice boomed through the room. “Ain’t a single one of you at this table, save for maybe sweet Ryley, that ain’t been allowed to make their own mistakes in this life. That’s all part of livin’, and it ain’t gonna be any different for Aurora.”