Meant To Be

Chapter nineteen

The gravel crunched beneath the wheels. "Easy girl," said Zac. The horse slowed, easing into a trot. She crossed the sand arena and stopped beside him. Zac unclipped the rope from the mare's head collar, not looking as he did it. The van door opening.

"Can I help you?" called Zac as he walked towards the gate.

The man dressed in black with wide shoulders turned. "Hello Zac," he said.

Zac opened the latch, taking his time to close it behind him again. He crossed the yard, both men holding each other's gaze like it meant something.

"What are you doing here?" asked Zac, a few feet away from him now.

The man's jaw unhooked, about to speak when the front door slapped against its frame. They looked up, seeing Helen on the porch wiping her hands in a grey dish cloth. "Mac, how are you?" she smiled.

"I'm good Mrs Parker, how are you keeping?"

Zac pushed his tongue along the inside of his upper lip and looked away towards the mountains, as if it were too much to stomach.

"I'm good," said Helen. Mac opened the back of the van. When Zac met his mother's eyes, she warned him to behave. "Come on in when you get your tools Mac."

Zac followed his mother inside. "What's he doing here?"

Helen pulled the front door tight. "He's here Zac, to put a new tap on the bath."

"I told you I would get it sorted."

Helen peered around Zac, looking out for Mac. "That tap has been broken for months Zac. I'm fed up waiting on you to sort it."

"Could you not have got someone else to do it?"

"What's wrong with Mac? He's done plenty of jobs for me and your father over the years."

"You should have asked me first."

"Asked you?" Helen smirked; half laughed. "Don't you forget who you're talking to Zac Parker." She pushed the open door. Zac met Mac on the porch steps. His toolbox pulling him off to the left.

The young mare was cantering comfortably with the saddle on her back. Zac changed her direction a few times making sure she was content on both legs. He saw Mac coming out of the house, watching him from the corner of his eye as slid put his toolbox into the back of the van. Zac turned away, waiting to hear the engine. When it never came, he looked over his shoulder. Mac was standing by the railing. Zac clicked with his tongue; the mare maintained her stride. She had been out for almost an hour now and the sun was getting blissful.

"Easy girl," Zac tugged on the long rein. He didn't want to be cruel to her for the sake of Mac. The horse dropped back into a walk, and he let her dander around the arena a couple of times to cool down. Zac was happy with how she was beginning to fill out, her muscles firm under her skin. He was hopeful she would sell well in the winter sales, with the potential for a good barrel horse.

Zac led the mare across the arena and opened the gate. "You need something?" he asked Mac.

"I want to chat to you."

Zac took the horse over to the barn. He tied her and turned on the hose, spraying water over her body. She pushed her ears back and lifted her head, enjoying it, her bottom lip hanging limp. Zac scrapped the water off, pressing mildly on her body before putting her back into the stall.

Mac was still by the arena when Zac came out of the barn. "What do you want to talk to me about?" he asked.

"Casey."

"What about her?"

"You better not mess her about."

Zac drew back, the thin lines deepening around his mouth. "Why would I mess her about?"

"Look Zac, its none of my business I get that, but how you spoke to her before, in the bar, and now, the two of you-"

"Hold on a minute here Mac. Are you suggesting me and Casey are..." The word caught in Zac's throat. He dragged his hand down over his mouth and clipped it on his chaps. "You better not be suggesting what I think you are."

"I'm not being disrespectful Zac," said Mac. "But it's hard not to get that impression." He squared his shoulders, getting a wind of confidence. "Dam. Everyone thinks there's something going on there."

"Who's everyone?" Zac stepped towards Mac. Mac held his ground.

"You're not stupid Zac. You know how people talk."

"Did Casey dump you?"

Mac's eyes flickered. "I care about Casey but she sure as hell isn't sticking around here for me."

"Was she supposed to be going somewhere?"

Mac smirked. It made Zac feel ignorant. "San Diego. She was meant to be away weeks ago."

"And why didn't she go?"

"I think we both know the answer to that."

"There's nothing going on between me and Casey."

"Alright then," said Mac, holding his hands up, backing away. "I just hope she knows that too because whether you want to admit it or not, she's staying here for someone."

"Well it's not fucking me," said Zac.

Mac's lips tightened as if burdened with disappointment. "Tell Helen there's no rush for that cheque."