The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 5: Brothers

You make it back to the house before Alex, obviously. A big, cocky grin is plastered on your face as you triumphantly walk Custard back towards the barn, a hand resting on his side.

"So you're the one that took my horse." His voice is hoarse and sends you coming to a halt, turning around to face him. You find Cole sitting on the porch steps of the house, studying you closely. His blonde hair hangs over his eyes.

"Nice to see you," you manage to say, "it's not like I'm hardly ever here."

"I was at school. I'm catching up." He responds coolly, a crooked smirk revealing itself. You see it now. His cheek is cut up and raw. He has a black eye exactly like Alex's and there is deep bruising on his lower jaw. "And it's not like the circumstances called for me to be here."

"Right. Because of everything with Alex?" You grit out before hearing hooves galloping up towards you. You look over your shoulder and find Alex coming, a smile on his face as he sees you before following your body's posture. He looks to the house and rushes to pull Murphy to a stop. His jaw tenses and his knuckles turn ghostly pale as they clutch the reigns tighter.

"Wrangler, can you get Custard in?" You question as he remains still. So much so, he reminds you of a deer in the headlights, unsure of which direction he will dart off. If he will run back where it's safe, or straight ahead where he is most likely to get hurt.

So, when he doesn't move, you speak again, "Alex." Your voice rings out firm. He finally pulls his eyes from Cole and towards you, a breath loosening from his lips.

"Yeah, sure." He says and unmounts before grabbing ahold of Custard's reins and begins to guide both horses into the barn. You turn back towards Cole who nonchalantly leans back against the step behind him, his arms perched up on either side of him as he watches Alex go.

"You can be such an asshole." You slur while approaching and he scoffs.

"So can Alex. But you wouldn't be able to see that. Would you?"

"Don't you dare change the subject. You know what you did." You hiss angrily.

A gentle breeze flutters past, blowing his hair across his face and he silently looks to you. When no words are spoken on either side, he moves and pats on the step beside him for you to join him. It makes you scoff even more.

"This time is worse, Cole. So much worse." You finally speak and he stares at you before nodding his head. The acknowledgement causes you to worriedly examine his face. There's remorse and sadness. Something you have never seen on Cole Walter's face before. Not since his accident.

"What happened?" You question, taking that seat next to him he previously offered. His hands rub over his knees in a thoughtful manner, watching the barn.

"He will never believe me." Cole speaks with a frown and turns to face you. His gold-speckled eyes burn into you, causing a fire to snap awake in your heart. You feel his pain. And while you could never pick sides between the boys, you feel an obligation to hear them both out. Who knows? Maybe you can help fix this mess somehow.

"You actually like her," your voice trails out before you even put the whole puzzle together, "don't you?" Cole's eyes once again dart back to the barn, spotting Alex walking towards you both. He uneasily stands, using the support of the rail beside him to be gentle on his knee.

"Come on, (y/n). Let's go." Alex speaks, refusing to give a look to his brother's direction.

"Alex-" Cole starts, but the younger brother trails up the steps and clashes his shoulder against Cole's before walking inside. Cole watches him like a hawk, managing to swallow the lump that formed in his throat. You stare at him before reaching out and touch his arm. He practically tenses.

"Let me cool him off. Alright? Just give me some time." You speak. His only answer is a dip of his head before he turns and walks towards the car.

"Where are you going?" You call after him out of confusion. He reaches the vehicle and opens the door, turning to look at you and then up towards your bedroom window.

It wasn't your window in his mind, though. It was Jackie's.

"I need to clear my head." He calls back. You are unable to find the right words as he climbs in and soon after drives off.