The next day was even worse. The strain got so bad at breakfast with the guys joking around that Barry had to excuse himself, saying his headache was back and he was going out for a walk.
“You okay?” Jimmy asked, setting down his spoon.
Jake, too, looked concerned.
“I’m fine. Just need some air.”
Rex was always up for a walk, so happily followed Barry out of the house.
Barry soon found himself in the barn and unbolting Shadow’s stall door. When Barry had mucked the stall for the first time, wrinkling his nose at the smell, Jimmy had said Barry could consider himself a real cowboy now he had horse s**t on his boots. Previously they’d joked with Jake, saying that a stall wasn’t necessary as Barry would just put another blanket in the bedroom next to Rex’s for the horse.
“Hello, boy,”
