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Because he had no intention of turning his life around to promote a perfume...cologne... whatever.
    When he got home, her car was in the driveway and she was sitting on his front steps. He swore under his breath, made a sharp turn without acknowledging her presence and headed for the barn, the horse trailer bouncing behind him. When he got out of his truck, she was there, camera in hand. Was there no escaping this woman?
    “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, snapping pictures of him and the horse while he backed it up, kicking and snorting, out of the trailer.
    “I do mind,” he said throwing a halter over the horse’s head. “This is a very sensitive time for the horse. If you get kicked, I won’t be responsible.”
    “I understand that,” she said, backing up only very slightly. “But this is all so interesting and so important for the whole mustang story.”
    He didn’t answer. He tried to ignore her, but she was everywhere, in the barn, outside the barn, in the chute, with her camera blinking away. Until he heard his mother’s car pull up in front of the house. And Max’s voice in the distance. Then and only then did she walk around the barn and disappear from view. Josh could only imagine how happy Max would be to see Bridget, while he couldn’t be happier to see her leave. He only hoped she would have gone back to town by the time he finished up in the barn.
    A short time later his mother found him sitting on top of his fence chewing on a stalk of grass watching his new horse race around the corral.
    “There you are,” she said. “I left you a shepherd’s pie for your dinner, a salad and a rhubarb crisp.”
    “Sounds good.”
    “There’s plenty if your friend wants to stay.”
    He glanced at his mother. Her expression was bland, no hidden meaning, no hidden agenda. At least he hoped not.
    “She’s not my friend,” he explained.
    “Max’s friend, then,” she said.
    “Don’t tell me,” he said shaking his head in despair. “He’s already asked her to dinner.”
    His mother smiled. “I thought I ought to warn you.”
    “Sounds like it’s too late.”
    “Is there something wrong with her?” his mother asked.
    “Oh, no, there’s nothing wrong with her. Nothing at all. She’s going to be here for God knows how long, nosing around, interfering with my work, taking pictures of me and the wild mustangs for some damned perfume commercial.”
    “Really? How exciting.”
    “You think so? How would you like somebody dogging you night and day, making a pest of herself, getting in your way?”
    “I don’t know,” his mother said. “It might be good for you to have some adult company.”
    “Some adult company? There’s going to be a whole camera crew here eventually. And why do I need company, by the way? Am I turning into some kind of hermit?” he asked.
    “Of course not. It’s just that your father and I—”
    “I know, he already told me. You want me to get on with my life. Find somebody to replace Molly. I’m not going to do that. I was in love once. I’m not ever going to fall in love again. Especially with someone who doesn’t belong here.”
    “I’m not talking about your falling in love again,” she explained gently. “I’m talking about inviting someone to dinner.”
    “Fine. Invite her to dinner. Invite the whole ad agency to dinner if you want.”
    “It’s not what I want. It’s what Max wants. I only want what’s best for you. I can’t help thinking you ought to expand your circle of acquaintances to include a few more people than horses.”
    “Okay, okay, she can stay to dinner. Are you happy now?” he asked his mother.
    “Delirious,” she acknowledged, favoring him with a fond smile. “Let me know how it turns out. The shepherd’s pie, I mean.”
    That’s not what she meant at all, he thought, watching her go. His mother was an incurable romantic and wouldn’t rest until Josh had found someone else, a mother for Max, a mate for himself. She’d