by Lexi Post
If that was the case, she would make herself scarce for a couple days. No young punk was going to tell her how to care for horses. She’d grown up with horses, even sleeping with them in the barn she worked in when she couldn’t stand to be home.
“I’m not sure what he has planned. I feel for him. It’s hard losing someone you’re close to.”
At his serious tone, she glanced at him. Had he experienced what she had? The idea brought both sympathy and defenses. The only reason she was functioning normally now was because she wasn’t around others who’d had her experience. Luckily, he was just the horse hauler.
Lady pulled ahead again, so she didn’t have to make more conversation, which was just as well. She needed to figure out what Cole might have in his barn that Cyclone could haul back to the main house. She didn’t care what it was because if Cole had done what he’d said he was going to do, she wouldn’t be on an ATV right now being pulled by a horse for no reason whatsoever.
Most likely he’d been called into a fire early in the morning. Ever since he’d made Captain, his hours were less regulated, as his wife Lacey had mentioned more than once. He was also less present regarding the operations of the ranch. She’d thought about asking to be the manager, but she didn’t want that kind of permanence. She’d already stayed at Last Chance longer than usual. There was something about the place that let her be herself, but that was dangerous. She couldn’t afford to feel close to anyone.
“Have you worked for Cole long?” Garrett had managed to bring Lady even with Cyclone again.
“Depends on your perspective. For me, it’s been a long time.” She slowed Cyclone as they reached the barn at Cole’s. The new home and barn were less than a mile away, so Cyclone wouldn’t be happy if there was nothing more to haul. After jumping off the ATV, she strode into the barn.
Garrett hitched Lady to the new corral fence then made to follow her.
She stopped him. “Wait, let me see if there’s anything in here the big guy can haul. Angel is afraid of men, so if there’s no reason for you to come inside, I’d rather not stress her.
“Angel? She’s afraid of men? Why?”
She swallowed a flippant remark. The cowboy had just been hired, of course he wouldn’t know. “Angel is Lacey’s horse. She’s skittish even around women, but she was abused by a man.”
Garrett’s low whistle made it clear he understood, and she entered the cooler space.
She ignored Samson, Cole’s black quarter horse while giving Angel her space, and looked into each stall and the tack area. The new barn was as clean as a boot camp polished belt buckle. Shit. Except for a few haybales, there was nothing for Cyclone to pull. Now what? She couldn’t ask the horse to drag her around on the ATV all day.
Chapter Two
Garrett turned away from the open barn and strolled around the corner. Riley O’Hare had more bristle on her than a prickly pear cactus. Everything about her screamed “keep your distance” and from the look of her arms in her black tank, he had a feeling she could force the issue if she wanted to.
She reminded him of the one woman on his old team, only Riley’s voice was deeper with a rasp quality that was hard to ignore. Was that why Riley was the way she was, because she was the only female ranch hand? It was obvious she knew horses. After dragging her off the Clydesdale when he’d arrived, he’d got the message that his help wasn’t wanted. Or rather, not in the way his instincts told him to help. Still, it had taken every ounce of willpower not to push her out of the way as Cyclone galloped for her.
His brain told him she knew what the horse was capable of, but his natural reaction was to protect a woman, and despite her roughness, she was definitely that. Her full cheeks were the perfect setting for brown eyes so dark they appeared black. Her nose turned up just a bit, and that combined with her full lips gave her a more feminine look than he’d guess she appreciated.
She wasn’t slender but neither was she curvy. She had a robustness that wouldn’t get swept away in the next haboob with a slight curve between waist and hips and more on her chest. Boyish wouldn’t describe her, though for some reason he had a feeling she’d prefer that description. Her thick, straight, red hair though was like a warning beacon to keep his distance.
Turning the corner to the back of the barn, he halted. A pile of brand-new lumber was stacked neatly as if just delivered. He strolled closer. Maybe brand new wasn’t quite the word. Grass had grown up between the stacks telling him it had been there at least a week.
“You still here?” At the sound of her voice, he strode back the way he’d come.
“I’m here. Just wandering.”
She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “There’s nothing in there I can use. I’ll have to have him pull me back on the ATV. Hopefully, that will appease him long enough for me to get Lady settled in.”
“There’s a couple stacks of lumber behind the barn. Would that work?”
“What?”
She strode past him, the scent of ginger spice catching him off guard. He didn’t take her for the baking type. More intrigued, he crossed his arms and waited for her to return.
“You’ve got to be kidding!” Her exclamation was loud enough that even Lady perked up her ears. It didn’t take long for Riley to reappear. “That lumber was delivered a couple weeks back for Cole’s new deck. He was in a damn hurry for me to get Cyclone to drag it down here.”
He didn’t say anything. He just waited to see what she’d do next.
A slow smile spread across her face, transforming it into something much softer and approachable, despite the sly grin. “Guess Cyclone will just have to bring it back.”
Her statement brought his brain back on track. “Whoa, do you think Cole will appreciate that?” The man was her boss, after all. His, too, technically.
She shrugged. “Not my problem. If he’d taken Cyclone out to the mine this morning or at least called someone else to, I wouldn’t be in this position. I still have a fence rail to fix in addition to everything else on my list. That means if Cyclone wants to lug lumber back to the main house, then that’s what I have to do. I don’t have all day to cater to his whims.”
Without asking for help, she unhitched the harness from the ATV and guided Cyclone to the back of the barn.
He didn’t move, not sure how well that was going to go over with Cole. Cole was an old friend. They’d both earned their associates in Fire Science at the community college before landing jobs in different parts of the state. Cole had always been half cowboy and half firefighter. That’s why they’d rubbed along well.
As if she’d forgotten he was there, Riley led Cyclone past the barn and onto the dirt road back to the main house, the lumber still strapped together as it had arrived. Yes, she was definitely different. He walked over to where Lady eyed Cyclone, obviously not happy that he had a head start on her.
He patted the mare’s side. “Don’t worry, we’ll catch up to them.” Untying the bridle, he climbed on the fence railing and straddled the mare. He hated to ride her without a saddle, but it was a short distance, and she was obviously not concerned. “Okay, let’s go.”
No sooner had he said the words than Lady broke into a gallop. Squeezing his knees, he got her to slow before coming up on Riley.
She looked up as he and Lady came abreast of her. “You can let her run. When you get there, put her in the north corral. I have to prepare a stall for her. Cole forgot to let me know she was coming.”
Her tone brooked no argument. Whether it was her attitude or her criticism of Cole, he wasn’t sure, but irritation ran up his spine. He was all for being polite; however, he didn’t take this job to be ordered about as if he were a greenhorn. Without a word, he let Lady have her head.
By the time he slowed her down, he was ready to leave. His job was to pick up the horses and drop them off, complete with story and paperwork.
Paperwork. He’d left that in the truck. He’d grab it once he moved Lady into the corral. Both corrals were emp
ty, which meant the horses must still be in the barn. He jumped down from Lady’s back and opened the gate. Taking the bridle off, he let her inside and closed her in. As she pranced around in a circle taking her victory lap, he headed for the barn, intending to hang up the bridle then return to his truck.
“Hey, boy.” He nodded to a black quarter horse who eyed him from an open stall with a roof attached to the barn. As he took his first step inside, a nicker from within had him stopping, Riley’s story about Angel reminding him this wasn’t a typical stable. This was a horse rescue ranch, which meant he had no idea what phobias or issues the horses stabled there might have.
Looking over his shoulder, he found the black watching him. He’d bet money that horse was housed outside for a reason. Retreating from the barn, he strode to the north corral and laid the bridle over the fence.
He could hear Riley talking to Cyclone as the big horse pulled the stack of lumber. Quickly, he strode to the truck and opened the passenger door. Heat from sitting in the sun washed over him from inside. He’d forgotten to leave the windows down when he saw Riley climbing the fence to jump on Cyclone. Bad move in the Sonoran Desert in the middle of summer. Grabbing the folder, he left the door open and met Riley as she and the horse pulled into the parking area from around the side of the house.
She brought Cyclone to a halt. “Sorry about that.” She gestured with her head toward the dirt road she’d just walked up. “I’m not used to having anyone around here, except Annette, and she doesn’t come out in the heat anymore. I appreciate you helping with the big guy.” She patted the horse, who had to be at least sixteen hands high.
In the face of her apology, his irritation lessened. “You’re welcome.” He held out the folder. “Here’s the paperwork.”
She crinkled her nose, making her appear very young. “Hold that thought, will you? I just want to get Cy unhooked and fed. I’ll have to do another haul with him today, but I think he’ll behave for at least an hour.”
He didn’t actually have anywhere he needed to be, so he nodded.
Next time he saw Cole, he would definitely ask him about his ranch hand. Did he know she criticized him? Cole had a lot on his plate being Captain in the Canterbury Fire Department and running a horse rescue. He certainly didn’t need an employee griping about him.
Then again, she had a point. She did seem to be the lone worker. Not comfortable with getting in the middle of something he knew nothing about, he wandered toward the barn and leaned against it as Riley efficiently unhooked Cyclone and walked past him, bringing the horse into his stall and feeding him.
When she was done, she brushed her hands on her jeans and approached. “Is there anymore to the story of Lady other than she’s a little older and obviously competitive?”
He glanced over his shoulder. Lady had stopped her victory lap and stood watching them. More than likely, she was waiting for Cyclone to emerge again. He faced Riley. “The competitiveness was not in the paperwork. Just that she and two geldings were being transferred to Last Chance. All three are older and are meant to live out the rest of their lives here.”
She held out her hand for the folder. “Here? That’s going to be costly. I’ve seen horses like Lady live to thirty-two.”
So had he, when they were well cared for, and if they had good genes. “I don’t think that will be a problem. The old man left a trust for the horses.”
Her eyes rounded. “A trust? For horses?” Her eyes lit with understanding. “So that’s why the grandson wants to be sure they’re well cared for. He wants to make sure Cole isn’t taking the money and not treating them right. He obviously doesn’t know Cole. He’s as protective of his horses as I am.”
Now he was confused. First, she sounded like a disgruntled employee and now she sounded completely loyal. “I’m sure that’s part of it, but like I said, I think there’s some grief associated with the whole scenario.”
She shrugged. “Whatever. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
He had no idea if she meant people passing on or if she meant the grandson coming, but he wasn’t completely comfortable with either thought. Better to leave and let her do her job. He’d done his. “Everything there is to know is in there.” He nodded to the open folder in her hands. “I’ll be back in a couple days with the other two.”
Her head snapped up, a frown on her face. “A couple days? Why the delay?”
He shrugged, anxious to be going now. “I’m not sure. Again, I think the grandchildren may be reminiscing.”
She looked past him at Lady. “I hope she doesn’t mind being without them. The last thing I need is a horse who won’t eat.”
“Why wouldn’t she eat?”
She took a deep breath as if she needed to be patient with him. “Before I came, they had three almost starved horses arrive here. One wouldn’t eat unless she was in the same enclosure with the other two. They almost lost her before they discovered the problem.”
“How’d they figure it out? Was it just dumb luck?”
“Whisper.”
He glanced toward the barn and lowered his voice. “Was it just luck?”
Her brow crinkled before a half-smile lifted her lips. “No, I meant Whisper figured it out. She’s, well, an animal whisperer for lack of a better term.”
His doubt must have shown on his face because she shook her head. “I know, but if you’d seen some of the things that woman has learned and done with animals, you’d be a believer.”
He doubted that, but then again, he was probably the only non-superstitious firefighter for a hundred miles.
She closed the folder and stuck it under her arm as she hooked her right thumb in her front pocket. “We receive all the problem horses. The bruised, the battered, the starved, the neglected, the unwanted. Just like with people, that takes a toll on them. My goal is to make them whole again. The more I know, the better the chances of making that happen.”
He had to admit, not only did she pique his curiosity about the horses, but also about her. She was as hard to pin down as a wildfire. “Do you have a lot in here now?” He found himself gesturing toward the barn opening.
“We have a few.” She turned and headed inside. “Some of these will be going home eventually.” She looked over her shoulder. “Cole’s relatives get attached. The big guy is actually Dr. Jenna’s, our vet, but she doesn’t have a working ranch, so he stays with us. He came from a rescue place in Dallas. Don’t know if you noticed, but he has some burn scars on his back from being in a fire.”
He had noticed them. Burn scars were his specialty.
She stopped between two stalls of brown and white paints, one obviously still a yearling. “This is Lucky and his mom, Macey. Macey was brought here because her owner thought she looked more like a cow than a horse because of her markings. Lucky was born here and is Charlotte’s. That’s Logan’s daughter. The one outside is Logan’s. That’s Black Jack. He’s claustrophobic thanks to being inside a mine when it partly caved in, so Logan is planning to build a shelter for him over at Dr. Jenna’s before moving all of them over there.”
“Logan?” It sounded as if he was supposed to know who that was.
“Cole’s cousin.” She moved to another stall where a brown colt was suckling on a beautiful black Frisian. “This is Nizohoni and her colt, Phoenix. These are the two I saved.” Without elaborating she moved to another stall where a black and white paint greeted her. “This is my baby. I saved her too by buying her off my former employer. I don’t know who trained her, but she’s the smartest horse I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a lot.”
As the rough-edged Riley hugged the stately horse, he suddenly sensed that she only showed that kind of affection to her mount. Now why would he think that? “You saved them?”
She shrugged as she moved on to the other side of the barn. “That’s the whole point of this place. This little one is Tiny Dancer. For some unknown reason, even to Whisper, Cyclone is infatuated with this little thing.”
She met his gaze for the first time since entering the barn. “I’ll suggest that to Whisper.” She moved to the next stall, which stood empty. “I’ll put Lady in here and the two geldings in the next two stalls, unless they need to see each other.”
See each other? When Cole told him he ran a horse rescue, he hadn’t truly understood what that might entail. “I don’t think that’s necessary, but if there’re any peculiarities, I’m sure Wyatt will let you know.”
She continued to the tack area. “By Wyatt, I assume you mean the grandson.” She grimaced even as she dropped the folder on a shelf and grabbed a pair of gloves.
He chuckled. “He’s not that bad. Like I said, it’s just his way of keeping his grandfather a little longer.” He expected some show of sympathy. Most women would express empathy for a person who lost someone close to them, but not Riley.
“I need to get Lady’s stall ready then move some of these horses out to the north corral before heading back to Cole’s with Cyclone. By then I should be able to work on that fence rail. Is there anything else I need to know?”
Once again, her tone turned authoritative. He stiffened, more used to giving the orders than taking them. “No, that’s it. I’ll be back in a couple days.”
“This time I’ll be ready.” She turned toward him and offered her hand. “Good to meet you, Garrett. Welcome to Last Chance.”
Surprised, he shook her hand before she pulled on the gloves and headed for the loft, where bags of shavings were stacked. Clearly dismissed, he strode out of the barn and toward his truck.
