Waiting For Yes

by Claire Ashgrove

  ****

  Gabrielle gnawed on her lower lip. From what she could see, from her experienced but untrained eye, Rajiv had stolen the class. He’d made her father’s horse, a former National Champion, look small and insignificant. He bettered the entire class’ temperament ten-fold.

  Mamoon, on the other hand, came across as nervous and jittery, a quality that could earn him point deductions. Full of energy was one thing. Nervous, however, didn’t often earn the judges’ favor. It spoke to temperament issues—which God knew was the truth. In Mamoon’s case, however, his temperament problems went back to abuse, not gene flaws. A judge wouldn’t have that insight, however.

  Her father’s horse garnered the crowd’s support. Hands down, Maharazad was their favorite, and when the judges had inspected him, they’d taken a great deal of time. Longer than they gave either Mamoon or Rajiv. Something that could work for or against the stallion. Either they could find few flaws, or they found one they couldn’t accept. And the National title would work in the horse’s favor.

  When it came to horses, however, too often it depended on personal taste. More than once, a poorly conformed stallion took home the blue. The facts had prompted a reevaluation in how judging should occur several years ago, but the process still lacked perfection. Today would be no exception. The competition was just too tight.

  She fidgeted in the silence as the ringmaster reviewed a slip of paper in his hands.

  “In first place, number 1405, Bahadur Mamoon.”

  Cheers and guffaws erupted. Jake stared at the ringmaster, shock evident in his wide eyes. Gabrielle gaped at him. He’d done it. They’d done it. She blinked back tears, and a smile lit her face. They’d really done it. Her crazy, opinionated stallion took first place.

  “In second place, number 1552, DDW Rajiv.”

  Her mouth dropped as her knees went weak. Not just first, but second too. A wave of elation washed through her with dizzying force. Eighteen years old, and Rajiv had beat out horses that had better pedigrees, better show records.

  She managed to compose herself long enough to accept the red ribbon and escort Rajiv out of the arena. Outside, she stood near the warm-up ring and watched the horses filter out. Third went to the black. Fourth to a grey. Her father’s horse came out sporting a white, fifth-place ribbon. Alan glowered at her, and Gabrielle giggled. Just as Margie had predicted, their win felt as good as it had eleven years ago. She turned her face skyward and offered up a silent prayer of thanks.

  Inside, wild whistles and the rumble of feet told her Mamoon was making his victory lap. One class down. Two more to go, over the next two days. On the third, his one first place already earned, they’d enter the championship round. He’d compete against younger stallions, but, if the judges held their favor, and assuming Mamoon didn’t lose his marbles, they had a good shot at the win.

  Jake ran out of the arena, his dark hair tumbling against his forehead. He pushed it back as he slowed Mamoon, his gaze scanning the crowd. When it settled on her, he quickened his pace and approached. “Let go of Rajiv,” he instructed at five foot away.

  She raised an eyebrow, mistrusting his request.

  “Just do it, so I can kiss you.”

  For that, she’d do anything. She dropped the end of the lead rope and chuckled as Rajiv lowered his head to graze. Rushing toward Jake, she flung her arms around his neck. He framed her face between his palms, his lips dusting over hers. “I’ve missed you. Oh, Gabby, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

  His mouth settled against hers, soft and coaxing. A thrill of pleasure shot through her as she inhaled the sweet spice of his cologne and the scent of horse. Her fingers curled into the nape of his neck, and she yielded to the velvety stroke of his tongue. In a heartbeat’s passing everything inside her turned liquid and pliant. They’d won their class, put her father to shame, and tamed the nutty stallion. She couldn’t have accomplished any of this without Jake. But more importantly, he loved her. Loved her enough to put aside his mother’s death and come back to her.

  She held on a little tighter.

  As a murmur of pleasure rumbled in the back of Jake’s throat, he eased the kiss to a lingering close and enfolded her in a tight hug. “I love you, sugar,” he whispered.

  With a sniffle, she nodded. “I love you too, Jake. Thank you. Thank you for everything.”

  He let her go and stepped back. “Go get Rajiv. I’ll meet you up in the barns. I found out some things about Mamoon you should know.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Horses cooled out and put away for the night, Gabrielle shed her suit and shrugged into a comfortable pair of jeans shorts and a V-neck T-shirt. Outside, Margie asked Jake for the dozenth time, “He really tries to protect her?”

  Jake’s laughter filtered through the heavy draperies to blend with Gabrielle’s silent chuckle. It sounded like a story out of some fairy tale, but when Jake pointed out the coincidences, he made it impossible to dismiss them. Gabrielle didn’t care. As long as they had a reason and a means of anticipating what would set him off—not just for showing purposes but to make his life more comfortable as well—she was grateful. But she’d helped put up the heavy stall curtains that Jake brought with him to cover the front of Mamoon’s stall. With the aisle blocked from sight, he’d settled back to his normal self.

  Jake ducked under the stall drapes, joining her. Still dressed in formal clothes from their dinner, he was neat and tidy. She skated her gaze down the length of him, taking in his broad shoulders, flat abdomen, thick thighs. The man looked simply amazing in a suit and tie. But when she lifted her gaze to his, she found him sporting a mischievous grin.

  He moved closer and wound his arms around her waist. Dropping his head, he skimmed his mouth along the side of her neck. He gave her earlobe a nip and lowered his voice. “I’ve dreamed of you every night. Felt your skin against mine. Tasted your sweet kiss.”

  Snuggling closer, she shivered.

  “I was pretty stupid, sugar. My mom—”

  She pressed her fingers to his mouth to silence him. “I don’t need an explanation. I know everything. I understand.”

  A look of relief washed across his face, and he hugged her close. Nuzzling the side of her neck once again, he murmured, “Think Margie would let me have you to myself for a while?”

  Gabrielle couldn’t help but chuckle. “She told me over dinner she’s already booked her own room.”

  “Good. I intend to apologize several times over.” He stepped back to look at her. “As soon as I get back from working with Mamoon, I want to take him out to the arena for a while.”

  “Okay. I’ll clean up the tack for tomorrow’s class and tell Margie I’m riding back with you.”

  “Already heard that. I’m off,” Margie called from outside.

  “See you in the morning?” Gabrielle asked as she eased out of Jake’s embrace.

  “Absolutely.”

  Jake grabbed a practice halter off a hanging peg-rack, planted a kiss on her cheek, and strolled out the door. Mamoon’s stall door rolled open. He stepped inside and approached the stallion. Mamoon nickered as he took a step closer.

  Unable to control the soft smile that tugged at her mouth, Gabrielle sat down on a tack truck and picked up a cleaning rag. She pulled Mamoon’s show halter into her lap and rubbed at the sweat marks on the brow. Beside her, shavings rustled as Jake led Mamoon out the door. Hoof beats echoed in the aisle, signaling their departure.

  She took a deep breath and gazed at the draped doorway. He’d come back. Told her that he loved her… But would he vanish when she told him her fear she’d gotten pregnant? Would that be too much for him to embrace? She needed to tell him, but she supposed it could wait until after the show. Right now, they both had too many more important concerns on their hands. Jake needed his focus to attend to Mamoon, and she didn’t need to add another distraction.

  She turned her attention to the halter, determined the subject could wait another four days.
>
  ****

  Jake led Mamoon around the show arena at a quiet walk. Well after dark, only two other competitors joined him. A young girl rode a quiet little mare around, her focus more on pleasure than training. At the rail her parents looked on with interest. The second competitor cooled out a mare sporting western tack.

  Without Gabrielle as a distraction, Mamoon followed complacently. He looked at the two other horses, but his demeanor remained calm and submissive. Even when Jake practiced the correct stance and effectively negotiated a command that kept Mamoon in one spot, Mamoon seemed content to listen and respect Jake’s requests. Just as he had every time they’d worked together in Gabrielle’s barn. Just as Gabrielle had conveyed he’d reacted with her when they were alone.

  His thoughts drifted to Gabrielle. She’d seemed distant tonight, and he hated that. His absence had taken a toll on her, which was plain to see. But had it done damage he couldn’t negotiate? Had he tainted the beautiful thing they’d found in the middle of nowhere, Kansas? He shook his head, confused. Her demeanor didn’t match her words. Nor did it match the sincerity in her features when she’d said she understood. No, she wasn’t angry.

  Still hurting? Lord, he hoped not. He’d do whatever it took to take all that pain away and drill it into her head that he’d never intentionally hurt her. He wouldn’t keep anything from her either. On the way here, he’d vowed if she took him back, he’d never hold another secret from her. Whatever thoughts lurked in his mind, whatever memories woke him in the middle of the night, he’d share everything. She’d never again doubt where she fit into his life.

  Starting tonight.

  He reached up and eased Mamoon’s mane away from the halter. In the bright stadium light, a diamond glinted atop a band of gold. A tumble of nerves bounced around in his gut, and with a deep breath he steered Mamoon toward the barn.

  Nineteen days ago he’d have never believed that he’d be back in the world of Arabians and a pretty little redhead he’d followed on the highway would lead him here. Now, he couldn’t imagine it any other way. It felt good to come home. Not just to her, but to the horses he couldn’t escape. They lurked in his heart, lived in his soul. These show grounds, the hustle and bustle of hurrying between classes, the exhilaration of competition filled a hole he hadn’t quite realized existed until he set foot in Gabrielle’s barn.

  And Gabrielle…

  She filled up all the rest.

  “Sugar?” He stopped outside Mamoon’s stall.

  “Yes?”

  “Would you mind putting Mamoon away? I’d like to get out of these clothes.”

  Wearing a grin, she ducked beneath the drape and took her stallion from him. “I’ll do anything, if you ask.”

  She escorted her horse into his stall, and Jake entered the tack stall. He took his time unbuttoning his shirt. Through the bars that divided the two stalls, he watched as she ran elegant hands across Mamoon’s back, up his neck. She reached for the halter, and Jake held his breath.

  Her fingers stilled. Her gaze turned toward him. Wonder and disbelief mixed with love in her jade green stare.

  Jake joined her in Mamoon’s stall and covered her hand with his. He loosened the buckle near Mamoon’s ear and eased the engagement ring off. The halter fell to the ground, forgotten.

  He took her hand in his and dropped to one knee. “I’ve been stupid and foolish. You are the only woman I’ve ever said I love you to, Gabrielle. You’re the only one I ever want to say those words to again. Please…” He closed his eyes as his voice caught. Whispering, he continued, “Please, marry me.”

  He lifted his gaze to look at her and recoiled as she stiffened. She tugged her hand free and leaned against the stall wall. Tears welled in her eyes. Concerned, he went to her, gathering her hands between their bodies. “What is it, Gabby? Did I ruin everything?”

  She bit down on her lower lip with a shake of her head. “No. This… Jake, it’s everything I’ve ever wanted. But I have to tell you something before you leap into this.”

  Unease rumbled through his veins and lifted the hair on the back of his neck. He raised a solitary eyebrow in silent question.

  “I got caught up in everything that was going on in my life. I didn’t do it on purpose. I swear I didn’t. It was a total accident.”

  His other eyebrow joined the first.

  She fidgeted, her gaze jumping everywhere and distinctly avoiding his. “I…” She swallowed hard. “Jake, I think I might be pregnant.”

  The need to laugh rose hard and fast. He tamped it down and ordered himself not to smile. Pregnant? This worried over that, when he was asking her to spend the rest of his life with him? Good Lord, she really was priceless. He supposed he deserved the moment of torture when she’d pulled away, but good grief, she had no idea how terrified he’d been seconds ago.

  He cupped her face in his free hand and dropped his mouth to hers. Elated beyond all words, he let his body sink into hers, used the stall wall to his advantage and soaked in the softness of her curves. His kiss was thorough, full of all the powerful love that filled his heart to overflowing. She returned it with equal hunger, and all the days he’d gone without her compounded with one, ferocious burst of need.

  Jake sucked in a shaky breath and touched his forehead to hers. “Then let’s make sure you are.”

  Her sob hung in the air, but he welcomed her tears. She feathered kisses over his mouth, across his cheek, down his neck. She tugged at her hands, but Jake held them fast and avoided her searching lips. “Sugar?” he whispered.

  She choked out, “I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”

  Chuckling, he shook his head. He gave her left hand a little shake. “I’m waiting for yes.”

  “Oh.” She sniffled. A smile filtered through her tears. “Yes.”

  He slid the ring on her finger and claimed her in a needy kiss.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Gabrielle gathered the ribbons off Rajiv and Mamoon’s stall door and looped them over her arm. After five days of competition, exhaustion clung to her shoulders. But the two trophies already tucked into the back of Jake’s SUV that proclaimed her horses as Champion and Reserve Champion made the weariness nominal.

  “Okay, Gabrielle, horses are loaded. I’m out of here.” Margie tossed her arms around Gabrielle’s neck, then Jake’s.

  Gabrielle peered at her best friend. “Are you sure you’re okay with taking them back to Kansas?”

  Grinning, Margie winked. “We don’t have a show. If they get nutty, I can drug them.” At Gabrielle’s wide eyes, she patted her forearm. “I’ll be fine. You two go have fun. But if you get married in Houston without me, there’ll be hell to pay.”

  Jake gave her a slow nod. “We’ll be back in about a week. I just need to make some arrangements about my property and contact Manuel. I’m sure he’ll be willing to return with us. Lord knows we’ll need him, now that dear old Annie has told virtually the entire show grounds I’m back in business.” He rolled his eyes, but a smile lingered on his mouth.

  Gabrielle reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. He returned that subtle affection with a kiss to her cheek. Annie had made quite a fuss over the news when she’d popped in to congratulate them on the win and found Jake and Gabrielle stealing a few moments to themselves in the tack room after the final round of competition.

  The last few days still held a dream-like quality. Jake’s return, the wins, their engagement, his insistence he didn’t want her returning to the shot… In five days he’d waved a magic wand and made every dream she’d ever had come true. She wasn’t entirely certain how she’d navigate running a breeding farm with a child on the way, but Jake swore he’d be right there at her side and they’d figure it out as they went along.

  She waved Margie off and snuggled against his side. “Manuel will like the guest house. We’ll bury the electric lines so freak snowstorms won’t be a problem.”

  He nuzzled the top of her head, his lips stirring her hair. “You’ll like h
im, sugar. Let’s get a move on. We’ve got a long drive ahead.”

  Glancing down at the large diamond on her hand, she gave in to a giddy giggle and looped her arm around his waist. “Okay.”

  “Gabby.”

  She tensed at the sound of her father’s voice. But his use of the nickname he despised made her flash Jake a hesitant look.

  Jake squeezed her shoulder and whispered, “I’m right here.”

  Slowly turning around, she found her father approaching. In an outstretched arm, he held a manila envelope. His pace slow, his gaze flickered with apprehension.

  “What do you need, Daddy?”

  He came to a stop in front of her and shuffled his feet. “I believe these belong to you.”

  She took the folder from his hand and plied it open with two fingers. Inside, four time-stained documents bore the Arabian Horse Association’s seal. She caught the typed name, Arabella, and her breath caught. The four horses he’d refused to let her take.

  “If you want to hire a hauler, I’ll have them ready.”

  Warily, she looked at him. What trick did he have up his sleeve this time? Was this some other ploy to keep her under his thumb? “I suppose you want breedings to Mamoon?”

  His eyebrows raised, and he wiped a hand over his balding head. “No. They’re yours.” Shifting his weight, he looked to his shoes. “I, ah—” He twisted a toe against the pavement. “You’ve earned them.”

  When he looked up again, he didn’t look at her, but rather Jake. “Good job this weekend.”

  She gritted her teeth. Complimenting other professionals in the industry always came so easy for her father. Why couldn’t he find the same ability to give her praise?

  “Thank you, Mr. Warrenton.”

  Jake’s politeness irritated her as well. Her father didn’t deserve that kind of deferential respect. She much preferred the way Jake put him in his place on his first day at Scottsdale. She twisted around, attempting to head to the SUV, but Jake’s fingers tightened on her shoulder. Gentle pressure made her twist back to face her father.