Secondhand Heart

by Amity Lassiter

  Contents

  Title Page

  Series Guide

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Epilogue

  About Amity

  Acknowledgments

  Secondhand Heart

  Amity Lassiter

  Copyright © 2015 Amity Lassiter

  ISBN: 978-0-9939240-4-0

  Editor: Keriann McKenna

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  MAILING LIST | FACEBOOK

  HEARTS OF THREE RIVERS

  THE BAYLORS

  Runaway Heart (Dane & Ren)

  Homecoming Heart (Noah & Emma)

  Secondhand Heart (Finn & Lily)

  THE MONTGOMERYS

  Secret Heart (Nate & Layla)

  Lawful Heart (Banks & Norah)

  Guarded Heart (COMING 2019)

  HEARTS OF HEROES

  A Cowboy SEAL's Bride (Lane & Miranda)

  —ONE—

  "You're not going to get rid of me that easily, brother." Finn Baylor chuckled as he felt his mount hump up underneath him, driving his head down to let out one epic buck. Finn rode it out with quiet hands and a steady seat while his sister-in-law, Emma, doubled over with laughter from the outside of the ring.

  The horse, Thor, was a stout bay paint that looked like he'd been bred just for the bucking stock, but was supposed to be a child's mount. That's how he'd been sold to the Turners, anyway. Two rides and one little boy's broken leg later, they'd discovered he just wasn't suitable. They'd brought him to Finn with hopes he could turn him around to be a suitable ride for someone. Someone who likes a challenge, maybe, Finn thought, as he urged the horse into a jog. The gait was smooth as silk, and the horse was responsive, just a little—ah, there it is, Finn thought as the horse bounced exuberantly into a lope and let out another buck—spoiled. He shook his head and pushed the horse around the outside of the pen until he made two laps without a buck, then Finn let him break to a walk, and patted his neck lightly.

  "He's not a bad horse," he told Emma as they walked past her. He gave the horse the bridle, to give him the benefit of the doubt, and Thor relaxed a little. "He just objects strongly to work."

  "Right, I think they were just using him for pony rides before Steph got him."

  "Probably for good reason." Finn laughed, stopped the horse, and asked him to back a few steps, before guiding him to the middle of the ring. "When's Nate pulling in again?"

  Emma slipped her phone out of her pocket and glanced at its face. "Anytime."

  "Alright, I know you've got work to do. I appreciate your help," he said to Emma, swinging one leg over the horse's back and stepping down. He took one rein down off the horn of the saddle and patted the gelding's shoulder. "You and I are gonna get real personal, buddy."

  "I don't mind. It was amusing, to say the least." She shrugged, sliding her phone back into her back pocket. "I do have a couple client horses to ride today, but I wanted to be out here when Nate shows."

  As if on cue, the deep rumble of a diesel rig could be heard coming up the drive. Emma opened the gate as Finn led Thor toward her.

  "Good timing, now we can get on with the rest of our day. I'm interested to see this wildebeest you signed me up for."

  Between regular ranch work, the problem horses like Thor he took on, and the six colts they had in on a training contract for Grant Reicher, Finn's hands were beyond full. He would have said no, and did at first, but Emma and Nate had tag-teamed him until he relented. The horse had been a client of Emma's when she was at the big racing outfit in Denver, and the owner was friendly with Nate, so they called it a personal favor. Finn didn't understand why he was the one doing the work on said 'favor', but figured he'd be able to cash in on the return eventually.

  Regardless, he was passionate about rehabilitating horses other trainers had deemed 'useless,' so he was a little intrigued. Emma told him the horse, named Encore, had been struck by a car, and lived to tell the tale, which was rare in itself. By her report, after extensive physical rehabilitation at Renegade Racing, he was physically sound, but needed confidence in the saddle. And that was all he knew. A lot of the horses he brought in had even less recorded history, so while he had to juggle his schedule, Finn figured this horse's sessions should be by the book.

  Nate Montgomery's big, flashy rig pulled into the yard, making a wide arc. Emma waved and started toward the truck as it pulled to a stop. Lifting a hand in greeting, Finn headed toward the barn, where he made quick work of stripping the gelding of his gear and sending him out into the back paddock for a roll. He always enjoyed a visit with Nate, who had grown up with the Baylors right here in Three Rivers, but moved on to a successful rodeo career in Denver the minute he'd been able to.

  Emma's dog, Tucker, was wiggling excitedly around the group of people standing beside Nate's truck as Finn emerged from the barn. He hadn't seen her in the passenger seat, but a curvy little slip of a blonde was standing tucked up under Emma's arm, the difference in their heights almost comical. They'd probably met sometime during the years Emma had been in Denver working.

  "And the star of the hour," Nate said, turning as Finn approached. "Finn Baylor, horse trainer extraordinaire."

  The girl turned, flashing him a smile that produced a pair of perfectly matched dimples, and a little pinch in the middle of his chest he didn't expect. He had six inches or more on her but she met his gaze confidently, with warm cocoa colored eyes a man could get lost in. A thick curtain of shoulder-length blond hair framed her heart-shaped face and little bow of a mouth.

  He chuckled and tipped his hat, then held out his hand. Her firm, confident grip produced a pleasant little shock of energy when their palms touched. "Lily Jacobs."

  She was cute as hell, and he could tell she was a spitfire to boot—Nate's standard type, and when he'd had a type that wasn't his wife, she'd have been his own, too. He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised his friend was bringing home a girl to meet his Nan. It was about time.

  "Good to meet you, Lily. So how'd Nate coax you out of the creature comforts of Denver and into tumbleweed territory?" Finn asked.

  Lily raised a brow, glanced up at Emma, then across to Nate, clearly a little confused. "… my horse?"

  Of course. Nate's girl, a horse in trouble; that's wha
t made it so personal for his friend.

  As if he'd heard himself being discussed, the trailer moved as the horse inside shifted.

  "Why don't you go grab him? I'll get your bags." Emma suggested, giving Lily a squeeze before she released her.

  The girl grabbed a lead rope from the bed of Nate's truck and headed for the small, man-sized door on the front of the trailer, while Nate positioned himself at the rear door to assist. Emma opened the back of the crew cab and emerged with a huge duffle bag, a laptop bag, and a bulky one-strapped backpack. He raised his brow again.

  "Who's moving in?" Though he had a sinking suspicion where this was going, Finn was utterly confused.

  "Lily," Emma replied, as if he ought to know better than to ask a question like that. It was not an uncommon tone between the two of them.

  "Whoa, whoa, hold the phone. This isn't a guest ranch. Where are you going to put her?"

  "My place?" Emma responded, shaking her head. "What does it matter?"

  It didn't, not really, but it wasn't his general practice to have owners hovering over him while he worked with their horses. Especially not one cute enough to make him stand up and take notice for the first time in a long time.

  Cuteness aside, nine times out of ten, a problem horse's biggest problem was the handler, and Finn's policy was not to borrow trouble.

  "And what about Nate?"

  "What? He'll stay at Nan's."

  "I know she can be old fashioned, but surely she's not worried they'll close the distance between couch and bedroom?"

  Emma's brow knit together. "What are you talking about?"

  "What are you talking about?"

  Just as they squared off, a commotion came from their left and a big, glossy, black draft cross with a rope hanging from his halter exploded backwards out of the trailer.

  "Shit!" Emma swore, swinging the bags she'd shouldered into the bed of the truck before she booted it to the fray.

  Finn cussed under his breath and followed her.

  Nate had spread his arms and Emma followed suit, trying to box the gelding in. Agile, the horse rocked back on his haunches, dodging first Nate, then Emma. He was wily for a horse with a road map of scarring on his hind quarters and back legs. Finn shook his head, and then looked up to see Lily standing white-faced in the door of the trailer, her fingers curled around the aluminum door frame like she was drowning. He frowned, then stepped forward, snagging the end of the rope out of sheer luck. The horse fought like his life depended on it, but Finn reeled him in a little at a time, speaking quietly under his breath. The words were gibberish, but the tone communicated perfectly the message he wanted to convey, the message he conveyed to all his clients: I'm not here to hurt you. We can work this out. Let's be partners.

  It took a minute, but the horse finally stilled, though his eyes remained wide and he released short, loud breaths through flared nostrils. Bit by bit, Finn moved up the rope until he got to the horse's head, and touched his jaw lightly. The horse flinched and stepped sideways, but then dropped his head, settling.

  "There you go, brother," Finn murmured.

  Nate stood back, holding his hands up. "I cede to the horse whisperer."

  Finn shook his head and shot a glare at Nate; he hated that moniker, and his friend knew it. It belonged to Robert Redford and Hollywood, and all the showmen who wanted to capitalize on it. 'Miracles' produced fame. Finn didn't perform miracles, and he didn't want fame, he just wanted to help horses; and he used nothing but common sense to do it. People were often a side effect that came with fame and horses, a side effect he wasn't interested in… except maybe until now.

  He looked up and saw Lily uncurling her fingers from the aluminum door frame, some color returning to her face. She was terrified of her own horse. Dangerous horse plus scared handler was the worst combination.

  "You alright?" he asked her.

  Her wide eyes were glued to the gelding at the end of his lead rope. He pressed his lips together and slid his hand down the horse's neck. The gelding had settled like nothing had happened at all. "He's alright. Come on down."

  *

  Lily drew in a breath and all of the emotion she'd been feeling in one shot. Her palms throbbed hot from the harsh bite of the rope Encore had pulled through her hands, and the adrenaline dump left her feeling like she wanted to cry, but she wouldn't. Lord knew she'd shed enough tears in front of Nate and Emma, but she'd be damned if she cried in front of a stranger, especially a stranger so sexy cowboy cool, with that easy smile and low voice that made her belly simmer. Oh, by association, he was practically family, but the man staring up at her incredulously probably already thought she was an idiot who couldn't even handle her own horse. She'd hold the tears until later. She'd become an expert at it, only slipping when she had these little panic attacks, usually triggered by something Encore had done.

  "I-I'm fine." She hoped her words sounded more convincing than they felt.

  On legs she hoped wouldn't show the tremors running through them, she stepped down out of the trailer, the same step had scared the bejesus out of her horse, like most things did these days. After the accident, she'd worked damn hard for him to physically be the horse he'd been before, but when it came to all the other parts of him—the parts that counted—Encore was a different horse altogether. If she'd known—begging Nate not to let them put him down while they loaded her into the ambulance—things would turn out this way, she might not have been so insistent. But now, here she was, with a horse she'd never been unable to control in the ten years she'd known him, and an inconvenient batch of panic attacks, ready to be set off at a moment's notice.

  "Thank you for catching him." She frowned when her voice still trembled. Best not to speak at all.

  She crossed the space between the trailer and Finn, sliding her fingers under Encore's mane, and let the hot rope burn on her palm rest against his silky neck. It was easy to forget he was like this now. Most of the time he was completely normal. Then, something in his rear blind spot would startle him and he'd lose his mind, climb the walls of his stall, regardless of who was in there with him, or bolt off completely unreasonable.

  He was dangerous, now. A dozen Denver cowboys had told her so. Not worth the time and money to try and fix him. They wanted to lay him down, beat him into submission. He wasn't malicious, he was just scared, scarred beyond the physical wounds he'd endured—just like she was.

  She'd called Emma in tears a week ago, after she'd been trapped in his stall when a barn worker dropped their feed cart outside his door. Then Nate had called her yesterday, showed up with the trailer this morning promising her if anyone could help Encore, it would be Finn Baylor, and here she was. She didn't know what the hell she was doing; she just knew it was the excuse she needed to get out of Denver; away from her prying mother and the bad memories. And if it helped restore her equine partner to even a shadow of his former self, it was worth it.

  "He wouldn't have gone far. The horses up here in the paddock would have drawn him in, eventually." Finn met her eyes and shook his head. He might not have meant it, but he'd adapted a soothing tone that made her settle and narrowed her vision to exclude just about everything, including Emma and Nate standing grouped at the end of the trailer—except him. If his methods with horses were half what they seemed to be with a spooked woman, she understood why Nate called him the horse whisperer. "Now, why don't we get him settled in?"

  He offered her the lead rope. Maybe he hadn't completely written off her competence, even if she didn't have much confidence in it anymore. When she took the soft, coiled up loop from him, their fingers brushed together and another little shock jolted through her. Not the same as the adrenaline of her panic attack. Softer. Warmer. Better.

  She nodded, steeling herself with another breath, and followed Finn toward the round pen. He kicked a couple flakes of hay from a loose bale beside the pen under the panel and pulled the gate open for her.

  "Emma told me he stocks up if he's stalled, right? Side e
ffect of the injuries?"

  "Yeah." And he was ten times more dangerous in a stall, with his vision blocked in three directions, than he was in an open space like an outdoor pen or pasture. At least here, he had somewhere to go when he decided to flee his demons.

  "So he can stay here, for now." He glanced at Nate, who had followed, along with Emma. The two of them stood against the panels of the round pen, watching as Lily led her horse in and unclipped his lead rope. The gelding dropped his head immediately, snuffling at the tracks of horses past, completely oblivious to the heart attack he'd just given her. "I'll start working with him in the morning, and we'll see what we've got."

  Lily looped up the rope and slipped out of the gate he'd held open for her. "Great, what time?"

  She might have been imagining it, but she caught the tail end of a sour expression when she turned back to Finn.

  "Look, I'm not sure what Emma might have told you…" He shot a look at his sister-in-law that could freeze fire. Like night and day compared to the soft, gentle man he'd been just minutes before. "But I just work with horses."

  "Oh… I'm not looking for riding lessons. I'm just interested in the process."

  "Right." He rubbed the back of his neck and she knew he was going to say something she didn't like next, just by the way his brows knit together when he looked back up at her. He was a handsome man, and his natural instinct with Encore made him that much sexier. He dressed like the dictionary definition of cowboy, with a black felt Stetson sitting low on his brow, a blue plaid shirt rolled up his forearms and tucked into a pair of jeans that fit just right. A pair of dusty boots with spurs, and a silver oval belt buckle completed the look. None of it looked even close to new. His strong jaw was accented by at least a day's worth of stubble, and his slate eyes were reminiscent of his brother, Noah's, but deeper, more luscious, like a swimming hole she wanted to sink to the bottom of. His dark hair was cropped short, most of it hidden under the brim of his hat. "I don't normally let clients watch sessions. I'm sorry if you've come here looking for something besides a normal hands-off training experience—"