Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series)

by Juliana Haygert

  “Jeez, Garrett, you look happy for Midnight. And me.”

  “It’s just—”

  “Just tell me your price. Let’s negotiate.”

  “He’s very expensive.”

  “Good for you. My family has plenty of money and a huge love for horses, especially expensive ones.” I grabbed the coffee I had bought for him and pushed it toward him. “Here, let’s celebrate.”

  He stared at it for a moment. Then he took the cup, a half-smile on his lips. “Let’s celebrate.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Garrett and Delilah left for her competition Monday morning. I would probably not be all over their itinerary if Tom hadn’t messaged me each new thing he learned.

  Tom: They arrived.

  A couple of hours later:

  Tom: Garrett says Golden Racer is nervous. This is his first competition.

  The next day:

  Tom: Delilah didn’t score well on the first showing.

  On Wednesday:

  Tom: They just had a big fight. Why don’t you call him? I think he listens to you.

  Right, because all he needed now was to hear my voice. No. I kept out of it. On Friday, I didn’t even read his texts anymore. I just deleted them.

  My plan to keep my head down and only go where I really needed to go was working. Students weren’t pointing at me and whispering as much as they used to. Even the rate of the guys halting in my way and asking me out diminished.

  I used my free, alone time to research colleges around Santa Barbara. Some didn’t have pre-vet, but they had biology and chemistry, which could be used as a pre-vet major. I ended up applying for five different places. I hoped to be accepted into at least one; otherwise, I didn’t know what I would do. I didn’t want to stay here anymore and I didn’t want to waste another semester waiting for the time to apply again. Although, I knew it was a close call. Applying in December to start in January? Only with lots of luck. Still, it was all I had.

  On Thursday night, I wasn’t in the mood, but Phoebe dragged me to her dorm—her roommate was out on a date. She made loads of popcorn and put on some chick flick for us to watch. Even though I cried at the end when the couple finally declared their undying love for each other, it was good being out and doing something with a girlfriend.

  After the movie, we stayed in her bed and talked. She told me about Kevin and how great things were going, and I told her I bought Midnight and that I was leaving once classes ended.

  “What?” she sat up. “But … why?”

  “Do you need to ask that?”

  “I know, no. I mean, yeah, I know, but still.” She clung to my arm. “You can’t leave me!”

  Chuckling, I flung a pillow at her and she let go, falling back on her bed. “You’ll be fine without me.”

  “Maybe. But will you be fine without me?” she teased.

  “I’ll survive.”

  “Serious now, are you sure about this?”

  I sighed. There was no point in staying here. There had been no point in coming here in the first place. “I considered all options and that’s the less painful one. The less complicated one.”

  “I understand, I guess.” She pouted. “I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you too.” I flung the pillow at her again.

  ***

  I promised myself I wouldn’t cave, but the competition was supposed to end Sunday evening. Being holed up inside my dorm was driving me crazy, even if it was working. Against my better judgment, I woke up early on Saturday, stopped by a Starbucks, and drove to the ranch.

  Tom smiled wide when I walked into the stable before it was eight in the morning, armed with breakfast.

  “My savior,” he teased, grabbing the tray and brown bag from me.

  As if sensing my presence, Midnight stuck his head over his stall’s door. I caressed his chin, and placed a kiss on his face. “How are you, big boy? Doing better?”

  “He looks like it,” Tom answered, coming to stand beside me. “You know, Delilah wasn’t too happy you bought him. When I told her, she threw a fit. After a few minutes, she started yelling you should pick him up right that instant, but I told her you were paying for boarding. If her father wasn’t here, she would probably throw another fit at that, but he said he didn’t mind, as long as you had another plan for him soon. I told him you had.” Frowning, he stared at me. “Do you?”

  I nodded. “I do.”

  “I know it’s none of my business, but can you tell me what it is?”

  My hand stilled on Midnight’s neck. For a moment, the thought of lying to him crossed my mind, but why? I didn’t owe him anything.

  “It’s not a done deal yet, but I applied for a transfer to—”

  “Wait, what?”

  “—several colleges around Santa Barbara. My family is there, and my mare is there too. I’ll take him with me and he’ll stay with my mare at my family’s ranch.”

  He gaped at me. “You’re leaving? Why?”

  I pressed my lips tightly and stepped back from Midnight. I didn’t want him to feel the tension in my body right now.

  “It’s not working here. And when I was there for the holidays, I realized I missed them. All of them, even my father and our arguments.”

  He didn’t say anything for a moment, but then his expression softened. “I understand. I mean, if I had family anywhere, I would probably try to stay close to them too.” He tsked. “Garrett will be devastated.”

  I snapped my head back to him and gave myself whiplash. “Excuse me?” Shaking his head, Tom retreated. “Tom, what does that mean?”

  “I shouldn’t have said anything. I mean, I’m not even sure. It’s just …” He wandered off.

  “Oh no, Tom. Now you gotta finish it.”

  “I don’t know exactly what happened or is happening between the two of you, but I’m not blind. The way you look at him and the way he looks at you? There’s more there than you both want to admit. I can see it on the days you don’t show up. He is like a hawk, watching the parking lot. Every time we hear a car approaching, he looks at it and I literally see him deflating when it’s not your red SUV. He might not say it, but I know he feels something for you.” He smiled, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “And you have feelings for him too.”

  I shook my head. “You got it wrong, Tom.”

  He tsked. “We’ll see.”

  ***

  I tried brushing Midnight’s coat, but he turned his head to poke me every ten seconds. I considered tying him, not because he was bothering me—I liked when he was being this silly— but because he wasn’t still a hundred percent healed and I didn’t want him moving around too much.

  I longed to take him out and ride him for an entire morning. There would be time for that later, when he was healed and well. When we were living in California. Both sadness and happiness washed over me, if that was possible. I was sad I was giving in and running away to my family. Maybe, just maybe, I was a tiny bit sad about leaving Garrett without trying something more. And I was happy because I could try again, a fresh start. I would be near my family, my best friends, and I would have both my horses with me. I had to believe it would be perfect.

  The sound of a car approaching made me stiffen. This early on a Sunday morning? There were no riding groups scheduled until the afternoon, and Garrett wouldn’t be back with Delilah until tonight. I could only think it was Mr. Hudson coming to check the ranch. And I was here. The fixture he didn’t install.

  Footsteps sounded louder, and I stuck my head out of the stall to greet Mr. Hudson. My throat went dry. To my surprise, the person who entered the stable was Garrett. He halted in the doorway and looked at me. The shine is his eyes was dull, the corners of his lips were turned down, and he looked beaten.

  “Hey,” I said.

  He took off his hat with a loud sigh. “Hey.”

  Tom rushed in the stable from the arena with a big smile. “What are you doing here this early? We weren’t expecting you until this evening.
”

  “I know,” Garrett said, his tone sharp. “Delilah lost last night. I was driving all night. Just left her at the manor.”

  “What?” Tom asked, his eyes wide. “But …”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “I know.” What the hell were they talking about? Garrett gestured toward his truck and the trailer. “Golden Racer has been twitchy since Delilah yelled at him repeatedly day after day. I might need help taking him out of the trailer. Tom?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  I frowned as they walked out. What the hell happened? I had heard Mr. Hudson talking to Garrett before, and I dreaded what the older man meant by saying Garrett knew what to expect if Delilah didn’t win. Well, she didn’t win and now fear flooded my system.

  Why was I fearful for him? Just because I was a good person? That wasn’t a good enough answer. Since he made it clear he didn’t want anything with me, Garrett was like any other nameless guy I didn’t care about. Or that was what I told myself.

  The horse fought them the entire way. At some point, I helped, holding the reins while Garrett joined Tom in trying to calm him and make him take one step after another. Meu Deus, what did this girl do to her horses? Scare them to death? It wasn’t right.

  We shoved him inside a stall, and Garrett slammed the door closed, leaning against it.

  He let out a long breath. “That was brutal.”

  Still in fight or flight mode, Golden Racer charged the door, probably targeting Garrett. Tom yelled his name. I reached forward, closed my hand around his arm, and jerked him forward with all I had. Startled, Garrett bumped into me, his chest crashing against mine. We tripped a couple of steps back and the horse bit air. I grasped my hands around his biceps, and his fingers sank into my waist, looking for balance.

  His eyes locked on mine, and I forgot to breathe. His nearness warmed my core, and I had to fight not to lean close to him and inhale his delicious scent. The hazel in his eyes turned a dark brown and his gaze fell to my lips.

  Meu Deus, I was going to combust.

  Tom cleared his throat. “That was close.”

  Like a bucket of water being dumped over my head, I sprang apart from Garrett and looked everywhere, but his way.

  “Yeah. Thank you,” he said, his body still angled toward mine.

  I glanced at him. “Sure.” Inside the stall, the horse thrashed and trotted, bumping against the walls. He would hurt himself if he kept that up, or break down the walls. “What’s wrong with him?”

  Garrett sighed, looking at the horse. “Let’s just say Delilah had a panic attack after losing and lashed out at the poor horse. He has been agitated since we left last night.”

  “We’ll take care of him,” Tom said. “Why don’t you go sleep, Garrett?”

  He nodded again. “I will, right after we sedate the horse.”

  “Tom and I can do that,” I said.

  His eyes, serious and concerned, met mine. “You just saw how crazed he is. For this, three is better than two.”

  We stood in front of the stall, in an awkward silence, while Tom gathered the sedative. It was a pain in the ass, but after almost thirty minutes fighting with the horse and almost getting bitten several times, Garrett injected the sedative in his system, and he settled down almost instantly.

  “Hopefully, he’ll wake up calmer,” Garrett said, exiting the stall.

  I closed the door, looking at the horse standing on the back of the stall, his chest moving up and down in a steady rhythm. Poor animal.

  Tires rolled in the gravel, the sound of a car entering the property.

  “Any riding groups this morning?” Garrett asked.

  “No,” Tom answered.

  “Shit,” Garrett cursed under his breath.

  We waited for the new arrival in the stable aisle. When Mr. Hudson stepped in with furrowed brows and tight lips, Garrett didn’t look surprised. He stuffed his chest and met the stare of his father with raised chin.

  “Good morning, Mr. Hudson,” Tom started, trying to break the awkward vibe with a chipper tone.

  Without acknowledging his employee or me, Mr. Hudson gestured to the office. “Let’s talk.”

  The man entered the office and Garrett followed suit. If he was afraid or concerned, he didn’t show it and I envied that. In situations like this, I was never able to contain my loud mouth, my temper. Or tears, depending on my emotional state.

  The door was slammed closed and I turned to Tom. He shrugged before walking into the tack room. I was about to go with him and ask him what he wanted me to do, but harsh words coming from the office stopped me. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, because it was clear they were trying to keep it down, but it was nearly impossible. Even not knowing the words, I could hear the venom coming out of their mouths.

  I knew Garrett was able to defend himself, but for some reason, I wanted to play Prince Charming and come barging in and save the day. A smile tugged at my lips.

  Their voices rose. “I can’t put up with it anymore, Garrett. Virginia can’t put up with it anymore. And Delilah can’t even hear your name at the moment. I warned you. I told you what would happen if you failed.”

  “I know and I accept that, but before I go, I have a few things to say. One, I never wanted this. Any of this. It’s not my fault I was born. It’s yours and my mother’s. But I am sorry I was shoved into your life after she died. I’m sorry I put a strain on your perfect marriage. I’m sorry Delilah is such a brat that she scares away her horses and there’s nothing I, or even the best trainer in the country, can do to make her a star. She isn’t meant to ride. Hell, she isn’t meant to be close to horses. So do everyone a favor and stop pushing her to it.”

  “What the—?”

  “Oh, and one more thing. I’m sorry I wasn’t and never will be a son to you.”

  With that, the door opened and Garrett marched out. His darkened eyes found mine, and I held my breath. He pressed his lips together, and his jaw tensed. I stepped toward him, wanting to touch him, to hold him, and to tell him everything would be okay, but I caught myself before it was too late.

  He gave me his back and all but ran from the stable.

  Tom peeked out of the tack room.

  “Should I go after him?” I asked in a low voice, afraid Mr. Hudson would hear me. “I should go after him.”

  Tom shook his head. “He needs some time to cool down. If you go after him now, he’ll blow up on you.”

  I understood that, but what if he was blind with rage and he drove directly into a tree? Worse than seeing him in this state would be seeing him in a hospital. Or in a coffin.

  Mr. Hudson exited the office, his face impassive. “Tom, we need a new trainer. I know you have contacts. Talk to them before putting any ads out there.”

  I clenched my hands. If I knew I had any chance of success, I would have jumped at his throat and slapped him hard.

  “Sir?” Tom asked, his head low. “What about Garrett?”

  Mr. Hudson adjusted his jacket. “Garrett is no longer with us.”

  “But, sir—”

  “Tom, don’t make it harder than it needs to be.”

  Tom nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Mr. Hudson looked at me, then back to Tom. “I have to head out now. Have a good day.”

  Tom wished him the same and I didn’t answer. I just stared at the door, wishing I was strong enough to go after Garrett, just to make sure he was okay.

  What the hell? Why wasn’t I strong enough? Of course I was strong enough.

  “Bia, I have something for you to help me with,” Tom said, slamming down my brief boldness.

  Feeling the moment was gone, I faced him. “Shoot.”

  Chapter Twenty- Eigth

  I left the ranch around four in the afternoon and headed toward campus. I turned the volume up and Tim McGraw blasted from the speakers, drowning the thoughts that plagued me since I decided it was time to go back to my dorm.

  You should go see him. Just to make sure he’s ok
ay.

  Who was I kidding? I knew I was driving to his half-built barn, even if I didn’t want to acknowledge it. To myself. So pathetic.

  I followed the instructions Tom once gave me, and my heart raced, knowing I would see him soon. At least, I hoped I would. I had no idea where else he could be.

  As I drove down the dirt road, I saw his truck parked in front of the barn.

  Then I saw him. With a plaid shirt open and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and fitted jeans, swinging an ax and cutting a log in half over a tree stump. Sweat glistened from his taut chest … oh my. My stomach clenched and my mouth watered.

  I parked my SUV beside his truck, and stayed there. He stopped, ax in hand, and stared at me. My breath caught with the intensity of his gaze. I broke the stare, because I couldn’t help it, and my eyes wandered down his chest and abdomen again. Meu Deus, he was too hot, too handsome for his own good. I licked my lips and swallowed hard.

  Okay, I had come here to check on him, not to stare at him from inside my car as if he were a piece of meat. Even if he was a fine piece of meat.

  I slipped out and forced my eyes to look at something, anything, other than him. The barn seemed like a good thing to stare at. Even though the structure was still a wooden frame, it had new additions. Half of the roof was put on, and wooden panels covered the back of the first floor walls.

  I jerked my chin to the barn. “I see you’ve been making progress.”

  He shook his head once and placed a new log over the stump. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

  He let the ax fall. The log broke apart and two perfect halves tumbled to the ground. “I’m great.” The sarcastic tone of his voice was something new.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  “For?”

  “For what happened.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “Still, I’m sorry it happened.”

  Garrett picked up another log from the pile, his muscles flexing and popping with his movements. My mouth went dry and heat spread down my body. He placed the log on the stump and cut it in half, pulling the ax with more force than before.