She turned away from Willard and quietly said, “Shane, please come with me.” He nodded.
They took the truck and followed Manwaring to the estate where Casandra grew up. It was beautiful country. She told Shane it felt like home, even if she could not conjure up any specific memories. She could see a large, beautiful stable set to the side. There were gardens and a lake in back. Part of the land was forested and left wild.
Shane held her hand. “I wonder if they did fox hunts here.”
“The house looks more like a hotel than a single-family home.” Casandra was nervous. There was a man and a woman standing on the veranda.
Larina stepped out of the truck and walked toward the couple, tentatively smiling. The woman ran forward and gathered her up in her arms, crying. “Oh, Kiki, I have prayed for this moment for months.” Casandra hugged her back with no memories other than the smell of her cologne.
“Mother, I am so sorry this happened. I am trying to remember; I am sure I will.” She looked over her mother’s shoulder at her father, whose eyes had teared over. “Dad?” She went to his arms for a hug. They ushered everyone into the house to sit in the parlor. Her mother asked the help to bring in refreshments.
Casandra told them her story and all that she had been doing. They related what they knew of her accident. She had been on a hired yacht and must have fallen off during the night. By the time morning rolled around, they had traveled for hours. The captain notified the authorities in Uruguay, but nothing came of it. They’d all assumed she was dead.
Willard leaned over. “How did you end up with Bailey?” That name sounded so familiar.
“What do you mean?” Casandra was puzzled.
Willard took a photo album from the table and handed it to her. She thumbed through the pages. It was Caballo as a young colt. They had pictures of her riding him with ribbons until she was about sixteen. “I don’t remember any of this. All I knew was that this horse kept me anchored to my past somehow.”
“What happened to him?” She looked to her father.
“After you had the accident jumping, we sold him. You were in a coma for weeks. The doctors warned us about another injury.” Her father raised his eyebrows. “It was for the best. But the buyer couldn’t control him and soon sold him, and after that we didn’t hear anything.” Her father seemed troubled and walked over to the refreshment trolley.
“Where are my siblings?”
Her mother handed her another album. As she looked through it, she became frustrated. “I don’t remember any of this, but it looks familiar, so I guess that is something. Are they in the area?”
“No, they are both in New York. I called them, and they are thrilled.”
Casandra looked at Shane. “Shane and I met in Argentina while I was working with horses at the Cortez ranch.”
Her father looked up. “The name sounds familiar.”
Casandra looked with longing to her parents. I know I love these people—help me remember.
Her mother comes over to sit by her. “Kiki you can move into your old room. We haven’t changed a thing.”
“I need some time to process all of this.” She handed her father a card from the Rio Lago Ranch. “I will be there, training horses. I just need time to think.”
Her mother took her hand. “Kiki, you need medical help. After the coma, the doctors were worried about further injuries. They know your history, and I know they can help. Come back quick.”
Her father took her in his arms and hugged her. He gave her a bank card. “In the meantime, if you have any expenses, just use this. There’s no limit.”
“I can’t do that.” She tried handing the card back to her father, and he laughed as he gently cupped his hands around hers. “Keep it. I know you—spending is one of your many talents. I am sure you will come to your senses soon enough, trust me.”
“Okay, give me a couple days, and then I‘ll come back, and we can work on remembering.” Casandra stood up and looked to Shane. He stood up and thanked them all, shaking hands with her father and Willard.
She turned to Willard. “I know this must be hard for you. I’m sorry; I don’t know what else I can do here. I am trying my best.”
“Kiki, I am just happy you’re okay. We can work out what is best to do when you get back.”
They all walked to the front door, and her parents and Willard waved as Shane and Casandra drove down the long drive. Casandra looked over to Shane, trying to lighten the mood. “So, what are you going to call me?”
Shane got a sly grin. “I think I like Kiki.” She lightly punched him in the side. They both laughed as they drove to the stables to pick up Bailey for their ride back to Texas.
“I must have been there when Bailey was born. I am so thrilled to know this was my horse—I grew up with him. I love him for a reason; I have always loved him.” Casandra was excited to get back to see Bailey. That sounded right: Bailey. She looked over to Shane. He seemed pensive. “What?”
“Well, you did discover you have a fiancé. But since he calls you Kiki, he must be out of the picture now.” He laughed a little.
“I know.” She truly did not know what to do about Willard. She felt wary around him, which was not a good sign for their future marital bliss. But she was sure she wouldn’t have become his fiancée without loving him. He didn’t seem to be pushing the issue; maybe in the months she was missing he’d found someone else? But, as sorry as she was to find this out, he obviously had been her choice for a husband.
When they got to the stables, Casandra rushed in to see Bailey. “Bailey, I know now.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and cried. “I am sorry, boy, what has your life been like? It will be okay now, Bailey, it will be okay.” Bailey leaned in closer and nibbled the back of her jacket.
They loaded Bailey into the trailer and left. Casandra and Shane were quiet on the road, lost in their thoughts. And then out of the blue she burst out, “Kiki, do I even look like a Kiki?” What about Sandi or Cassi? I like those. Even Cass is better than Kiki.”
She was trying to lighten the situation. She had a hard road ahead as she tried to understand her life. Who really was this Willard Manwaring? She didn’t understand how she could have liked him enough to become engaged. Granted he was good looking but he seemed on the woos side of manly to her. Maybe it was his gold earring. He had his hair frosted silver and spiked a little in front. Could that was the style these days. She had probably changed a lot since the accident. Did she love him at one point? She needed to find her memory, but would Shane still be in her life when she did?
* * *
After a long drive, they pulled into the Rio Lago Ranch. Shane could hear Bailey whinny in the back.
Carson walked out to help with unloading the horse trailer. “How was Connecticut ?”
Shane came around back and helped. “They did magnificent. It was beautiful to watch. No ribbons, but he qualified. If you wanted to enter any of the bigger races, he’s good to go.”
“Well, you seem like a teapot ready to sing. What’s up?”
Casandra walked around to the back, and Shane pointed to her. “Let me introduce you to Ms. Casandra Hilton, commonly known as Kiki.” He couldn’t help himself—he laughed when she punched his ribs.
“I found my family, Carson. My parents look like wonderful people. I will have to go back and see doctors in an effort to regain my memory soon. And the best thing? Caballo is Bailey, the horse I grew up with. I saw a photo album of him and me at different stages of our lives.”
“Well, I could have told you that to begin with.” Carson chuckled. “I have never seen anything like it. I am so happy for you, girl. Now, what are we going to call you? I’m not saying Casandra—it’s too long. And Kiki, well sorry, but it sounds like something you wash off your hands.” Both Shane and Casandra had to grab their sides, they were laughing so hard.
Casandra looked at Shane with raised eyebrows. “My thoughts exactly.” She didn’t know what she liked better, thoug
h. “Just call me Sandi for now. Maybe I have a middle name I could use.”
Sandi spent the day with Shane working with the horses. It kept their minds off of their departures. The next day, Sandi spent the morning crying. She felt like she was losing her stability again as she packed to leave for home.
Shane’s week at the Rio Lago Ranch was over. Sandi sat on the porch swing, waiting for him to come over. Aussie had come to join her and was sitting at her feet. She reached down to pet him. “Good dog, are you going to watch out for Bailey while I am gone?”
Shane walked down the path through the canopy of overhanging trees with a bunch of flowers. She watched him come, loving him more than ever. He had that charming smile that made her want to kiss his lips and be wrapped up in his love. What was she going to do without him? Her heart was breaking.
Sandi wiped the tears from her eyes. He was a source of peace and strength. She couldn’t keep from smiling through her tears as he climbed the steps and handed her the bouquet.
“I wanted to give you flowers.” Shane sat down next to her and put his arm around her, pulling her close. “It’s going to be okay.”
She put her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know who I am, but I know I have a fiancé. I must have loved him at some point, right?”
“We will just go forward in our lives. You go home, and I will head back to my ranch. Let’s set a date to get together one more time once you remember. Then we can say goodbye.”
Sandi liked that idea. “Okay, but what am I going to do about Bailey? I can’t leave him again.” Her eyes teared up as she looked over to Shane.
“That is not going to be a problem. I traded my black stallion for Bailey, and Carson agreed to either keep Bailey here or ship him up to Connecticut—whatever you prefer.”
Sandi jumped up, pulling Shane to his feet, and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tight.
“Thank you so much! If I can have him near, I think I can do this.” She reached up and kissed him. “I will send you the money. You will have to take another trip to Argentina.”
Shane pulled her even closer and tenderly returned the kiss. She yearned for more, but Shane backed away and pulled her back down to the bench. I love you, Shane. She only wished she was free to say it. “We can settle about the horse later.”
Shane reached into his pocket and pulled out a package. “Here.” He handed it to her. “It’s a cell phone. My number is in there. I don’t want to pressure you to call me, but if you need help, I am here.”
She opened the box and started giggling. “It’s pink, Shane.”
“They didn’t have a lot of choices in town. I could have had ‘Kiki’ embossed on it.” He reached over and nudged her. They both laughed.
“I’m a little suspicious about the circumstances around your dip in the ocean, so be careful.” Shane’s tone was serious. “I think you can trust your parents, but be careful around anyone else, including Willard. I don’t like him just on principle.” Shane gave a wry smile. “But there was something about him that didn’t seem right.”
“Hummm, I don’t know. I didn’t feel at peace. His hug was pretty stiff. Maybe he has already found someone else. I will be careful.”
Her heart ached as she realized he was really walking out of her life, perhaps for forever. She walked Shane up to the truck and waved goodbye as he drove down the long, meandering drive.
She called her parents and arranged to have Bailey shipped to Connecticut. “Dad, I will be traveling home tomorrow. It should take me two days. I am bringing Bailey with me—is that going to be a problem?”
“No, Kiki, we’ll make all the arrangements from here. We are so happy to have you home.”
Sandi headed over to find Bailey. Carson was in the stall with him. “So you heard?” she asked.
Carson finished brushing Bailey. Sandi could see that he really did care for him. “Yes. If you ever decide you need to find him a new home, he is always welcome here. What can you tell me about the stallion Shane purchased?”
Sandi smiled confidently and shared what she knew about him. “He was the best stock Mr. Cortez had. The Mangalarga Marchador is a famous champion breed in South America. And you got a good deal if you traded straight across.”
Carson smiled contentedly. “Well, I knew, one way or the other, I would be losing Bailey, the way you two had bonded.”
Sandi liked this good man. She hoped she would see him again.
“I will be leaving tomorrow with Bailey. My parents hired a transport service they are familiar with in Connecticut, and I am riding with them. Thank you so much for all you have done for me.” Sandi hated to leave him needing help, like she did the Cortez Ranch.
Carson nodded and went into his office. Sandi went in to finish brushing Bailey. “It’s going to be good, boy. You will get to see your first home again.”
The transport arrived the next day, and Sandi rode in the trailer with Bailey. This was nothing like the trailers she had been used to. It contained a living quarters with all the amenities. Sandi was impressed. Is this how I used to live?
The drivers drove straight through the night, and she arrived midday at her parents’ home. As they were unloading Bailey, her father came out to help.
“Dad, thank you so much for allowing me to bring Bailey. I just feel so much more in control with him around. He is what ties my past to my present.”
As they were walking Bailey into the stables, he became agitated and pulled back.
“This horse is still trouble. I was right in selling him.” Her father pulled back roughly on the lead.
Sandi took the lead from her father. “Dad, he is afraid to go in there. He has had no problem with any of the other stables he has stayed in. There is something here that frightens him.”
Sandi looked around. “Can he stay in the old stable back behind the barn for now?”
Her father nodded and headed back into the house, walking quickly.
Sandi asked the ranch manager if he knew her from before. He nodded his head. “I have known you from the time you were this high on me, Kiki.”
Sandi blew out her breath, exasperated. “Why do they call me Kiki? I hate it. Can you please call me Sandi until I find something else I like better?”
He laughed. “Well, they call me Grudge—it ain’t much better.” He took Baileys lead and started walking toward the back stables.
“What would you like to be called?” Sandi was earnest in her question. She had a whole new perspective of the people who spent their lives helping others have more ease in theirs.
“Well, Miss Sandi, my name is Albert. I would like that just fine.” He gave her a big smile.
“Albert it is then. I think we can be friends, Albert.” She felt good about Albert and knew he would be a good source of information about her family and the people who came here.
“I would like to take some time to talk with you when you are available. Will you be the one taking care of Bailey?”
“Yes, ma’am. I was there when he was born. So were you. You were such a bright-eyed girl, rubbing down her new colt like he was the most precious thing in the world. How did you manage to find him again?”
Sandi was tearing up at this important piece of her history. “Well, it’s a long story, Albert, which I will tell you, but for now let’s just say he found me.” She gave Bailey a rub and headed in to the house. She looked back. “Do you know why Bailey didn’t want to go into the front stables?”
Albert nodded.”I can tell you that later too Miss Sandi.”
“OK thanks Albert.”
She walked in the front door. “Mom, I am back and so happy to be home.” She went over to bend down and kiss her mother.
“Kiki, your grandmother is here in the library. She insisted on being here when you arrived.”
Sandi cringed again at that name but let it go for now. She followed her mother to the library.
In the corner, in a big overstuffed chair, sat the loveliest woman she had
ever seen. She was old and had an aura of peace and joy about her that instantly pulled Sandi in.
The woman looked over at her mother. “Olivia, I would like some time alone with Casandra and do not wish to be disturbed.” She turned and smiled at Sandi. Her mother left the room and closed the library door.
“Let me look at you. You may not remember it, dear, but you are very special to me. I have been devastated these past months, fearing I had lost you. It is an answer to prayer that you survived. I did not feel good about that cruise your sister arranged.”
Sandi wanted to be careful not to hurt this grand woman. “I am going to work hard to regain my memory. Inside of my heart, I can feel we were close.” She smiled as her grandmother took her hand.
“Of course you can, my dear. Now, we don’t have time. You are not safe. I will have my lawyers meet with you for all the particulars. But there a few things you need to know right now. This home and the entire estate are mine, and I have left everything to you. Your parents have a home in upper Connecticut but are living here until you come of age legally, which will be on your next birthday.” She sighed.
“Can I get you some water, Grandmother?” Sandi got up and walked over to the tray and poured a glass. She was having a hard time taking all of this in. Why was her grandmother bypassing her parents in her will? And why was she telling her all this now?
As if sensing her question, her grandmother said, “Olivia was a Hilton once, but she remarried when your father died in an automobile accident. She and Herbert had two more children a daughter and a son.” Sandi was beginning to see potential problems in this family of hers.
“You are the direct heir of the entire estate and all of your father’s assets. A trust was formed just before he died, leaving everything to you should anything happen to him.”
“He left nothing to my mother?” Sandi was concerned about that seemingly unjust circumstance.
“Your mother was given the country estate up north and the funds to maintain it. Herbert has squandered most of that now. Preston, your father, arranged that the property was hers to use but not to sell, in order to protect her. So if she did get remarried, she would always have a home.”
Her Billionaire to Remember (A Texas Ranch Romance Book 5) Page 9
