Forever Ventured

by Kathleen Brooks

  “Right this way,” Wyatt said as they continued down the path that led toward the back of the house. He liked to keep his little boy close to home. “The house . . .”

  “Yes, the house is lovely. Tell me about the horse.”

  Wyatt smiled. Camila was horse crazy and hopefully crazy enough to take her job on contingency. “He’s wild. Sweet, but wild. And headstrong.”

  “So am I. We’ll get along great.” Camila paused and then added, “If you hire me. Who else are you interviewing?”

  Wyatt tried not to clear his throat as he delayed. He’d interviewed all the top trainers. But as soon as he told them there wouldn’t be a salary, they hadn’t even bothered to meet, let alone see, the colt.

  “About that. I’m a veterinarian.”

  “Yes, I read that,” Camila said as she walked beside him. Her head barely reached his chest, but he still didn’t get the impression she was small. Instead, he got the impression she was fierce. Fiercely determined.

  “I normally don’t like talking about this, but I’m broke.”

  * * *

  Camila stopped walking as she turned and looked up at him in shock. “You’re broke?”

  Wyatt nodded. “I’ve been doing as much as I can myself. I have one farm worker, Bud, who helps me as much as he can. Now, with the sale of my yearlings and some of the stud fees, I can afford to pay you a little.”

  “How little?” Camila felt frozen to the spot. She’d just spent her savings to come to America only to find it all for nothing.

  “Five hundred a month, but you’ll get a larger percentage of winnings,” Wyatt rushed to add.

  “Five hundred a month. That won’t even cover the day charge.”

  “I’ll provide room, board, and cover what expenses I can.”

  Camila wanted to yell. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. This was her dream, and she wasn’t going to make enough to live on. Wyatt turned to the pasture ahead of them and whistled. In the distance, Camila heard a horse reply. Not knowing what she could say to Wyatt besides, “thanks, but no thanks,” she stepped up to the fence where Wyatt stood.

  In the distance, she saw a large red colt with a white nose toss his head. Wyatt whistled again and the colt reared back before charging straight at them. It felt as if the whole world stopped. Camila’s heart sure did. His long legs ate up the ground as he galloped forward. At the last moment, he began to turn as he ran a large circle around the pasture. From every angle, this colt was perfection. He was muscled, he had strong bones, perfect structure, the perfect length, and he wasn’t overly bulky. He was simply the perfect combination for strength and speed. Her body tingled and the hair at the back of her neck stood up as a shiver ran down her spine.

  Wyatt whistled one more time and the colt slowed to a trot, stuck his head over the fence, and received a kiss from Wyatt. “Camila, meet Ruth’s Gentleman.”

  Camila held out her hand for Ruth’s Gentleman to smell. “Hello, Gent. I’m your new trainer.”

  3

  “You’ll train him?” Wyatt asked with disbelief.

  “I’d be crazy not to. He’s a once in a lifetime horse.”

  Wyatt nodded. “I feel the same way. My great-grandmother did, too. As soon as she saw Squire run, she knew this colt would bring Wyatt Farm back on the map.”

  “The center of the map,” Camila said before laughing as Gent tossed his head back and pranced around showing off for her.

  “He likes you. He doesn’t normally like people except for me.”

  “Jealous?”

  “Relieved,” Wyatt admitted.

  “I want more than the standard ten percent commission.”

  “Fifteen percent and you can start tomorrow morning.” Wyatt held his breath as he watched Camila watching Gent.

  She turned toward him and held out her hand. “Deal.”

  Wyatt shook her hand and felt like letting out a whoop of joy. He had a trainer. There was hope for Wyatt Farm. He just had to find a way to pay for the race entries and then he might be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

  “Where is my place?” Camila asked. “I left my bags at the main house and I’d like to get settled.”

  Wyatt swallowed again. He’d never thought about this aspect of hiring a female trainer before, so room and board hadn’t really been on his radar. “The main house. You have most of the upstairs to yourself. There’s plenty of space, and you’ll have all the privacy you’ll need.”

  “You want me to live there? With you?” Wyatt heard the hesitation in Camila’s voice. He’d love to have her in one of the smaller houses on the grounds, but he’d rented the two of them out for income. One was rented to his cousin Jace who was in medical school and seemed to live vampire hours. Wyatt only saw Jace at three in the morning or sometimes leaving for Lexington a couple hours later. The second house was rented to two of the trainee firemen. They kept to themselves and were usually at the building site of the new fire station or at the café eating. They ate a lot.

  “Not with me in a romantic way,” Wyatt started but then wanted to smack his head. His manners had flown out the window. “Not that any man wouldn’t be lucky to do so. I respect what you want to prove, Miss Callahan. I won’t get in your way by muddying the waters. I promise you, we will have a completely professional relationship.”

  “I like to sleep naked. Can you handle that?” By the way Camila cocked her head he knew she was testing him. Too bad his other head didn’t know that.

  Wyatt crossed his hands over his growing erection and tried to smile innocently. “I do, too, so now we both know not to enter each other’s rooms without knocking. I’m hardly ever home. I’m sure it won’t be an issue.”

  Camila blushed slightly as he saw the wheels in her mind turning. “So, I’ll have complete control over training Gent and running the farm?”

  “Training Gent, yes. I’ll only step in if I feel he’s being pushed too hard or gets sick or injured.”

  Camila looked offended as her eyes went wide. “I would never push a horse to the point of injury. That’s not my style of training, Dr. Davies.”

  Wyatt smiled reassuringly at her. “I didn’t say it was. But, as for the managing of the farm, I’d like to have morning meetings. I’m not ready to turn over full control. This is my family farm, after all, and I need to know everything going on.”

  “That’s fair. I’ll need to have a look at the books and have you show me around tomorrow. I need to know everything.”

  “I agree,” Wyatt said with relief. This just might work. “Shall we head to the house? I’ll show you around and then . . .” Wyatt’s phone went off and he looked down at it and sighed. “Well, I’ll show you around quickly. I’m sorry I can’t offer to make you dinner, but I’m needed at my uncle’s farm.”

  Wyatt wanted to curse. He felt horrible leaving Camila before she was able to settle in. His twin cousins, Porter and Parker, had a rodeo horse about to give birth, so there was no way he could miss it.

  “Family business or veterinary business?” Camila asked as they turned up the lane leading to the house.

  “Both. My younger cousins are rodeo riders. They’ve started a small stable of rodeo horses and one of the mares is in labor.”

  “Need any help?”

  “Aren’t you jet lagged?” Wyatt asked as he picked up two of her bags and opened the front door.

  “Hunger is overriding jet lag and if we can get this foal delivered, maybe you can get me some food.”

  “I have some here—” he started but Camila was already shaking her head.

  “I don’t cook and a sandwich isn’t going to cut it. I’m starving. I’d kill for some fish and chips or a beef and porter pie.”

  “No fish and chips, but I know the perfect place to take you. I’ll show you around town. Everything except the café is closed. At least you’ll be able to know how to get there. Tomorrow I’ll get you a car of your own.”

  “Great,” Camila said with a smile.


  Wyatt smiled back. They were going to work well together. He just knew it.

  * * *

  “Hello.” One of the twins smiled as the other winked at her. They were both tall and built just like rodeo stars—strong shoulders, thick legs, and ripped abs. They both looked at her with identical smiles, hazel eyes, and unbuttoned flannel shirts over worn jeans.

  “Porter, Parker, this is my new farm manager and horse trainer, Camila Callahan. Camila, these two troublemakers are my little cousins,” Wyatt introduced as he pulled on medical gloves.

  “We’re only five years younger than you, Wy. You’re just an old man at heart. Some women like adventurous bad boys. Do you, Camila?”

  “That one’s Parker,” Wyatt said without even looking up. He was already examining the mare that was in full labor.

  Camila shook her head at the one with dark brown hair and deep red highlights. So, he was Parker, which meant the one with the dark brown hair and blond highlights was Porter. “How old are you two?”

  “Twenty-four,” they both answered.

  So, that made Wyatt twenty-nine. He was old at heart, but that wasn’t a bad thing. Wyatt had been weighed down by responsibility and obligation since his great-grandmother passed away, and Camila doubted he’d ever been the carefree bronco-busting sort. There was something about Wyatt that made her know he would be the calm to her storm. He might be old at heart, but that was the only thing old about Wyatt Davies. His strong and silent looks and attitude told her he’d have her back when she needed it. And being a woman going into the boys’ club of training, she’d definitely need it. They were going to work really well together. She had a good feeling about it.

  “Would you like to go to a rodeo sometime?” Parker asked.

  “I don’t think I’ll have much time, but I’m pretty good at training horses if you ever need help.” The twins were only three years younger than she was, but they seemed a lifetime younger. Just because she wouldn’t date them didn’t mean she didn’t want to be friends. She was comfortable around guys, more so than with other women. Guys made up ninety-nine percent of the population in the majority of the barns she’d grown up in. Shoot, her dad’s assistant trainer had been the one to take her to get supplies when she’d gotten her period, and it was a group of jockeys who explained the birds and bees. Porter and Parker reminded her of them, and she instantly fell into easy conversation with them.

  * * *

  “What a handsome lad,” Camila said as she watched the newborn struggle to his feet and begin to nurse.

  The brothers shook Wyatt’s hand and slapped him on the back. It was clear the twins didn’t see how exhausted Wyatt was. Camila breathed deeply as she realized what she was feeling—protective. She wanted to protect Wyatt. It was clear the twins didn’t see the tiredness in his eyes or the way his shoulders hunched with the weight of the farm on them. But, he wasn’t alone anymore. She’d help him, and together they’d build an iconic racing stable.

  “If we hurry, we can make it to the café before they close,” Wyatt said as he walked from the stall.

  “Camila!” Porter called out. “Don’t forget to stop by anytime to ride. We’d love to have you.”

  “Thanks! I will.” Camila turned back to Wyatt as they walked from the barn. “Dinner sounds great. Is there anything I can do to help you tonight?”

  “Just get a good night’s sleep. I have patients starting at seven in the morning. Can we meet at five-thirty?”

  Wyatt tossed his bag into the back of his truck and opened the door for her. “Sounds good. And you can even brief me over dinner. That way I’ll take up less of your time and get straight to work in the morning.”

  Wyatt looked relieved as he closed the door. When he got in and started his truck, he began to tell her about Keeneston and the people in it. “There are a lot of farmworkers you’ll see around town. They’re kind of like fraternities. They all wear their farm shirts and stick together,” Wyatt said with a smile. “Sorry, you’ll be a party of two. Bud is a good guy. He’s my age. We actually both turn thirty soon. He comes from a long line of farmers but he decided he liked horse farms better than growing vegetables. He’s been with me for four years and has been a lifesaver. I’ve had to let everyone else go over the past year and a half.”

  “There’s a lot of money in Keeneston,” Camila said. She’d read all about the town and researched all the farms before she’d even called Dr. Davies. “Can’t you sell some of it to them? Ashton Farm and Desert Sun Farm certainly have the money.”

  “I could. My parents have the money to help me. My mother is Katelyn Jacks Davies. My grandfather is hotelier Jack Jacks. Then my sister is Sydney . . .”

  “Of Syd, Inc.?” Camila felt her mouth drop. His mother and sister were famous models. Then, after retiring and getting married, Sydney had started a fashion empire of her own. “Why not borrow money from them?”

  “No one seems to understand, but my Nana Ruth left this job to me and I want to be the one to do it. If it gets bad enough that the farm is ever in real danger, I will ask for help, Camila.” When Wyatt said her name, her breath caught. It sounded completely different when he said it in his slow southern accent. “No one really knows the trouble I’m in. I know it’s asking a lot, but I’d like to try to handle this on my own for as long as I can.”

  “I understand.” Camila looked out as they approached downtown. “Is this the whole town?”

  Wyatt seemed to relax as he drove down the street. “This is it. We’re a small town so there’s only one place to eat, but it’s the best. Three ancient sisters, Lily Rae, Violet Fae, and Daisy Mae, own the Blossom Café. They’ve recruited their much younger distant cousins, Poppy and Zinnia, to take over not only the café but also the bed and breakfast they own.”

  “It smells so good.” Camila’s stomach rumbled as she smelled the scent of flavorful food on the night air.

  Wyatt pulled up to the curb on the opposite side of the street and parked. Camila looked inside and saw that only a few tables had people still seated at them. “What time do they close?”

  “Usually nine, but during the summer with the longer hours of light they stay open until ten.”

  Camila looked at the clock. It was two minutes until ten. They’d never get dinner now.

  “Come on. I see my cousins. I’ll introduce you to them.”

  “More cousins? How many cousins do you have?” Camila asked as Wyatt led her across the street. Wyatt just laughed in response to her question. She didn’t know why that was so funny, but she was too hungry to care.

  4

  Wyatt opened the screen door of the café and walked inside. The table full of Davies cousins looked up and called out their greetings before their eyes all went to Camila. The Blossom Café was the hub of socializing and also betting. And he needed to nip this in the bud before bets were placed on him and Camila being a couple.

  “Hey, y’all. This is Camila Callahan. I just hired her to manage the farm and train my horses. Camila, these are some of my cousins. Cassidy was the youngest until her mom got pregnant again with little Cricket, much to her surprise.”

  “It’s so nice to welcome you to Keeneston!” Cassidy said happily.

  Wyatt mouthed a thank-you to Cassidy as she got up and hugged Camila. Cassidy was all blonde curls and smiles. “When do you leave for Bermalia?” Wyatt asked. He was sure he’d gotten texts about a going away party, but he couldn’t remember for the life of him when it was.

  “Two weeks.” Cassidy turned to Camila and smiled her classic girl next door smile. “I got an internship with King Draven of Bermalia as an interpreter.”

  “Wow,” Camila said, clearly impressed. “Is that what you do for a living?”

  “Maybe,” Cassidy said with a shrug of her shoulders. “I have a thing for languages, but I’m not sure if it’s what I want to do for a living yet. So, what better way to find out than to try it for three months?”

  “And this is my cousin Jace. H
e’s one of Cassidy’s brothers. He’s in med school and is staying at one of the rentals at the farm.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Jace said with a very tired look on his face. His light brown hair was disheveled and his Davies hazel eyes that almost all the cousins inherited from Grandpa Jake had dark smudges under them. “Glad to have you at the farm with us.”

  Colton stood up and held out his chair. When he’d started at the fire academy, he’d cut off his golden brown hair, and it now appeared dark brown. “I’m Colton Davies and this is my brother, Landon. Make sure Wyatt gives you my cell phone number. As of right now, my small team and I are training to become firefighters and emergency responders. If anything happens at the farm, it’s faster to just call me. I’m heading out, so please, take my seat.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “And I’m Landon. Welcome.” Landon and Colton were a year apart but looked very similar. They were both the same height and build, but the most noticeable difference was that Landon’s hazel eyes were much greener. And while Landon had been a hellion as a teenager, he’d calmed significantly in recent years. “I’m glad I ran into you,” Landon said to Wyatt.

  “What’s up?” he asked as Colton scooted in Camila’s chair for her.

  “I know my parents think I’ll be going into some kind of service—DEA or military—but I found what I really love and Miss Violet, Anton, Poppy, and Zinnia are going to help me.”

  Wyatt lifted an eyebrow encouraging him to continue. Miss Violet had been the cook at the café for decades. Then almost ten years ago she’d married Anton, the French chef at Mo and Dani’s Desert Sun Farm. They’d both retired since. Poppy and Zinnia took over cooking duties for the family businesses.

  “I’ve quietly enrolled in culinary school. I really want to start an upscale southern-cuisine restaurant. I need an internship and they’re letting me work here and even will let me do my own recipes. They agreed to teach me all they know.”