Chapter Six #2
Case nodded and followed him down the barn’s aisle and stopped at a stall.
The horse inside was a beautiful chestnut American Quarter horse, and he knew by looking at it that the man didn’t mistreat it.
The horse seemed to love the man. She kept butting her head against his chest. Even the gelding didn’t seem scared of him now.
Case knew that sometimes people went through things, and it caused them to do something they’d regret.
He was sure this was the case. He looked at him.
“What’s your name, sir?”
“Wilbur Cummings.”
“Doesn’t your daughter have a place for the horses?”
“She does, but I can’t burden her with more work. Her husband died, and she doesn’t need the extra work two horses would make.”
“I think you should talk to her before you decide to give up the horses. I can see they love you.”
“I shouldn’t have been whipping him. He’s a damn good horse. He just wanted to be difficult.”
Case nodded. “All horses can do that. Let me take them for now. Just call me if you decide to take them back. We would have to go to court, but I’d testify for you.”
“Even after taking them?”
“Yes. Like I said, I can see they’re not afraid of you. You’re just going through a rough time and the horse added to it. He could sense it in you. It’s no excuse for whipping him, but if it’s only happened once, you should be able to get them back.”
“I’ve never hit either of them before or any other animal I’ve had. I’ll think about it and call my daughter.”
“Okay. Trust me, the sanctuary will take good care of them.”
“Alright.”
“I’ll load them, and you can get inside where it’s warm.”
“Thank you, Agent Anderson.”
“You’re welcome.” Case watched the older man leave the barn, then he hooked a lead to the gelding and led him into the trailer, then did the same with the mare.
As he drove off, he couldn’t help but look toward the house. He felt bad taking the horses, but he had no choice. He hoped Mr. Cummings decided to try to get them back. It seems he’d lost a lot lately and Case just added to it by taking his horses.
After delivering the horses to MERAS and taking the trailer to the lot, Case pulled out onto the road to head home but decided to see Sydney instead. He just needed to see her after this and hoped she would be home.
“Where the hell else would she be in this weather?” he murmured.
He pulled into her driveway and up to the house. He stared at the door to see a light shining out. He opened the door, stepped out, climbed the steps, and knocked on the door.
It opened and when she saw him, she smiled, but the smile quickly left her face.
“Caysen? What’s wrong?”
“I just didn’t want to go home yet.”
“Come inside.”
He removed his hat, wiped his feet on the mat, entered the house, but just stood there .
“Let me take your coat,” she said as she pulled at it.
Case shrugged it off, then hung his hat on a peg.
“Do you want some coffee?”
“Not unless you have decaf.”
“I do. Go sit in the living room. I’ll bring it in a minute.”
Case nodded, then entered the living room and sat on the sofa. He didn’t even get up when she entered the room and handed him the cup.
“I know something’s bothering you now. You didn’t stand when I came in here.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.” She touched his hand. “Tell me. Is it about my horse?”
Case shook his head and took a deep breath, then told her about the horses he’d just confiscated. He shook his head. “I hated doing it.”
“You didn’t have a choice. Were you supposed to ignore it? How would you know he didn’t mistreat them before? You did the right thing.”
“He just lost his wife.”
“I know and I’m sure he’s hurting, but he knew he shouldn’t hit that horse.”
“His anger took over. He’s been through so much with losing his wife and I just piled onto it by taking his horses. One might have belonged to his wife. They’re not young.”
“Well, maybe he’ll think about it and try to get them back.”
“Maybe.”
“You have enough on your mind without worrying about him, Caysen.”
“Your horse, you mean?” he snapped as he looked at her.
“I didn’t mean that. I just meant your job in general. ”
He stood. “I need to go.”
“You just got here.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry to have bothered you. I’ll be in touch.” He walked to the kitchen, took his coat off the peg, shrugged it on, then took his hat down, but he just held on to it.
“Caysen, stay.”
“I can’t.” He opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind him.
****
Sydney stared at the door for a few seconds, then opened it and stepped onto the snow-dusted porch, the cold air biting at her cheeks.
“Caysen, stay,” she urged, her voice catching in her throat.
He shook his head, snowflakes laying on the shoulders of his coat and brim of his hat. “No. Like you said, I’ve got too much on my mind.” He walked down the icy steps, his boots leaving deep imprints in the fresh snow as he opened the door to his truck and climbed inside.
Sydney hugged herself against the bitter wind as he started the engine with a rumbling growl, then drove away, taillights glowing red through the thickening curtain of white.
She stepped back inside, the door clicked shut behind her with a hollow finality, and a sense of dread filled her chest like cold water.
She hated that he was hurting, his pain was unmistakable, and when he snapped at her with those eyes flashing, it cut like a knife, but she had to keep telling herself he was hurting .
Sydney wished he’d stayed but she knew by his granite-set jaw he wouldn’t budge.
She made her way back to the living room, the floorboards creaking beneath her feet, and sank into the sofa, flipping through channels with restless fingers.
Nothing caught her attention through the fog of worry.
All she could think of was the wounded look on Caysen’s face when he left, his expression as raw as an open wound.
She knew he had come here for emotional support, seeking comfort, but he took what she said to mean her mare was more important than anyone else’s troubles.
“You are a stubborn, stubborn man, Caysen Anderson,” she whispered to the empty room.
She kicked off her shoes, tucked her legs beneath her on the sofa and pulled the hand-knitted blanket off the back of it, wrapping herself in its comforting weight.
She hoped he would be careful driving home on those treacherous roads.
It didn’t look like the snow was letting up anytime soon, falling in thick, relentless sheets past her windows.
She’d give him time to get home, then send him a text to make sure he made it there safely.
A half-hour later, she picked up her phone, scrolled through her contacts and stopped on Caysen’s. She bit her lower lip. Did she really want to do this? What if he didn’t want to hear from her?
“Well, too damn bad, Anderson. I’m not giving you a choice.”
Taking a deep breath, she opened the messenger to type a note to him.
Did you make it home alright? She waited but there was no answer from him, so she sent another one.
Caysen, I just want to be sure you’re safe at home.
No answer again. He must really be pissed at her. She blinked tears back as she thought about them not even getting a chance to get to know each other. She knew he’d still work on her case, but that would probably be it.
“Damn men!”
She decided to take a hot bath and then head to bed. She had to get up early every morning and just because she didn’t feel like it, it had to be done.
After starting the water in the tub, she stripped off her clothes, pinned her hair on top of her head, then stepped into the warm water, and leaned back.
Closing her eyes, she sighed as Caysen appeared in her head.
She didn’t know what she’d do if he wanted nothing more to do with her.
The sex had been so hot, and she wanted him again, but she’d step back and see what happened.
She wished she could talk to Celine about it, but she didn’t want Killian to know about her and Caysen, since it could get him in trouble.
She was a person he was working a case for, and she was sure his department frowned upon any of the agents getting involved with a person they were trying to help find their animals.
She knew Caysen wanted to stay away from her because of her case, but she didn’t regret it for a second.
He was a fantastic lover. She hoped she’d see him again and not just for updates on her horse.
A tear rolled down her cheek. “Damn it, Sydney Iris Wright, you just couldn’t keep your mouth shut and stuck your foot right in it.”
Sitting up, she picked up her sponge, moved the soap over it, squeezing to lather it up, then she bathed. She stayed in the tub until the water began to cool, then she pulled the plug, stood and reached for a towel .
After drying off, she pulled on her T-shirt and lounge pants, then got on her bed, turned on the TV and found a movie. She’d watch it until she was sleepy enough to fall asleep. She went to plug her phone into the charger but realized she didn’t bring it to the bathroom.
“Shit, where’s my phone?” She muttered as she got off the bed and walked to the living room to find it on the arm of the sofa. Picking it up, she stopped in her tracks when she saw a message and hoped it was Caysen.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, then opened them and looked at the message.
I’m fine. That was all he said.
“Well, I’m not writing back to you Agent Anderson. Not tonight anyway. You kept me waiting and now it’s your turn. Damn hardheaded cowboy.”
She turned off the TV, punched her pillow, then turned out the light, hoping sleep would soon overtake her.
****