Chapter Fourteen #2
“I think she’s here,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Case walked to the door, his boots thudding against the hardwood floor. He peered out the window, his broad shoulders blocking the early afternoon sunlight, and nodded.
“Yeah, it’s her. She looks happier than I’ve ever seen her. She’s practically glowing.”
“She’s going to look happier once we talk.” Sydney’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
Case frowned, crow’s feet deepening at the corners of his eyes. “What are you up to?”
“Me?” Sydney batted her eyelashes innocently.
“There’s no one else in this room, darlin’.”
Sydney laughed. “True. You’ll see. Do you have the registration paper?”
“Yes.” He patted the breast pocket of his flannel shirt.
“Okay.” Sydney walked to the door, her boots clicking rhythmically, opened it and waved at Rachel, whose blonde ponytail bounced as she approached. “Come inside for a minute.”
“Alright.” Rachel entered the house, the door closing shut behind her and stopped in her tracks when she saw Case standing there, his tall frame leaning against the kitchen counter. She quickly looked at Sydney, her hazel eyes widening. “Am I in trouble for some reason?”
Case chuckled. “Not at all. We have something to show you.”
“Oh, okay.” Rachel’s shoulders relaxed visibly.
Case pulled the crisp, official-looking paper from his pocket and handed it to her. Rachel took it with hesitant fingers and looked over it, her brow furrowing as she scanned the elegant script, then she looked up at Case.
“I don’t understand.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Rachel, that is the paper for Whisper. She is a registered American Paint horse. That shows her lineage, and she has a long one, champions going back five generations. She is worth a lot more than a thousand dollars. She’s worth close to ten times that amount. ”
“What?” Rachel’s sun-kissed face paled as she put her trembling hands on the back of the pine kitchen chair.
“Here, sit down.” Case pulled the chair out with a gentle scrape against the floor and had her sit, her jacket bunching around her slender frame.
“But Mr. Wolfe sold her to me for a thousand dollars.” Her voice cracked with emotion.
“He did that because he could see how much you wanted the horse, how your eyes lit up every time you visited the stables. He said, even though she was a gorgeous horse, she never sold. So, he sold her to you, knowing she’d have a good home where she’d be loved and cared for.
Not that she didn’t have one with him, but he sells horses because he always gets more, and his barn was getting crowded with new foals this season. ”
Sunlight slanted through the kitchen window as Sydney leaned against the countertop.
“He knew you’d give her a good home,” she said. “He knew how much you wanted her.”
Rachel’s fingers, trembling, extended the crisp ownership papers toward Sydney, but Sydney gently shook her head.
“She’s yours now,” Rachel whispered, her voice shaking.
Sydney stepped forward, resting a hand on the table’s rough grain. “Actually, I’m giving her back to you. You can keep her here. All I ask is that you buy her feed. My ranch hands will muck her stall and feed her alongside the others, but ownership… ownership belongs to you.”
“Why are you doing this?” Rachel’s voice cracked, tears glimmering in her eyes .
“Because you love her, and she loves you,” Sydney said softly. “I saw it the day you came here, how she pressed her muzzle against your shoulder. That bond is rare. But I won’t let your stepmother anywhere near that horse at your father’s ranch, or anywhere else.”
With a gasp, Rachel sprang from her chair and threw herself into Sydney’s arms, sobbing against her shoulder. When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and her gratitude glowed.
Across the room, Case leaned against the door jamb, watching. His face split into a grin as Rachel turned and flung her arms around him, her tears soaking into his shirt. He held her steady, one hand rubbing gentle circles on her back.
After a moment she released him, her slender frame still trembling, and sank back into the wooden chair, clutching a tissue.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” she whispered.
Sydney inclined her head. “You’re welcome to come out here anytime to ride. No need to check in with me, just let one of the ranch hands know you’re heading out, and take a walkie-talkie so you can reach us if you need anything.”
“So I won’t have to haul her off to another place just to ride?” Rachel’s voice brightened, hope dancing behind her tears.
“There are two hundred acres of rolling fields and winding trails, Rachel,” Sydney said softly. “Pick any path you like.”
Rachel blinked through her tears, awe softening her features.
Sydney lifted the paper. “Her lineage is exceptional, pure stock,” she noted, tracing a fine script. “But you don’t need to worry about her pedigree, do you?”
Rachel shook her head. “I just fell in love with her.”
“And she with you,” Case said with a gentle nod. “Mutual respect. That horse would shield you from danger without a second thought.”
Rachel’s chest rose and fell as she inhaled, steadying herself. “I believe that.”
She turned back to Sydney. “Can I see her now?”
“Anytime,” Sydney replied, voice sincere. “I know how much you care. That’s what made this so easy.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Rachel’s face. “Is there a fee to board Whisper here?”
Sydney’s head shook, ponytail swinging. “I don’t expect a penny. Whisper would still be here if I hadn’t returned her to you.”
Fresh tears slipped down Rachel’s cheeks. Case reached out, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder. She lifted her gaze to him, gratitude shining in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Case waved away the thanks. “All credit goes to Sydney.”
Rachel dabbed at her eyes again. “If only Bobby hadn’t taken her…”
Case chuckled. “If he hadn’t, you wouldn’t have Whisper now. Wrong way, right ending.”
Rachel turned once more to Sydney, emotions plain on her face. “I appreciate this, more than words can express.”
Sydney’s expression softened. “And if you’d like company on the trails, your boyfriend is welcome.”
Rachel’s eyes widened. “You’d let Bobby come?”
“Yes,” Sydney said firmly. “Agent Anderson believes Bobby feels genuine remorse. ”
“I’ve seen too many offenders, some before judges, others before juries. Bobby’s sorry.” Case nodded.
“He promised me he wouldn’t do it again,” Rachel said, voice small but certain. “He was terrified of jail.”
“That’s what I hoped,” Case said, voice low. “He came off arrogant at first, but after talking with him, I believe he’s learned his lesson. I’m glad he was given the chance to make it right. Both him and Tillman.”
“I’m going to go see my girl. I’m off tomorrow, so I’ll probably come out tomorrow and ride, if that’s alright?”
“Rachel, you don’t have to ask permission. If you want to ride at two o’clock in the morning, do it. You are free to come and go as you please. I’d rather you didn’t do that, but I won’t stop you.” Sydney grinned.
“I won’t be riding at that time.” Rachel laughed.
“Go see your horse,” Sydney said with a smile.
“I am. Thank you. Thank you both so much,” Rachel said, then opened the door and stepped onto the porch.
Both Case and Sydney watched her walk down the steps, then take off running for the barn, making them laugh.
“She’s so happy,” Sydney said.
“That was a hell of a thing to do, Sydney,” Case said as he slid his hand around the nape of her neck, then kissed her temple.
“That young woman deserves that horse. Her stepmother had no right to do that to her, and I could tell how much she missed Whisper.”
“I’m going to head out. Do you want me to pick you up for dinner?”
“I could drive to your place.”
“Okay. Be there around five thirty.”
“Yes, sir,” she said with a mock salute .
Case shook his head, leaned down, kissed her lips, then picked up his hat and coat and walked out the door.
****
Sydney smiled as she watched him climb into his truck, start it, then drive off.
She was anxious to meet his father, brother, and Ava.
She was glad there would be another woman at the table.
She had no clue what she was going to wear.
She didn’t think they’d dress up, but you never know. She called Caysen.
“I just left, you can’t miss me already,” he said when he answered.
“I do though.”
He chuckled. “Sure, now what is the real reason for calling me?”
“Do I just wear jeans?”
“No, we all dress up for dinner.”
Sydney didn’t say anything for a few seconds, knowing he was teasing her. “Well, my evening gown is at the dry cleaners so jeans will have to do.”
Caysen laughed. “Jeans will do. It’s just dinner with the family and everyone is comfortable.”
“Okay. I had to make sure.”
“It’s fine, darlin’. How else would you know? Is Rachel still there?”
“Yes, I have a feeling I’ll be seeing a lot of her.”
“She’s a sweet girl.”
“She’s nineteen, Caysen. Hardly a girl. She’s a young woman.”
“Yes, ma’am, but she still seems like a girl to me. Not a woman, like you.”
“I get it. I’m so glad she’s happy. She’ll probably be here every weekend.”
“I wouldn’t doubt that for a minute. It’s a shame her stepmother had to be like that. I know some people don’t like animals for whatever reason, but that didn’t give her the right to hit that horse.”
“I wish you would have been able to see that.” Sydney shook her head.
“You’re not the only one.”
“I’ll see you later, Caysen.”
“Looking forward to it.” He hung up.
Sydney smiled. She couldn’t wait to have dinner with his family.
At five thirty, she pulled up to Caysen’s house, shut the vehicle off, stepped out, then walked toward the porch. As the door opened she turned to see Caysen leaning against the doorjamb.
“You’re right on time,” he said, as he pushed off the jamb and walked to meet her. He put his hand out toward her, she took it, and he led her up the steps, then kissed her lips.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi. Are you hungry?”