Chapter 2 #2
The call I’d been waiting six months for came a few days later.
I was lounging on the couch, trying really hard to get into the life sim game that everyone raved about.
With all the free time on my hands, I bought the console just for this game, but fuck.
The grind was real and I could not settle in. I was bored.
When my phone rang, I was so glad for the interruption, I snatched it out of my pocket so fast I nearly dropped it. I did drop the controller but who cared? I’d just buy another one if it was broken.
I didn’t recognize the number, but the 303 area code meant Colorado so I swiped to answer.
“Cahill.”
“Mr. Cahill, it’s Hawk Harrington,” the caller said in a rich baritone. A shiver went down my spine. Oh hell, he sounded good.
No, Carter. Focus .
I sat up straight and tried to remember what it was like to be professional. “Please, call me Carter. Do you have good news for me?”
There was a gust of wind, or maybe a heavy sigh? But then Hawk Harrington spoke. “Yes, sir. We found a mare who fits all your specifications. She’s due to arrive here at the ranch on Saturday.”
“Saturday?” My heart leapt. “You bought her already?”
There was a heavy pause. “Yes. Your instructions were clear, Mr. Cahill. It’s why you wired the fee ahead of time, right?”
“Yes, yes. Of course. I was just surprised. I’ve been waiting for…never mind. You really found her?”
“I did. That’s what you paid me for.” It wasn’t my imagination that he sounded a little exasperated.
Was it wrong that I found it somehow endearing? Probably. His smooth, deep voice was messing with my head. I don’t know what I expected him to sound like, but it wasn’t this. Maybe a drawl, even though that was ridiculous. He was from Colorado, for fuck’s sake, not the deep south.
“Mr. Cahill?”
He was definitely fed up with me now. “Carter, please. And that’s great. When can I come see her?”
Another heavy pause. “She’s your horse, Carter. You can come whenever you want.” There was a beat and then he added quickly, “As long as you give me advance notice.”
Oh fuck. I loved the way he said my name. I shook that thought loose. I should not be thinking that. He was my employee. Or rather, I was his client. And that put firm boundaries in place. I should not be lusting after this man because of his voice.
Though if he wanted to read me the dictionary while I jerked off, I wouldn’t be mad.
“Great!” I said, forcefully yanking my mind out of the gutter. I was a professional, dammit. “I’d like to be there when she arrives.”
That gust of wind again, but this time, I knew for sure it was a sigh. I held back the chuckle that wanted to escape because I was sure he wouldn’t appreciate it.
“Then we’ll see you at two on Saturday,” Harrington said shortly. “I’ll email you the information.”
“Looking forward to it.” I meant that. I couldn’t wait to get eyes on my new mare and even more, I couldn’t wait to finally meet the man who was going to train her. His reputation was outstanding.
“Goodbye.”
He hung up before I could respond. I let out the laugh I’d been holding in. Damn, he was prickly. But I didn’t care about that. He could be as ornery as he wanted. As long as he produced quality results, what did I care?
Excitement and anticipation bubbled in my veins. It had been years since I’d looked forward to something this much. I shot Marielle a message.
Book me a flight and arrange for a car. I need to be at Blue Creek Ranch by two PM on Saturday.
The ranch was even better than I imagined. Only now that I was turning onto the property did I think that, perhaps, I should have looked it up myself instead of leaving the details to Marielle. It was all lush pastures, miles of fences, and horses dotting the landscape.
As I rounded the curve in the drive, I jumped at the loud scream.
It took a second with my heart racing to recognize a donkey, standing at a fence line, and braying for all it was worth.
Jesus Christ, the thing had about given me a heart attack.
It was a good thing I hadn’t been trying to be stealthy because that alarm call could probably be heard for miles.
I continued on, following the signs, and the instructions Marielle had forwarded to me.
GPS had gotten me to Blue Creek Ranch but now that I was on the property, I had to rely on the rest to get me to the right barn.
There were several of them. I left the huge house and the even bigger evergreen tree in my rearview and continued on.
After a few minutes, yet another barn came into view.
I thought it might be the right one and slowed down.
Two men ambled out the open door. One was tall but stocky, age weathering his face.
The other was shorter and leaner, wearing a ball cap that hid most of his features.
I rolled to a stop, but the shorter one waved me on, pointing to a spot farther away.
I steered the SUV over there, parked next to an ATV, and got out.
The air smelled amazing. Manure was faint in the background, and I could have done without that, but the clean, crisp scent of hay and sunshine filled my nose. I took a deep breath, and then another, before I headed toward the men.
The shorter man took me in from head to toe, and his shoulders tightened. The older guy gave me a tight smile. I held out my hand.
“I’m Carter Cahill.”
He shook it. “Nice ta meet ya. I’m Russ.”
There was the drawl I’d been looking for the other day.
But then his name penetrated my brain and whipped my gaze to the other guy.
This close I could see how young he was.
Couldn’t be older than twenty-five. Annoyance crept in, though I did my best to keep it off my face.
Harrington couldn’t even be bothered to greet me himself?
“Hawk Harrington,” the man said, that deep voice I would recognize anywhere washing over me.
My eyes went wide. “ You’re Harrington?”
His grin was a little feral, as though he was pleased he’d shocked me. “One of ‘em, anyway.”
I could only stare. How? I was led to believe Hawk Harrington was one of the top trainers in the west. Hell, the whole country. Marielle had vetted all the prospects thoroughly, and I trusted her research. But he was a fucking kid!
I opened my mouth but didn’t get the chance to let my anger out.
The rumble of a diesel engine caught all our attention, and as a unit, we turned toward the drive.
A few seconds later, a heavy-duty truck came into view, a trailer on the hitch.
Harrington left me standing there as he moved to direct the driver in.
Then didn’t say a word to anyone as he went to the rear of the trailer.
He had no qualms about climbing inside. I tried to get closer, but Russ put a hand on my arm.
“Sometimes they’re a mite jumpy after a long haul. Wanna stay clear until she has all four feet on the ground.”
I grumbled but obeyed. I would have to take his word for it. I’d wanted a horse like this since I was a kid. It had been my dream. But I wasn’t a “horse person.”
Harrington led her off the trailer and though she did a fancy-looking sidestep, she settled as Harrington murmured to her.
For my part, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She was perfect. Exactly what I wanted. A black appaloosa with the snowflake patterning, her spots just enough to give her a speckled coat without taking over.
Her ears swiveled and she flared her nostrils, but otherwise stood docile at Harrington’s side. Russ let go of my arm and I took that as a sign that I could approach. I held out a hand and moved slowly, because I wasn’t an idiot, and after a second, she bent her head and let me rub her nose.
“It’s like velvet,” I murmured, awe in my voice.
Harrington shot me a look like I was stupid, and it instantly got my back up. He gave the rope a light tug and started walking toward the barn.
“Let’s let her run in the arena. She needs to roll and get some energy out.”
I had no choice but to follow along. Anger simmered in my gut, and I was definitely going to give this guy a piece of my mind. But only after the horse was seen to. I didn’t want to spook her or anything.
Harrington let her loose in the arena, as if he commanded it, she immediately found a good spot to lay down and roll. Or at least toss her feet in the air and get her back into the sand. She couldn’t make it all the way over. Was she supposed to?
She stood up and gave a huge shake, sand flying off her coat, and then she trotted around, head held high. I couldn’t tear my gaze away and leaned on the top railing to watch her explore.
“She’s called Ramona,” Harrington murmured beside me, his tone hardly more than a rumble.
“Oh that’s not going to do. I can’t call her that.”
“You’re going to change her name?” He sounded scandalized.
“Obviously. She’s mine and I can if I want.”
Harrington sighed deeply. I looked down at him but he was focused on the mare. I waited at least sixty seconds before I snapped, “What?”
“It’s just…” He shook his head and put a foot on the bottom rung. I waited some more, but he clearly wasn’t going to elaborate.
“Just tell me,” I all but growled. He was trying my patience.
“If she knows her name, changing it would be confusing for her. She might never learn a new one.” He shot me a squinty-eyed look then refocused on the mare.
“Well, does she? Know her name?” I ground out.
There were several beats, then Harrington called out, “Ramona!”
The mare picked her head up and turned immediately to face us. She trotted over, tail flowing behind her. She walked right into Harrington’s outstretched hand and he rubbed her face, then neck. Then he fished a piece of carrot out of his pocket and fed it to her.
“Good girl,” he murmured, deep and low. He gave her a firm pat on the neck. “Good girl. Go play.”
The mare was off again and Harrington turned to me, brows raised as though to say “see?” This kid was getting on my last nerve. Who the hell did he think he was?
The walkie-talkie I hadn’t noticed on his hip crackled to life.
“All hands,” a woman’s voice said. “Operation Babies is a go. I repeat, it’s go time.”
Harrington jerked and he shot a panicked gaze to Russ, then the mare. He didn’t look at me at all.
“I can handle this,” Russ said.
“You shouldn’t have to. It’ll take a while, right? I can—”
“You want to be there. So get,” Russ interrupted.
I took a breath so I didn’t snap. “What’s going on?”
Harrington turned to me, eyes wide, as though he’d forgotten I was there. He inhaled deeply and then let it out slowly. He waited a few more seconds before he spoke.
“My pregnant sister has gone into labor.”
Oh. I couldn’t even be mad about that. Babies were a blessing, if you wanted them, and it sounded like Harrington's sister did. If she wanted her brother waiting for her, then I couldn’t stand in the way of that.
“You should be with her,” I said, meaning it. I could save my more choice words for another time when this wasn’t hanging over him. Childbirth was scary, so many things could go wrong. And even when everything went right, it was stressful.
Harrington swung his gaze to Russ, who narrowed his eyes. “I ain’t so old that I can’t take care of a horse.”
“I know,” Harrington said on a chuckle. He turned to me, opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. He gave me a nod, turned on his heel, and strode away.
Not even a goodbye? Or a plan for later? Oh fuck that. This kid was going to get a piece of my mind. Tomorrow.
Until then, I was just going to watch my mare, who was apparently named Ramona.