Lone Oaks Crossing

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 15

One and a half weeks later, Brooks stood near the dirt racetrack at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the track.

The chirps of birds enlivened the warm, morning air as Another Round galloped around the track while traffic sped by in the distance. Engines roared sporadically amid the rustle of trees, the pounding of hooves, and the quiet chatter of a nearby tour group viewing Another Round’s morning training session. The atmosphere was infused with a vibrant blend of admiration, anticipation, and excitement that should have stirred a sense of pride in Brooks. Instead, he found his gaze straying from what should be his sole focus and caught himself staring blankly at the highway in the distance, his attention lingering on the cars, trucks, and SUVs as they disappeared from view.

You know where we’ll be.

Jo’s words had stayed with him every day and night since she, Cheyenne, Frankie, and Earl had driven off in the direction of Lone Oaks Crossing, leaving him, Nancy, and Lee to proceed to the next destination of the Triple Crown on their own. He’d known it would be difficult to continue the journey and undertake the next competition without Jo, but he hadn’t realized exactly how difficult it would be.

“He looks like he’s having a tough time out there.”

Nancy’s voice tugged him out of his regretful daze and he refocused on Another Round, studying the thoroughbred’s movements as the horse continued around the dirt track.

“His time is good,” Nancy continued, “but it looks like something’s off out there.” She turned her head, shielding her eyes against the sharp rays of the morning sun as she squinted up at him. “Don’t you think so?”

Reluctantly, Brooks nodded. “ ’Fraid so.”

Another Round had performed well but not at his peak ability, and it hadn’t escaped his owner’s notice that the thoroughbred seemed a bit tense—on edge, even.

“He’s still adjusting to the track,” Brooks said. “And to his new surroundings. It’s expected that he’ll take a couple days of workouts to settle in.”

Though he wasn’t sure if that would turn out to be exactly true. It was clear Another Round missed Jo and Cheyenne’s presence. The thoroughbred’s normally outgoing and friendly personality had been lackluster and standoffish of late. Even Lee had commented on Another Round’s change in demeanor, stating he thought the horse seemed a bit morose.

“Of course,” Nancy agreed. “But . . . we’ve already been here three days and I haven’t seen much improvement. He still seems uptight.” She shrugged. “I suppose he’s feeling the tension in the air, too.” She waved an arm toward the other thoroughbreds being groomed, walked, or prepped for their training. “Considering the competition warming up and the small crowds already touring the grounds to catch a glimpse of the horses, we can’t blame him. Another Round’s probably feeling the pressure more than we are.”

“More than likely.” Brooks glanced around, taking in the tour groups strolling around the racetrack, their laughter and chatter mingling with the noise of nearby traffic. “Things are very lively here. I used to love coming to Pimlico, but everything seems different this time around.”

Nancy laughed. “Yeah. You own a Derby winner. Everyone wants a piece of you.”

Brooks tried to smile. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would.” Her laugh faded. “And it seems like everyone else is more excited about your win than you are.”

Brooks remained silent for a moment, considering this. Nancy was right that he was not as enthusiastic about his win as he’d imagined he would be. All he could think about was Jo and Lone Oaks Crossing.

“Brooks?” Nancy was studying him, a concerned gleam in her eye. “Things haven’t quite been the same since Jo left, have they?”

“No.” Brooks cast a reassuring look in Nancy’s direction. “But I don’t want you to think that you haven’t done a fantastic job, because you have. Without Jo and Cheyenne, we just aren’t the same team we were.” A sad smile rose to his lips. “Or without Earl and Frankie, for that matter. It feels like a huge part of us is missing, and I imagine Another Round is feeling the same way.”

Nancy nodded. “I won’t argue with you there.” She fell silent, watching Another Round gallop around the track and hit the home stretch. Soon, he was done with the workout and the pony horse and rider joined Another Round and Lee to escort them back to the stable. “So, what do you want to do?”

Brooks frowned. “What do you mean?”

“What do you want to do about Another Round?” she asked. “I could spend some extra time with him this afternoon. Let him out for a while and give him a chance to walk out his nerves?”

Brooks straightened as Another Round and Lee drew closer. “No. I doubt that would do it.” He lifted his hand, motioning for Lee to draw Another Round to a halt. “Nice workout, Lee.”

“Not as good as it could be,” Lee said. “He’s holding back. Seems keyed up still.”

“I know,” Brooks said. “You and Nancy have been working your butts off lately. Why don’t y’all take a break? Go get some lunch, relax, and explore the place for a while. I’ll cool Another Round down, give him a bath, and get him settled.”

Lee hesitated but dismounted, then handed Brooks the reins. “I appreciate it.” He walked toward Nancy, then paused and glanced back at Brooks, his expression drawn. “I can’t tell you with any degree of confidence that he’ll shoot out of that gate on race day.”

Brooks held his gaze, recognizing the underlying fear lacing Lee’s tone. If Another Round wasn’t sturdy and confident on his feet at the gate, there would be a much higher chance of his making a mistake or panicking. Neither of those conditions was ideal on a racetrack packed with other powerful thoroughbreds jockeying for position. Brooks and Nancy had been able to see Another Round’s tension; clearly, Lee had been able to feel it during the ride.

“How much do you want this?” Lee walked back toward Brooks and lowered his voice. “It’s always a gamble putting a horse on a track, but I can tell you now that the odds are worse, given Another Round’s behavior lately. Is this win worth it to you?”

Now, holding Another Round’s reins, Brooks looked up and eyed the thoroughbred beside him, his gaze drifting over Another Round’s thick neck and muscular body, then returning to the horse’s soulful eyes. “Don’t rush through your lunch,” he said softly. “I’m going to spend some time with our winner here.”

Brooks walked Another Round across the grounds, stopping to give him water and allow him to cool down slowly. Afterward, he led Another Round back to the stables, removed his tack, and began washing him down.

The change in pace and scenery seemed to soothe the tension in the thoroughbred’s body. His ears and posture relaxed, his stance grew calm and confident, and he leaned into Brooks’s hands, searching for his touch and responding to his soft words of encouragement and praise.

“That feels good, doesn’t it, buddy?” Brooks sprayed cool water over Another Round’s back, washing away the pleasant-smelling soap he’d used to bathe the thoroughbred. “You were craving some downtime, weren’t you?”

Another Round ducked his head and nuzzled Brooks’s arm with his nose as if in agreement.

Smiling, Brooks moved farther along Another Round’s powerful frame, spraying the cold water over every inch of him until his coat was shiny and clean. “There.” He turned off the water and tossed the hose aside in exchange for a large, soft towel. “Now, I’ll dry you down, get you a good supper, and put you to bed for a few hours. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds like it’d be a better offer coming from a good-looking woman,” a familiar voice drawled from behind.

Brooks paused in midmotion and glanced over his shoulder.

Spencer stood a few feet away, his hands in his pockets and his eyes on Another Round, a surly grin on his face. “Don’t you have people for that, Brooks?”

“At times I prefer to roll up my sleeves and help out.” Brooks narrowed his eyes at the other man. “Not that I’d expect you to understand that.”

Spencer’s grin widened. “Yeah, I heard you lost over half your entourage. I haven’t seen Jo around lately. Lost another trainer, have you?”

Brooks faced Another Round again and resumed drying the thoroughbred, remaining silent. No doubt Spencer was already well aware of Jo’s departure and had decided to stop by to gloat.

“It’s unfortunate experiencing that kind of loss so close to a competition,” Spencer continued. “Not that you’ll have any trouble finding a trainer—or an entire new team—now that you’ve got a Derby win under your belt.”

“What is it you want, Spencer?”

The sound of footsteps drew closer as Spencer walked over and stood in front of Another Round, eyeing the horse. “I just came to wish you well. Isn’t that what a friendly competitor would do?”

“A respectful one, for sure,” Brooks said through clenched teeth. “But you’ve never been either of those things.”

Spencer shrugged. “I’m a businessman, first and foremost, Brooks. I don’t consider it my obligation to be friendly when doing business.”

“Or fair.” Brooks walked over to the other side of Another Round and began drying his neck with the towel. “You take more pride in stealing from people than you do in earning what you own.”

“I don’t steal.” Spencer’s tone hardened. “I simply take advantage of opportunities as they arise. As every effective businessman does.”

Brooks rubbed the towel more quickly over Another Round’s back. “There’s taking advantage of opportunities and then there’s exploiting other people’s weaknesses. You’ve always had a tendency to do the latter rather than the former.”

“It’s not my fault that some people don’t know when to stop.”

“Like my father?” Brooks stopped drying Another Round and glared over at Spencer. “You certainly exploited his weakness. Stole everything from him that he held dear.”

Spencer returned his stare for a few moments, then said, “I’m not a bad guy, Brooks. And no matter what you may think, I didn’t deliberately target your father.” He crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to the side. “I was only a few years older than you at the time. The business that transpired was mainly a deal between my father and yours. I was simply there to assist in the closing of it. There’s no need for you to carry a grudge against me.”

A mirthless chuckle rose from Brooks’s chest. “The past is too dirty for you to paint rosy, Spencer. Tell yourself whatever helps you sleep at night, but you and I both know the truth. You were as much an instigator back then as you are now. Just like you tried to be several months ago when you threatened Rhett and then Jo.” Another Round was dry now. Brooks tossed the towel aside and faced Spencer. “Problem is, you underestimated me and Jo.”

Spencer’s jaw clenched, but a stiff smile spread across his face. “That, I’ll concede. See how friendly a competitor I can be, Brooks?” He stepped closer, a more congenial tone entering his voice. “As a matter of fact, that’s one of the reasons I came to speak to you. I have a business proposition for you.”

Brooks laughed. Man, the absolute absurdity of it all. The bastard had some nerve.

“Yeah,” he drawled, “because you’re the type of person I’ve always wanted to do business with. I’m not the kind of man you are, Spencer.”

“Just hear me out.” Spencer followed Brooks as he walked around to the other side of the thoroughbred. “You’ve done really well for yourself establishing Original Sin. You’ve brought a lot more business to town, created an innovative tourist destination, and have local investors salivating at the prospect of tossing money your way after your recent win.” He spread his hands. “I’ve got the connections, and now you’ve got the clout. It makes sense for us to merge our businesses and form a partnership.”

“It makes anything but sense,” Brooks said. He smoothed his hand over Another Round’s head, neck, and back, searching for any damp spots he might have missed. The thoroughbred’s muscles flexed under his touch and the horse’s eyes followed Spencer, some of the earlier tension returning to Another Round’s posture. “Whatever you’re offering, I’m not interested.”

“Why not hear me out at least? There’s a lot to this deal that would benefit you. Probably more than you imagine.”

Brooks continued smoothing his hands over Another Round’s back. He had no difficulty imagining just what Spencer planned to offer. A murky partnership, probably. One in which Brooks would be presented with what appeared to be a fantastic deal, when all the time, Spencer’s primary motive would be to keep Brooks under his thumb. To have a controlling interest in the business Brooks had built from the ground up with next to nothing—no name, no money, and no connections. Spencer would eventually lay claim to it all in the name of this partnership. And, as a bonus, he’d be able to control every move Brooks made.

Brooks supposed it went both ways though. Merging his business with Spencer’s would afford him the opportunity to be privy to Spencer’s moves as well. He’d have much more access to Spencer’s dirty doings than he could have on his own. And what was that saying? Ah, yes. Keep your enemies closer . . .

“Think of the possibilities,” Spencer continued. “With your spectacular bourbon and Derby winner and my successful casino ventures and quality thoroughbreds, we’d have a leg up on all the competition in our area.”

Brooks walked to the front of Another Round and rubbed his forehead, trying to ignore the sound of Spencer’s voice.

“Come on, Brooks. Is this really what you want to spend your time doing? Washing down horses, chasing down trainers, and spending every waking moment busting your tail to score a win when you could be paying someone else to do it for you?”

Brooks’s hand stilled against Another Round’s head. The thoroughbred’s dark eyes locked with his, seeming to peer deep. “What did you say?”

An exasperated sound left Spencer’s lips and his boots crunched across the ground as he moved closer. “I said, is this how you want to spend your time?”

Brooks smoothed his thumb over Another Round’s forehead gently, leaning closer, concentrating on the horse’s soft breaths against his chest. He thought of Lone Oaks Crossing. Of the routine Jo had taught Cheyenne. He thought of the striking picture Another Round always made in the pasture behind the main house as Cheyenne groomed him every morning at daybreak. He thought of Earl and Frankie, sipping coffee on the back deck, as they watched Cheyenne’s progress with pride. He thought of Jo, staying close to Cheyenne, watching her every move, supporting and protecting her as she learned. He could see the smile on Jo’s face now, the way her eyes would light up as she saw Cheyenne grow into a stronger, more confident young woman with a mature head on her shoulders.

He thought of spending his days—every day—just like that. Enjoying every moment of every hour at Lone Oaks Crossing with Jo and the warm, welcoming, camaraderie of the little makeshift family they’d built over the past few months. And he thought of the future . . . of the lives they could change—equine and human, alike—for the better, in the peaceful home he had grown to love as much as he loved Jo.

It was all there waiting for him, just as Jo had said. All he had to do was set his anger and resentment down, leave them here with Spencer and walk away.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “This is exactly how I want to spend my time.”

He took Another Round’s reins in his hands and led the thoroughbred away.

“Brooks!” Spencer shouted after him. “Just think it over. The possibilities would be endless.”

“They already are,” Brooks called back. He glanced up at Another Round and patted his neck. “Let’s get you brushed and fed, boy.” His smile grew. “You can sleep on the way home.”

* * *

“Jo! Take a break and come over here!”

Jo, standing in a field behind the main house at Lone Oaks Crossing, turned off the HVLP paint sprayer she held, and glanced over her shoulder. Earl waved from where he stood by the white fence of the adjacent pasture, beckoning her over with a wide smile on his face.

A smile rose to her own lips. Since their return to Lone Oaks Crossing almost two weeks ago, Earl had made impressive strides in his recovery—even more so than he had prior to their trip to Churchill Downs. The trip to the Kentucky Derby and subsequent win had done Earl a world of good, but it was the return home to Lone Oaks Crossing that seemed to have really kicked his rehabilitation into high gear.

After they’d said goodbye to Brooks in Louisville, Jo, Cheyenne, Frankie, and Earl had endured a sad, quiet drive home. But Earl had been the first to perk up when they reached the farm, announcing how glad he was they had returned and how eager he was to get a good night’s sleep in his own bed. The following morning, he had risen early, along with Jo and Cheyenne, and had met them in the kitchen for breakfast with Frankie. Earl had been eager to get back into the daily routine.

Every morning thereafter, he rose early, ate breakfast, and walked to the stables with Jo, Cheyenne, and Frankie to attend to the horses they were boarding. He aided Cheyenne in the grooming routine, telling humorous anecdotes and giving sage advice. He and Cheyenne had shared several laughs during their time working together and soon, their friendship had blossomed along with Cheyenne’s skill with the horses. Clearly, Earl delighted in spending time with Cheyenne and Cheyenne basked in his caring attention.

This morning, Earl had risen early as usual, joined Cheyenne in the stables, and helped her groom one of their new arrivals. Benny (short for Benjamin The Great) had arrived at Lone Oaks Crossing one week ago. The thoroughbred was a retired racehorse in need of a permanent home. Earl, who’d been almost as eager as Jo to open a new rehab retreat at Lone Oaks Crossing for retired racehorses, had welcomed the thoroughbred with excitement. Benny had taken to the daily routine at the farm quickly and possessed a friendly personality reminiscent of Another Round.

Jo looked down at her boots and dragged one toe across the thick bluegrass. A painful ache still throbbed in her chest at the thought of Another Round and Brooks. The past couple weeks without them had been difficult, to say the least. She’d been surprised at how quickly and easily Brooks had slipped into their daily routine at Lone Oaks Crossing . . . and her heart. Even though every morning started the same as it had over the past several months, she still felt as though something was missing. Lone Oaks Crossing simply wasn’t the same without Brooks and Another Round.

They’d be at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore by now, preparing for the Preakness Stakes. And if they won, they’d progress to the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York. Who knew where they’d end up after that? Or if Another Round would make it safely to the finish line of each race? Or if Brooks would ever decide to set his feud with Spencer aside long enough to return to Lone Oaks Crossing and her?

It had been hard to walk away from Brooks . . . and it was turning out to be even harder to let go of her hopes for his return.

“Jo!” Earl shouted again. “Come take a look. You gotta see this!”

Jo pulled in a strong breath, rolled her shoulders, and began walking across the field toward the pasture. Heart aching or not, today was too gorgeous a day to wallow in misery. Spring had fully sprung at Lone Oaks Crossing. The trees bordering Brooks’s property were lush with leaves, the bluegrass underfoot was thick and healthy, and the morning sun cast a golden glow over the green landscape, lending it a nostalgic appeal.

No. She smiled as she drew closer to Earl and noticed the pride in his expression. Her sadness over Brooks’s absence would have to wait. Right now, Earl was happy, Lone Oaks Crossing had found new life and Cheyenne was thriving. At the moment, that was all that mattered.

“It’s about time you took a break,” Earl said as she joined him at the pasture fence. “You’ve been painting that new paddock fence all morning.”

Jo laughed. “It’s not even noon yet, Earl. I’d hardly say I’ve been painting all morning. Besides, I’m anxious to get that paddock fenced and ready for horses.” She lifted her chin toward the center of the pasture, where Cheyenne and Frankie stood with Benny, stroking his neck and back and speaking sweetly to him. “Frankie said someone stopped her in town just yesterday. She mentioned they’re anxious to send over more retired racehorses that need a place to stay until they’re adopted. The more space I make, the sooner we can take them on.”

Earl nodded. “Just don’t overdo it. An extra day or two of delay won’t make that big a difference. You need to enjoy what you’re doing and take breaks when you need them. That’s one of the reasons you left that old job of yours, wasn’t it? To slow down? Life moves at a healthier pace out here if you let it.” He pointed at Frankie and Cheyenne. “Like them. Take a look at that kid. She’s caught on so fast, I’d say she was about born for this. And she takes her time and enjoys it.”

Jo watched as Cheyenne held out her palm, called Benny, and waited patiently as the thoroughbred strolled over and nuzzled his nose against her hand.

“There,” Earl said, a broad smile breaking out on his face. “These new horses are taking to her like bees to honey.”

Jo laughed. “That they have. I’ve noticed she’s grown a lot more comfortable acquainting herself with new arrivals on her own. She used to shy away from horses she didn’t know, but she’s overcoming her fear a little bit more every day.”

“All of them.” Earl’s hand moved, sliding over the top fence rail to cover hers and squeeze gently. “That’s your doing. You gave her a home, love, and purpose. She’s like a different kid altogether from when she first arrived here.”

Cheeks heating, Jo leaned over and kissed his temple. “That wasn’t just me. That was all of us.” She watched Cheyenne and Frankie work with the new thoroughbred silently for a few minutes. “I’d say Frankie has done as much, if not more, work with Cheyenne than I have.”

Earl grinned, his eyes roving over Frankie. “That she has. You know . . . I’ve been thinking of asking her to stick around.”

“Frankie?” Jo glanced up at him and narrowed her eyes, searching his expression. “And what does that mean exactly?”

“Well . . .” He shifted uncomfortably beside her. “You know.”

Jo smiled wider, a giddy feeling fluttering in her middle. “No, I don’t know,” she teased. “Explain it to me.” She nudged him gently with her elbow. “Go on.”

Earl slapped her elbow playfully, then grumped, “You know what I mean, girl. It’s about time I did the right thing by her.”

Jo slid her arm around his elbow and leaned against him, saying softly, “And you love her.”

Earl fell silent, a sheen of moisture gathering in his eyes as he looked away, blinking rapidly. “Yeah. I love her something fierce. Always have.”

Jo followed his gaze, watching Frankie as she hugged Benny’s neck then laughed, the joyful sound echoing across the grounds. “Then why have you waited so long to commit to her?”

“Just scared, I guess.” His voice trembled. “After losing your grandmother and your mother, I was alone and angry. It broke my heart, I guess you could say.”

Jo bit her lip. “And me. I’m sorry I left you, too.”

“No.” Earl wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her close, kissing her forehead. “You have a life to live, and you were determined to do it your way. Still are. Thing is, I should’ve been living all that time, too.” He looked down at her, tears collecting on his lower lashes. “All I could think about when I lay in that hospital bed, unable to talk and hardly able to walk, was how much time I had wasted. How much of it I just let go of, not staying in the moment, not finding meaning in every second possible. I just let it pass without notice.” He looked back at the pasture, his smile returning as his gaze settled on Frankie again. “I’m not doing that anymore. I got you here, I got Cheyenne, and now it’s time to get Frankie here, too—on a full-time, permanent basis, I mean. Then I’ll feel like I have my family together.” He met Jo’s eyes again, a fierce pride in his smile. “A new family. A stronger, healthier one so we can enjoy every second of every day together.”

Jo hugged him again and clasped his hand in hers. The moment was almost perfect except for one thing. Brooks wasn’t there to share it.

She swallowed hard past the tight lump in her throat and smiled anyway, savoring the moment with Earl, watching Cheyenne and Frankie work with Benny in the pasture, and mentally making plans for the future retreat she planned for Lone Oaks Crossing.

After a while, Cheyenne and Frankie walked Benny across the pasture toward them.

“This one’s a winner, too,” Cheyenne said, her face flushed with excitement and the warmth of the spring sun. “How long is he staying with us?”

Jo shook her head. “I don’t know. As long as we let him or until he’s adopted, I imagine.”

Cheyenne lifted her chin, a broad smile appearing. “I’ll adopt him.”

Jo smiled. “I think we could make room for one more around here, if your heart’s set on him.”

“It is.” Cheyenne practically jumped in place. “Oh, it is.”

“But,” Jo stated firmly, “it’ll be your responsibility to take care of him. And I’ll still expect you to complete your other chores and keep your grades up.”

Cheyenne jogged over to the fence, hopped up onto the bottom rung, and pecked a kiss on Jo’s cheek. “Thanks, Jo. You won’t regret it, I promise.”

“Then start proving it now,” Jo said, smiling. “Take him back to the stables, get him in a stall, and give him something good to eat.”

“Yes, ma’am.” With that, Cheyenne grabbed Benny’s reins and led him toward the stables, chatting to him the whole way. “Did you hear that, boy? You’re gonna stay. And you’re gonna be mine.”

Frankie laughed, following in Cheyenne’s wake. “I’ll stick with the kid for a while and make sure she gets her chores done.” She flashed a smile in Earl’s direction. “It’s a beautiful day. When I get back to the house, I’ll cook us up some lunch and we can sit out on the deck and eat together. Soak up some of this beautiful sun. What d’you think, Earl?”

Earl chuckled. “I think I’ll go inside, get the steaks out of the freezer, and start defrosting them. Then I’ll set up the grill on the deck and we can cook together.”

Frankie seemed happy with that. “Hey, I ain’t gonna argue with having a helping hand in the kitchen.”

She followed Cheyenne and Benny to the stables as Earl headed toward the main house.

“Want to come inside and take a break?” Earl asked over his shoulder.

“Not yet.” Jo shoved off the fence and started walking back toward the new paddock. “I’m going to spray some more paint on that fence first; then I’ll join you.”

One hour later, Jo had finished spray painting another section of the new paddock fence. Sweat beaded on her brow and her cheeks burned as though she’d gotten a bit too much sun. Exhaling, she set down the spray gun, ran the back of her hand across her forehead, and leaned back, stretching her tight back muscles. Her muscles ached, her arms were heavy and tired, but just the sight of the progress she’d made filled her with sweet satisfaction.

The delicious aroma of sizzling steak and charcoal lingered on the spring air, wafting past Jo’s nose. Earl, Frankie, and Cheyenne were all on the back deck now, working around a grill Earl had set up, and Jo’s heart squeezed at the sight of them laughing, an unexpected pang of grief shooting through her as she imagined Brooks standing there as well, just as he had on so many occasions over the past few months.

Eyes burning from more than just the sting of sweat, she stretched her arms overhead, rolled her shoulders, and walked away, stealing a few moments to hide her grief before joining them. Today was a good day and she wouldn’t ruin it.

She slowed her steps across the bluegrass and closed her eyes, tilting her head back and enjoying the cool whisper of the spring breeze over her sweat-slicked skin. It was peaceful here, with the birds chirping and the tall grass rustling in the breeze, but heavy steps across the ground and a quiet snuffle prompted her eyes to open and focus on the oak trees in the distance.

And there, between two strong oaks, Brooks emerged, leading Another Round across the grassy field toward her.

Jo stopped in her tracks, her breath catching at the sight of Brooks’s muscular frame, striding purposefully across the field, his dark eyes fixed on her and a slow smile spreading across his face.

She stood frozen in place as they drew close, her heart kicking against her ribs. “Wh-what are you doing here? You’re supposed to race in a couple days.”

Brooks stopped a few feet away from her, grinning wider as Another Round continued forward, nudging his broad head against her waist, seeking her attention and affection. “Well, this guy here got to missing you and let me know it was time to come home. I was feeling the same, so I decided to pack up, call it quits, and leave the race and everything that went with it behind.” He chuckled as Another Round pushed closer to her, nudging her back a step. “And, seeing as we’re back in town now, we thought we’d pay you a neighborly visit.”

Jo stumbled once more under Another Round’s insistent nudging then steadied herself and hugged the thoroughbred’s neck, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You’re not my neighbor.”

The happy light in Brooks’s eyes died. “What do you mean?”

Jo patted Another Round’s neck, eased around him, and walked the few feet between her and Brooks, only stopping when the toes of her boots met the toes of his. She tilted her head back and looked up at him, her eyes searching the dark depths of his, her smile growing so big her cheeks ached with happiness. “You’re not my neighbor,” she whispered. “You’re family. And I’m glad you finally came home.”

Brooks shook his head slowly, his bright smile reemerging. “Lord, I’m glad you said that.”

He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, lifting her to her tiptoes and covering her mouth with his. The tender pressure of his lips parting hers and the warm, intoxicating taste of his kiss was all too familiar . . . and so very missed! Her skin tingled with pleasure and her blood rushed, the surge of emotions swirling inside her evoking a heady sensation that left her feeling almost dizzy when he lifted his mouth from hers.

She missed his kiss immediately, but the separation was more than worth it to hear his next words.

“I love you, Jo,” he murmured softly against her cheek as he nuzzled her ear and glided his cheek against her neck. “My time is the most valuable asset I have, and I don’t want to spend another second of my life without you in it.”

Heart fit to burst, she whispered, “Well, you’re in luck. Because I love you, too, and we have all the time in the world.”