Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
T racy began the drive out to Laughing Creek Ranch in twilight, but by the time she approached the turnoff for the ranch, it was full dark. Good thing she and Bluebell knew these roads so well.
Her last visit on Christmas Day had sucked. She was ready to replace that memory with a better one. After her client appointment this afternoon she’d checked her shared calendar app and sure enough, her folks were on the road with their mobile medical unit this weekend.
She’d texted Raquel that she was coming alone and bringing cookies from the Dandy Donut. Maybe it was better that she wouldn’t be seeing her mom and dad right now. Socializing with Adam’s mom without giving anything away would be challenging enough.
Then there was Angie. Although she was new to the situation, she’d clearly noticed something was amiss during their short interaction today. Not a big surprise. Adam had raved about how sharp Angie was after their meeting in Wagon Train a few days before Christmas.
He’d found out she was only twenty-six, which made her skills and business savvy even more admirable. She’d driven over to check out the Victorian during the week between Christmas and New Year’s and submitted a contract and estimate that same week.
Tracy had vetted it and been impressed. She’d been eager to get acquainted with such a talented and efficient woman. Thanks to Adam’s invitation, she’d finally have the opportunity.
Her headlights reflected off a sturdy wooden sign on the right side of the two-lane highway.
Laughing Creek Ranch: Home of Hearts & Hooves Wild Horse Sanctuary
She’d seen it hundreds of times, but it still gave her a lift . When Spence and Raquel had decided to use their considerable resources to help support the herds that roamed the state, she’d been ten.
She’d loved those two people from the get-go. But that project had elevated them from normal human beings to superheroes in her horse-crazy heart.
Turning right off the highway, she quickly came to the elaborate wrought iron gate featuring a running horse with mane and tail flying. An electrified wire fence ran on either side of the gate, disappearing as it wound through the trees.
She couldn’t imagine what the miles of fencing had cost to erect and maintain. But it was critical protection for the horses inside it. The keypad post on the left side of the road illuminated a small sign — Check for horses before opening gate.
Rolling down her window, she peered into the darkness and listened. A distant hoot of an owl was followed by the yip of a coyote. No snorts or snuffles, no thud of hooves on the brittle ground. She punched in a code and the massive gate swung inward.
She rolled up her window, drove through and waited for the gate to close. Then she switched on her high beams.
A horse stood in the road, a mustang judging from the short neck and muscular build. A thick black coat had created a perfect camouflage in the dark surroundings.
“I’m glad you didn’t run out through the gate,” she murmured. “You’re better off in here.”
A flash of gray to her left alerted her to a second mustang joining the first, followed by another black and two bays.
“So much for checking for horses. You guys, or guys and gals, are stealthy.” She slowly pulled forward and they ambled off the road. The gray one stood out, allowing her to keep track of them for a few seconds, and then the inky night swallowed all five.
They likely had names by now. Months ago Mila and Claudette had begun the massive project of taking pictures of every wild horse in the sanctuary and giving each a name. This weekend they’d launch a digital adoption program tied in with a Valentine’s Day theme. Brilliant.
She drove on, leaving her high beams on and easing the needle up to fifteen. A fox dashed in front of her. She stopped in case its mate was right behind. Sure enough, a second one ran across the road looking like a touchable plush toy.
“Have a good night,” she called out softly. She missed the thrill of wildlife sightings. Sometimes a coyote would stroll into town, or an eagle would land on a rooftop, but out here it was a daily, even hourly occurrence to spot critters.
A white rail fence appeared on her left, signaling she was close to the ranch turnoff. That fence marked the human territory. The wild horses got everything else inside the wire.
A glow from the second keypad post made her stomach tingle with anticipation. She punched in the code and the gate swung open, this one adorned with a fancy LCR at the top.
Lights from myriad structures twinkled in the darkness. The original ranch house had burned decades ago which made the new, larger one still almost a hundred years old. The family’s barn was at least that old, as was an auxiliary one used for wild horses Luis deemed trainable.
The main house was only one of several dwellings. When Raquel had moved in with her three kids, Spence had built Grandma Doris a beautiful cottage nearby. Raquel’s widowed mom arrived a few years later and he’d done the same for her.
Building houses had turned out to be Spence’s hobby. He talked Auntie Kat into moving back home by promising her a house. When Raquel’s aunties — Carmen and Ezzie — asked if they could live here, he’d built casitas for each of them.
Last of all, to convince great-grandma Lucy to leave the Victorian, he’d constructed a modern version of the log cabin she’d lived in as a child. When she’d died a few years after that, she’d left the cabin to Adam.
Then Raquel’s mama had passed away and Mila had inherited her mini-hacienda. She’d invited Claudette to share it. Around the same time Greta rented an apartment in Missoula because she was starting culinary school, leaving Luis, Monty, Xavier and Rio, the only so-called kids still living in the main house with their parents.
Eager to stake out their own territory, they’d remodeled the old bunkhouse to create a bachelor pad. All the chicks had officially left the nest and everyone was happy. Until Spence died.
Greta had left school and moved home to be with her mom. After much discussion among themselves, Grandma Doris and the three aunties had requested a meeting with the four brothers. Would they like to live in the homes their dad had built and turn the bunkhouse over to the ladies?
Shocked at first, the boys had eventually become enamored of the idea. They’d begun to outgrow the bunkhouse, especially when girlfriends were in the picture. The trade had taken place and the ladies had transformed the bunkhouse into the Triple D—Dorm for Dazzling Damsels.
Tonight the bunkhouse was rockin’. Lights blazed, and even with her windows rolled up Tracy could hear the Damsels singing karaoke to Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire. They loved the classics but it could just as easily have been Shaboozey’s latest hit . As Kat had once told her — We’re the Damsels and we’re deliberately difficult to discern.
Angie’s truck wasn’t in the parking area next to the house, only Raquel’s and Greta’s. She must have beat them here. As she pulled in, Adam came down the path from his log cabin.
She’d adored that cabin from the moment Spence had shown her the plans. Tucked into a stand of trees that included pine and aspen, it looked as if pioneers had constructed it long ago.
When Adam changed course and headed for the parking area instead of the porch steps, she climbed out, grabbed the box of cookies from the passenger seat and waited for him. Having him to herself for a few minutes before they went inside would be nice.
He walked with purpose, his ground-eating stride sure-footed and deliberate, his gaze focused on whatever was ahead. She’d always loved that about him.
What idiot woman would dump this guy? He had looks, brains and a courageous heart. Didn’t get any better than that.
“I thought you might be driving in about now.” He glanced at the box. “Chocolate chip?”
“What else? Angie and her crew must be on their way.”
“Actually, they’re not. “
“Why? What happened?” She breathed in the scent of freshly applied shaving lotion. By this time of day he usually had some stubble going on. Not tonight. Interesting.
“After you left I went in to relay some of the ideas you came up with. Long story short, before we go forward, they want to discuss everything with Lucky and Oksana, maybe draw up some rough plans, and adjust the estimate.”
”That makes sense. You’ll have to remind me who Lucky and Oksana are.” Had he shaved in her honor?
“He’s the CEO of L’Amour and More Bookshops and his wife Oksana’s the COO.”
“Right. She’s also an author. I remember, now. Well, at least I got to meet your crew today. I’ll just invite myself out here again next time they come over.”
“Which will be Monday. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lucky and Oksana show up, too.”
“After the way you described the McLintocks, I’m excited to meet any and all of them.”
“You probably will. They’re really into this bookstore project. Anyway, let’s go in. I’m guessing dinner’s almost ready.”
“And I’m starving.” She fell into step beside him. “Do I smell enchiladas?”
“You do.”
“Yum. By the way, I saw five mustangs on the way in, just a few yards from the front gate.”
“Was one of them coal black?”
“Two black ones. Also a gray and two bays.”
“Sounds like Batman and Robin. Mila and Claudette could probably tell you who the others were.”
“Is the promo online yet?”
“Yes, ma’am. Today. They figure Batman and Robin will get a lot of attention. They were easier to photograph since they’re pretty chill. Luis thinks they might be good candidates for adopting out for real.”
“Acting chill when humans appear is a good start.”
“He’s optimistic. Depends on whether he can bring ’em in and work with ’em. And whether they’re sound when Monty does his vet check. Be sure and tell him where you spotted ’em. He’ll wanna know.”
“I will next time I see him.”
“Which will be in about thirty seconds.”
“Luis is here for dinner?”
“Just about everybody is here for dinner.”
“Because they thought the construction crew was coming?”
“Nope. They’re here to see you.”
“Me?”
“Evidently it’s been noted that you haven’t shown your face in more than a month. They miss you.”
“I’ve missed them.” She sighed. “This has all been so ridiculous.”
“Agreed.”
“Listen, before I forget to tell you, I made the revisions Mila asked for on the adoption contract and emailed it to her. She’s given it the okay but she sent it to you for a second look.”
“Thanks for the heads-up. Haven’t touched my email since this morning.” He paused at the foot of the steps. “Tell you what, after dinner let’s go to my place and I can read the contract while you’re there. Then we can finalize it.”
“Um, okay, but we could handle all that through email.” His plan sounded way too cozy. And exciting. Especially since he’d taken the time to shave before dinner.
“We could, but I worked up another contract this afternoon I’d like you to take a look at.”
Oh, had he, now? The tingling in her stomach intensified. “You could also email that.”
“Not really.”
“Why not? It’s just a contract.” And she was suddenly out of breath. “That’s what email is good for.” Guaranteed he was up to something. After all his talk about not getting involved, he?—
“Email won’t work in this case.”
She could play dumb and just go along with it, but that wasn’t her way. “You’ve got something up your sleeve.”
“Yeah, I do, but if I try to explain it now, we’ll never make it to dinner and everyone’s counting on you being there.”
She stared at him, her heart thumping as wild scenarios flashed through her mind. “This is a maneuver.”
He held her gaze. “I had an idea today. Might not work, but I want to run it by you.”
“Then just tell me what it is.”
“I will. Later.”
“And this other contract is part of it?"
“Yes, but it doesn’t have to be. I just thought?—”
“ Mi hermanita , you’re here!” Mila flew out the door coatless, her curly dark hair shining in the light from the porch. “Why are you standing around gabbing while the food gets cold?” Rushing down the steps, she grabbed each of them by the arm and started tugging. “ Andale, muchachos! ”
Tracy laughed because Mila was laughing, but guilt lay heavy on her heart. Mila used to tease her when they were younger, calling her hermanita, my little sister in Spanish because Tracy had always been a wee bit shorter.
Mila hadn’t called her that in ages and saying it now was significant. Avoiding Mila because of this jacked-up situation with Adam had been hurtful to a woman she cherished. Time to repair the damage.