Chapter 25 #2
“Hey,” I said after parking the truck beside the others and taking long strides to Mike as he released the latches on the trailer.
Kylie came out of the tack room, clipboard in hand.
The yard was popping. My excitement rippled through me.
The driver came around one side of the truck and trailer, his passenger came from the other side, handing me a clipped set of papers about the animals that had just arrived.
The first two were a mare and a gelding.
The male had a deep flexor, tendon problem and not the fractured leg they’d assumed based on the way he handled himself.
The female was from bucking stock, aging with a host of problems. She’d need daily attention, which was hard for the farm sending her to us.
Both animals were saved from the slaughter pipeline. Now it was up to me to keep these animals alive. I handed Mike the paperwork and went into tunnel-vision mode, taking the lead to remove both animals from the trailer. “Let me take them off.”
My body actually tingled as I carefully touched the animals, talking quietly to them. My heart hurt at their obvious loss of vibrance. After the initial touch, my palm roamed over each one. Their complete lack of response twisted my heart again.
So I was going to have a lot of feelings to deal with in doing this job.
Mike took the paperwork. With rope in hand, I slowly walked the trailer’s ramp, guiding each one the few feet to the quarantine paddocks we had ready for their arrival. “I hear they call you, Sadie. It’s a good name. I’m Mace. I’ve been waitin’ a long time for your arrival.”
I found horses to be smart animals, and I walked her to the water trough. She followed in a slow, pained gait, behind me. Their hydration station had a host of vitamin additives to help boost their nutritional needs. Both the waiting hay and vitamin-rich food would aid in their recovery.
I rubbed her down, speaking about the weather in the coolest, calming voice I could muster. Sadie came with a reputation of being difficult. Perhaps it came down to the attention she needed that wasn’t being provided. I could give her that.
Kylie approached the horse. Her assistant followed her as she began her exam.
When I closed the gate to that paddock, I saw all eyes focused on me.
I was so lost to my dreams coming true, I’d forgotten it wasn’t just me, the horses, and the vet.
I had even missed Slade’s arrival. The big, black diesel truck hadn’t pierced the bubble I was in with Sadie.
Slade hadn’t left the truck’s cab which meant I needed to pick up the pace to get the first drivers back on the road with their trailer so Slade could covertly be involved.
Funny, my pace only picked up until I guided the gelding from the trailer.
Dandy was his name. His stiff gait made it take longer to follow the same trek Sadie had just taken.
My heart gave a fresh ache at the tender way he took his steps. He needed love and care.
“I’ll remove the horses. I see how you’re handlin’ them,” Mike said quietly at my side.
“See the hay. It’s all yours, buddy,” I said to Dandy and urged him closer to the water and feeder troughs.
To Mike, I said, “Sure. It’ll help Slade leave the truck faster.
” I didn’t want to give up greeting my new animals.
I stayed close to Dandy, petting him with a gliding stroke to melt the tight tissues that had locked up while he’d had to brace himself against the sway of the trailer.
“Great property,” one of the two men accompanying the trailer said, piercing my horse-focused haze. “You got some money behind you. You’ll need it.”
“Tryin’ to fill a need,” Mike answered for me.
What a seriously great ambiguous answer that I needed to remember.
I went for another horse and so went my next thirty minutes or so.
Eventually, once the animals were separated and fed, I left the paddock, locking the gate as Kylie and Mike continued working, along with the few hands Slade had hired.
Instead of heading to say my appreciation and goodbyes to the drivers, I went for Slade’s truck.
He was maybe twenty-five feet from the others, still sitting in the driver’s seat.
Willow had stayed in the bed of the truck like a good girl.
I gave her a good pet down, watching Slade through the side mirror as he watched me and the entire scene playing out.
“I wish I could get out of the goddamn truck,” Slade said. His frustration had my grin expanding before I reached the rolled-down window.
“They’re leavin’,” I said, rising an arm to rest on his open window.
“Why did you leave without me?” Slade asked, reaching to lift my sunglasses up to better see my eyes. “You cried when you met the horses. I knew you were going to. I should’ve been here. It’s why I stayed the extra day.”
“I didn’t cry, but it’s not off the table.
I did get emotional. I wanted to be the one to show them their new home.
And my dreams are comin’ true. Hope cracked this dried-up heart of mine.
” My hand went to my chest, covered the organ that was set in overdrive since that trailer pulled up. “Thank you.”
He reached for my hand. “I watched you lead them. They followed. I think they know they’re in a place where they’re safe and cared for.”
I twisted my wrist to clasp his hand with my own.
“They’re gone,” Mike called. “I’m heading out. Kylie’s got this. I’ll be back later in the day if you need me.”
I lifted a thumbs-up to Mike.
“Thank you,” I said, taking a step or two that direction.
Slade finally had to let go of my hand as he hopped out of his truck.
“I appreciate you,” Slade said to Mike.
“Y’all didn’t need me. He’s got it down,” Mike called.
He disappeared around the driver’s side of his large pickup, then his head popped over the cab, so he’d definitely stood on the side rail to be seen.
“Besides Austin’s tryin’ to entice you exclusively over to his production company.
I’m being well compensated to help convince you to sign it all with him. ”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s what I hear.” Slade swiped a hand through the air, blowing Mike off. “Even if I suddenly freed up time, he has nothing for me until early next year.”
Mike tipped his cowboy hat, grinning, before ducking down into the truck.
I pivoted to my guy. As far as I knew, what Austin offered was exactly what Slade wanted.
The wink he gave me spoke of all the things I didn’t yet know that were moving pieces to making that exact thing happen.
My actor knew his business and had no trouble constantly working the angles until he got what he wanted.
Actually, that described Slade in a nutshell. It was how he worked me, how this sanctuary got off the ground, and why I only worked at the bar two nights a week. I’d cut back to Friday and Saturday so I didn’t roam while Slade wasn’t here.
What a hilarious realization.
“Show me the animals. Introduce me,” Slade said. He reached out for my arm and guided us to the paddock where the horses were housed. “I feel like they might not be as docile as they seemed with you. So you go first.”
I didn’t confirm or deny because I was rusty as hell, but Whiskey, Willow, and I spent time together every single day. He and Willow were my buddies and I was theirs. I was lucky that way.
“Sadie’s malnourished but I sense more’s goin’ on with her.
Dandy’s in pain. I suspect he’s likely the most volatile,” I explained, opening the first gate to Dandy’s paddock until he was cleared to go to pasture.
We’d know more once Kylie was finished. These animals weren’t conditioned to stay caged.
They required our help then needed to be freed to pasture.
“Proceed with caution,” I said, sweeping a hand for Slade to walk in front of me. Dandy did go on the defense, with pinned ears and a subtle weight shift to his non-injured leg. But Slade followed my commands exactly and the horse calmed again. He handled Dandy like a pro. I couldn’t be prouder.