Chapter Twenty-Four
Marina
The lesson is going well until I spot the woman standing outside the arena.
At first, I don’t recognize her.
She’s leaning against the wooden fence with her arms crossed, sunglasses perched on the tip of her nose, watching me work with the students. Her silver-blonde hair is a wild halo of curls around her face, and even from twenty yards away, I can see the brown fringed leather vest.
Then she lifts one hand and waves.
Mom.
Ginger Kincade—my mother, my personal tornado, and the woman who has been married three times since divorcing my father—grins at me like she hasn’t just materialized out of thin air in the middle of my workday.
I stare at her.
She blows me a kiss.
I turn back to the student in front of me and force my attention to the lesson. “Okay, Emma. One more time. Don’t pull with your hands. Sit deep, keep your heels down, and let him move underneath you.”
My mother’s presence is a distraction. I can feel her watching me. I can practically hear the commentary forming in her head.
By the time the lesson ends, I’ve resigned myself to whatever chaos she’s brought with her.
I dismount, hand the reins off to one of the assistants, and walk toward her.
“Mom? What are you doing here?”
Ginger pushes her sunglasses onto her head. “Nice to see you too, baby girl.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
“You said you were working for Bryce Raintree. So, here I am.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why? I can’t come see my daughter and grandson without a reason?”
I stare at her.
She looks fantastic.
Her hair is shoulder length and tousled, every curl seeming to have a mind of its own.
She’s wearing a fitted white top beneath a leather vest covered in just enough studs to make her look like she could either ride a motorcycle or headline a country-rock festival.
Faded jeans hug her long legs, tucked into boots I know cost more than all mine combined.
Several layered turquoise necklaces sit against her throat, and the giant silver-and-turquoise buckle at her waist catches the afternoon sun.
Ginger has never met a fashion trend she couldn’t make her own.
Or a man she couldn’t.
“You could have called.”
“Then you would have had time to make up an excuse for me not to come.”
“Well, I’m super busy. And it’s not an excuse if it’s true.”
She hooks her arm through mine. “Oh, please, you’re never too busy for your momma. Besides, Randy ended up following me from Palm Springs back to Arizona, so I needed an escape plan.”
“Of course you did.”
“And I haven’t seen my baby girl in forever.”
“You saw me on Mother’s Day.”
“That was practically another lifetime. Now where’s my grandson?”
I laugh despite myself. “He’s at day care. He’ll be back in a couple of hours.” I glance down at the bags at her feet. “So,” I say, “how long are you staying?”
She gives me an innocent look. “Long enough for Randy to take a hint.”
I sigh.
“Fine. Come on.” I grab one of her bags. “I don’t have another class until two. We’ll go get lunch.”
By the time we reach the dining hall, the place is busy with students, instructors, and academy staff. The room hums with conversation, clattering silverware, and the occasional burst of laughter.
Ginger slows as she looks around.
Her gaze tracks across the room.
A stable hand walks past in a sweat-darkened T-shirt and dusty boots.
Her eyes follow him.
“Mom.”
Her gaze comes back to me.
“Don’t start.”
“I’m just looking at the scenery,” she says.
“You’re staring at his ass.”
“Hmm … it is a very nice ass.”
I groan.
She leans closer. “Honestly, Marina, I was worried about you being stuck out here in the middle of nowhere,” she says. Then her eyes sweep the room. “But now that I’m here, I can’t exactly blame you for staying, with all these sexy cowboys walking around.”
“Jeez, Mom.”
“What?” She looks at me innocently. “There’s nothing like a man in a tight pair of Wranglers.”
The guys at the nearest table hear her loud and clear. One by one, their heads turn in our direction, wide grins spreading across their faces.
“Please stop talking.”
“I’m just saying, you could do worse.”
“In case you forgot, I have a four-year-old, and I’m not interested in dating anyone at the moment. Especially one of these cowboys.”
“Nobody said anything about dating, Marina. And having a child doesn’t mean you suddenly stop being a woman with needs. You’re still allowed to have a life. You’re allowed to have fun, flirt a little, and enjoy yourself.”
Matty, Harleigh, and Jovie are sitting at one of the long tables near the windows. When she notices us, Matty waves us over.
“Well, hello,” Matty says.
“Hi, darling,” Ginger says.
I point at her. “Everyone, this is my mother, Ginger Kincade,” I introduce. “Mom, this is Matty, Harleigh, and Jovie. Matty manages the ranch, Harleigh is her younger sister, and Jovie is a doctor at the school’s clinic.”
Matty smiles. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kincade.”
“Oh jeez, that makes me feel old,” Mom says. “And I haven’t been Mrs. Kincade in a long time. I just kept the name because of Marina. You girls can call me Ginger.”
Matty’s smile grows. “Okay, Ginger.”
“Excellent.” Mom squeezes into a seat between Matty and Jovie. “I like you already.”
Harleigh laughs.
“Sit down,” Mom says, and I drop into a seat across from her.
“What are you three working on?” Mom asks as she scans the papers spread across the table.
“We’ve been meeting with Jovie’s father,” Matty says. “He’s handling some of the construction work for Harleigh’s guest ranch.”
Mom turns toward Harleigh. “You have a guest ranch?”
Harleigh’s face lights up. “Not yet. We’re developing the eastern side of the property. It’s still a work in progress,” Harleigh says.
A fresh batch of chicken and dumplings is placed on the buffet table. Matty clears the paperwork and slips it into a leather portfolio, and we all head over to get a bowl.
For a few minutes, we focus on eating.
“So, where are you staying?” Harleigh asks Mom.
I look at her. “Here, right?”
She shakes her head. “No. I found a place in town. Check-in’s at four.”
“In town,” I say. “That’s silly. You can stay with us. Ryder has bunk beds in his room. The bottom is a full.”
“I don’t want to impose,” she says.
I set my spoon down and stare at her. “Since when?”
She ignores me, and Matty asks where she found a place to stay in town.
“The Chuckwagon Motel.”
Matty makes a face. “Ew. I hope you brought sanitizer.”
Mom blinks. “It’s not that bad, is it?”
“It has a smell,” Harleigh says. “A little musty. Kinda like vomit maybe.”
Mom’s eyes go wide. “Vomit?”
“Yeah, it’s cheap and walking distance from the only bar in town, so a lot of locals land there after a long night of drinking,” Harleigh says.
I shake my head.
“Well, shit,” Mom mumbles. “I stopped in the office on the way out here, and the manager was a silver fox.”
I groan. “Oh my God.”
“What?” she says. “He was. Silver hair. Nice smile. Great shoulders.”
“Mom, that’s really not a good reason to stay in a crusty motel.”
Matty laughs.
Mom looks at her. “I didn’t even mention his hands. He looked like a man who would know how to use them.”
“I’m leaving,” I say.
Harleigh laughs so hard that she nearly spills her drink. “I like you!”
Mom props her elbow on the table and studies the youngest Storm girl. “I like you too.” She gestures across to me. “We need to get this one to lighten up.”
Matty and Jovie giggle.
I point at all three of them. “You’re encouraging her,” I say. “And, Mom, I don’t care how attractive the manager’s hands are; you’re not staying at a sleazy motel. You’re staying with me and Ryder.”
“You know what would be nice?” Harleigh says. “If there was an alternative place for people to stay close by. Like maybe some guest cabins.”
Matty sighs.
“Where families of academy students and staff could come vacation,” Harleigh continues, “or even tiny cabins where sponsors who are out scouting new rodeo talent could kick up their feet after checking out the school.” She gestures enthusiastically with her fork.
“It could be rustic but comfortable. Maybe a fire pit. Little porches. A place for people to stay without having to drive all the way into town.”
Matty rolls her eyes. “Yes, we know. It is going to be a great addition,” she says. “You don’t have to keep trying to convince me.”
“I just want you to remember how brilliant I am when it all works.”
Mom looks between them. “Well, that’s refreshing,” she says, sitting a little straighter. “Boss babes.” She slaps her palm against the table, delighted. “Women running the show. Women calling the shots. I freaking love it.”
Harleigh points at her. “Right on.”
The doors to the dining hall swing open, and two familiar figures saunter in.
Cabe and Micah.
They’re both covered in dust and sweat, their shirts damp across their backs, boots caked with dirt. Whatever they’ve been working on, it wasn’t easy.
They head straight for the food line, and once they have plates loaded down, Cabe spots us and walks over to the table.
“Matty.”
She looks up. “Please tell me you have good news.”
Micah drops into the empty chair beside Jovie, looking exhausted. “Fuck, I’m starving,” he mumbles.
Cabe pulls a chair from the table next to us and sits beside me.
“So …” Matty prompts.
Cabe wipes his forehead with the back of his wrist. “We got the well pump repaired in the southern pasture.”
Matty exhales a relieved breath. “You did?”
“Yeah. Took most of the morning, but we got it running.”
“So, the water system is back up?” she asks. “Running like it should?”
Cabe nods. “Cattle have water again. We flushed the lines and checked the pressure. Everything looks good.”
“Thank God,” Matty says. “The last thing we need is to have to move the herd before vaccinations.”
“Thought you’d like it.”
Cabe finally seems to notice the unfamiliar woman sitting with us. His eyes shift to Ginger.
“Cabe, Micah,” I say, already bracing myself, “this is my mother, Ginger.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Cabe says.
Mom looks him up and down. Slowly. Then she smiles. “Well, hello, handsome.”
Cabe blinks.
“Don’t call me ma’am.”
He looks confused.
Mom extends her hand. “Ginger.”
He takes it.
She doesn’t let go.
“Um, I meant no offense, Miss Ginger.”
Her smile widens.
“Mom,” I call, and she glances at me and finally releases his hand.
“What? I’m not allowed to appreciate that these young men can look this good after working on a dirty old pump all morning?”
Cabe’s ears turn slightly red, and Micah makes a choking sound beside her.
Mom smiles sweetly. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind seeing what you look like cleaned up.”
I close my eyes. “Mom,” I say through clenched teeth.
“What?” She looks at me again. “I’m just being friendly. Stop being so uptight.”
Cabe rubs the back of his neck. “I’m gonna grab a drink.”
He stands to leave, and Mom watches him go.
Then she sighs. “That’s a fine-looking man.”
I stare at her. “You have been here less than an hour.”
She takes another bite of her lunch. “Yep. And I’ve already made friends.” She turns back to face me. “See how easy it is?”
Micah grins, and I scowl at her.
“Relax, baby girl,” Mom says, her voice turning serious. “I’ll be on my best behavior from here on out. I promise.”
I look across the table at Matty, Harleigh, and Jovie.
They’re all trying—and failing—not to laugh.
Mom leans back in her chair.
She’s going to be trouble.
The kind Wildhaven isn’t used to.