Chapter 4 #2
A chill skated down her spine and coalesced like a ball of lead in her stomach.
She remembered the fallout from World War III, otherwise known as Logan’s announcement he was quitting grad school to become a farmer.
Their parents had been furious. But she’d never had a clue that they’d considered cutting him off from the family.
This little story was a timely reminder of the possible outcome if she didn’t live up to expectations.
Laurel clutched her coffee mug a little tighter, as if the lingering warmth would somehow soak into her palms and soothe the fresh worry that spread like creeping frost through her body.
She needed to get the hell away from this conversation before she slid into another panic attack or broke down and said something they’d all regret.
“Shouldn’t y’all be getting on the road? It’s a long drive back to Memphis.” Smooth segue, Laurel.
If her parents noted the abrupt change in subject, neither gave any indication.
Lawrence drained the last of his coffee and shoved back from the table. “You’re right. I’ll go get the suitcases.”
As her father disappeared upstairs, Laurel stayed where she was.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Rosalind asked.
I’ve just realized I’m caught between a rock and a flaming hot grill. I’m just peachy. “I’m fine. I was just thinking about Hugh. That’s terrible about his family.”
“It’s a sad situation for sure.” She stroked a hand over Laurel’s hair. “Not everyone can have a child as bright and dedicated as you. We’re grateful and proud of you every day. I hope you know that.”
Laurel managed a smile and hoped like hell it didn’t look like a bad case of rictus. “I know, Mom.”
It took another twenty minutes to make sure the car was loaded and to do a last sweep of the house for forgotten toiletries, but at last, she hugged her parents, choking back the anxiety that wanted to crawl up her throat and through her chest like mutant vines in a horror movie.
“Drive safe. Let me know when you get home.”
Roslind squeezed her shoulders. “That’s our line.”
“Turnabout is fair play. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks for Christmas.”
“Enjoy your vacation,” Lawrence told her. “Next semester will be busy busy, with the last of your classes and studying for the New York bar.”
Laurel made a noncommittal noise.
As her parents climbed into the car, she called for Bo and Peep, her brother’s faithful border collies.
The pair raced over, plunking down on either side of where she sat on the porch steps.
She wrapped her arms around them to keep them in place as her parents drove away.
Long after their car had disappeared, she stayed where she was, feeling some of the tension drain away as the dogs leaned in, nuzzling her face, her hair.
Still more than a little shaky, she released the dogs and wandered down to the stables.
She didn’t want to think too hard about the fact that being upset had her instinctively arrowing toward Sebastian.
She just…wanted to see him. He was a distraction, one she wanted to get to know better in pretty much every way possible.
It was a brisk, beautiful morning, with cloudless blue skies.
Bo and Peep danced around her, bumping each other’s shoulders as they streaked ahead and raced back.
In the distance, a lone figure pivoted in the paddock, as a bay horse with two white socks circled on a lunge line.
She recognized Sebastian long before she got close enough to make out his features.
He wore a cowboy hat and well-worn jeans.
Despite the cold, he hadn’t bothered with a coat.
Leaning against the top rail, she took in the flex of muscles in his back—and backside—as he continued to turn.
The man really was a gorgeous specimen. Seeing him like this, in his element, was ticking off all kinds of boxes for her.
Foolishly, she thought of Jim Craig, the hero of The Man From Snowy River, which had been her favorite movie growing up.
He’d been her first celebrity crush. And yeah, okay, that had been as much about the horses as the man.
She’d been a typical horse-crazy tween and teen.
But she’d never drooled over any of her instructors the way she was drooling over Sebastian right now.
That was absolutely preferable to think about instead of the trouble with her dad.
“Parents get off okay?”
Stepping on the bottom rail, Laurel pushed herself up so she could see better. “Finally.”
In a low, crooning voice, he slowed the bay to a walk and glanced her way. “Dad giving you grief again?”
Of course, he’d pick up on the tension in just her voice. This man seemed to be able to read her like a book. Laurel offered up a helpless shrug. What could she say?
“I’ve got a cure for that. Give me just a minute to finish up with Sassy.”
She perked up. With any luck, his cure would involve his lips on her lips.
She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss.
And maybe she’d have tried doing something about that last night, but with Ari’s less-than-subtle suggestion hanging over her head, she’d been afraid Sebastian would think she was desperate or… something.
The ball is in your court, cowboy.
Sebastian cooled the mare for a few more minutes, before gathering up the lunge line and leading her over to a gate.
As he unclipped the lead from her bridle, Sassy playfully bumped her head against his shoulder in a move that couldn’t be interpreted as anything but flirtatious.
It made him laugh. The sound of it, unfettered and rich, rolled over Laurel like warm molasses. He had a really great laugh.
“Go play, pretty girl. You’ve earned it.” With a light slap on her rump, Sebastian sent Sassy into the pasture.
Shutting the gate after her, he crossed the paddock to Laurel, ducking through the rails right beside her.
From where she still stood on the bottom, they were eye-to-eye.
She thought maybe he’d step in or bodily help her down—something to acknowledge this snapping tension between them.
Instead he studied her face for a long moment, his face inscrutable, before jerking his head toward the barn. “C’mon.”
Okay, not going to be making out right this second. He probably has actual work to do after being tied up with wedding stuff all yesterday.
He was already half-a-dozen strides ahead of her before she leapt down to follow. Inside the barn, he led her down the aisle to a stall on the end.
“Hey gorgeous.”
As Laurel caught up, a chestnut head poked over the stall door, stretching out for pets. Her ears tipped toward Sebastian, and he continued to croon nonsense compliments and scratch under the animal’s chin.
“Are they all in love with you?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Most of the horses we have here are rescues. A lot of them came from some pretty shitty conditions, and they’re grateful to be here. I’m the one who does most of the care-taking, so yeah, several of them are fond of me.” He kissed the chestnut’s nose.
“I’d be careful if I were you. Sassy might get jealous.”
“This little beauty is Gingersnap. Ginger for short. I got her back in the spring after a judge had her and another mare removed from their former owner for profound neglect. She was in pretty rough shape, and I wasn’t sure if she’d make it.
But she decided she wasn’t ready to give up yet, and she’s turned into a loving little thing. ”
Laurel eased up, holding out her hand for Ginger to sniff. “Poor baby. I’m glad she has you now. How did you get into all this? The rescuing?”
“Fell into it, actually. The first couple of rescues weren’t me.
There was a need and your brother had barn space.
He mostly pastured them. When the next three came, he realized he’d need some help.
Porter knew I was at loose ends and that I’d grown up with horses, so he did a little employment matchmaking.
I don’t think either Logan or I expected it to turn into this, but there’s a need and, once word got out, we became the go-to place.
Your brother never meant for things to get this big, but he’s too damned nice a guy to turn anybody away. ”
Something in his expression made Laurel wonder if he was still talking about the horses or if he was thinking of himself.
“I’ve rehabbed and sold a couple of horses along the way, but it’s a long way from being profitable. I started the riding school as a means of off-setting the cost.”
With sixteen horses, she could imagine that wasn’t an insignificant amount. Her brother wouldn’t be in this for the profit, and she sensed Sebastian wasn’t either.
So maybe profit isn’t the answer.
She filed that away to think about later.
“Which part do you like best?”
“Definitely working with the rescues. Earning their trust again. And some of them, like Ginger here, that took a while. There are a lot of behavioral issues I’m working to correct.
But Ginger…she’s an absolute sucker for being groomed.
Probably because she wasn’t for so long.
So my prescription for that lingering storm cloud over your head is to give her a good rubdown and grooming. It’ll make you both happy.”
So she wasn’t going to be getting her hands on him again just now. That was fine. Reaching out, Laurel stroked a hand down Ginger’s neck, bringing it up again to scratch under her chin the way Sebastian had. “How ’bout it, Ginger? You want a little beauty treatment?”
She took the horse’s lean into her touch as a yes.
“I’ll go grab the grooming bucket, while you two get to know each other.”
Laurel and Ginger both watched as he strode down the aisle to the tack room.
“It’s a nice view, isn’t it?” Laurel murmured.
Ginger gave a wiffle of agreement.