Chapter 3
By the time they had finished lunch, Alexander Blackwood knew more about Claire Reynolds than he ever thought possible in one sitting. He’d been following her career and had been trying to figure out how to steal her away from Jonas for close to six months. She was a gifted horse trainer. Not only that, but she also had a special connection with horses that he thought he’d never find in someone else. He, too, had a special connection with horses, but not like Claire. They responded to her positively. She had a gentle hand and a gentle nature about her, and he’d witnessed firsthand how she was able to calm a feisty stallion down with a simple touch of her hand.
She had no idea that the stallion was his. His reputation called for discretion when he was out in public, and while the equine community in Northern Virginia wasn’t filled with crazy horse fanatics, he was still cautious. He was on his way to the stable at the track that day when his former trainer caught up with him to tell him the stallion was being unruly. They had taken every precaution to keep him away from the mares, yet something was agitating the normally gentle giant. Alexander watched this thin slip of a woman walk over to the horse and do nothing more than lay a hand on his neck and nose. He had been fascinated by her ever since.
With a light hand at the small of her back, Alexander escorted her to the stables. The smell of fresh hay and the soft nickering of the horses inside beckoned to them both. They stopped just inside the huge barn door that was thrown wide open. He leaned in towards her. “Welcome to your new home,” he said quietly.
The main stables were rustic yet state-of-the-art. Everything was designed for the care and training of the horses with modern necessities that weren’t obtrusive. The entire layout was meant to make the horses and the people who worked with them comfortable and relaxed. Claire’s eyes widened as she looked around. This was the stable that housed his racers. Eight well-equipped stalls, four on each side, lined the center aisle. She slowly walked to the other end, gazing into the large tack room, inspecting the utility and laundry rooms, and peeking into what looked like an office at the far end. The feed room was laid out neatly, as was a stall dedicated to medical issues. The last stall, across from the office, was the washroom. Standing in their stalls were four of Alexander’s trotters. They peered at her with their big, soulful eyes, and Claire knew then and there that he was right. She was home.
Alexander leaned in the doorway of the office and pointed to one of the empty stalls. “That stall is for the horse Jonas gave you. If you plan to race him under the Blackwood colors, then he needs to be close.”
Claire turned to look at him. “How did you know…” She paused. “You talked to Jonas while I was on my way over here.”
Alexander shrugged his shoulders, looking down with a conspiratorial smile. “I might have.” He folded his arms across his chest as he returned his gaze to her. “Of course, if you want to establish your own colors, I will sponsor you.” He pushed away from the doorframe. “This is your office.” He reached into the room and flipped on the light, inviting Claire to join him.
“You realize I haven’t signed the contract yet, right?” she commented as she walked to the office. It was a decent size with a computer on one corner of the desk and decorated with prints depicting horses on the track. She glanced over the filing cabinet and opened the drawers, gazing at the meticulous files.
Alexander leaned one hip on the corner of the desk. “Oh, you’ve looked at my records. Now you have to sign that contract.”
Clairs shot him a look over her shoulder before closing the drawer and facing him. There was an undeniable magnetism about Alexander, a charisma that drew her in like a moth to a flame. His piercing green eyes, framed by a tousled mane of reddish brown hair, seemed to see straight through her, igniting a spark of recognition deep within her soul. Claire felt a sense of connection with Alexander that she couldn’t quite explain. A shared passion for horses bound them together, a mutual respect for the majestic creatures that roamed the estate. “I have every intention of signing the contract, Mr. Blackwood.”
“Alexander.”
Claire stared at him and nodded. “Alexander.” A comfortable silence fell between them until she slipped past him and escaped back into the stables. Her heart was racing, and she needed a moment to collect her thoughts.
“Would you like to see your house?” he asked from behind her.
He moved like a cat, silent and stealthy. She jumped and laughed. “I think that would be a great idea.” They walked from the stables and made their way toward the caretaker’s house further down the driveway. The sun was warm, and just a slight breeze was blowing as they walked. She watched some of the horses as they ran the fence line. “You only had four trotters in the stable. Are these investment horses?”
Alexander gazed out over the horses. “Some of them are. Some of them are rescues, older horses who deserve to live out their lives comfortably.” He fell silent for a moment. “When I was ten, my father bought me my first horse. It was an older horse, about 20 years old. It was a mare; she was the most affectionate animal I had ever been around. At first, I didn’t understand why he bought me a horse that I couldn’t really ride, that needed so much care and love.” He smiled slightly at the memory. “That was exactly why he bought her for me. He told me that how I cared for an animal that others thought was past their prime would show him what type of man I would become.”
“And was he right?” Claire asked, holding on to the small revelation he had shared with her like a precious gift.”
“He was. I had her for twelve years before she finally died of old age. But I cared for her and loved her, and when she died, my heart was broken, but I knew I had given her the best twelve years of her life.” He waved towards the horses that now quietly grazed in the pasture. “Every living thing deserves to be loved. And horses are some of the most intelligent creatures on this Earth.” He stopped walking to watch them. “So when I find one that people think is…”
“Past their prime?” Claire whispered.
“I bring them here and give them the dignity they deserve.” He gazed down at Claire. “And now you can help me.”
Something passed between them at that moment, an understanding that became the foundation of their working relationship. She never expected Alexander Blackwood to be as passionate about horses as she was. “Do you ride?” she finally asked as they started towards the cottage that was to be hers. “I mean, that’s probably a stupid question.”
“No, it’s not. I do ride, although I’ve been hard-pressed to find time.” He pulled a key from the pocket of his slacks and unlocked the door to the cottage.
“Well, maybe we need to change that,” Claire offered. “You said you wanted to spend more time here. Why don’t we plan to have a weekly meeting on Saturday mornings on horseback? You have plenty of acreage to roam out here. It would do you some good.”
Alexander’s eyebrows rose at her comment. “It would?”
“Yeah. Get out of the boardroom and back to nature.” She stepped inside the cottage, not waiting for her answer.
Alexander stared at her. Something about Claire Reynolds drew him in and made him want to be near her. He pursed his lips in contemplation for a moment. He felt his body tighten at the thought of spending the weekends here and with her. Yes, he was going to make that happen.
And maybe win her in the process.