Chapter 17 #2
“Never seen a more beautiful chestnut, I’ll tell you that.”
“Any idea what she’s worth?”
Charlie was a professional horse appraiser. He knew horses.
“A lot. She’s not just another beautiful horse. She’s unique. A real head turner. And the agent said she was fast, like real fast. She’d draw top dollar at any auction. If you’d like, I could explore that.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Molly didn’t think about anything else the rest of the day. She left work early with the pups and headed for the stables, checking in with Christie and leaving the pups in their stall. She walked down to Silas’ office and saw a young woman also checking the board.
“Becky?”
The attractive, athletic young woman looked up surprised. Molly understood Willie’s comment about her being a twenty-year-old Molly Mack. She was tall, slender, athletic, with fair coloring, and dressed in western attire. She looked like she’d been around horses all her life.
“Yes. Ms. McGuire?”
“If you call me that again, I’ll have to kill you. It’s Molly.”
She chuckled, “Yes, ma’am.”
“The same with ma’am. It’s Molly.”
She laughed. “Okay, Molly. Yes, I’m Becky Bates. Silas hired me for the summer and put me in the rotation for the exercise horses.”
“Who’d you draw today?”
“Dusty.”
“She’s a beautiful, well-trained quarter horse. You’ll enjoy riding her. Silas said you’ve done some barrel racing.”
“Yeah, since I was thirteen. Absolutely love it. But I’ve been going to WSU and haven’t been able to ride as much as I’d like.”
“You still in school?”
“Just graduated.”
“What’d you study?”
“Computers, but all I want to do is ride horses, so here I am.”
“How’d you get the job?”
“My dad is an old cowboy friend of Silas. Dad called, and Silas hired me for the summer.”
“Who’s your dad?”
“Chuck Bates.”
“Your dad is Chuck Bates?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then. You grew up riding.”
“Loved every minute of it.”
Chuck Bates was one of the most well-known retired rodeo riders in eastern Washington. Molly had seen him at rodeos all over the west during her competition days. She didn’t know him well, but she respected him greatly. Well, no doubt in her mind that Becky could ride.
“Are those your pups?”
“Yeah, a couple weeks old now.”
“Never seen anything so cute.”
“Have you seen Ginger?”
“Oh my God. Can’t take my eyes off her.”
“Me neither. I’m riding her today.”
“Lucky you. You going out now?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see you out there.”
Molly walked away thinking about the possibilities.
A new expert female rider for the stables.
A possible new friend. Perfect for managing the trail ride program.
Qualified to exercise horses. Good help for Willie and Buck.
And she knew computers. Molly really needed help on the tech side of managing Summer’s End: a point of pay finance system, daily finance reports, a growing website, active email, and now internet marketing.
Why couldn’t customers wanting a trail ride just book it online like they did everything else in their lives?
Okay, then, welcome Becky Bates who reminded everyone of a twenty- year-old Molly Mack.
Meeting Becky had diverted Molly’s attention for a few minutes.
But her excitement returned as she walked through the stables to meet Ginger.
Her heart was elevated. She’d been looking forward to this all day.
She stepped into the stall, moving slowly and respectfully, slipped one of Jo’s favorite biscuits to the beautiful red horse, and let her sniff her hands.
Molly stroked her neck, talking softly to her.
“Well, aren’t you about the most beautiful creature I’ve seen in about seventeen years?” There was no horse more beautiful than Jo, and Molly was loyal to her lifelong partner, but Ginger really was special. “You and I are going to ride today. Are you up for some exercise?”
Ginger had been trained to nod yes to friendly questions.
Molly saddled her up and moved her quietly out of the stables, walking a hundred yards before giving her a gentle prod. The athletic horse responded immediately and moved into a light trot. “That’s beautiful, girl. Let’s just take it slow and easy until you get warmed up.”
Molly was enthralled. She felt an immediate connection.
It was like her first ride on Jo. They were a team from the start.
After a nice warm up, Molly gave her a kick and let her move to a controlled gallop.
Molly felt the exhilarating power and speed.
Oh boy, she could run, and Molly wasn’t even pressing yet.
Molly ran her through the paces, a slow warm up, some controlled gallops, basic skills, slalom drills, and finally some barrel turns both directions.
She felt like she was riding a two-year-old Jo, the feeling deeply satisfying.
At the end of the hour, she did a long, slow cool down, not wanting the ride to end.
During the cool down, she watched Becky run Dusty through her paces at the other end of the range. Becky could definitely ride.
Back at the cabin, she set the pups up in their basket out by the fire pit where she could watch them. They could crawl out of the basket now, so Shadow was busy. She’d let them play and roll around, but if they went astray, she brought them back.
Molly had a couple cold beers in the cooler. She was set up in her Adirondack in the shade, alternating her eyes among the pups, Shadow, the lake, and the mountains. The cold beer tasted good. But the thrill of riding Ginger had her in a spell.
Her cell phone buzzed, and she saw it was Charlie.
“Hey, Charlie.”
“Hi Molly. I did some checking about Ginger.”
“Thanks. What’d you learn?”
“Unfortunately, nothing very helpful. I called the Oregon agent who’d contacted me.”
“What’d he say?”
“He said the owner just bought her at auction and is keeping her under the radar up here.”
“What does he know about the owner?”
“Well, he’s wealthy.”
“How does he know that?”
“He overpaid at a public auction. My Oregon friend was his bidder at the auction. The owner was on the phone. The instructions were to buy at any cost.”
“Oh, boy.”
“And, as you can imagine, the bidding was hot and heavy. My friend just kept the paddle up until the gavel fell.”
“What’d she go for?”
“A lot. I didn’t ask the number, but I could find out if you’re interested.”
“Is she for sale?”
“Definitely not.”
Molly felt the crushing news. She’d made the mistake of allowing her hopes to rise.
“What do you mean about the owner keeping her under the radar?”
“Well, my contact says the owner is working hard to stay anonymous. He bought her as a sixteenth birthday present for his daughter. If he kept Ginger in Oregon and word got out that he’s the buyer, it might ruin the surprise for his daughter who’s very active in horse circles.
So he’s got Ginger in witness protection at Summer’s End until the girl’s birthday.
That’s why the booking is only for one month. ”
Molly was disappointed. She took a deep breath. She got it. This is exactly what her father had done to get her Jo for her eighteenth birthday.
“Okay, well, it was worth asking. Thanks for checking. If you learn anything more, let me know.”
“Sorry I don’t have better news, Molly.”
“Hey, it is what it is. Thanks again.”
Molly signed off the call and took a drink of cold beer. She missed Bart. She missed Bear. She missed Jo. She missed Ginger. She didn’t like being alone tonight.
Well, she wasn’t alone. She leaned over and gave Shadow a scruff.
“You want to Ginger again today?”
Molly checked in the next morning with Silas.
“Sure, but I’m happy to stay in the rotation. I know Becky and the guys would like to ride her. She’s a dream.”
“You own the damn resort and you seem taken with her. I thought you might like to ride her again.”
“Well, okay. I’ll ride her today, but after that, put her in the rotation. I’m getting too attached to her, and she’s not available.”
“How do you know she’s not available?”
“I had Charlie check with his contacts. Looks like an anonymous buyer is hiding her here until his daughter’s sixteenth birthday. It’s exactly what Dad did for me with Jo.”
“Going to be a lucky girl.”
“Absolutely.” Molly paused. “But maybe something good has come out of this.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m ready to start looking. I thought I’d want more time, but riding Dusty and Ginger in the exercise program has made me realize I’m ready. So if you want to start the trap lines, I’ll start sending out feelers too.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Safest bet would be a young quarter horse.”
“Color?”
“Honestly, color doesn’t matter. Jo was bay. Ginger is chestnut. It’s about the horse. I’d prefer a young, athletic mare.”
“Thoroughbred?”
“Wouldn’t have to be if she has good genetics.”
“Price?”
“Let’s leave that open for now. Ginger has made me realize I’d pay quite a bit for the right horse.”
“Okay, I’ll start the process.”
The diner’s outdoor patio was getting its finishing touches.
Red and his young landscaping subcontractors had done a beautiful job.
Plans were underway for a soft opening on Saturday, then, a week later, a well-advertised grand opening.
Molly had been working with a high school friend who ran a home-based advertising business.
They were designing ads for the paper and the radio featuring two- for-one meals and drink discounts.
For the grand opening, they were hiring a local guitar player.
Molly was on site talking with Red when Evelyn and Betsy came out. The pup basket was on the ground, and Shadow was herding her litter.
“Red, I couldn’t be happier with what you’ve done. The landscaping is perfect.”
“I think you’re going to be overwhelmed at the openings. Everyone I know is talking about it.”
Evelyn said, “Molly, I’m thinking about making some menu changes for this. This is going to draw a younger clientele. We ought to have some choices that appeal to them.”