Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Miranda
Surprise Me
The sun streamed through the curtains and hit Miranda right in her eyes, causing her to pop up out of bed. She had overslept. Big time.
Stomping out of her room she looked out over the railing in the open hallway to the first floor living room to find Jeremy and Sara sitting by the window.
“Why’d you let me sleep in? What time is it?”
“It’s seven thirty and I gotta get the bus,” Jeremy said.
“What about the horses? Jeremy, this is so irresponsible.”
He stood with a smirk, looking up at her.
“Actually, I was letting you sleep in because you work too hard and then Renn showed up and helped me finish the morning routine. So even with three new horses, I got all the chores done. If you’re nicer to me, I might let you sleep in one more time this month. ”
She stood up straighter. “Oh. Thank you. You’re the best brother I’ve ever had.”
“I’m your only brother.”
“True, and you’re the best,” she said, winded after taking the stairs two at a time and looking out the living room windows. There was a big black truck parked out by the barn, which meant Renn was still there.
“He’d probably like some coffee,” Sara said with a smile as she wound a pile of yarn into a ball.
“Thank you, Jer.” Miranda kissed her brother’s thick wavy blond hair.
“Gotta go.” He leaned down and kissed Sara on the cheek. “See you after practice.”
“Have a great day, honey. You’re a good boy.”
“Yes, mama,” he called and made a beeline out the door to the end of the driveway where the bus was pulling up.
“I’m just going to get dressed. Do you need anything?” Miranda asked her stepmom, crouching down to look her in the eyes.
Sara reached out and cupped Miranda’s face.
Although she was her stepmom, Sara had arrived in Miranda’s life just in the nick of time.
She’d been eleven, hanging out with older kids and getting in trouble at school.
Sara had sat Miranda down and explained how if she kept down that path she’d probably be stuck in this small town forever.
Sara said she understood how Miranda probably felt a little lost after her mom left, but that she thought Miranda was smart and could be anything she wanted in life.
Sara told Miranda she would never leave her.
That blunt conversation had made a big difference in the trajectory of Miranda’s life, and they’d shared a special bond ever since.
Sara had been the only one to ever really see Miranda and ask about her dreams. Miranda did go to college, but then the year she graduated they found out Sara had MS and Miranda moved home.
Sara had been clear she didn’t want Miranda to spend her life taking care of her.
But Miranda’s dad was too busy gambling and cheating to take care of them, so Miranda stayed.
She could never turn her back on her stepmom or her little brother.
They were the only family that ever loved her unconditionally.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind you telling me about this Renn character who has Jeremy eager to do morning chores.”
“Guess I better go find out about him then.”
“And I’ll expect a full report this afternoon.”
“Okay, the nurse should be here by nine but call me if you need something before then.” Sara held up the cell phone she kept on her in case of any health issues or things she needed before the day nurse arrived. Her mobility was limited as MS took hold of her body, but her mind was still sharp.
Miranda ran up the stairs, brushed her teeth, threw on some jeans, a sports bra and a fresh T-shirt, and hurried back downstairs.
“Don’t forget to bring him some coffee,” Sara called.
“Yes, ma’am,” she said, already pouring two cups and feeling giddy at the prospect of having a cup of coffee and sharing the quiet part of the morning with Renn. Even though she told herself she was just eager to see her new horses.
Renn’s tall, muscular silhouette stirred a rush of desire Miranda couldn’t deny as she walked down the dirt driveway toward the barn. He was leaning up against the fence with a piece of hay in his mouth, watching the horses take turns around the pen.
“Morning,” she said once she was close enough to hand him a cup of coffee.
“Thank you,” he said and accepted the white mug, smelling the freshly brewed coffee. The cup read RIDE A HORSE NOT A COWBOY in neon pink letters.
“Funny.”
“They give out the strangest swag at rodeos.”
“Em hmm,” he said with his trademark mischievous smile.
“Um, I’m surprised to see you this morning, but I appreciate you helping Jeremy with the horses. I can’t believe I overslept.”
“You must’ve needed that rest. I saw there were some new additions to the barn.”
She nodded. “Went estate shopping yesterday and found a few I couldn’t pass up.”
“You’ve definitely got a great eye. That Mustang has some spunk.” Renn nodded out to the largest pen where the Mustang was testing out his new play area.
“He might take a little longer to train since he’s already over a year, but those lines and his coat will give me another type of horse to offer for breeding.”
“Makes sense.”
“Everything okay at the Harts’?” She liked having someone to talk to who actually understood a thing or two about horses, even as she reminded herself he wasn’t a permanent fixture in town or her life.
“Oh ya, everything is fine. Odd but fine.”
“So, you just decided you wanted to muck out some stalls first this morning?”
“Well, you did say I could come by to help out anytime.”
“Did I say that?”
“Yes. Although I think your brother had it covered. He’s very determined.”
“Yes, and growing up too fast.”
She turned, unable to keep looking into Renn’s observant eyes and looked out at the horses instead.
“They’re fed, but I figured you might want some help exercising them?”
“Actually, I would, if you think you can handle it. These studs need some time to run.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Renn said, sipping his coffee.
“Great, we’ll hit the fields for a run, before it gets real hot. I don’t want them to get too exhausted. They’ve got a showing this weekend.”
“And you’re doing this all by yourself? Not a single ranch hand?”
Miranda stopped in the barn doorway and put one hand on her hip, while she held her coffee still with the other.
“I didn’t mean you can’t, just it’s a lot to wrangle: managing the ranch, planning the shows, the trailer, the showings, the competition, and wooing the horse trainers.”
“I manage just fine.”
He shrugged. “I guess I should be more worried about the competition. Because if looks could kill.”
“I just get really tired of men second-guessing me.”
“Oh, I was raised by a strong, single, southern woman. I wouldn’t dare.”
“But…”
“But those are some long lonely hours. And my mom ended up working so much, she neglected her own health. Maybe if she’d accepted more help, she’d have had more time for herself.”
“I’m sorry about your mom. And I don’t plan on this being a one-woman show forever, I just need to build up some capital.”
He nodded and headed to the tack wall.
“Well, I’ll be in town for a bit if you want a second set of hands. Really, you’d be helping me because the Harts don’t have any horses.”
“I’ll think about it. Let’s see how well you ride with a saddle this time.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Renn said with that sideways smile and lifted his ball cap off his thick dark locks. He was exactly what they meant by tall, dark, and way too handsome.
Once they had Beast and Thor saddled up, Miranda led them to the pasture where they could run them.
It was strange having someone other than her little brother to help her.
Even though they weren’t talking while they rode, Renn’s presence was a comfort she hadn’t realized she’d been missing.
After an hour of riding, they ended up on the edge of her land at a small natural spring where the horses could stand in the shade and drink fresh water.
“This looks like the perfect swimming hole,” Renn said.
“I used to come out here as a kid. Whenever I got mad, I’d tear off and ride out here.”
“You ever wonder if we spend too much time wanting the wrong things?” Renn said, standing in the tall grass on the edge of the water under a large willow tree.
“So, we’re skipping the small talk then?” she said.
A rumble of laughter from his chest had her smiling as he leaned up against the tree.
“I think we went past all that small stuff when you figured out the Hart brothers are my half-siblings.”
She nodded. “You do have a resemblance.”
“You think so?”
“Oh ya, although …”
His right eyebrow rose with interest, and he crossed his arms over his chest defensively.
“You have a little bit of an edgier look about you and I like the fact that we didn’t grow up together.” She took a step closer but walked past him to an old well pump that still worked.
“Allow me,” he said, his hand covering hers.
She cupped her hands as he pumped, and cool water filled her hands, which she used to wash some of the sweat off her hands and cool her neck. Then he did the same.
“You’ve got the same easy southern charm as the Hart boys, but only one eye matches theirs,” she said looking up into his questioning gaze.
“Did any of my brothers ever try to kiss you?”
“Nope, not a one. Levi and I were the closest in age, but he was always more like an older-brother type.”
Renn’s rough hand gripped her face. “If I try to kiss you, are you going to get mad at me?”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Her hand moved up to cover his and every inch of her leaned into him.
She couldn’t resist wanting this man any more than she could avoid taking her next breath.
And when his head dipped down, and his firm lips captured hers in a kiss, she was lost in the moment.
It was the kind of kiss that made her crave more and tasted like a whole lot of trouble all at once.
If there was any kind of gossip in this town, she always landed right in it. What was she doing?
Pulling away with her eyes still closed, she ended the kiss. “I’m not looking for anything from you.”
“Me either.” His thumb swiped over her bottom lip. “But it looks like we found each other anyway.”
She couldn’t help but smile. Of course, this gorgeous mama’s boy with manners and a love of horses would stumble into her life.
The week after she ended a doomed engagement and just when she needed to focus on her horses.
But if she didn’t stay completely focused and sell some stud services, she was going to lose the family ranch.
There was always a fork in the road for Miranda: do the sensible thing or the wild one.
But she had to choose herself this time.
It was Renn who ended the physical contact and stepped away. “Alright, tell me your plan for this ranch and these beasts,” Renn said. Deciding for her at least for the time being, they weren’t going to keep kissing.
“What plan?”
“The stud farm. I know you’ve thought about it. You’ve got two impressive studs, a new Mustang, and six mares, two already pregnant. Seems like that’s the long game. So, what’s the immediate goal?”
She clenched her teeth, unsure how much she should say. She hadn’t told anyone her big dream.
“Beautiful Beast Thoroughbreds will produce the most agile, strong horses in the state of Georgia.”
He eyed her and smiled. “I believe you, now how are you going to convince the buyers?”
Miranda gave the short version of her business plan.
She would breed her studs for the next two years while her mares produced one to two foals each per year.
She would train those ponies herself and then sell them at auctions.
But she would also offer breeding services with her studs if a ranch had their own mares they would like to breed.
Each pony would sell at auction for a nice price until everyone in the thoroughbred horse business knew her name.
“And your studs have the pedigree to demand the high price?”
“For as reckless as my father was, he knew horses. When he acquired Beast, he said he’d finally done it, he’d obtained the most impressive thoroughbred horse in the country.
He would breed him and develop a stock of thoroughbreds.
Beast’s lineage is traced back to a dozen Breeders’ Cup wins. My daddy actually won him in a bet.”
Renn whistled. “Sounds like a very well thought out plan. But why do I get the feeling this wasn’t your life plan?”
“I never thought I’d inherit this ranch so soon, if ever.
My daddy always said this business was too cut-throat for women.
I went to undergrad for business but minored in animal husbandry.
Against my father’s wishes, I’ve been obsessed with horses ever since I was old enough to read the stats at every horse race in the country. And I trained Thor myself.”
She didn’t know why it was so easy to talk to Renn. Maybe it was because he seemed genuinely interested or because she knew he wouldn’t be sticking around long.
“I don’t think it matters what your father said, it’s your land now and these are your horses. They may be born thoroughbreds but it’s the training and care that makes the difference. As my mama would’ve said, you’ve got the touch.”
Miranda nodded. “Which means if I mess it up it’s all my failure too.”
“You’re not going to fail. It may not go as smoothly as you’d like, but you’re too stubborn to fail. You’ve got too much grit.”
“I guess if you aren’t busy and want to tag along for my showing at the end of the week, that’d be okay.”
He nodded. “Sounds fun.”
“But this.” She waved her hand between them. “Isn’t going to be a thing. I need to focus on business and not be distracted by some wayward cowboy.”
Renn just nodded. “Ya, I need to figure out a few things with my brothers so I guess I shouldn’t be getting distracted by a beautiful cowgirl either.”
“So, we agree, friends?” Miranda said, holding out her hand.
Renn gripped hers and nodded. “Friends, for now.”
But the cascade of shivers that ran over her and the warmth pooling low in her belly as he held her hand a bit too long made one thing clear. There was no way they were ever going to be just friends.