Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Miranda
The Stud
The arena was filling up fast and she recognized all the big names in the horse-breeding business by their fancy signs and rigs.
Not to mention their gorgeously presented horses standing in custom-made stalls they must have brought with them.
Meanwhile she only had a logo on her truck because Missy had said she needed something.
She didn’t have any other branding and was using the rented basic stalls for Beast and Thor.
Renn had left with the truck to get the windshield fixed but she was pretty sure just about every vendor and breeder already saw them pull up with a damaged rig.
And with Renn gone, now she would be managing both horses saddling, showings, and cooldowns alone.
Each breeder was expected to show their horses this afternoon, and again in the morning before the auction started tomorrow afternoon.
They were given a set time to exercise their horses, like a beauty contest for horses.
Buyers could range from ranch wranglers or owners, and private horse brokers that would fill the arena throughout the day.
Which meant her first buyer could already be watching her.
So, she got to work. Setting up everything and keeping an eye on the big clock hanging in the stadium where each horse would be exercised.
She’d be more than ready when it was her turn to parade Thor and Beast out for everyone to see.
If there was one thing she wasn’t worried about it was their pedigree and prowess. She knew they would impress.
“I heard someone planned to show a horse they didn’t even breed, but I didn’t believe it,” a deep voice said.
Miranda’s head shot over to the stall door where a man in a big white Stetson leaned in.
“You know I should sue you for any sales you make on that horse,” he accused as he pointed at Beast.
She tightened her leather foot strap for the saddle she had just put on Beast. Then smoothed her hand down his snout. He was agitated.
“This is a Beautiful Beast stud, and I have the pedigree and ownership to prove it. His sires will speak for themselves.”
“We’ll see about that, little lady. You have a lot to learn about breeding if you think you can waltz in here and take credit for that pedigree.”
“You just make sure you keep your eyes wide open, mister. But if you slander my horses, you’ll be the one getting sued.”
“Your daddy stole that horse. He’s a Bixley breed and everyone in this arena will know it.”
“My daddy acquired him fair and square, which is how we own him and can breed him.”
“Is there a problem, Ms. Sutton?” Renn’s gravelly voice filled the small space and she instantly felt relieved.
“No, Mr. Bixley was just leaving.” She moved toward the stall door, but the large man didn’t move until Renn stepped forward to open the door for her, basically pushing the man back with the cold metal stall door.
With one last nasty look the man strutted out.
“Already making friends?”
“His brother was the one who lost Beast in a bet to my father. He was trying to claim we stole Beast. He says I can’t breed a horse I didn’t own.”
Renn looked at his watch. “You only have ten minutes until your first dance in that arena. You don’t have time to worry about old feuds you aren’t a part of.”
“Right.”
Renn helped her up in the saddle, then handed her new hat. “Time for the Beast to show off.”
She led Beast to the holding area, and she sat with her back stiff, head held high.
She was wearing all black and sat proud on her dark horse.
She hoped Beast could feel her positive energy and patted his neck just before it was their turn to trot out into the empty arena.
The announcer called her business name and listed Beast’s pedigree, and she could feel all eyes on them.
After the first two passes around the circular red-dirt-filled arena, she risked a glance into the stands, where she saw dozens of different ranch representatives or teams watching them.
Any one of them could be looking for their next stud to either breed with their mares or purchase the colts she had already bred.
Once her colts were born, she would bring one to the shows to prove her stud was producing strong, muscular, fast foals.
Until then she just needed a few buyers for breeding services to get the business up and running.
Before she left the arena with Beast, she gave the spectators one final demonstration.
She had choreographed a routine to showcase his agility, speed, and ability to learn.
The crowd was quiet, and she hoped that meant they were watching.
At the end of his allotted time, she sprinted him back to the beginning, where Renn waited at the gate with a big smile.
“Doesn’t get much prettier than that,” Renn said.
She couldn’t tell if he meant her, Beast, or both of them together. A surge of excitement had her grinning from ear to ear. Beast had done well and Thor would be next. Renn led them back to their stalls and they quickly prepped her to switch over to Thor. Then Renn would handle cooling Beast down.
“I’m worried that Mr. Bixley will spend the next two days smearing my stud’s pedigree.”
“That comes with the business, but the serious buyers won’t be swayed. Just focus on what you can control.”
She nodded as he helped her up into the saddle on Thor.
Then it was time for her to head back out into the arena and show off all her hard work over the last two years.
Like Beast, Thor was a large dark-haired stud but with one white stripe down his snout and even more energy.
Power radiated out of him, and the lights of the arena seemed to make him even more excited.
It was like he knew it was his chance to show off.
When she got back to the stall, Renn was waiting and helped her again.
“That was perfect,” he said with encouragement.
“I forgot to ask how you made out with the windshield?”
“Fixed and I checked into the hotel earlier, but they only had one room left.”
“I was actually thinking I better stay with the horses tonight, just in case. I didn’t like the way that Mr. Bixley seemed so adamant about Beast being stolen.”
“But you have the cocktail party, and I don’t like the idea of you sleeping in an arena with a bunch of ranch hands. I’ll stay with the horses. You stay at the hotel.”
“I can’t believe I thought I could do this on my own. Thank you for coming with me.” She stopped in her tracks and looked over Thor’s back at Renn, who was helping her cool him off.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“You knew I was going to need a second hand here, so why’d you let me think it was my own decision.”
“It was. You’re a smart, independent, strong woman, you don’t need me here.
But it sure as heck makes things a bit easier and less stressful, doesn’t it?
” he said, smiling as he lifted off Thor’s saddle like it was light as a feather.
His bicep muscles bulged. “Being back in this world is like going back in time when I would help my mama out. So maybe I should be thanking you.”
“We’re just two people helping each other?”
“Exactly.”
Standing in the dimly lit stall with just the sound of the horses stomping on crisp hay, Miranda wondered why she was fighting this feeling so much.
Nothing about Renn was wrong. He wasn’t trying to use her, and he’d been nothing but a helpful gentleman since she met him.
On instinct she took a step closer. “I could get really used to having you around.”
Renn reached out to grip her hip and pull her closer before he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.
He even kissed her like he knew exactly what she needed, and as his tongue swiped against her bottom lip she opened her mouth to his.
He tasted sweet and took control, holding her face in his hands as his tongue delved into her mouth with enough passion she wondered if he was going to devour her or how she’d resist. But then he was smiling with his lips pressed against hers.
“I could get more than used to everything about you, which honestly scares me.”
She pressed up to kiss him one more time, but they were interrupted by a woman with the event staff and a clipboard.
“Excuse me, Ms. Sutton, may I see your paperwork again on both the studs you’ve brought today?”
“Sure thing.” She eyed Renn who just turned his handsome smile on the serious woman.
If Miranda had to bet—it was having the same effect on the event staff as it was having on her. And neither of them stood a chance of not falling for it.
*
By the time Miranda made it to the cocktail hour, the entire event was buzzing with a rumor that Beast was stolen.
And yet she had several well-known ranches say they were interested in seeing more from her and they planned to bid on Thor at the auction if he were for sale.
She’d only planned on trying to sell breeder services, but if Thor could pull in a good price, it would prove BB produced top-rate horses.
Then maybe she should include him in the auction?
She’d left Renn at the arena with the horses but desperately wanted to talk to him now. Standing alone at the cocktail party as rumors and questions swirled had her wishing she asked Renn to come with her, or just stayed with him.
“Ms. Sutton, isn’t it?” A thin lanky older man with a black Stetson and black boots approached.
“Yes, sir.” She was pretty sure she knew who he was but waited to see what he wanted to say.
“I saw you dance your horses today. I plan to be there tomorrow for the auction, but wanted to make sure no one has made you an offer proactively that you plan to take.”
“No offer yet, sir, but several ranches have expressed interest in buying Thor or breeding services.”
“And you don’t plan on selling Beast?”
“No, sir, I honestly hadn’t planned on selling either, but as a newer business if the price is right on Thor, I’d be crazy not to take it.”