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Lori couldn’t argue given that was her stock answer when anyone asked how she was. “Cash is fine too. He made his irritation known when we stopped, but he’s been quiet since.”

“How quiet?” Beth asked. “Could he have collapsed? Can you check on him?”

“I haven’t heard anything to suggest a twelve-hundred-pound horse hit the trailer floor. The earth would literally have moved beneath me.”

Beth grumbled. “Still…can’t you just take a peek?”

“I’ve been told not to get out of the truck, so I really can’t, Beth,” Lori said. “But I’m certain he’s all right.”

“How long will it be before Gabe gets to you?”

Lori checked to see that Gabe had sent her a message estimating her arrival time and quickly did the math. “Just over thirty minutes.”

“Should I come and keep Cash and you company?”

Lori saw flashing lights in her mirrors as a patrol car pulled in behind her. “No need. It looks like a police officer is about to do that. I’ll text you when we’re on our way so you can be ready to unload Cash. I’m sure he’ll be very pleased to see you.”

“Okay,” Beth said slowly, clearly unconvinced.

Lori ended the call and wound her window down as the officer approached her. Just as Gabe had predicted, the policewoman checked the security of the horse trailer and said she’d wait until her tow arrived. Lori thanked her, feeling much safer for both her and Cash when she saw the passing traffic move over into the fast lane due to the police officer’s presence. She dropped the passenger side window to encourage a light breeze through the car, then settled back into her seat to wait for Gabe to ride to her rescue in her shiny tow truck chariot.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Gabe slowed the truck to a gentle stop in the driveway of the Sanctuary, not wanting to freak out the horse in the back. She recognized Beth as she came running to the horse trailer. Beth gave them a short wave but didn’t stop and headed around the back of the vehicle. “More worried about the horse than you?”

Lori laughed. “She is devoted. Anyway, you seemed worried enough about me for all of us.”

Gabe cut the engine. “You wouldn’t believe the number of people who die in roadside crashes,” she said. “Couldn’t have that happen on my watch. I think that would be an official ‘bad friend’ stamp, wouldn’t it?”

“It definitely would,” Lori said, “but thank you for being concerned about me anyway. It felt good.”

“Glad to be of service.” Gabe hopped out of the cab and went around the back to see how Beth was doing before she fell any deeper into Lori’s soft gaze and said something she really shouldn’t.

Beth had already unlocked the trailer and was at Cash’s side. “He seems calm; you must’ve driven pretty steady.”

“I always do when I have precious cargo,” Gabe said.

Lori smiled brightly as she rounded the horse trailer to stand opposite Gabe, having obviously heard what she’d said. And there was that soft look she could get lost in again.

“Did Ellery say anything else about his recovery plan?” Beth asked.

“You know Ellery—everything was detailed in the report she emailed.”

Beth uncoupled Cash and began to back him out. “I printed out the diet sheet and gave everyone a copy as well as pinning it to the wall in the feed house.”

Gabe nodded toward Lori; she appreciated anyone that dedicated to their work.

“I’ll get these shoes off him, saddle him up, and take him for a gentle ride,” Beth said. “I bet he’s desperate to feel the wind in his mane after being cooped up at the clinic for nearly two weeks.” She patted Cash’s neck and looked at Lori. “Diesel and Madonna need some exercise too. Why don’t you and Gabe join us?”

Gabe held up her hands and shook her head. “Horseback riding is one skill I’ve never mastered.” And if the horses Beth just mentioned were anything like the size of Cash, she didn’t think she should try.

Lori narrowed her eyes. “Never mastered or never tried?”

Gabe frowned. How did Lori reach into her mind like that? “The closest I’ve gotten to having something that powerful between my legs is when I’ve ridden those crazy mechanical bulls, and that never worked out so good.”

Lori raised her hand to her mouth as if she was covering a laugh. “I imagine you’re used to being the powerful one.”

Gabe wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole. If this was how Lori talked to her as a friend, it was going to make sticking to her guns a damn sight harder.