Page 34 of Captured by the Billionaire Cowboy (The Secret Billionaires #7)

Several horses stomped, drawing her attention. Freshly groomed, the gleaming animals roamed the broad open space, exercising and enjoying the mild morning. How different than the horses she’d first saved, healthy and happy and lively. All except Jasmine.

Ciara frowned as she regarded the sick mare, which stood alone, huddled against a corner. The ill palomino continued to eat and drink poorly, more restless by the day. Recent tests revealed nothing, which meant more tests, more waiting and more worrying.

“Everything is going to be all right,” her uncle’s warm voice interrupted her reverie, and she turned as Frank placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

The perceptive man could always tell when she was upset.

“You’re doing all you can, and worrying won’t help either of you.

How about distracting yourself by updating us on the contest? ”

She dragged her gaze away from the horse, brightening slightly at the reminder of their success.

“It’s great. We already have enough money to renovate the administrative building and the back stables.

The entry deadline for the contest has passed, but we still haven’t announced a winner.

I’m trying to find a way to soften the loss for those who didn’t win. ”

“I have an idea,” Davey proclaimed. “Why don’t you give them all a complimentary retreat?”

Ciara smiled at the youngest Byrne brother. “Those donations made the horse rescue possible, and I’m grateful to every person who contributed. Unfortunately, we won’t have any money left for the horses if we give everyone a free vacation.”

Davey scrunched his face in concentration, then gasped. “What if you don’t give them a free stay, but a discount instead? Then they won’t feel like they lost money. It would also give them a reason to come.”

Ciara slowly straightened. “That’s a great consolation prize.”

Davey beamed, while Spencer tapped on his tablet. “Something like that would be easy to implement. I’ll write the copy for the website, and we can randomly draw the winner. If you’re ready, we can announce the lucky person online today.”

Ciara clapped her hands. Everything was coming together. “Sounds great.”

“Sounds bad,” Davey declared.

Ciara smothered a chuckle. Somehow her one-woman horse rescue had turned into a committee including all the Byrne brothers. It was all the better for it. “Is there a problem?”

“You can’t just announce it on the website.” Davey lifted both hands. “That’s so boring! You should have a big party.”

Ciara maintained a neutral expression, so he would know she took his ideas seriously. “A party may be a little much for announcing the winner, especially when he or she is unlikely to be present. The entrants came from all over the country.”

“The party doesn’t have to be just for the contest,” he persisted. “It can be for everything.”

She opened her mouth, yet the denial caught on her lips.

A party solely for the raffle would be too costly, but for the horse rescue’s launch…

“I was considering options for our grand opening, something more exciting than simply proclaiming we’re here.

Something to draw attention, announce our presence to the community.

” Ideas swirled in her mind, possibilities and opportunities.

“We could invite people to the ranch for food, games and entertainment. Visitors could meet the horses and learn about adoption. We could even have presentations and workshops.”

Uncail Frank nodded. “You’ll have to keep the more introverted horses away from the crowds, but with a ranch this large, it shouldn’t be hard. You could move them to the far stables for the day. Most of the horses are very social and love to be around people.”

“And some might get adopted,” Quinn broke in. “You could even use it as another fundraiser.”

“Local businesses might donate prizes,” Frank pointed out. “Grandma Leigh often contributes baked goods to charity events, and other businesses may supply products or gift certificates to promote their businesses.”

“We could always purchase prizes, too.” Ciara got a thick pad from the drawer and started a list. “Of course, there aren’t a lot of people nearby, but it would give us some local publicity.”

“If we put it on the Internet, the entire world could take part.” Spencer typed on the tablet, then turned it, displaying a picture of their social media page. “Some out-of-towners might consider adopting a horse or attending a retreat.”

The opportunities grew a thousandfold. “You could do that?”

“Sure,” he confirmed. “I can set up live streaming on social media and our website. You could also give some sort of introductory offer for people who sign up for a retreat during the festival.”

“This is going to be amazing.” Ciara took Davey’s hand, and he flushed with pleasure. “Thank you so much. This is the perfect way to start our horse rescue.”

“Speaking of the horse rescue, have you decided on a name?” Davey wrinkled his nose. “You need something fancier than The Horse Rescue.”

Ciara laughed. “Chelsea just asked the same thing. I’ve been so busy, I haven’t considered it. I want it to be special.”

Davey tapped his chin, then his eyes lit up. “How about we make another contest? Let people vote on it.”

The idea wasn’t half-bad. The last contest had elicited a great deal of support for the ranch, and another could do the same.

“It’s possible, but what if someone suggests something ridiculous?

Other people might vote for it because it’s funny, and then we’ll be stuck with an awful name like Horsie Horse-Mart. ”

“Or Fancy Aardvark Horse Rescue,” Spencer joked.

“Or Greasy Avocado Horse Rescue,” Quinn added.

“Or The Great Skunk Horse Rescue,” she said.

The men stared at her. “Who would make a skunk rescue?”

“No one! Definitely not me.” Time to move on. “Anyways, a silly name would definitely be a problem.”

“Why don’t we have multiple rounds?” Frank suggested.

“In the first, people submit their ideas. With all the interest in the rescue, we should get plenty of entries. When that round closes, we’ll pick our top choices and put the finalists on the website, so people can choose their favorite.

We’ll get a great name, and people will feel like they have input. ”

Ciara loved it. “That’s a great idea.”

“Can Fancy Aardvark be one of the top five?”

“Or Greasy Avocado?”

“The Great Skunk Rescue is growing on me.”

“No!” Ciara exclaimed. Everyone laughed.

Even Frank wore a smile. “So the big question is when do you want to do this?”

“As soon as possible,” a deep voice intoned.

Ciara pivoted, as did the others, as Rowan seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

No one else blushed, however, or melted under his smoldering gaze.

The others did look between the two of them with varying shades of amusement, Davey the most of all.

Did they sense the mysterious connection that grew more powerful every day?

The urge to go to him was nearly irresistible, yet she fought it.

She didn’t want anyone getting the wrong – or right – idea.

Only Rowan came right next to her, and everyone noticed. He brushed her side as he leaned against the fence, casting heat through her body. “We should take advantage of the publicity from the raffle. Several horses still need families, and we can pursue more rescues if you’d like.”

Rescue more horses? Oh, yes. Better than diamonds, flowers or any other gift she could imagine.

Just this morning, another urgent call to action popped up on the Internet.

If someone didn’t act soon, kill buyers would swoop in and grab the neglected horses for their grisly trade.

With the money from the raffle, she could do something about it. “I’d love that.”

“Talk to me before you purchase any horses. The owners who abuse animals are not generally upstanding, and transactions don’t always go as planned.” Rowan’s expression darkened. “I’ve had… heard of some issues.”

The correction didn’t fool Ciara. He meant he’d had some issues. Clearly, he still wasn’t comfortable sharing the good he did with others. “Not that all is settled, should we do the opening in a couple of weeks?”

Ciara stared at him. “A couple of weeks? That’s not nearly enough time.”

“You underestimate him.” Quinn patted his brother’s back. Rowan stiffened, but didn’t move away. “This man has magic.”

“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Rowan’s voice was stiff, uncomfortable. “We should take advantage of the coverage from the contest. We also don’t want to wait too long to post the winner, or the entrants may get upset.”

Ciara turned to her uncail. “Do you think everything could be ready by then?”

“I don’t see why not.” He shrugged. “The renovations are mostly simple, like new carpeting and fixtures, which should be completed this week. Almost everything is already in place. I believe we could accommodate guests in two weeks.”

This was happening quicker than a sneaky leprechaun could snatch his pot of gold. “All right, I’ll contact the potential customers to see if anyone is ready to reserve. And if they are…” She took a deep breath. “We’ll do it.”

“I can call if you’d like.” As always, Spencer offered to help, as he tapped his tablet. “I already have their contact info. I know you’re busy with the horses and…” Spencer’s eyes darted to Rowan. “Other things.”

She blushed. “I have a lot of work with the horses . But if you get overwhelmed, let me know so I can take over.” He was unlikely to take the offer, but she had to make it.

“I have to leave.”

“What?” Ciara couldn’t stop the surprise from her voice, or the emotion behind it, at Rowan’s sudden statement. Disappointment, unhappiness and something far stronger blazed. He was leaving?

“Not permanently.” He studied her carefully. “Several matters at the main ranch require my personal attention. I’d rather go now before the rescue officially opens.” He gazed at her, with a hundred unsaid words.

She was as relieved as when they’d located the last of the escaped skunks from the garden party. Actually, more relieved since the unfortunate creature had taken residence in Mrs. Murphy’s… She pushed the memory from her mind. The stalwart woman had not been pleased.

Ciara shifted closer. “When are you leaving?”

“Right away.”

She frowned deeply. Even the thought of a temporary separation brought disappointment. This. Was. Bad.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said softly.

“Take as long as you need.”

She didn’t mean it.

Rowan left soon after, as did the rest of the men, and Ciara threw herself into working with the horses.

She spent time with each animal, grooming, caring for and simply providing companionship.

Most were healthy and happy, and even small amounts of time brought astounding progress.

She saved Jasmine for last, for she always lingered at her girl’s side.

“How are you doing, sweetie?” She approached slowly, so as not to spook the skittish animal.

It didn’t matter. The horse whinnied softly, walking stiffly and gazing with long, unfocused eyes.

The veterinarian had given Ciara the option to do more tests, but they would be invasive, with the risk of significant complications.

Every procedure traumatized Jasmine, a daunting prospect when the current symptoms could be psychosomatic.

After a long discussion, he suggested waiting with close monitoring before taking further steps.

Ciara reached out to pet the horse’s flank, forced down her disappointment as she shied away. So instead she simply stayed next to her, singing Uncail Frank’s favorite lullabies, words of love and affection for the beautiful palomino. Promising she was going to be okay.

Only could she keep that promise?

Finally, she rose to leave, smoothing down her dusty clothing.

There was much to do if they were officially opening in two weeks.

After a long goodbye to Jasmine, she returned to the house to tackle her massive to-do list. She worked diligently for a few hours, before Teara arrived to discuss details of the bed and breakfast. They worked for the rest of the afternoon and then over dinner with the Byrne brothers, on everything from horse adoption to marketing to menus.

Even though Rowan wasn’t there, his presence lingered.

Thus progressed the rest of that day, and the day after that. The next few passed in a flurry of activity. So many details required attention, ten tasks added for every one she completed. The others helped tremendously, and she never would have gotten it all done without their assistance.

But she still missed Rowan.

He called every night, just before bed. The first night, they spoke for an hour, the second for two.

She lost track of time on the third night.

On the fourth morning, Ciara awoke in a particularly good mood, brightened by a brilliant sun and a world full of hope.

The plans for the horse rescue were progressing splendidly, ideas turning into reality at a dizzying pace.

People had shown interest in the retreat, and not only did they book guests for the first week, but they filled the entire month , with reservations going into the holiday season.

Teara officially started working a few days early to prepare for the upcoming visitors.

Best of all, Rowan would be arriving home that night.

He’d only been gone a few days, yet it seemed far longer.

Did he miss her as much as she missed him?

On the phone, they eschewed any talk of feelings and emotions, never bringing up their “relationship.” Yet its presence lingered, even if it remained unsaid.

She dressed carefully that morning, donning an off-the-shoulder white eyelet top and a pair of dark blue jeans.

Instead of her typical ponytail, she used silver-tone combs to sweep her hair back, framing her face with soft waves.

She even wore jewelry, a small silver necklace depicting a wild horse.

Sitting at the ornate whitewashed vanity, she opened her laptop to conduct her typical morning routine: reading e-mails, browsing social media and catching up on the day’s news.

She responded to a few messages and took care of some business matters.

Then she visited her social media sites. That’s when everything changed.

It was happening again.