Page 6 of Captured by the Billionaire Cowboy (The Secret Billionaires #7)

Her stomach pitched. Had Rowan already ordered them taken away?

Fear quickened her pace, as her feet echoed in the stone hallway like hooves down the stretch.

She had to find her uncail before the workers whisked her horses to some unknown destination…

or worse. She made brief stops at Frank’s room, the kitchen and the main common rooms, yet the older man was nowhere to be seen.

She burst out the front door, into the brilliant sunshine and already heated air, the lush grassy lawns and meticulously manicured greenery.

Her uncail wasn’t in the field, as she walked, jogged and then ran toward the stables.

A chorus of whinnying pierced the air, eliciting pure fear. After their neglect, the animals were vulnerable, physically, mentally, and emotionally. If the handlers weren’t gentle, the trauma might become irreversible.

The majestic stables rose before her, its rich wood angles soaring against the cerulean sky.

In the midst of the morning birds’ song came the light cadence of an old military hymn, one Uncail Frank often hummed.

Relief released taut muscles as she strode through the wide open door.

“Uncail Frank, what are they doing with my horses?”

She froze.

It was not Uncail Frank.

He was far too young. And gorgeous. And muscular. And still really, really gorgeous.

With blond hair and the bluest eyes she had ever seen, the tall, well-built man epitomized an old time hero, a powerful cowboy in his prime.

He wore a white button-down shirt and blue jeans, with the muscular body to fill them out to perfection.

Tanned golden from the sun, he stood with stealthy grace, undeniable command and power.

He looked vaguely familiar, yet he must be one of the ranch hands.

“Good morning.” His voice was deep and soothing, almost mesmerizing. Focus. She was here to fight for the horses, not a man.

“Good morning.” She glanced around the stables, but they were alone, except for the animals. Had she imagined the singing?

“These people work for the ranch.”

“What? Oh.” She remembered the question she’d blurted out when she arrived. “Sorry. I thought you were someone else. I figured Rowan called them.”

Blue eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly. Did he know who she was, and why the horses were here?

She continued before he could respond, “Frank was alone when I arrived yesterday. The horses are mine. They’ve been neglected and were about to be…

” She sucked in a breath, fought for strength. “They need gentle care.”

He gazed at her for a moment more, his expression deep, pensive, searching . Heat painted her skin under the handsome man’s perusal. “Of course,” he finally replied. “We’re taking every precaution with them. The people were called to deal with them.”

Her heart stopped… then staggered to a start.

“That won’t be necessary. I’m going to search for suitable homes this morning.

” She’d exhausted her address book yesterday, but somehow she’d find a way.

Perhaps she could find multiple ranches willing to take a horse or two.

No matter what, she wouldn’t abandon them.

“You misunderstand.” He stepped towards her, and her stomach fluttered, amidst the inexplicable urge to escape. For a moment, she was as skittish as Jasmine. “We’re not here to evict the horses. We’re trying to help them.” He paused. “And you.”

Her breath hitched. “You are? Why?” She shouldn’t look a proverbial gift horse in the mouth, yet she had to make certain he meant what he claimed. She was the horses’ sole protector.

He hesitated, as if unsure of how to answer.

Finally, he spoke,“The sooner the animals find homes, the sooner we can focus on other affairs.” He’d been about to say something else.

Perhaps a purer motivation, a true desire to help the horses?

Yet his tone remained neutral. “The workers are exercising the horses. Most are in the paddocks, where they can stretch their legs and enjoy physical activity. The vet evaluated them earlier.”

She tensed. None of the horses seemed seriously injured, but without a professional examination she couldn’t be certain. She’d planned to ask one of the doctors from her job to visit. “What did he say?”

His expression softened. “They’re fine. Malnourished and dirty, clearly neglected, but nothing a little rest and a lot of food won’t solve.

As for emotional trauma, that will take longer, but most seem pretty resilient.

This pretty girl needs the most help of all.

” He gestured to Jasmine, who cocked her head to the side, warily listening to the conversation.

Ciara breathed pure relief. Physically, the horses would recover. She would do everything in her power to ensure they healed emotionally. “I’m grateful they’re all right.” She paused, and an awkward silence stretched. “I need to find Rowan. Do you know where he is?”

He leaned back against the railing, folded his arms across his chest. “Do you know Rowan?”

What is getting warmer in here? “We were friends a long time ago.”

“Oh yeah? What do you remember about him?”

Heat traveled from her scalp down her neck and through her entire body. What was the matter with her? “Not much,” she fibbed. “We were both kids. I thought he was cool.”

“I see.” A slow smile spread across his face. It transformed his features, revealing hidden dimples below high cheekbones. Before he had been attractive, now he was gorgeous. “You had a little crush, didn’t you?”

“I did not.” Liar. “But even if I did–” Why had she just said that? “It was a long time ago.” Sorta. “We’re both adults now. He might not even remember me.” Well, that was a disaster.

“I’m sure he remembers you.” His eyes glinted in the sunlight. “But are you sure you remember him?”

She officially didn’t like this man. Well, she wanted not to like him. How do you not like someone who clearly adored horses?

“Ciara?”

She started at the call that originated from outside, then relaxed as she recognized the speaker.

“That’s my uncail.” She took a few steps, hesitated.

“You’re not going to share your incorrect assumptions with Rowan, right?

The crush I didn’t have.” Of course, Rowan knew she had a crush on him; they had, after all, dated.

Yet after all that had happened, the reminder was not welcome.

He seemed to be fighting to maintain a straight face. “That might be a little difficult.” She glared, and he raised both hands. “I promise I won’t say anything.”

Frank called again. She took a step on the dusty ground, pretending not to notice as the ranch hand stared after her.

Then he was in motion again. “Hold on a minute, Cowgirl,” he called, but she neither stopped nor looked back.

The world brightened as she reached the double-height entrance, just as Frank entered the stable.

He strode to her. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Am I glad to see you,” Ciara grasped the older man in a big hug. Warmth surrounded her, from the man who had been like a second father. Yet all too soon, the tension returned. Too much was at stake.

She pulled back, nodded to the stables. “This morning has been quite a surprise.”

“I’m sure you noticed the workers.” Frank tipped his hat at a passing handler. “Rowan arranged everything.”

“That’s… surprising.” Accepting the horses had been kind, but providing care was beyond expectation.

She searched the field. “Do you know where he is? I want to thank him in person.” The thought tasted bitter, yet it was the right thing to do.

The past didn’t diminish his current assistance, or what it meant for the horses’ survival.

Footsteps boomed behind her, prickling Goose bumps on the back of her neck. She pivoted, but it was just the cowboy from earlier. She turned back to her uncail, who was now staring in clear confusion. He gestured behind her.

She twisted once more to the cowboy, yet he also didn’t speak. Frank looked as if she’d taken a vicious spill off a racing stallion, the ranch hand the same. Frank gestured again, “He’s right here.”

Ciara looked back at the cowboy. “The only person here is… is…”

He smiled.

She frowned.

He winked.

Her heart skidded.

Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No. Oh. No.

Ciara closed her eyes. Opened them. How had she not seen it? “Rowan,” she breathed.

“Hello, Cowgirl.”

The world froze, or at least hers did, at the person who had once been her closest confidant, a man where the boy had once been.

Now that she knew his identity, it seemed so obvious.

Maturity had darkened his hair and defined his features, yet he possessed the same piercing blue eyes, the same intense manner.

Of course, the last time she’d seen him he’d been a tall, lanky teen, like a colt with limbs too large for his body.

Time had filled him out to perfection, turned him into a man.

A very handsome, powerful man.

“You look different.” She clamped her mouth shut.

“Do I?” he said softly. “So do you.”

Heat emblazoned her. A horse stumped in the background, recapturing her focus. She couldn’t get distracted from the animals who depended on her. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

He showed no remorse. “At first, I figured you knew my identity. By the time I realized you didn’t, I didn’t want to interrupt you.”

She winced. He didn’t want to interrupt her admitting to her childhood crush. No wonder he couldn’t keep the revelation from the object of her affection. He was the object of her affection. “About what I said…”

His eyes twinkled. “Yes?”

“You got the wrong idea.”

“Oh yeah?”

Yup. She didn’t have a little crush on him. It was massive. Gigantic. As large as that stallion who–