Page 15 of Take a Chance (Blue Creek Ranch #1)

“We have her!” Rachel shouted, then gasped.

“Sorry, sorry. That was loud. But oh, it was so sad and Mr. Trevino clearly was doing what was best for his horse. You could tell he was heartbroken about it. And Jaina mourned for days after he left. She just loved him and she was so well taken care of. Mom and I vowed we’d hold on to her as long as we could, hoping Mr. Trevino could come back and get her. ”

My heart leapt into my throat and I sat forward. “He’s here. Mal, I mean. He’s my newest employee. I want to come get Jaina and bring her home to Mal where she belongs.”

“Yes! Okay. Of course. You’re such a good guy, Crew. I’ll get her paperwork together.” She paused, and then added, “Now, about Rowdy…”

I laughed. Somehow I guessed that horse was aptly named. “Sure, tell me about the gelding.”

Rachel prattled on about the horse, but I was only half listening.

When I made the call, I didn’t think I’d have instant success.

I’d expected Rachel, or her mom Sarah, to have to call around and talk to other rescues in the tri-state area.

It was fate that Jaina happened to be at Charlie’s Chance, the place that I had a connection to.

Even more so that I had a relationship with them.

They knew me and knew that I was trustworthy.

If I said I was adopting Jaina to give her back to her rightful owner, then I meant it.

But still, I thought I’d have more time.

Time to talk to Mal about it and get him on board.

Let him know, eventually, that I’d found his horse and if he wanted, we could get her and bring her home.

But now I had a decision to make. I could either let Mal know this second or I could make it a surprise.

After I hung up with Rachel—and promised to take a look at Rowdy while I was there—I hailed my dad on the two-ways.

“What’s up, son of mine?”

“Wanna take a ride with me?”

Jaina was beautiful, a bay with white fetlocks and blaze, and loaded like a dream.

She didn’t seem to like Rowdy all that much so I was glad I’d brought the four horse trailer so I could put an empty space between them.

Rowdy was, indeed, appropriately named. He was spirited, but once he had a halter on, he loaded easy too.

“He only looks little because he’s next to Jaina, but I swear he’s at least fifteen two. With shoes on.” The last was said under her breath. Rachel handed over my copy of the paperwork. “He’s a good boy. Really. Just a little mischievous.”

“I already signed everything. You don’t have to keep up with the hard sell.”

Rachel laughed and held up her hands. “Okay. Okay. Just give him a chance, all right?”

I crossed my heart and Rachel gave a laugh that came up from her toes.

She went over to the windows on the trailer so she could say goodbye to both the horses and I turned to where my dad and Sarah were deep in conversation.

Dad knew Sarah’s husband, Charlie, for years.

When cancer took Charlie, his wife and daughter opened the rescue in his honor.

We’d fostered a few horses for them over the years, and if they had a particularly problematic horse, either behavioral or due to abuse, they called on Hawk.

Dad finished his goodbyes, we both climbed into the cab of the truck, and I pointed us toward home. We had about three hours to go, which put us rolling back onto Blue Creek sometime after seven.

We rode in silence for a while, only the sounds of the country music on the radio, filling the cab. When I glanced in the sideview mirror, I caught a glimpse of Rowdy’s nose.

“Oh shit,” I muttered, and immediately slowed down to pull onto the shoulder. “Damn horse unlatched the damn window.”

Dad let out a bark of laughter and hopped out as soon as I stopped.

By the time I got my door open, he was already nudging Rowdy’s head back inside.

I rummaged in the console for the locks that we never used because our horses weren’t dumb enough to try and open the windows on the trailer.

Dad locked it up, and we both watched in fascination as the latch jiggled a little.

But it held. We’d probably make it back in one piece now.

Dad was still chuckling when we got back on our way. After a few minutes, Dad spoke up.

“It’s really kind, what you’re doing.”

“It’s the Gigi Fern way,” I intoned, making it sound like a chore. Dad smacked my arm but he was laughing too. I shot him a glance. “Say whatever you’re not saying.”

“You just don’t usually get invested in people this quickly. That’s all.”

I checked the mirrors to make sure everything was good before we merged onto the highway. “What’s that mean?”

“Nothing bad. I just know you, son. And it usually takes you longer to warm up to people. A horse rescue mission is more like a three-month endeavor for you. Not three days.”

I rolled my eyes. “A man needs his horse, Dad.”

“You’re right.” He held up his hands and changed the subject. “So who’s going in the auction? I know you were talking about King. Anyone else?”

For the next three hours, we talked ranch business.

Who was sold and who needed a buyer. Who would go into the auction and who we would keep.

I was hoping Imelda Staunton had a filly so we could keep her.

And even though Vivien was only four months old, Demi was already assessing her for the show pen.

Things were quiet when we made it home. Most everyone was gone for the day, but I’d asked Wy to keep Mal at the barn.

We’d picked up a rescue after all, that part wasn’t a lie, and even though anyone could have gotten Rowdy settled, Wy had come up with the ploy that she wanted to show Mal how we did it.

Wy was waiting outside Barn 3 when we rolled up. Her face was alight and she nodded and pointed, indicating that Mal was inside.

I opened the doors on the trailer and hopped up. I spoke softly to Jaina as I unhitched her and then I had to back her out since she was too big to turn around. She had no problems with that, barely even stumbling. The lead rope in hand, I led her inside and down the aisle.

“Mal?” I called.

His head popped out of one of the empty stalls. It took him a second. His mouth dropped open and I heard a clang, probably of some tool hitting the stall wall. He stepped forward, eyes locked on Jaina.

“What did you do?”