Page 43 of Take a Chance (Blue Creek Ranch #1)

“Back in two shakes,” Dad said, reining Talia around and giving her her head. The mare didn’t hesitate to take off, straight for Barn 3. She might think she was getting dinner, but she wouldn’t be mad when Dad grabbed the helmet from the tack room and headed out again.

“We’ll wait to see them off. Then we’ll go talk.” It wasn’t a question and Mal sighed and shifted on his feet.

“It’s not a big deal, Crew.” Mal’s words and tone didn’t match.

In that instant, I understood what was going on.

He wanted it to not be a big deal, but it actually was.

I was learning his tells, and that made me smug.

I wanted to know him inside out and backwards, and I was getting there. I knew better than to show it, though.

Dad returned at a trot this time and Payton yelled through the door that he’d be right out.

When he traipsed down the steps, he could barely carry the saddle bag Mom had given him.

I jogged over and took it from him, and while Mal got Payton’s helmet strapped onto his head, I settled the saddle bag over Talia’s rump and hooked it to the saddle.

Mal lifted Payton up, and Dad got the boy settled. Payton gripped the pommel and I was sure the excitement on his face was because he was going to see magpies and not that he was actually on a horse.

“We’ll be careful,” Dad promised, looking straight at Mal.

Mal nodded once and stepped back. Dad took the cue and headed off at an easy walk, though I knew he’d bump that up to a lope once they got past the paddocks. He’d take the straight route through the fields to the event barn and they’d be there in less than ten minutes.

“He’ll let us know if he needs Bluey for the trip back,” I said, hoping to ease some of his worry.

Mal nodded again and I was grateful when he leaned into me. I put my arm around him and he let out a tiny noise. I wanted to gather him close but he was holding himself too stiffly for that to be a good idea. Instead, I gave him a little nudge.

“Let’s walk. You start talking.”

He trailed along beside me but he didn’t immediately start speaking. I steered us toward the cabins, wanting to put this conversation firmly in the “personal” category. While I had no doubt he’d have been comforted if I led him to the barns, I needed him to know this had nothing to do with work.

We were halfway there when my impatience got the better of me. I figured I could prod a little. “What happened between picking up Payton, stopping at the library, and then getting home, Malachi?”

He stiffened further, and I wasn’t sure what part of the sentence made him react.

That I called it home? I thought he was starting to consider Blue Creek as his and Payton’s home.

That I used his full name? He never seemed to mind when I used it, but it occurred to me that was usually in a more intimate setting.

“The library,” he muttered, and there was something hurt in his tone. “Kathy said something.”

I couldn’t help the snort that escaped. “That busybody? Ignore anything she—”

“No, Crew. You don’t get it.” He pulled away almost violently and put distance between us. He crossed his arms over his chest and he wouldn’t look directly at me. “She said if she’d known the way to bag a Harrington was to go work on the ranch, she would have done it years ago.”

I frowned. “So?”

He let out a growl. “So people are going to think that I only came here to hook up with you. That I’m some lazy gold digger who doesn’t put in an honest day’s work. That I’m not worth….” He made another frustrated noise.

I cocked my head. “Who cares?”

“I care,” he ground out, his eyes flashing. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’ve always had everything. This great family and profitable ranch and stability. Who can touch the Harringtons? She thinks I’m just hitching my wagon to yours because that’s the only way I amount to anything.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said, and I knew I was using the same tone that I used on a wild animal, but in that moment, Mal mimicked one.

I reached out, but he stepped back quickly.

Okay, no touching. I held up my hands. “I know that’s not the truth.

I know how hard you work and what you are capable of.

Your competence is what drew me to you. Us, our relationship, has absolutely nothing to do with you working on the ranch. It’s just how we met.”

He narrowed his gaze. “But that’s not what it looks like to everyone else.”

“I can’t control other people’s reactions.

” I wanted to scoff again, dismiss this for how silly it was.

But clearly Mal’s old demons were surfacing.

I hadn’t even known they were there. Not this deep and this big.

“But I know better. You know better. That’s the important part.

And just as important is that everyone here knows better. ”

I made my tone firm because I really had to hit that point home. I needed him to see exactly how my family and the staff at Blue Creek Ranch viewed Malachi Trevino. He was amazing and competent and so fucking talented. He was beautiful and loving and kind.

“My farm failed,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “The shame in that—”

“Is not yours to bear,” I nearly yelled. I took a breath. “It was your father’s bad decisions. You did the best you could with what you had. And when you had to make the hardest decision and sold, you pulled yourself up. You put yourself out there. And landed another job.”

“And then I immediately hooked up with one of the owners at the new job. Do you know how that looks?” His snort was self-deprecating.

“It wasn’t immediately. And it’s certainly not a hook up.

” I kept the growl out of my voice but only just. I stalked closer and this time, Mal didn’t back up.

Instead, he lifted his head and stared me in the eye.

I saw it then, the desperation and worry, but also how badly he wanted to belong.

It was all over his expression. I smiled slowly.

“We’re in a relationship, baby. One I hope is going to last a very, very, very long time.

And the world outside this ranch is going to think whatever they’re going to think.

Even if they know the truth, they’ll form their own opinions. But we can’t worry about that.”

I pushed into his space and when I reached for him, he allowed it. I took him into my arms, tugged him all the way against my chest, and though there was still tension in his body, it was lessening. I kissed his hair and kept my lips there as I continued.

“You belong to the Harringtons now. You and Payton. This is your home. And there is no shame, at all or in any way, as to how that happened. More importantly,” I grabbed his chin and forced his face up so he could see I meant every word I was about to say.

“You’re mine. I’m falling in love with you, Malachi.

Let the shame and anger go, okay? You’re right where you belong. ”

Mal’s eyes were wide, disbelief there. But hope too. I wasn’t sure which emotion would win. Then he pushed up and kissed me, hard and fast, and full of everything he was feeling. I let him take the lead, gave him everything he wanted, so he could understand just how much I cared about him.

When we broke the kiss, we were both panting. I cupped his face in my hands. “I want you here. My family wants you here. Payton, too. Don’t doubt that. Please.”

Mal closed his eyes, swallowed hard, and nodded. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes again and he looked more solid. His voice was quiet when he said, “I think I needed to hear that.”

“I’ll remind you any time you need,” I assured him, giving him another quick kiss. I waggled my eyebrows, “Now, how about we go snuggle on the couch and kiss some more?”

Mal chuckled, though it sounded a little strained. He gently pulled out of my arms, but didn’t go far. “If you don’t mind, I think I’m gonna take Jaina out for a ride.”

“Sure. Want company?” I asked even though I already knew the answer. I could tell by the wild look in his eyes that hadn’t quite gone away.

He shook his head. “I think I should just go by myself. Clear my mind, you know?”

I did know. Nothing settled the brain better than a solo ride on your favorite horse. I took his hand and changed our course, heading toward Barn 3. I wasn’t sure if Jaina was in her stall or on turn out.

“I get it. But take a walkie, right?”

“Yeah, of course.”

He took my hand and I squeezed his fingers. “We good now?”

Mal squeezed back, so I took that as an affirmative. We didn’t say anything else as we headed into the barn, then the tack room. He looped Jaina’s bridle over his arm, then grabbed her saddle. I picked up a pad and followed him out, snagging a two way on the way.

We had to make our way through the pasture with the mares and foals, then to the next one over, where Jaina was turned out with Rowdy, Cutter, Ruger, and Niko.

Ruger was a dominant dappled gray mare who, despite being on the smaller side, ran whatever herd she was put out with.

She kept the geldings in their place, and Jaina was as unproblematic as always.

Ruger lifted her head when we entered, but she knew us, so she went back to grazing.

Rowdy kicked up a bit of a fuss, running Cutter around, but that was just his style.

Mal called to Jaina who immediately ran over, and stood still to be saddled.

Once Mal was done, I gave him a leg up he didn’t need just so I could cop a feel.

Mal snorted a laugh, absolutely knowing what I was doing.

I was relieved he sounded more like himself.

“Be safe. Have fun. Dinner’s at six-thirty.” I handed over the two way and he clipped it to his belt.

“I’ll be back by then.” He pulled my hand up while he bent down and kissed my palm, then curled my fingers over it. I made a show of swooning, hoping he would laugh again, and was gratified when he did.

“Mom’ll keep Payton occupied if they get back before you do. And Mal?” I waited until he glanced down. “Call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

I waved him off, and headed back to the barn through the other side of the paddock.

I figured since I was out here I could go through the yearling barn and check in with Russ.

I was sure he had some ideas about who was ready for sale and I had a feeling he wanted to talk me into keeping Vivien.

She was a good looking filly, but she didn’t have her mama’s confirmation.

That didn’t mean she wouldn’t make a great addition to our stock herd.

After Hawk got done with her. And in four or five years, we’d probably be ready to retire a different mount.

We had a few that were nearing that age.

An hour later, I was back in my office, attention focused on the breeding records once again. But something tugged at my brain and it took a second before I realized I was hearing screaming and squealing. I was up out of my seat and moving before the call came through the two-ways.

“All hands!” Ennis called, a bit panicked. “Mare and foal pasture.”

I took off at a dead run and made it to the pasture in record time, since it was right behind Barn 1. I’d just been through there and everything had seemed fine. But now everyone was in an uproar, racing around, the foals screaming and Imelda Staunton charging. Directly at Rowdy.

The gate between the pastures was open. That troublemaker had gotten in. But how? We always made sure to double secure any gate where Rowdy was since he liked to undo latches.

Ennis had Angela Lansbury in his arms and I could see a scrape on her forehead.

It was bleeding pretty bad, but honestly didn’t look horrible.

Nothing a few stitches and some salve couldn’t fix.

Imelda Staunton noticed Ennis then, abandoned her chase, and raced toward Ennis.

He didn’t even flinch, and it spoke to their bond that she didn’t try and fight him for her baby.

But she was beyond worked up and it wasn’t until Bodhi ran into the pasture that she even began to calm down.

Bodhi and Ennis took the mama and baby straight to the barn, Bodhi already with the phone to his ear. I was sure he was calling Matigan.

Lovett, Wy, and I cornered Rowdy, who bucked at our approach.

He wasn’t being mean, but he was sure high on adrenaline.

It took Lovett two tries to catch him, and with the rope finally around the gelding’s neck, he calmed down like he hadn’t just riled everybody up, causing trouble.

It wasn’t until we got the horse back into his pasture and the gate closed that I saw what had happened.

The second chain hadn’t been put back. It was still looped over the top rail of the fence. Crap, Mal must have forgotten to double secure the gate when he went through with Jaina.