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“Wow, that is beautiful, Marlo.” I ran my fingers over the quilt draped over the family room couch. “I might have to learn how to sew fabric instead of flesh.”
She smiled while picking up a corner. “This one was really easy. Just basic quilt blocks that almost anyone can do.”
“Yeah, almost anyone. I’m not sure if I’m included in that category.”
“You won’t know until you try. I think you and I need a few quilting sessions together.”
“She doesn’t have that kind of time for you,” Austin said, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “It’s in the Austin-and-Nova handbook; all of her free time is spent with me.”
“You squeeze a bird too tightly and it will die,” Marlo murmured playfully.
“We have a handbook?” I asked, turning around to face him.
“Well, uh, yeah...”
“God, then just give me the stupid handbook so I don’t have to put up with so much of your crap.”
“You like putting up with my crap.”
I playfully narrowed my eyes at him. “Hmm, I think the handbook would say you are full of crap.”
“Probably.”
It was Christmas Eve at the Gaines’ home, and after a traditional meal of homemade soup and rolls, we were just about to watch a movie with the rest of the family. My Grandpa Kent was even in attendance, and boy was he excited to be invited up to Bakersfield for the night. Austin and I were going to take him back home the next day, and spend Christmas dinner with Meryl and her family. Then, I planned on spending the rest of my winter break at Harmony Acres.
School had been going well for me and I was successful in all my fall classes. Winter semester would begin in January, and after that I could apply for graduation in the spring.
Austin had finished first in Phoenix, his last race of the season. And yes, I was there. After his last race in Roseville, I promised myself I could keep my opinions about racing to myself. Austin’s happiness was more important to me than proving a point, but not only that, I knew it wasn’t a fight I would ever win. Some may view that as being weak, but I preferred to pick and choose my battles when possible.
That, I felt, was being strong.
It was the end of December, and the All-Star Showdown was just around the bend. Austin had been driving every week, and sometimes I would be at the track with him. I’ll admit, I liked watching him race around the track with only a few other cars. Being that they were just there fine-tuning their skills instead of competing allowed me to enjoy watching him drive.
I wished he could be content with just that.
My grandpa had even come to the track with us a couple of times, but that old fart bitched about needing to see a real race. He knew he was just getting to me, but I also knew there was a little bit of truth to his request. My grandfather loved—and missed—the fast-paced world of racing.
“Well, I’ll be damned!”
Speaking of Gramps, he’d just returned to the house with Dave after getting a look at the horses in the stable.
“Austin, it’s a good thing I’ve already gone bankrupt and learned my lesson,” he continued, “because I don’t think I could resist betting on that horse of yours.”
I rolled my eyes, which made Austin smile. “Your granddaughter would kill me if I had someone place your bets for you,” he told him.
“I certainly would,” I agreed, giving him a shove.
“She’s not the boss of you,” Gramps told him.
“Sure she is,” Austin replied.
I quietly scoffed and murmured, “Not when it comes to racing.”
I moved to the couch and sat down, just as Marlo was putting the movie into the DVD player. Austin and my grandpa exchanged glances, and I heard Gramps whisper, “Now look what you’ve done.”
I really was amused that they got along so well. My grandpa was just one of those guys who everyone got a kick out of, my boyfriend included.
Austin sat down next to me on the couch, cuddling me close to him. He knew I wasn’t really upset, so while the movie began and the rest of the family came in and found seats, he started to whisper dirty things in my ear. At one point, I had to smack him in the chest, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and I silently scolded him for whispering such a thing with the risk that someone might hear.
“Oh, how I love you and those rosy pink cheeks of yours,” he teased me.
The holidays were great that year because I had Austin and his family to share them with. And it was true that employees of Harmony Acres were treated just like family. Jack was around quite often, which I loved, and of course, Clara and Heath.
But just because the Tomlinson’s were around didn’t mean Ben came around a lot. I wasn’t sure if he held any particular feeling about being around the Gaines’, but Dave and Marlo treated him just as well as anyone else. And I could tell that Ben had quite a history with them because of the way Marlo and Dave regarded him. I would even go as far as to say Marlo treated Ben like her own child since he grew up on the ranch, and even though he appeared a little humbled by that, Ben seemed to always feel uncomfortable in the house.
Between Austin and Ben, it was as if neither of them were there and they just avoided each other.
The day after New Year’s, Austin headed out early for Irwindale to race. I stuck around the ranch to do some work for Jack. I didn’t have to be at school for two more days, so I wanted to take advantage of my vacation time. I’d seen Ben a few times that morning, but we were both doing other things and only had time for a casual “hey.”
I was coming out of the guesthouse after having lunch with Clara when there was a commotion going on outside of the stables. Ben was there, as well as Dave and Heath. They all seemed to be gathered near a visitor’s truck and horse trailer, but what I noticed first was Ben holding Chap in his arms as he walked toward the barn, and the way he was holding him made my heart drop.
“What happened?” I asked, rushing up to the dog to check him out while we walked. Chap was whimpering quietly, and I could tell he was in pain. I followed Ben to Jack’s office while he explained that the Hoover’s horse got a little spooked, and Chap happened to get in the way.
“I think his leg is broken,” he said. He’d set him on the table gently, but Chap cried louder.
“Aww, buddy,” I cooed, softly petting his head until he quieted. “You’re supposed to stay away from the hooves, pal.”
“He tried. You know this guy here isn’t that quick.”
“Will you do me a favor and call Jack?”
“How come? Can’t you fix him up yourself?”
“Mm, I think it’s his shoulder...” I couldn’t be sure without putting the dog under and x-raying him, so I prepared the anesthesia while Ben spoke to Jack.
“Yeah, she’s doing that now,” Ben told him. ...“Okay, bye. ...He’s on his way.”
Over the next two hours, Jack and I fixed up Chap the best we could. The poor thing was going to be very uncomfortable with the cast we had to put him in, but it was the only option we had after the surgery that was performed. Chap was still out like a light when we left him in the back room, and Jack and I sat at the counter to stretch our backs and rest for a bit.
“You did great job,” he told me.
“Thanks.”
“I think you could have done it yourself.”
I shrugged. “Nah, I just wanted to pull you away from whatever it was you were doing.”
“Her name was Melissa,” he smiled.
I gaped at him, and we both laughed.
“I’m just kidding,” he said.
I studied him carefully and could read him pretty well. “But you were with a Melissa, weren’t you,” I stated teasingly.
He slowly smiled. “Yeah, but rushing away to save a dog’s life scored me some points.”
“‘Save his life,’” I murmured.
“Well it sounded better than ‘I have to go babysit our intern.’” I scowled at him, and he laughed. “Okay, you’re not an intern. My assistant. My assistant who’s almost as qualified as I am.”
“I’m not the one you need to butter up, Jack. But thank you.”
He ever so slightly nodded.
“So? Get back to Melissa.”
“Nah, we weren’t actually together like on a date or anything.”
“Where were you?”
“Langley ranch.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Ah, Melissa Langley. Nice, Jack.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, she’s a nice lady. She was here a few days ago.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, in fact...she was looking for you.”
He smiled. “Really?”
“Yep.”
“And you kept that from me?”
“Well, she had an inquiry that I was able to help her with. I kind of wondered why she hadn’t just called, but then I figured she was already here or something. God, had I known you were hot for each other, I would have feigned incompetence.”
He laughed while shaking his head. “Good thing you didn’t. I’ve already bragged about my job here, including you.”
“You’ve bragged about me? I’m flattered.”
“Hey, I only speak the truth. You’ll have a lot of options in the future.”
“Wow, I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, I was hoping you’d say this was the only place you’d want to work.”
“It is.” I smiled.
“Okay, then.” And with that, he rose and added, “Well, I guess I better find me something to eat. I’m starving. When do you head south?”
“Tomorrow night.”
He nodded. “All right. If I don’t see you tomorrow, then I’ll see you next weekend.”
“Bye, Jack.”
I sat at the counter for a few minutes, reflecting on the last few hours of the day. I checked on Chap once more and then headed for the field containing my horse. Born to Be Wild whinnied the second he saw me, and came trotting to the fence.
“Hey, there,” I greeted. I pressed my cheek against his and held it there before I looked at him again. “Man, I’m gonna miss you, buddy. After being here for the last couple of weeks, I don’t know if I can handle going back to school.”
“I probably shouldn’t interrupt a girl and her horse.”