Present Day
Camille Valois strongly believed she should have skipped today altogether. This morning’s dentist appointment had thrown her off, disrupting her usual routine in the stables, plus learning she had one cavity. She then spent the afternoon cleaning stalls, instead of studying for her biology exam, and that’s when everything went haywire.
As she added fresh straw to the stall’s floor, she heard someone a few stalls away, talking on speakerphone loud enough for the entire stable to eavesdrop. At first, she wasn’t concerned, but then she recognized who the voice belonged to, Hawke Sterling who had been expected to arrive that morning to settle the horses and cattle he brought from his ranch. And then she heard him utter her cousin’s name.
Camille had known Hawke for a long time, and when she was sixteen, she harbored a teenage crush on him. Hawke, who was eight years older than Camille, and his cousin, Trent Carson, were related to her by marriage, being fourth or fifth cousins. The same was true for Camille and her cousin, Ondine DePerrin. Over the years, their families often invited each other for special occasions in France. All the families were in the horse business; each owned a horse ranch. While Hawke and Trent lived in America and frequently traveled overseas, Camille had never visited the States until eight months ago to finish her master’s degree in biology. Ondine and Trent’s engagement party was being held this Saturday at the El Ocaso resort.
However, the similarity between the families ended there. Hawke and Trent were wealthy, both owning vast and prosperous ranches with diverse income sources which allowed them the freedom not to work if they so desired. They both were often seen escorting glamorous actresses to their foundation charity galas.
Camille, in contrast, wasn’t in the same income bracket as Hawke. She had to be cautious with her money, as her family was comfortable but far from wealthy. But this didn’t sour their friendly relationship.
It only happened after she arrived in America and she overheard Hawke make disparaging comments about Ondine during a family picnic. Despite her intense anger, Camille never told him why she was so upset. She remained coldly polite whenever they met after that picnic …until today.
Overhearing Hawke maligning Ondine’s character again inside the stables made Camille’s blood boil. Her initial knee-jerk reaction had been to bolt out of the barn, shaking with fury. But the more she thought about his words, the angrier she became. Finally, unable to hold back, she stormed back inside and confronted him, her fists clenching and unclenching at her sides, as she struggled to contain the storm of anger surging through her.
“How dare you talk about Ondine like that?” She challenged him. “She’s one of the sweetest, most honest people I know. And you call her a gold digger just because she’s poor? Trent doesn’t deserve her at all. He’s a typical womanizer. I don’t know what she sees in him; a leopard doesn’t change its spots. He’s untrustworthy.”
Infuriating and arrogant jerk, she thought as she poked a finger forcefully at Hawke’s chest, pushing him backward into a stall, not giving him a chance to respond.
He stumbled, barely catching himself as she slammed the stall door shut and quickly bolted the latch.
Hawke’s eyes widened as he realized he was trapped. He reached for the latch, fingers stretching through the stall bars but unable to grasp it. The stall, designed to keep escape-artist horses securely contained, now held him prisoner.
Camille stood outside, breathing heavily and feeling both triumph and dread overcome her. She had crossed the line, and she knew it.
“Isn’t this childish?” Hawke commented with a mix of frustration and admiration, his voice echoing in the quiet barn.
Camille marched away, her anger radiating with each step. “Absolutely. And stupid. But I don’t care.” she shouted, trying to maintain a calm stride toward the exit. As she left through the barn’s wide exit, the smell of hay and dust lingering in the air, she heard a dull thud behind her — his body hitting the ground.
She turned to face him, standing tall and refusing to retreat. He’d climbed over the stall partition which did not reach the barn ceiling, and jumped. A knot of dread twisted in her stomach, but she forced her feet to stay planted.
Hawke approached with a calm, almost predatory grace, his intense gaze never leaving hers.
He came so close she was tempted to back up, but she held firm. She wasn’t a coward. He wouldn’t intimidate her. She knew he was upset, but he would control his anger.
Hawke stopped a breath away. Without a word, he slowly bent his head and kissed her thoroughly and with infinite gentleness.
Camille couldn’t move or speak.
He whispered in her ear, “Until next time, sweetheart.”
His words left her shocked and puzzled. She did not turn around but remained rooted to the spot, her fingers brushing her lips still tingling from his kiss. Her heart pounded, and her thoughts spun in a dizzying whirl. It had been a devastating kiss but also a magnificent one. A kiss unlike any she has ever experienced, leaving her in complete disarray.
What would he do next? Report her to Henri, a member of the resort management, for unbecoming conduct, perhaps?
No point dwelling on it. The deed was done. Confronting him had been the right decision, though locking him in the stall might have crossed the line.
Camille’s thoughts drifted back to Henri’s call months ago when she was still in France. Henri, member of El Ocaso management team, and a family friend to Camille and Hawke, had offered her an unexpected opportunity.
“Your parents mentioned you wanted to finish your master’s degree in biology in America. Why not come work for me at El Ocaso?” Henri asked.
The offer was a blessing. “It would be ideal. University of California Irvine, located in Orange County, offered me an academic scholarship to pay for the tuition as an international student,” Camille replied.
“Perfect. I have a deal for you. You work in the morning in the stables at the resort, cleaning the stalls, exercising the horses, and giving riding lessons when needed. The resort has a few club horses, but often our guests bring their own, whether they prefer Western or English riding style. You have the afternoon free to attend classes. Does it sound good so far?” he inquired.
“Absolutely.”
“In addition, you will receive a modest stipend. You can take all your meals free at the resort. We have a rustic cabin, out-of-the-way, which comes with the position. You also have unlimited access to the resort facilities. It’s a unique opportunity. Do we have a deal?” Henri asked.
“Yes. Thank you. I already completed most of the required courses online in France. But I need only a few more courses to finish my master’s degree and can attend the classes in the afternoon,” Camille had answered, her voice brimming with happiness.
At the thought of losing this once-in-a-lifetime job, Camille’s chest tightened with anxiety. She felt the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. The idea of calling her parents in France to tell them she had been dismissed filled her with dread. El Ocaso had become her dream workplace.