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Troy found the entrance to Hatch’s ranch with no trouble. He turned into the caliché driveway and wended his way a few miles until he saw a vintage ramshackle house and barns, all in need of repair and paint. Sal and Dixon, pulling their camp trailer behind a Redstone SUV, followed.
Sarah was just dismounting from an ATV in front of the house. She waited for him to come to a stop, then walked over to his door, her hands shoved into her coat pockets. “Hi. What’s up?”
Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, her lips were painted a cherry-red, which only emphasized the perfection of her mouth. Troy was struck again by her beauty. She had that look of defiance in her eyes. Until today, very few times had he ever been so flummoxed by a woman. He had figured out that an avenue for reaching her was her kid. “I, uh, met your boy.”
The wind caught her hair and swept the dark strands across her face. She combed it back with her fingers. “He was excited to meet you. Sorry I couldn’t come with him, but I’ve already taken off three days this week.”
“He seems like a nice young man, but we didn’t get a chance to talk much.”
“Why was that?”
Troy opened his door and stepped out. As always when he talked to anyone outdoors one-on-one, either Sal or Dixon stood no more than a few feet away. “Your grandpa was in a hurry to leave.”
She stepped back, putting feet between them, her gaze volleying between Sal and Dixon. “Jericho isn’t my grandpa. He’s always in a hurry. He’s got a lot to do.”
The temperature was too cold to stand outside sorting out relatives. He propped his hands on his hips. “I’ve been thinking about Rudy and I’ve got an idea. I came by to talk it over with you. Wyatt told me his grandpa, that is, Mr. Hatch, doesn’t want him to have a horse because they cost too much—”
She stopped him with a little huff. “Why did he tell you that?”
Lou Beckman’s warning came back to him. ...don’t mention to Jericho that I told you about his money problems. He’s a proud man. “I asked him if he had a horse.”
She looked down, worried a small stone with her boot toe, obviously frustrated or maybe embarrassed. Her head raised, finally. “Jericho only keeps working horses. He thinks pleasure horses are a waste of money. He lets me keep my mare because he and his wife gave her to me as a present a long time ago, but she pays her way. He uses her as a ranch horse.”
“Wyatt said he wants to be a trainer and a cutter, said you told him he had to start while he’s young. How’s he gonna do that without a horse?”
“I don’t know. That’s the least of my worries right now. What’s your point?”
“Rudy’s practically homeless. He’s on his way to a bad end. Your boy needs a mentor. He can’t learn what he needs to in school. What if your friend let Wyatt use Rudy? Or what if I bought Rudy and let Wyatt use him?”
Her brow crinkled and she scrunched up her nose. “That’s a crazy idea. Tiffany isn’t gonna sell Rudy. She isn’t gonna give him to Wyatt to use either. He isn’t hers to give to anybody. Even if it was possible, Wyatt’s a little kid. He couldn’t handle a horse like Rudy. Do you think I want to see him hurt?”
“Listen to me. Rudy isn’t mean. His biggest problem is being a young stud. He’s in a bad spot. He needs some help. Even his feet need some attention. I’d be willing to take him for a while. I’d have my farrier work on his feet and I’d have my vet take care of—”
“You mean cut him.”
“That and make sure he’s healthy. Then I’d work with him and train him to be a reliable horse. I’m gonna be home for the next two or three months. I’m willing to let Wyatt spend some time with me and my hired man at my place. We’d show him how to teach Rudy and build a bond with him, with you there to watch over him, of course.”
“Why would you do that? Number one, I can’t do it. I’ve got a job that I need. I can’t exactly take a leave of absence. And number two, Tiffany can’t do it. I don’t think Burke the Jerk has dropped dead and Rudy’s still his horse.”
“Those are all abstract problems that can be solved. I’ve got a hunch Tiffany’s boyfriend will never come back to get Rudy. It’s good idea. For your boy and Rudy both.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Why would you do that for Wyatt? Or for me?”
“I wouldn’t do it for just you or just Wyatt. I’d also do it for Rudy.”
She continued to look at him as if he had leprosy. Now he was frustrated. “Okay, I’ll tell you a little story. When I was a boy about Wyatt’s age, I lost my mother. She was the only family I knew. I wasn’t acquainted with my dad. I knew him as my uncle. He took me in. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if he hadn’t. The first thing he did was give me a horse to take care of. That horse and the responsibility for him made a difference in my life at that time.”
She cocked her head and gave him a squinty-eyed stare, then looked away.
“Like I told you, I never met a horse I didn’t like.”
“It’s a crazy idea.” He locked his gaze to hers. Lord, she had mesmerizing eyes. She looked at him as if she could see clear through him. “Let me ask you something.”
“Ask me.”
“What did a horse do that changed anything and what happened to it?”
“Taking care of that horse gave a kid who thought he had no reason to exist a purpose in life. I’ve still got her and I’ll never part with her. She’ll have a good home with me ’til she dies.”
***
HALF AN HOUR LATER, Sarah, shivering in her boots, was at the Fisher’s tiny barn, along with Wyatt, Jericho, Tiffany and Troy Rattigan. All of them had runny noses, watery eyes and wind-chafed cheeks. Tiffany’s dad came out of the house wearing a Sherpa coat, gloves and earmuffs. Jesus Christ, he looked like he lived in the mountains.
He gestured around Troy’s rig and the SUV and camp trailer being pulled by whoever those people were with Troy. “Who’s this? What’s going on?”
“Friends of mine,” Troy answered.
Mr. Fisher introduced himself to Troy with self-important authority, which in Sarah’s mind, was a joke. “How much are you willing to give for Rudy?”
Oh, my God! Did Mr. Fisher intend to sell Burke Allen’s horse? Sarah did a mental eyeroll, bit down on her lower lip and kept her mouth shut. This deal could go south in about a dozen ways, starting with the fact that Mr. Fisher would have a hell of a time trying to sell Rudy if he couldn’t prove he owned him.
On the verge of tears again, Tiffany, clad in a baby-blue puffy jacket and matching mittens, stamped a foot. Today she was wearing her Macie Bean boots with blue and pink flowers embroidered on them. Dale Evans. All she lacked was some leather fringe.
“Daddy, you can’t sell Burke’s horse.” Tiffany’s voice trembled and tears leaked from the corners of her heavily made-up eyes.
Mr. Fisher looped an arm around her shoulders. “Daughter, I love you to pieces, but that horse is a problem. I don’t see him as belonging to Burke any longer. If that boy had wanted him, he could’ve taken him with him or he could’ve come back and gotten him. I wish to hell he had. The poor animal has lived with us probably as long as he lived with Burke and I’ve been buying feed all that time. I figure I’ve paid for him. And guess what? I’ve never seen you feed him more than a few times. Nobody rides him and I’m the only one who takes care of him.”
That was a lie. Mr. Fisher might throw him a flake of hay ever once in a while, but nobody really took care of Rudy. And Tiffany? Even with her fancy boots, she wasn’t a woman to go out and go for a horseback ride alone or to spend time brushing Rudy and bonding with him.
Tension filled the air. Tiffany sniffled. Jericho said nothing, just stood there with his arms crossed over his barrel chest. Wyatt’s deer-in-the-headlights look passed between Mr. Fisher and Tiffany, his small fists clenched by his side, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He wasn’t a dumb kid. He knew something was afoot that might affect him and he was about to bawl.
Sarah was close to breaking herself, close to succumbing to temptation and saying she would take Rudy and hash it out later with Jericho. She would even try to train him as best she could. She bit back her own tears gathering in her throat.
Before she could speak up, Mr. Fisher turned away from his daughter and talked to Troy. “I don’t know why you’d want to take on a horse like that one when you could buy any horse you wanted. To be honest, I don’t know if Rudy’s worth it. I’ve been telling my daughter we should take him to the auction.”
“No!” Sarah said. “You can’t do that.”
“Daddy, no,” Tiffany sobbed. “You know what would happen to him.”
Wyatt looked up at Jericho tears more obvious in his eyes. “I’ll get a job, Grandpa. I’ll earn some money and pay for—”
“Hush, Wyatt.” Sarah side-stepped, put her arm around her son and drew him close to her.
Mr. Fisher threw up his hands and rolled his eyes.
Jericho’s arms dropped, his hands rested on his hips. He was ready to cave. When it came to Wyatt, he had a marshmallow for a heart. “Look, Harvey,” Jericho said. “Nobody wants to see the horse sent—”
“Now hold on.” Troy stepped between Tiffany’s dad and Jericho. “Mr. Fisher, I’ve rarely seen a horse I can’t turn into a reliable mount. Rudy’s got some good qualities. Letting me take him to work with him is a win for everybody, but especially for Rudy.”
After seeing Troy with Rudy and over a dozen other horses, Sarah believed every word he said about turning Rudy into a reliable horse, but Mr. Fisher shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to let him be around a young boy. He’s big and unpredictable. Wyatt could get hurt. I don’t want to get sued.”
Sarah’s jaw clenched. Sometimes conversations with Mr. Fisher and Tiffany made her want to bite a crowbar.
Before anyone could say anything else, Troy strode over to Tiffany. “Do you know how to reach Rudy’s owner?”
Mr. Fisher made a sarcastic harrumph.
Startled, Tiffany stepped back. “Uh, no.”
That was another lie. Tiffany had stalked Burke for at least two months after he left and learned he had gone to work as a salesman for a feed company in Abilene. Lately, she hadn’t mentioned to Sarah that she was still doing that, but it could be true. For sure, Tiffany knew how to get in touch with Burke if she wanted to.
Troy ignored Mr. Fisher’s sarcasm and continued to talk to Tiffany. “I’ll make a deal with you. My rig will haul two horses. Let me take Rudy home with me. Meanwhile, if you know how to reach his owner, you can make everything easier by asking him if he’s abandoning Rudy and has no intention of coming back for him. Also, find out if he’s got any documents related to Rudy. Earlier, I told Mr. Hatch and Sarah that I’d have my vet take care of him, but I’m reluctant to geld him if there’s a chance your boyfriend will come back and claim him.”
Her eyes wet and mascara-smeared, Tiffany scowled but said nothing.
“Or you can bring him to me in the next day or two,” Troy went on. “You don’t have to sell him to me. You can lend him to me. Rudy and I’ll do some work together and eventually he’ll be okay.”
Mr. Fisher stepped into the conversation, shaking his head again. “A surgery is too expensive. I’m not paying any veterinary bills or training fees for this horse.”
Troy faced Tiffany’s dad, his deep brown eyes snapping. Suddenly, Mr. Fisher was no longer the man in charge. “Mr. Fisher, I’m trying to do a good deed here and save a horse. I believe Rudy’s headed for slaughter and I believe you know it. That’s unnecessary and a waste, especially since there’s a solution to the problem. If you saw how those horses headed for slaughterhouses are treated, you wouldn’t send a horse or any animal into a situation like that.”
Wyatt escaped Sarah’s arms, dashed over to Jericho, grabbed his coat sleeve and began to sob. “Does that mean they’re gonna kill him, Grandpa?”
Jericho wrapped his arms around Wyatt and pulled him close. “No, no, Wyatt. We won’t let that happen.”
“I wouldn’t dream of charging training fees or passing on the veterinary bills,” Troy said to Mr. Fisher. “I don’t know why you’d think that of me.”
Everyone stood in silence. Finally, cowed, Tiffany’s dad shook his head. “It’s too damn cold to stand around out here and I’m leaving town anyway. It’s your responsibility, Tiffany. Do what you want to. Frankly, I imagine you know where Burke Allen is. I hate to see you get in touch with that bastard, but I’d condone it if it gets that horse off my pasture. You can tell him for me his horse is on his way to the auction.”
Tiffany wiped her eyes on her sleeve, smearing the light blue fabric with black mascara. She faced Troy. “If Burke comes back and wants him, will he be able to get him back?”
“Yes,” Troy answered firmly.
Hell. No way was Burke the Jerk coming back. For Rudy or any other reason. Sarah would bet her warm coat that Troy felt safe in making that commitment.
Tiffany looked at her dad and shrugged. “He’d be better off.”
Shaking his head again, Mr. Fisher spun and stalked back toward the house.
Sarah released a breath she had been unconsciously holding and glared at his back. Asshole. Just how the hell did he think he or his daughter was gonna sell Rudy at the auction if they couldn’t prove she owned him?
Troy planted his hands on his hips and spoke to Tiffany. “Fine then. I’ll load him up.”
Jericho walked over to him. “You shouldn’t take him with you. In that trailer, he might fight your horse. I’ll haul him over to your place in the next day or two.”
Jericho was probably right. Everyone knew—except maybe Tiffany—that two stallions in close quarters could be a challenge.
“Fine. I’ll be looking for you.” Troy offered Jericho his right hand and they shook.
Turning to Sarah, he reached back for his wallet, dug out a business card and handed it to her. “This is my cell number. Send me a text and let me know when you’re bringing him. Don’t call me. I usually don’t answer my phone.”
