“That sounds great. When would we get a chance to see the horses?”
“Sometime after lunch. It depends on when there are lulls in the show. The early morning will be best, since everyone tends to sleep in late. Your sleep schedule is going to be messed up this weekend, I’m afraid.”
“I can handle it. I’m flexible. And worst-case scenario? I’ll sneak in a nap at my desk when it’s quiet.”
Elana chuckled. “You’d have to be flexible to put up with us as well as you do. Honestly, I have no idea how you do it. We usually don’t keep anyone for more than two weeks on our floor.”
Unable to help myself, I laughed. “Blame the Darmill brothers.”
“They’re not that bad!”
I arched a brow and stared at her.
“Okay, they really are that bad, but they mean well. That counts for something, right?”
“Sure, Elana. Whatever you say. One of my goals in life is to teach them how to use their trash cans consistently. So far, it isn’t going well.”
“I’m so sorry for them.”
“Me, too. I’d go mad if I tried to work in their offices. How do they handle that mess without going insane?”
“You know? I really have no idea.”
I climbed into the truck and buckled my seatbelt. “It’s one of the great mysteries of the world we may never solve.”
Chapter Twelve
From the moment of our arrival at the ranch, a three-hour drive from Dallas, I worked. The kitchen staff made room for me in the bustle, and I fell into the relentless flow, which barely offered enough time to breathe. I hadn’t realized how much tension had plagued me until I became so busy I had no time to worry about anything other than my job.
I loved every minute of it. Breakfast was served at six, and when the kitchen was restored to rights, I took over, preparing what would become a late lunch and a probable replacement for dinner.
Nobody seemed to mind the change of the general plan for three meals in a day.
At noon, the kitchen staff returned to help with the finishing touches, prepare the yams, and serve the hungry hordes. At two, my work was done, and Elana rescued me from the chaos of everyone delivering the food to the hungry hordes.
“You’re a machine. I have no idea how you do it. If you told me you worked magic in the kitchen, I’d believe it. There was one of you and more than eighty of them, and I have no doubt there’s enough food for everybody!”
If only I could work real magic in the kitchen. “It’s not. I’m just used to being efficient.”
Elana wouldn’t understand how much of my life required me to be as efficient as possible to remain employed. Even at Sundale Reserves Industries, I worried. As long as I stayed working for the company, I could care for my horse—possibly horses—and even have a chance to retire one day.
I couldn’t afford to hang too many hopes on Jessica’s dream of a marriage to a man of her choosing. I would do my best, but I would plan for every contingency.
A future filled with chaos, stress, and uncertainty waited for me.
“It’s still pretty incredible. The head cook laughed at me when I told him you could handle the work all on your own. He’s not laughing now. I caught him drooling at the smells coming out of the kitchen along with the rest of the hungry folks waiting for their lunch.”
Food had always equated some form of happiness for me, but I was tired enough I could only manage weary relief at her words. I found some satisfaction I’d chosen well for what to make and how to make it.
“Anyway, if you’re up for it, there are a lot of tired horses needing some love while the guests eat. Everyone who is done with lunch is expected to groom the extra horses, although owners will be tending to their animals. I’ll check their hooves and legs while you take care of brushing them down.”
While I could handle checking their hooves, I went with Elana’s wishes, handling the brushing while she did a head to hoof check of each horse. Most of the animals would be participating in more events in the afternoon. To my amazement, some of the elites had three or four horses with them.
While I expected to be ostracized due to my rank, Elana got a hefty dose of the cold shoulder, too. Everyone gave us a wide berth, including the stable hands. I could understand people looking at me oddly; I still wore my work suit, as I’d dived right into helping out in the kitchen without changing.
“Why is everyone avoiding us?”
Elana snorted. “This once, consider yourself fortunate. About them ignoring us, that is. Everyone’s jumping because there is royalty here, and they don’t know how to act around you. Until they figure out where you fall in the hierarchy, it’s normal. Me? They can get away with it because they know I don’t give a shit what they think about me.”
Well, I could trust Elana to be blunt and honest. “You don’t?”
“I don’t. I’m higher up the totem pole than they are. I could rub elbows with the royals if I wanted, and that I’m keeping company with you confuses them. They haven’t figured it out yet. I keep company with smart, kind people, of which you’re both. I have no use for egos. I have no use for spineless cowards, either. But, seriously. With the royals around, there’s a lot to be said about slipping through the cracks.”
I didn’t want to slip through the cracks. I wanted to catch Jessica’s attention and hold it. As for the king and queen, I was inclined to agree with Elana; what I’d seen of them—and heard from Jessica—all pointed to a general and mutual dislike, something that could be potentially fatal for a low-ranked horse empath without enough magic to count as useful.
Despite everything, I smiled at the reality of my situation. “There’s nothing wrong with being invisible sometimes. I don’t mind. I don’t think I’ll ever understand what the elites have to fear from people like me, but that’s not my problem.”
“You think we’re afraid of you?” she blurted.
“Why else would you avoid us and treat us like we’re plagued? Perhaps a fear of losing your magic because we don’t have magic of our own? I don’t know. But I’ve always thought fear had something to do with the boundaries between the castes. I don’t see how associating with someone from the lower castes could possibly lessen an elite. It just feels that way sometimes.”
“Every time I think I understand you, you always manage to surprise me. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. And I think you’re right. Fear and uncertainty can corrupt good people. That’s not fair to you and others in your caste, but I don’t know how to change things.”
“I’d say don’t be afraid, but when I’m honest with myself about it, the fears of others translate into a fear of association. It would gain me nothing and lose you a lot.”
“Maybe you should’ve become a shrink instead of a chef.”
“I think I have enough problems of my own without adding to them. Anyway, everyone needs to eat. Not everyone needs a shrink. I view it as better job security.”
“Pat, I’m not convinced you’re capable of committing a firing offense. If you left the company, the entire executive floor would cry.”
“That’s quite the exaggeration. I know of three brothers who’d celebrate when I stopped nagging them to keep their offices tolerably clean. If they’re not careful, I’ll teach them some good habits.”
“Heaven forbid.”
Chuckling, I returned my attention to the horses waiting for their owed attention.
Elana meant to take me into the massive house she called a manor, but a ruckus at the riding ring outside the barn caught her attention. When I realized what was going on, I stopped dead in my tracks.
Jessica rode a black horse meaner than the devil, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Had I not gotten to know her better and seen her dressed as a rodeo queen before, I wouldn’t have recognized the dust-covered woman. Wearing jeans suited her almost as much as the devil she rode.
Both carried themselves with indomitable pride, and the stallion surged skyward in his effort to p
rove he was the stronger willed of the two. Jessica rode him with the grace of a feather on the wind, and I realized I witnessed what Branst wanted for me to learn.
Jessica didn’t just ride a devil, she tamed him, and at a single command given with leg and rein, her horse ceased his antics, stood tall and proud, and waited for his rider’s next order.
“I can’t say much about Her Royal Highness, but Lord can that girl ride a horse,” Elana whispered, shaking her head. “No one knows what sort of queen she’ll become, but when she’s astride, everyone watches. Only someone with a horse affinity can do better, and even then, they rarely do. It’s the difference between having the talent and working hard. And when it comes to the horses? Working hard will always make the most difference. It’s so rare for someone with the talent to also work hard. Everything comes easily for them. It’s a trap most fail to avoid.”
I swore I wouldn’t make that mistake, and when Branst finished with me, maybe I wouldn’t be Jessica’s equal in the saddle, but I’d do my best to come close.
As I had no way of saying anything without revealing I knew Jessica, I nodded. After some thought, I realized there was one thing I could say without betraying my secret. “I think she’ll be a fine queen. Surely anyone who can win that horse’s cooperation can handle Texas.”
Elana’s brows furrowed, and she frowned. “You may have a point. That horse has mean eyes. Only the experienced hands work with him when Her Royal Highness doesn’t have the time to work with him herself. I’ve heard stories about him. The king wanted to send him to the meat market for being so intractable. No one’s really sure how the princess ended up with him.”
I could make a few guesses about that, but I only nodded.
Elana glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. “When you were visiting with Morning Glory, someone sent word that there was a Royal request for your barbecue again tomorrow. There are a few grocers meant for the lower castes an hour or two from here. Up for a ride in the truck to get what you need in the early morning?”
I’d do a lot more than lose sleep to make Jessica happy, and feeding her my yams and chicken was a sure way to make her happy. “Sure thing.”
While I couldn’t afford to betray our secret or get any closer than watching her from the sidelines, the few glimpses I could get would make the wait worthwhile until I could see her again in two weeks.
It wasn’t much, but I’d make it enough.
I didn’t get a chance to meet the black stallion Elana thought might be a good fit for me and Morning Glory; he’d been taken to a nearby ranch to make room for the extra horses in residence for the show. On Wednesday morning, we returned to Dallas, and as soon as I settled my filly in my stall, I returned home and crashed hard.
For the first time in my life, I was an hour late to work and staggered in stifling yawns. Elana grinned at me from behind her desk. “You could’ve just skipped work today, and nobody would’ve cared. You look like you haven’t slept a wink since Friday.”
I felt like it. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just hope my filly will forgive me for heading home a little earlier than normal in the morning.”
“No one will judge you if you catch a nap in her stall. Just ask one of the stable hands to wake you up in time for you to head home. It won’t be the first or last time someone’s done that.” Elana laughed, gathered her things, and rose to her feet. “In good news, everyone’s already gone home for the night, so you have an easy evening ahead of you. Well, as easy as it can be when everyone was left unsupervised for three evenings.”
“They trashed their offices, didn’t they?”
“I wish I could say no, but they did. It’s not as bad as it could be, but they’re hopeless. I tried to get them to do something about it today, but they got absorbed in their work. Again.”
“Were they at the show this weekend?”
“They stayed until Monday night, now they’re scrambling to catch up.”
That explained a lot. When those three got involved in their work, a bomb could go off and they wouldn’t notice. “How many on the floor were at the show?”
“About a quarter. A lot of them have an allergy to Royal events.”
I wondered if I’d ever get used to the nuances between Royal and royal. When the Royals showed up, everyone worried. Events with royals seemed more relaxed—or in good humor.
I’d heard a lot about the Royals lately, and I doubted it’d get better anytime soon. If word got out that Jessica was considering someone like me as a way to escape her father’s plans for her, there’d be chaos.
“Can’t say I blame them,” I admitted.
“If you have anything planned that you can’t get out of, please make sure you add it to your calendar. With how much everyone likes your barbecue, I expect you’ll be requested often.” Elana sighed. “I’m just going to apologize in advance. People get carried away when it comes to good food.”
“It’s all right. I’m not going to be available two weekends from now. I have plans with my family.”
“I’ll make sure anyone inquiring knows you’re not available,” she promised.
“Thank you. What is the show schedule likely to be?”
“We host again in a month, but I’m not sure which ranch will be hosting. Can you cook for a larger crowd than this weekend?”
“I’d need some help for some of it and enough stoves, but yes, I can.”
“I’ll make sure you have everything you need. I take it a larger crowd will take longer time to prepare?”
“That depends on how many ovens and barbecues I have to work with and how many people are helping,” I admitted. “I’ll definitely need help if there are more people than this weekend.”
“If you’re requested again, I’ll make sure Mr. Hemmington knows what you’ll need. In good news, you’ll only be requested when we’re hosting the show.”
“Dare I ask how often you host?”
“I expect the royals will only attend once a month or so, but during rodeo season, our stables tend to have an event daily, although not near Dallas. As we’d have to transport you and your filly to the events outside of the Dallas area, you’ll probably only be requested when the shows are close to home.”
I already appreciated the respite from the insanity. “Think you can give me some warning on weekends I might be requested?”
Elana frowned, her eyes narrowing. “Why do I have the feeling you’d run away if you found out in advance which weekends you’d be requested?”
“You’re a smart and wise woman, that’s why.”
She snickered. “I’ll do what I can, but make sure you have a good excuse for the weekends you really don’t want to cook for the ravenous hordes—and make a list of bribes required to convince you to not be busy.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. When do you figure I can actually meet that black stallion you were talking about?”
“I’ll make sure you’re there the day he’s put up for auction, and I’ll tell Mr. Hemmington you’re potentially interested. His prospects are so poor I don’t think Mr. Hemmington will have a problem making sure you meet him before there’s any risk of him being sent to market.”
“Thanks. Have a good night, Elana.”
“You, too.” She left, and as I’d already learned my standards were much higher than the elites, I went to check how much of a mess the Darmills had managed to make in the time I’d been gone.
A single glance into the Tech Menace’s office confirmed the bitter truth: the man simply had no idea how to clean up after himself. Computer components littered the floor, and while he’d managed to use his trash can for a change, it had overflowed onto the floor.
Elana meant well, but with three living disasters working on the executive floor, I wouldn’t have time for anything other than my work.
Oh, well. Morning Glory was worth it, and so was Jessica.
Chapter Thirteen
I made it through my shift, and at Elana’s recommendation, I snuck a n
ap in Morning Glory’s stall. Branst woke me for my usual lesson, but instead of putting me on the usual horses, he brought out a dapple gelding. I eyed the western saddle warily, but I mounted as ordered.
Then Branst gave me a hardboiled egg on a spoon and ordered me to ride around the ring at all gaits without losing my egg.
Every time I dropped an egg, I had to start over.
I handled the walk with grace. The trot brought the sad end to two dozen eggs before I managed to make it around the arena.
Even when hardboiled, the eggs often didn’t survive the fall.
Branst nodded. “Now, do it again at a canter.”
Considering I’d only just started riding at a canter, I leveled my best glare in Branst’s direction. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’ve got thirty-six more eggs, and there are a lot more where those came from. The ones you don’t break will be put in the fridge as snacks. Do you want to try with just the spoon but no egg the first time around? If you don’t move with your horse, you’re not keeping that egg on the spoon.”
“This is payback for sleeping in Morning Glory’s stall, isn’t it?”
As though understanding my words, my filly leveled a glare at Branst and snorted, pinning her ears back.
“No, this is a good way to get you riding like you mean it. You and your horse need to work together. If you can’t ride a horse while holding an egg on your spoon, your seat isn’t good enough, and you’re not moving with your horse. Honestly, I’m impressed you only broke twelve eggs while trotting.”
“I’m going to need a crash course on how I’m supposed to keep an egg on a spoon at a canter.”
“When you’re riding the canter right, when you’re riding good ol’ Buster, it’ll feel like you’re on a gentle rocking chair. Move with him, and you’ll be able to keep the egg on the spoon with some practice, but I expect you’ll break a lot of eggs before we’re done. I’ll give you two hours to try the canter, and I’ve got a bunch of horses lined up and ready for exercise if you don’t get the hang of it quickly. Get to it, boy. You’ve got a lot to learn, but by the time I’m done with you, you’ll be able to hold that spoon in your mouth.”
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