Elana leaned over and peeked around me. “Along with his castle set, another dragon… what did he do? Buy the entire store?”
“I think so.”
“Can’t say I blame you for playing with them. I would, too. I can’t believe he got away with bringing in so many LEGOs.”
“Do you think he asked permission?”
Elana laughed. “Good point. Probably not. Okay, go leave a ransom note. Is there anything else you need to do here before we leave?”
“No. I got done everything before I fell to temptation.”
“Good. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us, so the faster we’re out of here, the better off we’ll both be. At least we should get there early enough for you to be able to have lunch ready around noon. They’ll be on a tight schedule tomorrow.”
“Everything will be ready,” I promised. “I’ve a few new tricks up my sleeve if I get pressed for time, but it should be all right.”
“Good. I’m so, so sorry about this.”
“But it’s not your fault, Elana.”
“Well, I couldn’t talk them out of it. That’s my fault.”
I raised a brow. “Elana, did you really think you’d talk them out of anything? As long as they’re happy with what I cook, everything will be fine. I just need to get through the day.” Hesitating, I glanced around my office. “I’m going to need a lot of coffee to get through this.”
“We all will,” she muttered.
Chapter Eighteen
At Elana’s insistence, I took the time to write a ransom note. She helped, rearranging the Tech Menace’s desk so the dragon would have a mountain of papers to guard while towering over his keyboard. Tuesday night would be amusing, as I would lock my office so he couldn’t get into it to reclaim his collection.
My demands of putting things in his trashcan where they belonged for a period of one week reduced Elana to giggling and tears. “He’s going to be so sad when he doesn’t get his LEGOs back.”
“Then he shouldn’t have left them on the floor for me to confiscate.”
“And ruthlessly play with.”
“They were showing obvious signs of neglect.”
It took twenty minutes to plunder my spice cabinet, and to make sure there was no chance I’d run out of ingredients, I grabbed everything. “Is there a Walmart on the way?”
“There is, and it’s even open.”
“I need something from Walmart. Will the truck and trailer fit in the parking lot?”
“This time of night? Easily. What are we getting.”
“Icing.”
Elana’s brows shot up. “You’re buying icing?”
“That’s the secret ingredient. Store bought icing. Three flavors. It’s disgusting, but I’m not sure you elites were ever exposed to its horrors, and as such, I think it has the quality of a forbidden fruit.”
“Isn’t that crap pure sugar?”
“Basically.”
“Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a disaster?”
I glanced at her. “Do you want me to answer that?”
“No. Please don’t. You’ll bludgeon me with the truth, I’ll end up feeling stupid, and I’ll ultimately eat a piece of that horror show to make myself feel better.”
“You make it sound like you’re not going to have a piece.” Elana would devour anything containing sugar without remorse, something I’d witnessed time and time again when I’d felt a desire to make desserts for those working late.
“I have to save room for the brownies.”
I laughed. “Like that’s ever stopped you before.”
“You’re in a surprisingly good mood for someone who isn’t going to get any sleep until tomorrow night.”
“I enjoy cooking for people.”
“Even the royals?”
Especially one specific royal, but Elana didn’t need to know that. “Even them. I wasn’t executed the first two times I cooked for them, so it’s not a big deal now. It’s not like they have crazy requests.”
“Uh, Pat? That cake is a crazy request.”
“But it’s an easy request. Maybe it’s a little crazy.” I did a final sweep of my office, triple checked I had all the spices I needed, and ferried everything to the lobby before locking up. “I figure it’s exotic to them. They probably don’t even like it.”
“I’m ashamed to admit I actually like horrifically sweet things.”
“I’ll look the other way when you indulge in the cake, don’t worry.” Knowing Jessica would go for seconds—or thirds—I’d have to make certain I made enough where everyone could gorge. “I’ll have larger plates put aside for the royal family so they won’t have to fight over seconds or thirds.”
“Smart move. Princess Jessica gets downright vicious if she has to fight for extras. His and Her Royal Majesties aren’t much better.”
Well, that was something. Charming Jessica’s parents with my cooking wouldn’t do much good for me in the long run, but it was something in my arsenal. I wondered if my attempts to get a grasp on international politics would bear any fruit.
I didn’t understand nearly enough, but if asked, I could probably remember the names of most important rulers, where they ruled, and their general stances on major political issues.
As Jessica had warned, the remnants of the United States broke apart, and the Royal States would be an official entity rising from the nation’s ashes. Some news outlets had already begun whispering that the position of President of the United States would soon be dissolved completely.
Montana’s king already acted more like a president than the actual president. Montana’s queen wasn’t as active in politics as her husband, but when she spoke up, people listened. Nobody really understood why Montana’s queen had been chosen; on the surface, she didn’t have a strong talent, she lacked the beauty everyone expected of a woman marrying into power, and she avoided the limelight.
She gave me hope I could hide in the shadows if Jessica really wanted to move forward with her plan of picking her own husband, even if it meant she had to settle with me.
The more I thought about it, the more I hoped she wanted to settle with me.
Shaking my head, I did my last check of ingredients to take with us before pressing the button for the elevator. The door pinged and slid open. With Elana’s help, I got everything inside. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
“It’s okay. I figured it would happen, so I’d gone home and slept right away. I’ll go back to bed as soon as the horses are settled at the ranch.”
“Do you know what time the black will be auctioned?”
“Unfortunately not. The schedule will be finalized in the morning, and to make it fair, the schedule is done by random draw. That makes sure the prime horses are scattered throughout the day.”
“How many prime horses are up for auction?”
“Too many. It’ll be a mad house. That’s good for you, though. Nobody is going to want to bid on the black even if he goes up to auction. I’m hoping he’ll be pulled. Branst is trying for a health exemption because of the evidence of soring. If that goes through, you’ll have to show him high stepping on a lunge.”
“I took a video of him doing it.”
“Oh! I was told there was a photo. Can you send me the video?”
It took both of us to haul the ingredients to Elana’s pickup, which was parked in the garage. Once there, I checked my phone for signal and sent the video. “Just sent it.”
Elana waited until she received the video before starting her truck. “Do I want to watch the video?”
“It’s not long, and I only took it because I thought his trot looked weird,” I confessed. “I took pictures and a video because I wasn’t sure what was going on. He’s really good on the lunge. He’s even good when I check his hooves. He’s not that bad.”
“Pat, you’re the only one who can get near him with any expectation of emerging unscathed. He is that bad, but as long as he’s not that bad for you, it’s
okay. I’ll be watching the auction for him and getting him for you myself if I have to. You can pay me back. The auction starts at eight, so you’ll be working the kitchen then. And I have no idea what’ll happen after lunch.”
“My execution seems likely.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Pat. Sure, the royals can be intimidating, but they’re sensible. Mostly. You’re going to be the safest person at the damned auction.”
If only she knew the truth. “I will be?”
“It’s very simple. If something happens to you, who will cook the barbecue? Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised if the palace chefs attempt to kidnap you to get your recipe. Everyone’s convinced it’s magic. You’re so young, but you can beat the experienced chefs.”
“You’re exaggerating. I cook a lot of the same things the palace chefs do. Hell, some of them teach my classes!”
Elana laughed. “I know. It’s hilarious. Lancaster can’t figure you out. According to him, you’re meeker than a mouse in class, but once you’re in the kitchen, you’re a lion. He watched you work the last time you were at the ranch. When we told him about your behavior at work, he declared you a king of your kitchen, shook his head, and cursed a lot.”
“Why was he cursing?”
“I think he wants you for the royal kitchens. He can’t have you. We found you first.”
Lancaster Gensalt treated me like every other student he taught. On a good day, he worried we’d poison him. On a bad one, we tortured him while subjecting him to a high risk of food poisoning. Nobody had poisoned anyone yet, and I’d gotten used to ignoring the older man’s complaints. “Does he need to see a doctor?”
“Pat, he doesn’t need to see a doctor. Anyway, Lancaster will be in the kitchen with you, and he’s already itching to try things your way, as you have the entirety of the executive floor dancing to your tune.”
“I’m concerned the entirety of the executive floor was kidnapped and replaced by aliens,” I confessed. “Everyone, even the Tech Menace, used their trash cans. Someone vacuumed the floor, and I basically came in and just started the dishwasher. Do you think the aliens will leave by Monday morning?”
Elana giggled. “Aliens, Pat?”
“Everyone used their trash can. Everyone. Aliens seemed like the only reasonable explanation.”
“You might be right. Do you think you’ll be able to get the black into the trailer?”
“We’ll find out in about twenty minutes. Getting him out of the stall should be easy enough, but I don’t know how he’ll react to the trailer. I think I’ll tie him nearby while I load Morning Glory in first; if I load her in first, he might not think anything’s amiss.”
“Good thought. He’s had a bad time with trailers. He’s supposed to be kept in an auction stall, but I’ll suggest they avoid that and put him in the main stable. There’s a spot for him reserved for if you buy him, so that won’t cause a problem, and it’s at the end of the line with Morning Glory next to him. Branst arranged it.”
“Branst needs a raise. How did he pull that off?”
“His boss operates both stables, and he had a good argument. Dr. Winstil helped.”
“Why do I get the feeling tomorrow is going to be a disaster?”
“Technically today. I wouldn’t worry too much. It won’t be that bad. You just worry about cooking, and we’ll take care of your black demon of a horse. I still have no idea how you pulled it off in such a short time. He’s a totally different animal.”
“I was patient with him.”
“Well, that I can understand. You’re patient with everybody.”
“With an exception.”
“Oh?”
“Whoever broke that horse? I won’t have any patience with that one, and it’s a damned good thing I don’t have a crop, as if I found out, there’d be a beating—and not of a horse.”
“I have a spare crop I would be more than happy to loan you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The trailer terrified the stallion, and of all the challenges I’d faced with him, his fear hurt the most. The whites of his eyes showed, and the only reason he didn’t bolt for the comfort of his stall was because I held his line. His high stepped trot hurt to watch, as my awareness of him struggling to lift his legs to avoid punishment and pain strengthened with each moment. His terror tightened my chest and shortened my breath.
It also fueled my rage anyone could damage a horse so much out of personal greed.
My anger wouldn’t do either one of us any good, so I packed it away and buried it deep inside. My chest remained tight, but only one other thing mattered, and he trembled beside me. “It’s okay, boy. The trailer’s not going to hurt you. See? Morning Glory’s inside waiting for you to keep her company.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Elana recording my work with the stallion. She’d pulled out her phone the instant I’d gone to retrieve the stallion from his stall. I’d begun with a brisk grooming, which he adored as always.
I took a single step towards the trailer, careful to avoid pulling on his lead line. Even if it took me hours, I’d coax him in without adding to his trauma.
The low, distressed sound he made broke my heart, but he followed me.
I’d never understood how much of a burden trust could be until the stallion tailed me to the trailer, his head low in misery and fear, the whites of his eyes showing, and his gait stiff-legged and unwilling.
But still he followed.
I settled him in the trailer, following Elana’s suggestions to make sure both him and Morning Glory were secure before closing the door. I shook, and I wanted to slam something, but I didn’t dare allow a single bit of my fury to escape. I wouldn’t betray the stallion like that.
He needed me to stay calm.
Elana came to help me secure the back of the trailer. “That poor baby.”
“If I find out who did that to him, I might kill him, Elana. I really might.”
“There’s going to be a line. That was a smooth load. He didn’t fight you at all. He was obviously terrified, but that was one of the smoothest loads I’ve seen. A lot of horses fuss about getting into the trailer. I don’t know what you did to that horse, but he obviously trusts you.”
“All I did was be patient with him. That’s all.”
“You also don’t fear him. That helps, too. Everybody’s scared of that horse, except for you.”
“I think he was as scared of me as I was of him at first,” I confessed. “But he’s not scary. Sure, I watch out for if something scares him and he reacts, but he’s not doing it to be mean. He’s just trying to protect himself.”
“I understand that now. I didn’t until I saw how he reacted to that trailer,” she confessed. “I’ll keep the ride as smooth for him as I can. Morning Glory loves trailer rides, so maybe that’ll help. They get along really well, too. But she’s still young. I’m sure he’ll give you a lot more trouble when she’s of age and in season. You’ll want to breed her when she’s four or five, although this boy’s about the right age for you to start thinking about studding him out. With how he’s acting with you? I don’t think you’ll have a hard time finding interested owners looking for a covering. You’ll make back his auction costs within a year, I bet.”
“But won’t that mean others will want to buy him?”
“They can’t control him and they know it. Only an asshole is going to try to buy him at this point. I’m going to see if the owner will take a flat fee for him instead of putting him up for auction. Can you pitch a number you’d be willing to pay for him? And yes, Mr. Hemmington is willing to buy him for you and pay him out as part of your year-end bonus, but I’ve got the feeling this is something you want to do on your own.”
“I don’t know what a reasonable offer for him is,” I confessed.
“He’d sell for maybe five hundred to the meat market. He’d be a dumping sale at that point, just enough to get something back from the investment. Over five hundred and the meat i
sn’t really profitable for the butchers.”
I nodded towards the front of the truck. “Let’s talk about it in the cab.”
“Good thought.”
Once Elana did one final check of the trailer, she slid onto the driver’s seat. “If he were tractable, he could sell as high as twenty thousand tomorrow. He’s large for his breed, but not so large to fall outside of breed standards. Some like having a tall breeding stallion. Problem is, he has a reputation for being dangerous, and nobody wants a dangerous horse for a pet.”
“Except me, apparently.”
“You’ve been exceptional since the first day you came to the company. But that’s just the thing. It’s going to take an exceptional owner to handle that horse. And well, sometimes the horse picks the rider, and as far as I’m concerned, that horse wisely picked you. I think he knows you’re his best chance for a good life.”
“I can afford the twenty thousand. Barely. It’d wipe out my savings account, and I don’t know how I’d afford his boarding fees and vetting bill if I wipe the account out.” It’d do more than wipe out my bank account. I’d be back to scraping pennies to get by again once the vet and board fees were accounted for.
I could afford it.
I’d be in the same rut I’d been in since I decided I’d be the one to help the horse survive through the auction. It tired me even thinking about it. I’d survived three weeks. As long as I somehow fit in an extra hour or two of sleep in a night, I could last a lot longer.
I hoped.
“I’ll talk to the owner and see what I can do, but the boarding fee issue will be easy to handle. You can work at the stable to cover his costs, and since you’re the only one who can work with him, you’ll get your stall at a reduced fee because it’s less work for the hands. Branst can get you situated. With your talent, assuming it stays strong following your flares, helping with the training and breaking of young horses will more than cover the boarding fee. Your talent may go back to being minor, but you’ll always have a knack for horses even if it does.”
“All right. I’ll talk to Branst about it.” Branst had even suggested I needed some more time away from the stable. He could likely rig my schedule to make sure I got those extra hours of sleep a day. It bothered me I had nothing else that could give to make room. “Would ten thousand be a reasonable opening offer?”
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