all roads lead to you

by Probst, Jennifer

  Aidan grinned. “Guess so. What type of chicken is he? He’s absolutely amazing.”

  “A Polish chicken. Another one of Harper’s rescues, but he seems to dislike men. I’ve never seen him act like this before with a stranger.”

  “Except for Mia,” Ethan noted. “Hei Hei fell in love with her the moment they met. It took him a while to gain her affection, but now I can’t even try to come between them.”

  Mia laughed, gazing with adoration at Ethan. “What can I say? You both broke down my barriers with sheer grit, charm, and annoyance.”

  Harper’s future sister-in-law was a city girl at heart who’d spent last summer at the farm on business and ended up falling in love with Ethan and the entire town. She now ran her PR firm from upstate and was a beloved fixture in their lives. With her stylish burgundy hair, sleek clothes, and designer shoes, she was not only gorgeous but also brilliant. Harper was lucky to claim her as family.

  “I’m Ethan, and this is Mia. Are you a guest here?”

  Aidan straightened up, giving the chicken one last pat. “Nice to meet you both. Aidan O’Connor, and yes, I’m a guest.” He shook both of their hands. “I head out in a few days. I was just offering Harper my service on the farm. I’m a horse trainer from Ireland, so I’m familiar with the work, and honestly, I’m bored out of my mind on this vacation. I figured I could help out before I leave.”

  Mia smiled. “You sound like me. Vacations only stress me out.”

  Ethan’s gaze sharpened with interest. “Horse training, huh? Did Harper tell you about Phoenix? Bet you’d have some good advice for us since—”

  “I explained to Mr. O’Connor that we can’t have guests working on the farm,” Harper interrupted. She wasn’t ready to share her plans for Phoenix yet. Aidan might have strong opinions or leap too fast to dismiss Phoenix’s racing chances. This was a personal mission she believed in, and she wanted to be careful who she brought into her inner circle.

  Unfortunately, Ethan didn’t seem to notice her forceful change of subject. “Hmm. Usually, no. But with your experience and background, we could make an exception. We could use the help if you really don’t mind. We’ve been a bit shorthanded.”

  “Ethan, I don’t think—”

  “Good, then I’ll get to work,” Aidan said. He shot her a look, his eyes squinting with mischief. “Any other animal surprises for me?”

  On cue, Wheezy and Bolt appeared, running in circles around his legs and barking playfully at Hei Hei. The senior Lab and his best friend had lived at the farm for many years, and the horses enjoyed their company.

  Mia laughed. “Just these goofballs. Harper doesn’t usually bring her dogs here, but when she does, it’s a free-for-all.”

  Aidan raised his brow. “More rescues at home, huh? How many?”

  “Two dogs and a cat,” she answered.

  Ethan snorted. “This week. Her home is always open to anyone who needs it. She rescues helpless cases and rehabilitates them on sheer determination.”

  “Every soul—both human and animal—deserves a worthy life.”

  Everyone got quiet.

  Harper shifted her weight, embarrassed at her sudden outburst.

  Ethan’s face softened. “Just like Mom used to say.”

  Trying not to squirm under Aidan’s intense gaze, she reached under Flower and cinched up the saddle. “Well, if we’re breaking the rules, we better start now. I need all the horses in the first barn prepped for workouts. Barn two needs to be cleaned. Ethan, the fence on the south side needs repair, and I told Allen to come cut the lawn and trim back some of the bushes on the trail. We need to be careful of bee nests, so let’s schedule a sweep. Irish, if you can start with Flower, since she seems to have taken a shine to you, we can get this party started.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Aidan said.

  Mia kissed Ethan. “See you later, baby. Come on, Hei Hei, let them get to work. We need to create some new marketing plans.”

  Hei Hei scurried over to Mia. With a quick rub of his feathers against her leg, he trotted after her in adoration while Wheezy and Bolt took off behind them.

  Aidan scratched his head. “Mind telling me where these crazy names came from?”

  Ethan snorted. “I’ll let Harp answer that question. Thanks again, Aidan. I’m going to start on that gate.” He tipped his head and walked off with a slight limp.

  “My mother had an obsession with Disney movies,” she said. Fondness threaded her voice. “When she began the horse-rescue farm, she got in the habit of naming all the animals after Disney characters. Ophelia and I stuck with the tradition. Ethan thinks it’s ridiculous, but for us, it’s a fun way to honor Mom.”

  “If it’s something happy that unites you, it isn’t ridiculous.” She caught a flash of pain in his amber eyes before he turned from her. “Better get going. Don’t want to get yelled at on my first day. Come on, bláth. Let’s have some fun.”

  Flower pushed her nose into his hand, and he led her off to the fields.

  Harper watched him, wondering what had caused his pain.

  Wondering why seeing it had hurt her, too.

  She buried the thought and turned away.

  A few hours later, Mia dropped by with sandwiches and called them to the picnic table.

  Owen scurried over, looking warily around to make sure Hei Hei wasn’t there, and peered at the pile of food. “Can I take a break, too?”

  Harper lifted a brow. “You just got here an hour ago.”

  “But I’m so hungry.”

  Mia waved a hand, encouraging him to sit. “Of course, Owen, I got plenty.”

  “Thanks.” The kid took a hairband from around his wrist and tied his hair back, then happily grabbed a hero and soda. “Man, I had no idea working with horses could be so stressful. Scar almost kicked me and gave me a concussion.”

  Harper’s hand froze, sandwich halfway to her mouth. She tried not to bluster her words. “Wait—I told you several times not to walk on his right side. He gets spooked.”

  Owen frowned. “Thought that was Maximus. I get them all mixed up. There are too many. Can you make me a spreadsheet? That would be super-helpful.”

  Her fingers clenched. She was going to murder him. “Sure. I’ll take a few hours and list every tic and hot spot for all of my horses in alphabetical order for your convenience. Anything else you’d like to request?”

  “Maybe put each of their names on the stalls? I’ve seen stables on TV with these brass plaques. Could be a nice touch.”

  She ground her teeth together and prayed for patience.

  Aidan shot her a look and seemed to catch her frustration. He jumped into the conversation. “Hey, Owen, what are you studying in school?”

  The kid shrugged. “Communication. Figured I’d work in television or media. Me and my dudes started a YouTube channel, and we already have thirty subscribers. If we come up with the right stuff, maybe we’ll go viral. That way, I can drop out of college and be a millionaire.”

  “What do you film?” Mia asked.

  “Things that make people laugh. Once, we did this prank where we hooked up an invisible cable to a bike and put a sign on it that said RIDE ME. When you tried to pedal away, you’d get yanked off the seat. It was pretty funny.”

  Aidan bit into his pastrami on rye in an obvious attempt to keep quiet.

  “Chloe had a hard time her first year at SUNY New Paltz,” Mia said. “She stayed at the farm last summer for her probation and ended up really loving it. Sometimes college takes a bit of adjustment. Finding the right friends and the subjects you’re interested in. Do you like working at the farm?”

  Owen munched on a potato chip. “Well, I kind of got assigned here after my screwup. I got drunk and, as a joke, tried to graffiti my friend’s dorm, but it ended up being my own dorm, and it was either probation or community service. My grandpa was pissed and figured if I did some manual labor, I’d learn how to be a real man, as he put it. But I had this cool job set up at a vape shop that
I missed out on, so that’s kind of a bummer. I haven’t met Chloe yet. Is she hot?”

  Harper opened her mouth to tell him lunch was over, but Aidan interrupted. “Have you ever ridden a horse before?” he asked Owen.

  The kid shook his head. “Nah, I’m scared of them. They’re unpredictable.”

  Aidan nodded. “It’s always good to be cautious when dealing with animals, but if you know and respect their triggers and fears, a real bond can form. I’m sure Harper knows which horses would be gentle. If you actually rode, you’d be more interested in what goes on at the farm.”

  Owen seemed to consider the offer. “Maybe. Not sure if Harper has time, though. She’s got a lot to do, especially now with the spreadsheets.”

  Aidan pressed his lips together. “I can take you after your shift. If it’s okay with Harper.”

  Three sets of eyes swiveled to look at her.

  Ah, crap. She really didn’t want to get further involved with a kid who didn’t fit in here, or a man who pulled unexpected feelings from her. Then again, Aidan would be gone in a few days. Maybe riding a horse could give Owen a different perspective. “Sure,” she finally said. “As long as it’s in the pasture here, where we can all keep an eye on him. And I’d use Flower. She’s pretty mellow and has a smooth gait.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Aidan said.

  Mia got up with a sigh. “I’m going to take this to Ethan before he starves to death. See you guys later.”

  “Thanks for lunch,” they all called out.

  Owen stood and grabbed the trash. “Thanks for letting me eat, Harper. I’ll refill all the water buckets.” He trudged away, leaving them alone.

  The silence seethed with an undercurrent of tension. What was this weird energy between them?

  “You didn’t have to offer him riding lessons,” she said, desperate to break the strange mood. “He just wants to do his time here and move on with his life.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. But I don’t think you would’ve kept him on if you truly believed that.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin and regarded her with interest. “You’re a champion of lost causes. You just don’t like to advertise it.”

  She snorted. “Trust me, I’m a realist. I don’t believe in unicorns and rainbows.”

  “I think you know the odds are high, but you hope anyway. What I find fascinating is why you hate to admit it. Do you think it makes you soft? Or too vulnerable?”

  Oh, hell no. He was not going to sit at her table and try to analyze her. She lifted her chin and glared. “You know what I find fascinating, Irish? The real reason you’re taking this so-called vacation. Why are you desperate to work at an unknown horse farm to keep busy? Are you running away from something in Ireland?”

  He jerked back. His face closed up, his gaze breaking from hers, and that’s when Harper realized she’d hit buried treasure.

  Her belly clenched. She wanted him to tell her the truth. But of course he wouldn’t. They were strangers. There was nothing between them. They didn’t owe each other anything.

  It was exactly the way she liked it. Simple. Clean. The only way she knew how to lead her life.

  She swallowed back the tinge of bitterness and watched while he stood up, poised to leave. Instead, he surprised her by swiveling his gaze back to meet hers head-on.

  His jaw clenched. “You’re right. Something did happen back home. I got my heart broken, so I came here to put myself back together again.” A lopsided smile curved his beautifully defined lips. “Guess I was hoping to distract myself for the next couple of days. Horses are so much simpler than people. They don’t know how to lie.”

  His words shattered in the air.

  She tried to say something, but her throat choked up, so instead she watched him walk away, leaving her confused and longing for something she didn’t know how to satisfy.

  Chapter Five

  It was better to avoid him.

  After spending the morning introducing Aidan to all the horses in her charge, she’d kept her distance. The conversation at lunch had thrown her off. At this point, she figured she’d take the help he offered but not engage. Each time she did, the bond strengthened between them.

  She sat in the small room that served as a makeshift office and groaned. God, she despised paperwork, and running this place was 50 percent administrative. The last three office assistants hadn’t worked out, and she didn’t have any more time or desire to train someone who inevitably left for college, found a better job, or just decided not to show up one day.

  Excel sheets filled the computer, letters needed to be written and emailed, and the supply inventory was a tangled mess.

  Pushing a hand through her hair, she tried to focus, but her attention kept wandering outside, where Aidan was instructing Owen on the basics of horse riding, walking Flower in circles, getting Owen used to the feel and gait of the horse. Their voices drifted in the breeze.

  “Own your space,” Aidan called out. “A horse is looking to be led. Heels tucked down, gaze focused ahead, fingers loose but firm around the reins.”

  “What if she gets pissed about something and throws me off?” Owen asked nervously.

  “A horse can get spooked at any time, but if you’re calm and aware, it’s easy to regain control. I don’t want you to worry about that now, though. Take a breath. Be aware of the both of you as one, moving together. That’s the only place your attention should be along with your form.”

  “My ass hurts.”

  A chuckle. “Spine straight, tailbone tucked. Yeah, people who think horseback riding isn’t exercise learn that’s a myth. You work a lot of muscles.”

  Harper looked up again from her computer to watch. Lord, the man was hot. He moved like flowing water, smoothly blending one motion into another like a choreographed dance. Confidence oozed from his body, along with an intense energy, especially when his golden gaze lasered in. His biceps bulged and relaxed as he guided the horse, his hair reflecting in the dim shade like a halo.

  She’d dated a cowboy once. He’d been on break from his horse ranch in Montana and stayed at the inn for a week. It hadn’t taken them long to connect and fall into bed. They’d had only a few nights together, but Harper had liked the tough wildness of his body, the way he spoke about his home and his animals. It was a satisfying affair, with the end fully accepted by both of them. She thought of him sometimes but never to contact him. Harper understood they lived separate lives. She’d never leave Gardiner, and he’d never leave Montana. He’d been able to quench her loneliness for a bit, and for that she was grateful.

  At first, she wondered if Aidan attracted her because of the memory of her own cowboy. But something was very different between them. The connection was beyond a physical attraction. He dug deeper, with his words and his intense gaze and his quiet power that captivated her. He was more dangerous than her ex-lover. Because with Aidan, she had a terrible feeling one tumble in bed with him would never be enough.

  Who had broken his heart? A lover? Fiancée? She ached to know the truth beneath his quiet demeanor. But if he opened up, she worried she’d only fall deeper into the trap.

  Better to avoid the whole mess. In three days, he’d be just another memory.

  She refocused on her spreadsheets, and too soon he popped his head through the door. “Harper?”

  She barely looked up. “Yes?”

  “I’m finished with Owen. Is it okay if he knocks off for the day?”

  “Absolutely. Thanks for taking him for his first ride and a good day’s work. We appreciate it.”

  “Do you?”

  The question forced her gaze to meet his. His sun-bleached brow quirked. “Of course. I told you that several times.” Her voice came out a bit defensive, but she ignored it.

  He leaned on the doorjamb, arms folded in front of his chest. “Your words don’t match your actions. You seem to avoid me.”

  Her fists clenched in her lap as her heartbeat ramped up. “That’s ridiculous. Listen, if you’re not
interested in coming back tomorrow, I completely understand. No hard feelings.”

  “Bet you’d like that,” he murmured. “It’d be easier.”

  “You’re talking in riddles,” she said with annoyance. Usually, she was direct, having no time for false denials or game play. But he threw her off balance, and she didn’t want to admit his presence affected her. She didn’t want to admit he was right. “Would you like a handwritten Hallmark card to convey my real gratitude?”

  “Maybe. Will you add those extra emoji hearts so I believe it?”

  She couldn’t help it. A smile tugged at her lips. She had a feeling it would be hard staying mad at him for long—his dry humor beckoned her to laugh with him. “I’m sorry. I just have tons of paperwork to get through, but I am thankful. And I hope you find what you’re looking for in California. I’m assuming a horse to take on?”

  “We’ll see.” His eyes became shadowed. “It may be time for a change. Finding a horse to train is difficult. There’s a ton of factors to consider. Usually, the horse picks me, not the other way around.”

  She tilted her head with interest. “What do you mean?”

  His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Working intimately with a horse is like any relationship. There has to be a connection. I’ve learned forcing myself on a horse doesn’t work. I’m usually guided to the next opportunity, and then I know it in my gut.”

  “What if the owner doesn’t want to work with you?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Once the horse and I connect, all obstacles usually fall away, including a reluctant owner. I’m very good at getting what I want.”

  “Winning?”

  His lips tightened into a firm line. “Sometimes winning is the only thing that matters.”

  She considered his words. She thought of Phoenix and how badly she wanted to see him run on the track, to watch him come into his true power and feel the glory of a win. The road was a long battle, and she was already drowning in work. Was it worth it? Could she really handle a professional racehorse and all it entailed? The finances alone could break her.