by Tena Stetler
“Oh, that’s right you mentioned horses this morning.” Eyes bright with excitement she got up and walked to the window. “I love to ride. Haven’t done much since my parents died.”
His eyes clouded for a moment wondering how long ago she lost her parents. His attention turned back to her shoes. “You can’t ride in those. You’ll need something with a heel to keep your foot in the stirrup.”
“No, I rode bareback and barefoot most my life. These will be fine.” She insisted then eyed his running shoe clad feet.
“Not on my horses, we’ll see what we can find in the stable. The horses are a Gypsy Buckskin named Satan and Harbor is an American Paint. Both were rescues, so I am not one hundred percent sure of their heritage. Satan is large for a Gypsy but with the feathering that starts at the knees in front and hock in back that nearly cover the hooves, Jason says he has to be part Gypsy. Harbor is white with patches of maroon and a black tip on her tail. Again, she is larger than an average Paint. We can go out there after breakfast and you can meet them.” Following her gaze, he said flatly. “My riding boots are in the stables.”
“Rescues? So you are not what people perceive you to be.” She returned to the table scraped a bit of egg onto her fork and finished the last bite of toast.
“Oh, I am everything people perceive me to be, but that isn’t all I am. I just don’t let others see the part of me that you are seeing now. Few people know about this place. I maintain an apartment in the city for appearances and when I don’t have time to come out here.”
“So tell me about your horses.” She forked the last bite of hash brown and slid it in her mouth, chewing slowly.
“Satan is the Buckskin, he was a difficult horse, beaten and trusted no one, but they couldn’t break his spirit. He was scheduled to be put down when I came across him. Took me over a year to bring him around, but now he’s a great horse, single footed too, which makes for a very smooth ride.”
“Can anyone else ride him?”
“No. He still has trust issues as far as others are concerned.”
“And Harbor?”
“She is the sweetest horse you’d ever want to meet. I found her one day when Satan and I were out riding several miles from here. Apparently, someone had abandoned her quite a while before we found her, you could see every rib. Satan tried to coax her to follow us but she was too weak. We rode back to the stable and got the horse trailer.”
“How did you get her in the trailer? She didn’t even know you.” Her eyes wide with amazement, she rested her chin in her hands, watching him intently.
He smiled fondly remembering the events. “It was Satan. When I returned for the trailer, I tried to leave him in the stable here. He wouldn’t have any part of that. So I put him in the trailer, added hay, and grain to the feed bins, grabbed a couple bunches of carrots and went to get her. By the time we found her again, she was lying down in the grass, too weak to stand. It was a good thing that I brought Satan, he nudged her to get up, and then she followed him into the horse trailer. I had to secure her with straps that I brought to keep her upright for the ride back to the house, but she made it.”
“Wow, that’s unusual for a horse to voluntarily go into a trailer, let alone a strange trailer with someone she doesn’t know.”
“I know it sounds crazy, but I think they knew each other on some plane of existence. They have been inseparable since that day. If I ride one, the other always comes along.”
“You must have had huge vet bills between the two.”
“Not really. Jason, the stable hand I hired to care for Satan is a former Vet Tech, so he tended to Satan’s wounds with my assistance. When we brought Harbor back, he single-handedly nursed her back to health. It was nine months before she was strong enough to ride. Jason keeps the horses healthy and cares for them as if they were his own. Like I said, I have a great staff.” Bruce pushed up from the table and picked up the plates and glasses, put them in the dishwasher then turned to her. “Ready to go meet ’em?” He flipped the dishwasher to on and started for the door.
She nodded and followed him out the door “No one has discovered this side of you, other than your help. How did you keep the secret?” From what she could see, the security at his estate was impenetrable, but what about his horses and stables, she hadn’t noticed them when they drove in last night.
“I value my privacy.” The chirping of his cell phone interrupted the peace and quiet as they walked toward a huge building. He checked the caller ID and cursed, increasing the speed and length of his strides. “We need to get to the security of the stable compound so I can return this call.”
Puzzled, she matched his pace to the building. Another security panel glowed green as he passed his open hand impatiently across the panel. He placed his arm around her shoulders pulling her in close and walked right through what appeared to be a solid wall. Once inside Angie turned and ran her fingers over the wall, it felt solid.
They’d stepped in an enclosure with stables, exercise and training rings and pasture area complete with grass. The air was fresh with clean earthy scents wafting on the light breeze flowing through the area. From the inside, she could see outside through strategically placed panels, yet she was positive when she stood outside there was no evidence of windows.
She turned to Bruce in amazement. “How is all this possible?”
“State of the art building material, air filtration systems, and a little ingenuity make all this possible.”
A man with red hair, a friendly smile and a lanky build, dressed in jeans, well-worn boots, and t-shirt strode toward them. “Morning boss. Going for a ride?”
“Not sure, Jason. I need to return a phone call then I’ll let you know our plans. This is Angie. She is my guest for a few days.”
Jason’s eyebrows shot up to almost his hairline, but he said nothing. In all the years, he’d worked for Bruce he’d never brought a guest here, especially not a female.
“Angie, if it’s all right with you, Jason, my stable manager, can show you around the place and answer any questions. Maybe find you an acceptable pair of boots. Megan keeps several pairs in the tack room. See if any of them will fit you. Megan exercises Harbor when she feels the need to escape her household duties. I’ll catch up as soon as I handle this call. Ok?”
She nodded in agreement, still overwhelmed by what she saw. “Magic?” she whispered.
“No, at least not what you see.” The phone beeped urgently again, Bruce checked the screen and frowned. “I’ll explain later.” He continued through the rough wooden doorway into the stable office and turned toward her. “Just be a minute.” Holding up one finger, he sent her a smile meant to reassure, and then closed the heavy wooden door behind him.
“Well, looks like we got a few minutes. Let’s check out the tack room, see if any of Megan’s boots fit, then I’ll show you around.” Jason stuck his thumbs through his front belt loops and waited a beat, stealing a glance at the closed door. “This way.” Once inside the tack room, Angie found a pair of boots that fit. She glanced at Jason. “I think these will work. Let’s go meet Satan and Harbor, if that’s all right.”
“Follow me, but keep your distance from Satan, we don’t get many guests and he’s skittish. I assume Bruce told you about them.”
“Yes.” She glanced nervously toward the door before following him.
****
Bruce sat down in the well-worn brown leather chair and picked up the phone in the office. It was a secure line just like his computer servers and all communications on the estate. Signals were scrambled and encoded for safety. He dialed Owen’s private line. It rang only once.
“Well, it’s about time. I’ve called you several times.”
“I know that. Wasn’t at a secure location to take your call. What’s up?” Bruce’s voice was smooth and unconcerned.
“Tristian dropped off his reports in person. I stopped by your apartment to deliver them. Where are you?”
“I told you I was
leaving town for a few days.”
“Oh, yeah…I forgot. Anyway, after Tristian dropped by, he decided to surprise Angie, take her to lunch, check out her new business venture, and spend some time with her. They parted with such animosity, he wanted to apologize, I guess. Hell, I don’t know. Bottom line, she’s missing and he’s worried.”
“Did you talk to Willow?”
“Yeah, she was of no help. She’s spending the weekend at her boyfriend’s house and hasn’t seen Angie since Friday evening, when Angie volunteered to close, so Willow could leave with her boyfriend. Angie is not due back to work until Monday afternoon. By that time, Tristian will be insufferable. Not to mention, what if she is in trouble?” Owen asked.
Bruce ran fingers through his hair and blew out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck he sat back in the chair eyes closed. “She’s safe,” he said flatly then hesitated for a couple of beats. “Angie’s with me at my estate. We’ll be back sometime late Monday morning.”
“Alone. Shit, Bruce, didn’t we discuss this?”
“Yes, and I told you what I was going to do if she called and she did on Friday night. We talked well into the night.
“Yeah, I’ll just bet you did,” Owen grumbled. It was well known Bruce slept with every woman he’d found attractive given the chance.
Bruce ignored Owen’s comment and continued. “We decided to see where this relationship leads. She knows everything. Tristian will just have to learn to live with it. Although, I was hoping for a little more time before he found out.”
“It’s not his living with it I’m concerned about; it’s your living through it.” Owen swore. “I can tell you where it will lead and it’s nowhere good. I suppose you expect me to run interference for the two of you?”
“I do.”
“Great!” Owen heaved a long sigh into the phone.
“Talk with Willow, get her to back you up. Tell Tristian Angie went on holiday with friends and will be back sometime Monday afternoon.”
“You know we don’t lie to our business associates, especially Tristian. Your scent will be all over her, especially if you were intimate.”
“We weren’t. Not that it’s any of your business. And it’s not a lie. We’re friends. I’ll figure out how to get her back to the shop without running into Tristian, Monday. If we can’t, we’ll simply face the consequences.”
“Good point. I’ll do what I can from here, but it would help if you’d keep me in the loop as to your plan, when you have one,” Owen said.
“Fair enough. I’ll be in touch. Probably won’t be today, we’re going riding and will be out of range most of the day.”
“Ok, I’ll handle it. But when you get back, we need to talk.”
“Sure.” Bruce returned the handset to its cradle, fingers drumming on the receiver for a moment.
Relieved there was no dire emergency, Bruce stood and strolled out of the office, looking for Angie and Jason. Figuring they went to see the horses first, he hurried to the stables where Harbor nuzzled Angie’s hand and Satan watched with more interest than he’d ever paid to a stranger. Jason was standing protectively between Satan and Angie.
“Thanks Jason, I’ll take it from here. Sorry to take you away from your duties.”
“Not a problem, boss. Do you want me to saddle ’em up for you?”
“Go ahead and saddle Harbor, I’ll handle Satan.”
“Right away. Nice to meet you Angie.” He nodded to her then strode quickly to the tack room followed by Bruce.
“Be right back.” Bruce smiled turning back toward Angie. “Then we’re off.”
****
The concern he’d displayed earlier was gone, much to Angie’s relief. Apparently, the phone call was not what he’d expected. It had been years since she’d been on a horse and she was really looking forward to it. Tristian sold the horses after her parents died because there was no time or money to care for them. Taking care of her and the family business, as he’d called it took up all his time. She wondered if her father had also worked for Bruce in the same capacity as Tristian. But that was a discussion for another day she decided. Today she was determined to enjoy being with Bruce and riding carefree, if only for the next twenty-four hours.
Bruce and Jason returned and saddled the horses. Bruce grasped her calf and put his hand under the sole of her boot boosting her into the saddle, checking her stirrup length and cinch strap then mounted Satan leading the way across the pastured area.
“Jason, open the west door, we are going to ride around the property.” Bruce shouted over his shoulder. A wall to the side of the area they occupied simply disappeared and horses turned in that direction quickening their pace, heads and tails held high ready to burn off some pent up energy. Bruce let Satan have his head and Harbor tested Angie’s tight hold on the reins following at a slower pace.
****
Once outside, Satan took off at a canter straining to make it a full gallop. Bruce reined him in, turning in the saddle to watch Angie’s fluid movements atop Harbor. It was as if she was one with the horse. Yes, she’d ridden before and often. He made a mental note to order her a pair of riding boots for the next time she visited.
He waited for her to catch up and asked, “You up for letting them run? It’s been a while since they have been outside and allowed a full gallop. Jason takes them out every day, but keeps them close to the enclosure.”
“Sure, I’ll just hold on tight and hope you and Satan know where you’re going.” Angie said with a giggle as she loosened the reins and tightened her knees against Harbor’s sides.
“We’ll keep it controlled and slow down after they begin to tire. They’ll be happy to walk after a good run. Then I can show you around the acreage and we’ll be able to talk.”
****
Bruce loosened the reins and Satan took off, Harbor right behind and Angie holding tight to the saddle.
Heart pounding, breaths coming in fast gulps, the exhilaration of riding horseback again was wonderful. She hadn’t felt so carefree in years. The sun in her face, the wind in her hair, a confident horse beneath her and most of all a man with whom she was free to be herself. One that knew her secrets, heck, knew more secrets of her family than she did and really cared for her. Her terrible nightmares caught him off guard but he seemed unaffected by them.
****
Watching her laugh, face flushed with excitement, his head conceded what his heart already knew. This woman is his soul mate, created just for him. Granted, there were going to be a few formidable obstacles, Tristian being one of the biggest. There seemed to be a force stronger than either of them bringing them together, so who was he to question it.
Was this how his father felt when he’d taken his mother as his mate? An action that shook both heaven and hell to their very core. Facing insurmountable obstacles, his father managed to rule his territory with an iron fist, earn respect, and make their relationship work, even to this day. Though now his father was retired and his parents live in Tahiti.
After about fifteen minutes, the horses slowed to a canter on their own and then eventually were contented to walk alongside each other.
He reached over and caught Angie’s hand. “You look radiant.”
“Thanks, I’d forgotten just how much I enjoyed horses. Not only the riding, but just being around them.”
“I see you spending much more time with them and me in the future.”
She laughed. “So now you are a fortune teller, also?”
He rolled his eyes and smirked. “I wish.” His mood turned somber as he brought the horses to a standstill.
“What is it?” She asked frowning.
“The phone call I took earlier was Owen. Angie, your brother is in DC. He came to deliver some reports to me and surprise you. Apparently he is feeling bad about the way you two left things. Naturally, he can’t find you, he’s worried, and Willow isn’t talking.”
The corners of her lips curled up in a half-smile. “Willow won’t either
. We knew he’d find out eventually. I was just hoping for the later. But it is what it is and I am ready to face him.”
“As am I, but hopefully it won’t come to that…yet. Owen is running interference and will get with Willow to sidetrack Tristian until Monday afternoon. I’d planned for us to return mid-morning Monday, so you could get to work on time. Unless of course you want to leave earlier.”
“I’m good with Monday morning. We agreed not to hide our relationship, but be discreet for the time being. Right?”
“Yes. When we get back to the stable, I’ll let Owen know we’ll return day after tomorrow. If he can work something out, he will. If not, we’ll face Tristian together when I drop you off at the store. Or do you need to go home first to change?”
“No the store will be fine, I’ll call Willow later and have her bring me a change of clothes. Boy am I going to owe Willow big time after this.”
“Yep, ditto for Owen. He doesn’t like to get involved in my personal affairs and normally I like it that way. Now let’s head back to the stable. We’ll get the horses taken care of and have the evening to ourselves, before the staff returns in the morning.” He nudged his heels into Satan. “Home boy.”
After they groomed and fed the horses, Angie and Bruce walked toward the house. Angie grabbed his hand and spun him around to face her. “When I asked about the magic use around here, your answer was pretty cryptic. Not what I could see? What kind of answer was that? Care to explain?”
“No…not really. But I suppose you’re going to insist.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and rolled the ache out of his shoulders.
Expecting the return of his cold, distant demeanor, he surprised her with pleasant forthright answers.
“It was a gift from my parents. I bought this place from them when they retired to Tahiti.”
“Oh, so it’s not your magic.”
“No. My father thought I’d need extra protection as I asserted myself and proved worthy of claiming his place as Territory Overlord. There were others that felt entitled, in the end I won, but the costs were steep.” His shoulders slumped and eyes saddened as he remembered close friends that had his back during that time and paid the ultimate price. Owen still bore scars of those battles. “This,” he stood stretching his arms open wide turning to survey his estate, “has always been my sanctuary.”