“Yeah.” I hear them talking on the other end, but can’t make out the words. “I see.” He sounds displeased and I hear the quick change in tone on the other end. There’s an apologetic sound that’s obvious even when the words are not.
“I appreciate it,” he says, his voice only a tad bit warmer. He hangs up and looks over at me. “It was towed. But you’re free to pick it up in a few hours.”
The thought of someone going through my things, touching my stuff, freaks me out. Everything I own – the precious little that is – is in that truck. And there’s a rather large amount of cash stashed. Well, not large per se, a few thousand dollars. Everything I’d been able to stash before running away. It’s the money I’m going to start over with.
“So what would you like to do until then?” he asks, and I look over at the store. Just yesterday I’d been here. I’d left a healthy Sentinel in the truck and went in to grab something to eat. Everything has changed in such a short time.
“Let’s go check on that horse,” I say, feeling lost as we head out of the parking lot. There’s nothing I can do. And that powerless feeling is enough to rip me apart inside. But what can I do about it?
We head back out and are back in front of his house in only a few tense moments. “We’re going to take the work truck,” He says, heading into the lot of the vet office.
“Do you have other work today?” I ask, skipping to keep up with him and Jax.
“Not unless someone calls. I do most work out of office, house calls and such,” he says. I’m fascinated, but the nagging worry crowding my mind keeps me from engaging further.
What if they go through my truck and steal the cash? It’s not like I can prove I had it. Or that they took it.
I follow Kyle to the passenger side of the lifted truck and he opens the door for me. “In you go,” he says, offering me his hand. I take it as he opens the back of the cab and orders Jax in. He closes both door and heads off toward his place.
In a few moments, I see him walking patently beside a limping, obviously tired Sentinel. I watch my dog walk, seeing the long gash along his side. He’s in such rough shape. I should have let him stay home. I’m being cruel dragging him along like this.
Kyle opens my door and the back door and pulls forth a blanket. He’s quick to fold it and place it in the extra space at my feet. Then he helps Sentinel in, lifting him carefully under the haunches in in front of his chest, well clear of the broken ribs.
Sentinel settles down and places his head on my toes while I talk to him. It’s heartbreaking how tired he it, how sore he looks, but how devoted he is.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, feeling the hot sting of tears. He’s quick to lick my knuckles as I pet him, and I feel Jax nuzzling my shoulder.
Chapter 14
Kyle
I hook up the trailer, giving Victoria some time to herself with Sentinel. I know it can be rough to see an animal you love in such rough shape. But it could be so much worse. Sentinel is really doing incredibly well.
And while the pain meds will keep him from feeling too much pain, I’m also trying to keep his doses somewhere between totally loopy or passed out and alert. I have a feeling that it’s better for her to see him in a little tiny pain but very much alive.
And the pain isn’t more than the soreness we’d feel if we worked out. A bit of a dull ache, but enough that we feel it. I need to find a good balance for owner and animal. Which is odd; generally I’d only care what the animal needs. I push away the thought. With Sentinel up and awake, he’s acting like a mostly healthy pup. Which is a great sign.
I have a feeling once he heals up you’d never even know he was seconds from death. And I’m never going to tell Victoria how close he came. Or that Jax is a fucking hero. Without his blood and the immediate care he received, Sentinel would be a goner.
Heading back to my seat in the truck, I’m greeted by Jax loving on Victoria who’s silently crying and loving on Sentinel’s velvety ears. It’s a touching scene and I can’t help myself. I snap a quick picture with my phone and ask her for her phone number.
She tells me and I text her the image. Her face lights up as she sees how cute it looked to see big ol’ husky Jax hanging over the seat and resting his nose on her shoulder as she leans forward enough to love on Sentinel.
“Thank you,” She whispers, studying the picture as I get in and buckle up.
“I think you have a new admirer.” I tell her as Jax keeps contact with her even as she sits up and pulls on her seat belt.
“I guess so,” She says and I keep reminding myself that she’s going to leave. I need to dissociate. We pull out onto the road and she looks behind us.
“Why the trailer?” she asks.
“In case we need to move the animal to treat it here.” It wouldn’t be the first time. I’d rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it.
As if reading my mind, she says, “Hope for the best prepare for the worst.”
“Exactly,” I say, wondering how she does that. She’s unlike any woman I’ve ever been around. When she’s this near to me, I feel a faint echo off her like our souls are using sonar to find one another.
I’m obviously going fucking crazy.
On the long drive, she turns on the radio and flips through station before settling on some upbeat pop rock song. She sings along and I open the window a bit to let the fresh air in for the dogs. Suddenly, Jax’s nose is on my shoulder as he sniffs the wind like crazy.
“Aww,” Victoria says, looking over at him. “Traitor.” Her lips lift in a bright smile and she lifts her phone to snap a picture. She texts it to me, but I’m not going to look while driving.
When we pull into the driveway I feel her tone change. She’s quiet, and I know why. The place seems… empty. I drive up right before the house and park. There’s no sign of activity and I get out to quickly walk the place.
And I see the horse; Molly. She’s pitiful. A bag of bones, her hips jutting out and every rib plain to count.
I pull out my phone and call the non-emergency police number right away.
As I give the details needed, I see Victoria walk up to the fence, offering a hand to the mare. But the mare is too tired to even walk and instead, lies down.
Not good.
Victoria’s eyes meet mine. They’re wide, troubled, and I know she knows it’s dire. But she’s holding it together. She’s poised to help. I hang up with the dispatch and call Emma.
“Hey Em, I need to ask a favor.” It would be awkward if it wasn’t such an important issue.
“Of course,” She says, her voice sounding happy to hear from me. Nothing between us was soured by Kieran, and I’m thankful for that.
“I’ve got a very emaciated horse here that needs an emergency home and care.”
“Oh my god, yes,” she says, her voice worried. “Bring him right over.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you, I know your dad used to help out with these cases-”
“You can count on me,” she says.
“I’ll see you in ten.” I say and we hang up after quick goodbyes. It would be bitter sweet, if I was letting myself feel sad for how things ended between us. Though they never really ended. No, they were torn apart by Kieran’s selfish, typical asshole self. He destroys everything and everyone he touches. But I decided when things got serious between them that I’d be here if Em needs me after he destroys her. Because he will.
I open the gate and walk over to the mare. She’s got a dirty halter hanging from her skinny face, but I feel like there’s no way she’d even have the energy to run from me or put up much of a fight.
“Hey babe, I need you to stand,” I say, approaching slowly. She perks her ears from their lax position. I take her halter and she struggles painfully to her feet. Making a few snap decisions, I decide to look at her hooves later. Right now, I need to get her to Em who’ll get some calories in her and get her the energy she needs to be well enough for me to even treat.
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“How did they let this happen?” Victoria says from just behind me. I glance over her and she’s staring over her shoulder at the quiet house.
“The cops will do a wellness check. For now, we’ll take her and get her to an expert.” With my hand on Molly’s halter, I lead her toward the trailer. “Hold her,” I tell Victoria, who takes the halter. She talks gently to the mare as I open up the trailer.
With the ramp down, I ask Victoria to lead the mare up and in, trusting the tired old girl won’t put up a fight.
She doesn’t, and I sense Victoria’s shift in attitude. That defeated set to her shoulders since she found out that her truck had been towed is lifted and morphed into stubbornness, which I admire.
She’s a fighter, I’ll give her that. She’s a tough chick, and it’s fucking sexy.
Chapter 15
Victoria
The drive is tense. I know he’s driving slowly and carefully to keep the sad horse from falling down. I’m not sure who he was talking to on the phone, but whoever Em is, he must be a close friend, judging by the soft sound of Kyle’s voice.
We pull onto a winding dirt road and I hold on as the rough road jolts the truck a bit as we hit potholes. When he pulls to a halt before the old ranch house, I see a slim, pretty girl hurry out. She’s a few years older than I am, I think, with incredible reddish gold hair and sparkling green eyes that are remarkably radiant.
Kyle gets out and she throws herself into his arms.
And I sit, frozen in the passenger seat. “Em” is not a male friend. She’s a beautiful woman holding onto Kyle a bit too tightly.
They part a bit and she brings both hands up to cup his cheeks, a wide smile on her beautiful face. And suddenly, I feel ugly and out of place. Of course Kyle would have a beautiful woman like this on the hook.
Her lean arms look strong as she lets him go and takes his hand to walk around the truck toward the trailer. I hunch in my seat, petting Sentinel as Jax presses his nose into my shoulder to leave a damp spot in my favorite sweater.
The couple stops at the passenger door and I try to make myself invisible through force of will.
Of course it doesn’t work.
Kyle opens the door and Em beams at me, her pretty face shining brighter than the sun as she offers me her hand. “I’m Emma!” She says, her pretty voice as upbeat as she looks. I feel frumpy and depressing in comparison.
“Victoria,” I say, my voice timid even as Kyle’s incredible blue eyes meet mine.
Emma lets me go to ask “Who’s this?” to a bored looking Sentinel. At least he’s not drooling all over her like I’m sure every other guy in her life does.
She beams up at me and I feel bad. She seems genuinely nice and I’m just internally hating on her for no real reason. “He’s Sentinel. Kyle saved his life.” I glance over at Kyle again, who’s still watching me.
Emma looks form Kyle back to me and at Sentinel again, before lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Well isn’t that something?” She straightens up and beams at me again.
“It’s nice to meet you. Let’s see that horse now, shall we?”
I nod and she walks off, leaving Kyle with me. He takes my hand and helps me from the truck. And I glare up at him. He could have at least warned me he was taking me to his lover’s house. Or ex lover. Or his love. There’s something between them, I’m just not totally sure what yet.
Still, he could have given me a head’s up that it would get weird.
With the solid ground under my feet, I walk toward the trailer as Emma opens the back and lowers the ramp.
“Oh, darlin,” she breathes out on a sigh as she walks up and in with the horse. The horse looks over at her with the saddest ears I’ve ever seen. The horse’s ears are just hanging to the sides, sagging there like she doesn’t even have the energy to keep them upright.
“She was lying down,” Kyle’s telling Emma, who clicks her tongue.
“Not good. I’ll get her fed. Need pictures?” she asks as she backs the horse down the ramp slowly with words of encouragement.
“Pictures would be good, just to cover my ass.” Kyle seems sheepish and I pull my phone from my pocket.
“Why kind of pictures?” I ask him. Emma walks over to me as the horse stands there, her head lowered and her breathing labored. She lifts my phone and talks in a lowered voice.
“Like this, show her ribs, her hips. Try a few from the sides, a few from behind, the front, every angle you can. The more detail, the better.” She gives me that smile and a quick, one arm around my shoulders hug. “Thanks. I’m going to get her some mash, okay?” She thumbs up Kyle who nods and rubs the horse’s neck.
With my task realized, I take pictures from every angle that I can to show how bad of shape the horse is in. Kyle is talking quietly to her and I feel bad for him. I know this is killing him; he’s got such a soft spot for animals.
So I take my phone to him to let him see the images. “I got some good ones,” I say as I offer him the phone. But he doesn’t take it. Instead, he fixes me with a serious expression.
“I trust you,” He says and my heart does a backflip in my chest. Don’t do that, I want to tell him. Don’t trust me. I’ll let you down. I’m not the kind of person who can always come through. Don’t give me the power to hurt you, please. I don’t want the responsibility.
Seeing the ache in his eyes, I pull him into a hug.
“Emma seems capable,” I say softly as his arms come around me. “The horse will pull through, I’m sure of it.” To my surprise, I realize I mean it. If anyone can bring this sad animal around, I’m betting it’s Emma. Not that Kyle can’t or won’t just that she seems dedicated and amazing.
As if on cue, Emma walks up, her green eyes shifting from me to Kyle as I awkwardly pull away from him.
She’s holding an odd bag that she loops around the horse’s nose and buckles it behind her ears. “Dad’s old recipe,” She tells me in a stage whisper. “Makes them right as rain pretty quick.”
“What’s in it?” I ask, curious.
“Egg, molasses, oats, nutritive pellets, and a heavy duty vitamin mixture. A load of calories and sugars to get her back to normal.” Emma gives me a knowing grin. “So, Victoria, do you like horses? Or just handsome hunks who save them?” She says, needling her elbow into Kyle’s side.
“Oh, he’s just helping my dog.” I don’t want her to get the wrong idea or ruin his chances with her. It’s obvious there’s something between them, and I don’t want to be in the way of that. “But I do like horses,” I say as her expression shifts into something unreadable for an instant before her exuberant smile returns.
“So let’s get this little lady into a pasture to finish her treat before she grazes. You can meet some of the pals she’ll have once she feels better.” Emma takes my hand and the horse’s halter in her other hand and we walk through the grass lawn toward some open pastures with a few horses speckling the green fields.
Chapter 16
Kyle
It’s a strange feeling to see Emma hand in hand with Victoria as she leads the mare off toward a better life. I’d loved Emma for years. I’d worked alongside her late father before he passed away.
Emma had been understandably distraught after losing him, but she’d shouldered the burden of her duty to the home and the ranch and she’d carried on the treasured, sought after bloodlines her father and his father before that had so carefully cultivated.
But, though I’d loved her, Kieran had shoved his way into her life. He’d tried every dirty trick in the book to get her to sell her treasured family farm so he could build some shitty apartments, I’m sure, so he could slumlord like the douche he is.
But in the end, she’d somehow fallen in love with him.
But now, as I see her walking shoulder to shoulder with Victoria, I realize that clearly she’d never felt the same for me as I’d felt for her. While I’d seen her vulnerable, I’d never seen her nearly as vulnerable as I’d seen Victori
a.
In such a short time, it feels like I’ve found a stronger connection with her than I ever expected or had with Emma.
Which is going to make it more painful when she walks out of my life.
I open the truck door to find Jax laying on the passenger seat with his head hanging off the edge so he can touch Sentinel with his nose. Sentinel, meanwhile, is sound asleep, his breathing easy and not at all labored or pained.
Good. It means the dose of pain meds I’d given him this morning were sufficient.
My stomach grumbles and I remember that I’m supposed to do some shopping for the mother in law. I wonder if she’d mind if I left her here while I go. I don’t assume she’ll want to go with, and I do know that Emma will keep her busy if she’s here.
Emma is just like that. She’ll find fun or chores or both to keep her new friend busy. But the look in Victoria’s eyes when we’d opened the truck door when we got here… Damn. She knows something. I’m not an idiot. I’m sure they’re off talking about me. And I know Emma is pushing us together even as Victoria pushes back in her own timid, soft way.
They’re a fascinating pair.
Sentinel wakes and Jax sniffs at him. Then he starts in licking his new friend’s face like he’s taking care of him. “Don’t get too attached,” I say softly, ever reminding myself that they will leave. It’s unlike Jax to pay any attention to other people or animals. Part of his personality is that he’s a very tunnel vision oriented animal.
He sees the task. He does the task. He doesn’t have time for other things, he doesn’t care about other dogs, and he’s generally not one to listen to other people.
Billionaire Bash: The Complete Steele Series Page 45