“Alright, one more time, pal. We can do this.” He leaned forward, and with caution, outstretched his hand. Just as he was about to touch the horse’s leg, sunlight streamed through the barn door.
“Hello?” A sweet, boisterous voice carried in his direction.
The horse kicked hard and sprayed more mud into the air.
“Not now, please.” His tone was edged with impatience.
“I’m sorry, I just brought some towels and cardboard. Oh no, what’s wrong with him?”
The woman crouched down beside him without waiting for an invitation. He tilted his head to the side to look at her. Her short hair was tucked back into a ponytail and though she wore a t-shirt and jeans, her manicured nails and matching shoes indicated that she wasn’t exactly a country girl.
“Thank you for that. I’m Chase Andrews.” He offered her his hand as he stood up, but at the last moment realized it was covered in mud. He drew it back. “Sorry, I’ve got my hands full here.”
“I see that. Poor fellow.” She crouched down in front of the horse and reached out to stroke his mane.
“I wouldn’t do that. He’s very skittish.”
“Sh, it’s okay, brave soul. Yes, it hurts. I know it does. It’s okay.” She stroked his mane with long slow brushes of her palm.
The horse seemed to look into her eyes, and didn’t move a muscle.
“Wow, that’s amazing. I’ve been trying all morning to get him to be still so I could clean off his legs enough to see his wounds. Do you have many horses?”
“No, I don’t have any actually. I do love them, though.” She continued to stroke his mane. “Look at the left rear leg. That seems to be the one that’s hurting him the most.”
“How do you know?”
She glanced up at him and smiled. He lost himself in the shimmer of her wide green eyes as she answered him.
“Let’s just say I have experience in recognizing suffering. Maybe if I continue to pet him, you’ll be able to get him patched up?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I’m happy to help.” She looked back at the horse. “This poor guy needs some relief.”
“Yes, he does.” Chase ran his hand along the leg she’d pointed out. Right away he found the wound that he needed to treat. He cleaned it carefully, then bandaged it.
“You’re very good at what you do.”
“Thank you. I only hope that it won’t be for nothing.”
“Why would it be?”
He sat back on his heels and watched as the horse closed his eyes. “This horse has been neglected for a long time. With his injuries and the time he’s been out of shape, he’s going to require a lot of rehab, which means that I’ll have to find a place that has the space for him. That’s not easy to do.”
“Well, I just bought the property next door. It has a stable and a paddock. Would that work?”
He met her eyes and quirked a brow. “I don’t think you realize how much effort it would require.”
“I’m willing, if you can tell me what to do. I work from home, so I’ll be available twenty-four hours a day.”
“Oh? What do you do?” He scrutinized her features. This woman fascinated him. Freshly in a new place and willing to take on an injured animal. Was she a saint? To the injured horse that she continued to soothe, she certainly was.
“I’m a photographer and graphic artist.”
“That sounds like a very rewarding career.”
“Not as rewarding as what you’re doing here. I wish I had the knowledge that you do to be able to heal sick animals.”
“You sure seem to have a knack for calming them. If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I might never have been able to get that wound clean. I really appreciate it.”
“The offer stands. If you want to house the horse in my stable, I’d be happy to help care for him.”
“I’d have to take a look at it to make sure that it’s a suitable place for him. I hope you understand. Once an animal is in my care, it’s my responsibility to ensure that they’re safe. I take that very seriously.” He met her eyes. “I don’t mean any offense.”
“None taken.” She held his gaze in return. “It’s quite impressive to meet someone who has such a passion for animals.”
He smiled at her words. For just a moment he imagined what it would be like to take her to dinner or to dance with her. But that vision faded fast as he was flooded with memories of his most recent relationship.
He nodded. “I find animals to be a little easier to understand, to be honest.”
“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Well, maybe you just haven’t met the right people.”
“Maybe.” His eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer before he stood up. “Let’s go take a look at that stable.”
Chapter 3
Hope’s heart pounded in her chest. Not just because she worried about the horse, but because Chase was perhaps the most attractive and intriguing man that she’d ever met. Not only was he compassionate, there was a kindness in his voice that made her believe that he’d sacrifice anything for the sake of an animal.
As they walked down the driveway toward the cars she glanced over at him. “We can take my car if you’d like. My place is a few miles down the road.”
He held up his mud-stained hands. “You don’t mind?”
“No. Trust me, it wouldn’t be the first time that mud got into my car.”
As she opened the driver’s side door a small shiver coursed along her spine. Was she really inviting a strange man to go for a ride with her? All of her pre-programmed instincts warned her against such an activity, but when Chase met her eyes across the top of the car, all her apprehension disappeared in the warmth that she found there.
She no longer wanted to live her life in fear. She could be afraid of everything—from the cancer coming back, to a robber breaking in, to a tragic car accident taking her life—or she could be scared of nothing and see where life took her. That idea thrilled her more than any anxiety that entered her thoughts.
She settled into the front seat of the car and waited as Chase got in beside her. When she started the car he cleared his throat.
“You’re not planning on kidnapping me are you?”
She looked over at him with wide eyes. “Huh?”
His lips spread into a wide grin. “Sorry, it was a bad joke. I’ve been told my sense of humor can be a little off.”
She laughed and started down the driveway. “No, it was funny. I just wasn’t sure that I heard you right.” She relaxed as his mild nature broke the tension. The moment it was gone, she was overcome with a sense of camaraderie, as if they were old friends reunited. “It’s so beautiful here. I can’t get over the sky.”
“Yes, it can be. It’s a little isolating though, with the houses so far apart.”
“Maybe, but that can be nice too.”
“You like your privacy?” He tilted his head toward her. “Most around here do.”
“I just like having the space to spread out.” She shook her head. “It’s hard to explain.”
“I understand it.” He smiled. “And yes, there’s plenty of space for that here.”
“It’s just down there.” She pointed to the turn off.
“This place has been empty for some time. When did you buy it?”
“About a month ago, but I just moved in today.”
“Today?” He chuckled. “And already you’re rescuing horses?”
“I’m not one to hesitate. If something feels right, I go for it.” She cast a smile in his direction.
He met her eyes for a moment but glanced away.
Her smile faded as she drove down the long driveway to the house. Had she been too forward? She didn’t notice a ring on his finger, but then again maybe he didn’t wear it while he worked. She bit into her bottom lip as she realized she might have gotten ahead of herself.
“I think that’s a daring way to live.” He looked through the windshield to
ward the stable not far from the house. “Is that it?”
“Yes. Do you think it will work?”
“I’ll have to take a closer look.” He opened the car door and stepped out.
She followed after him, still annoyed with herself for being a little too flirtatious. What if he didn’t take her seriously now? What if he thought she’d only offered to help to get his attention?
He pushed the door to the stable open and looked through it. “It’s not bad, but it will need some repair work.”
“I have someone coming out to work on it at the end of the week.” She paused just inside the door.
“Hm. I can come by tomorrow and get it taken care of for you.”
“You?” She stared at him.
“Yes. Is that a problem?” He turned back to face her.
“Oh no, I just figured you would be too busy.”
“If you can take the time to help a wounded horse, then I can take the time to help you. All alone on this ranch—it’s a lot of work.”
She lowered her eyes as some self-doubt crept up within her. Maybe she had been a bit too impulsive about her decision to buy the place.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to assume that you were alone. I just didn’t see a ring, and well, I’ve probably put my foot in my mouth, haven’t I?” He grimaced.
She lifted her eyes back to his. “No you’re right. I am here alone. I’ve loved the idea of owning a ranch for so long, and this one was such a great deal that I couldn’t resist. That probably seems a little foolish.”
“Do you regret it?” He walked toward her. The sunlight filtered through the cracks in the wood of the stable roof and danced across his hair and face as he drew closer to her.
“No.” She smiled as he paused in front of her.
“Then there’s nothing foolish about it. And now you won’t be alone any more.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “I won’t?” She stared into his eyes.
“You’ll have Toby to keep you company. I’ll keep him overnight at the clinic, and if he does well, I’ll bring him over tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes, it is. Thank you.” She stumbled over her words as her cheeks grew hot. How ridiculous that she thought he meant that he would be keeping her company.
“I should get back to him.”
Chase brushed past her through the door. She tried to ignore the scent of his skin but it was impossible. She’d read an article once about animals knowing their mate by their scent and wondered if it might apply to humans. Now she was sure of it. She winced and pushed the door of the stable closed behind him. Why in the world was she acting so giddy?
A moment later there was a light knock. It dawned on her that Chase needed a ride back to the other ranch. She tugged the door open and found him standing awkwardly outside.
“I’m so sorry, I don’t know where my brain is today. I’ll take you back over.”
“It’s fine, I can walk. I just thought we could discuss plans for Toby.”
“Sure, I’d love that.” She hurried over to the car and did her best not to make any more silly mistakes. Even if Chase was single, would he even be interested if she were making such a bad impression?
Chapter 4
As Chase had stood outside the stable he’d contemplated his options. He could have just walked away, but he was too curious. Everything about her was pleasant and endearing. He was sure there had to be a downside. He could tell how embarrassed she was, and the pink in her cheeks made her even more attractive to him.
On the drive back, he tried to distract himself by discussing what would need to be done for Toby. He noticed that she didn’t look at him once while he talked. He wondered if he might have done something to upset her.
“I’m sorry, I’m giving you all of these instructions and trusting you with a horse, and I never even asked your name.”
“It’s Hope. Hope Taylor.”
“Hope.” He smiled as she parked the car close to the barn. “That name suits you well.”
“It does?” She peeked over at him.
“You’re giving Toby hope—and me—that there are still good people in the world.”
“Well, you haven’t gotten to know me yet.” She laughed. “Maybe you’ll change your mind.”
“I doubt it.” He stepped out of the car. “Thank you. I’ll call you in the morning to make arrangements for Toby.”
“Thanks for trusting me with him.” She backed the car down the driveway.
As Chase watched her go, he wondered just why he trusted her so easily. Usually he was very protective of the animals he treated and often went so far as to run background checks on anyone that would be fostering or adopting. Perhaps it was because Toby’s situation seemed so dire that he didn’t want to do that. Or maybe it was the fact that he just trusted her, for no apparent reason. Maybe she reminded him of someone he once trusted.
He returned to Toby’s side and soon had the horse on a trailer. He drove to the clinic, where he was greeted by his receptionist.
“I wasn’t sure that you’d be able to get him back here.” Adrienne put her hands on her hips as she watched him guide the horse out of the trailer. “I heard he was in terrible shape.”
“He is. But I found someone to foster him.”
“Really? Who?”
“A woman who just moved here. She has a ranch that will work just fine for him once we get him stable.”
“Wow, that’s pretty lucky.”
“Yes, it is.” He paused and patted the horse’s back. “For both of us, I think.”
“Oh?” Adrienne raised an eyebrow. “Something interesting about this particular woman?”
“Honestly, Adrienne, I can’t find a single thing that isn’t interesting about her.” He chuckled. “Too bad it’s not good timing.”
“What do you mean? You and Karen are done, aren’t you?”
He led the horse the rest of the way into the exam room and kept his eyes on him. “Yes, we’re done, but that doesn’t mean that I’m ready for anything new. You know what they say about rebound relationships.”
“Oh yes, I know what they say. But I don’t always believe everything I hear. I think the heart knows when something is right.”
“That’s something to think about, but right now my attention needs to be on Toby. Can you help me with his vitals?”
As they worked together Chase considered her words. His first instinct was to pull back from Hope, but was that really the best choice?
On his drive home he passed all the familiar places he’d been to with his ex—the little Italian restaurant where they’d enjoyed having dinner—the little shop where they always picked up doughnuts on Sunday mornings.
Yes, he and Karen were over, but their relationship was still very fresh. He’d made the decision when things ended that he would spend some time alone, for the sake of his own sanity.
But that night—after he’d arrived home, taken a shower, heated up some leftovers, and watched a television show, his thoughts shifted surprisingly to Hope. Her smile, the awkward way she apologized for forgetting about his ride back to the ranch, and the deep compassion she appeared to have for animals, made him want to know more.
What created a woman like that? What shaped her into such a giving and selfless person, who also seemed determined to love life?
When he closed his eyes to sleep, he heard her laughter echoing through his mind. He recalled the pink in her cheeks and the subtle tilt of her lips when she tried to hide a smile.
When he woke the next morning, he thought of Hope within the first few minutes. He realized at that point that he was in trouble.
He walked into the bathroom and splashed some water on his face. When he looked into the mirror, he saw it there—the eagerness. The familiar sight made his stomach twist. Was he really ready to try something like this again? He didn’t think so, no matter what his instincts told him. If anything, Hope could turn out to be a really great friend, and friendship was wh
at he needed in his life. More importantly, Toby was the one who needed her right now, and he didn’t want to do anything to diminish that.
He dressed and headed for the office to make sure that Toby was ready to move to his new home.
Chapter 5
Hope woke the next morning quite excited to see Toby, and if she was honest with herself, she was also very excited at the prospect of seeing Chase again. Although their conversation had gone well, and he was quite friendly to her, she couldn’t quite figure him out. That was to be expected, since she’d only met him the day before. She could be patient.
After a quick breakfast she headed out to the stable to sweep it out and make sure that everything was in order. As she brushed the dust out of the doorway, she thought about how much her life had changed.
She could recall being a young girl doing a similar chore at her grandfather’s farm. Even at that age, she’d found the act of sweeping to be relaxing. She’d loved the scent of the fields and the noise of the animals as they clamored for her attention.
Somewhere between that age and her twenties, she’d lost sight of that peace she’d found in the middle of nowhere. Her entire life had focused on city life and making as much money as she could. As she’d climbed the ladder in her career, she hadn’t even noticed the years that passed by.
Then she hit forty and everything changed. She was one of the only single women in her circle of friends and also one of the few that didn’t have children. With less and less in common with her friends, she’d drifted apart from them and found herself isolated and floundering.
Then came the big blow—when the doctor had looked her in the eyes and predicted her death. It was nothing she’d ever expected, and as she dealt with the aftermath of that diagnosis, she’d longed even more for all the things that she thought she’d been fine without.
She wanted a husband, not just someone to date. She wanted a future, filled with adventure and warm loving memories. Being given an expiration date had been the wake-up call that she’d needed to recognize that there was a lot more to her life than just her bank account.
The ring of her cell phone jarred her from her thoughts. She saw that it was a call from Chase’s office.
Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 5 - 8 Page 39