“It’s in the closet behind my coats,” he said, “go ahead and fetch it.”
Excitedly Cassie hurried away, and returned holding the large brown package.
“It’s so light and soft, it has to be some kind of blanket or something,” she grinned.
“You can open it,” he smiled.
Tearing apart the paper she found an oversized sheepskin rug, lined in felt fabric.
“It’s gorgeous, but…?”
“Sometimes you’ve gotta bend a bit, so…” he paused, “I can’t believe I’m sayin’ this, but…as long as it’s washed twice a week, and stays on your side of the bed-”
“NO! It’s for Mickey?” she exclaimed. “Seriously? Oh, my gosh! Mickey, look, for the bed, for you. Chad, you are the best!”
Throwing her arms around his neck she smothered his face with kisses. Mickey, knowing something very exciting was happening that must involve him because his name was mentioned, jumped from his bed and began barking, doing a doggy two-step.
“Okay, okay,” Chad laughed, “but remember the rule! Washed at least twice a week, your side of the bed.”
“Yes, I’ll remember, I will, I promise,” she replied, and flapping it open she laid it on top of the blankets.
“Mickey, this is for you, come on up.”
Mickey cocked his head to the side and stared up Chad.
“It’s all yours, buddy, you deserve it. Go on, go for it.”
Mickey barked, not quite sure, so Chad moved across and sat on the edge of the bed in front of him.
“I can’t believe I’m doin’ this,” he muttered, then patted the blanket. “Come on, up you come.”
In one leap Mickey was on the sheepskin, and began sniffing around, pulling into a clump with his paws, and finally satisfied that he had it bunched up just right, with a large sigh he laid down and began happily panting.
“You are a very good dog,” Chad said softly as he rubbed his ears. “If a dog ever deserved to be allowed on a bed it’s you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
The weeks that followed saw many changes at Horse Haven. The roof on Chad’s arena was completed, providing much needed shelter for both humans and animals, and after the same roof was erected over Cassie’s ring it was decided they needed a general outdoor ring as well, so one of the front paddocks was sacrificed.
Mandy had moved out shortly after returning, so Jeb took over her larger cabin, and Eddie moved into his, even though Cassie was still convinced Mandy would be calling, wanting to return. Discussing the possibility over breakfast one morning, Chad finally put her mind to rest.
“It won’t be a problem,” Chad said calmly.
“Of course it will be a problem, where will she live?”
“I know how well you can keep a secret, which means I can tell you something, but you must promise not to breathe a word of it.”
“What? Tell me,” she grinned. “I love secrets.”
“No, really?” he chuckled. “Once we’ve moved into our new home, and have had this place professionally cleaned, you and I are going to invite Marty and Hannah over for dinner, a dinner we’ll prepare ourselves by the way…”
“And you’re going to-”
“And I’m going to hand them the keys. They both deserve it.”
“Chad, that’s wonderful. So…their cabin will be empty,” Cassie declared.
“Precisely, and I agree with you, I think in a year or so Mandy will be back.”
Their new home was completed ahead of schedule, and much to Chad’s delight the costs of some of the finish elements were suddenly and inexplicably lowered.
“He wanted to make sure we didn’t question anything,” Cassie remarked as they stared at the latest invoices. “I’ll bet if you go back through his costs you’ll find some questions that need answering.”
“Maybe, but because of these deep discounts at the end here we’re under budget. I’m okay about lettin’ sleepin’ dogs lie.”
“If it were me-”
“If it were you, you’d be stirrin’ up a hornet’s nest, and I’m likin’ things as they are right now.”
“Okay, I’m just saying…”
“Uh-huh, I know exactly what you’re just sayin’, and that’s an end to it,” he said firmly.
Cassie sighed dramatically, then leaving her chair she walked around the kitchen table and hugged him.
“Yes, Sir,” she giggled.
Since their evening in the van, though she’d had her moments, and additional swats came her way on maintenance night, Cassie had been quick to comply and much calmer.
To help prepare her and Shelby for the upcoming show, Randy had visited on a number of occasions, each time staying over for a couple of days, finally announcing that Shelby was show ready and was performing as well as she ever had.
During Randy’s visits, much to their mutual enjoyment, Chad taught him some of his techniques, and Randy gobbled up the information, finding Chad’s unique ability to read the horses and his way of communicating truly inspiring.
“I wish I had your gift,” he said, shaking his head.
“You do,” Chad assured him. “Look at how you helped Cassie, and are helpin’ Shelby. You generate confidence, just like I do, we just do it differently.”
But Cassie wasn’t just consumed with getting ready for the show, she was engulfed in wedding preparations, and used the logo of the two horse heads forming a heart as the graphic for the invitations, the name cards for the tables, and a large banner that would go across the entrance to the ranch.
Winding down the expansion wasn’t as easy as Chad had hoped it would be, but he finally extricated himself from the mess.
The day of the show had arrived, and having diligently trained both with and without Randy, Cassie felt like her old self, but with all the wedding plans she’d only had time to work with Shelby, and a little bit with her equitation horse, Dominic, so she’d only entered two classes. One with Dominic, and the all-important jumping event with Shelby.
After Chad had loaded the two horses into the small horse trailer to drive the fifteen minutes to the show-grounds, he turned around to see her jogging towards him, dressed in her spotless black boots, beige breeches and navy hunt coat.
“Don’t you look a picture,” he smiled.
“Thanks, it’s weird, I feel like it’s been a hundred years.”
“You’ll do great,” he said warmly, “and maybe next year you’ll feel like doin’ the season again. With the covered ring you can ride and train all year.”
“I want to, I can feel it already, I really want to. Just doing these two classes, it feels great, you know?”
“Yep, hon, I know, and you’re gonna do exactly what Randy says, right?
“Oh, for sure,” she said nodding her head earnestly.
“Then, let’s rock ‘n roll!”
“Are you sure you don’t want to bring Mickey along?” she asked as she climbed into the truck. “It’ll feel weird without him.”
“Yep, I’m sure,” Chad replied settling in behind the wheel. “He needs to stay on a leash and it’ll be too difficult with two horses and him at the same time.”
“Okay, if you say so,” she sighed.
Moving down the driveway, he turned down the road that would lead them into town; Chad looked across at her and smiled.
“Like old times.”
“Yeah, totally,” she smiled back. “It feels like a lifetime ago.”
“It’s been almost a year,” he sighed.
“Can you believe we’re going to be husband and wife in a week? It’s incredible. I wish I hadn’t invited my mother though. At least I was able to keep her away from the planning. She would have been a nightmare. Dad will be fine, he’ll just be kind of reserved.”
“Seems weird that I’m only meetin’ him for the first time at our wedding,” Chad frowned. “Don’t seem right.”
“Hey, it is what it is.”
“Don’t worry about your mother,” he g
rinned. “If she gets outta line I’ll just put her over my knee.”
The comment made Cassie burst out laughing, and when she finally stopped she was holding her sides.
“You know, just thinking about that will help me cope when she’s here, in fact if she does anything to piss me off I’ll tell her that. Shoot, maybe I should tell dad, maybe that’s what she’s needed all these years.”
“Could be,” Chad chuckled. “Warm up her backside, warm up her heart.”
“Stop, stop, I can’t think about it,” she said, breaking into a new fit of laughter.
The mild hysteria helped calm her nerves, and by the time the trailer rolled into the show-ground she was almost relaxed. She spied Randy’s large horse van sporting his white and green logo, and Chad slowly drove their trailer towards it, parking close by.
Unloading Shelby and Dominic, Chad was setting up their hay nets when Cassie saw Randy striding up to them.
“Hi, you ready? How are you feeling?” Randy asked.
“Good,” she nodded. “Excited, a bit nervous I guess.”
“Have fun on Dominic, don’t worry about winning, just find your comfort level,” he said firmly.
“I always worry about winning, you know that.”
“Hey, Cassie,” Chad chimed in, “you do what the man says.”
His authoritative voice sent her butterflies to life, and looking up at Randy she nodded her head.
“You’re right, sorry, I’ll have fun and find my comfort level.”
“This show isn’t about winning, it’s about getting your feet wet. Don’t worry about being competitive,” Randy said sternly.
“Jeez, you guys are ganging up on me,” she joked.
“You bet,” Chad said, “you haven’t shown in a year, and you need to do what Randy said, get your feet wet, then set your sights on next season.”
“Exactly,” Randy nodded. “I’ll meet you in the warm-up ring in thirty minutes. Seems like your class will start in about forty-five. They’re on time for once.”
As he marched away Cassie stared after him, and quietly pulled her grooming kit from the storage space in front of the trailer.
“Don’t you go gettin’ pouty on me,” Chad said, seeing the look on her face.
“Well, for heaven’s sake, you’re both treating me like a child,” she grumbled.
“I’ll warm your bottom if you behave like one,” he warned. “We care about you, and it was bein’ too competitive last time that got you in trouble.”
“Okay, I know,” she sighed. “I’m not used to taking it easy at a horse show. When I go into the ring, I go in to win.”
“We’re not sayin’ don’t try, we’re sayin’, don’t try to win at all costs, there’s a difference.”
“I get it, I won’t cut any corners or push my horses, I’ll just do my best without breaking my neck, okay?”
“That sounds very okay,” he agreed.
They groomed Dominic then tacked him up, and as she rode him to the warm-up ring, Chad led Shelby. The mare was jigging, thrilled to be back in the action, and while Randy was putting Cassie through her paces, Chad took Shelby aside to try to calm her down.
“Damn, girl, you’ve gotta settle,” he said softly, making her move her feet and walking her backwards and forwards. “You’re way too high. Did you get extra alfalfa this mornin’?”
The mare began to relax, but not as much as he would have liked, and when he saw Cassie and Randy heading away from the warm-up area, he reluctantly stopped and followed.
Cassie was fifth up, so it was a short wait, and as she trotted into the ring, stopped, touched her cap to the judge, and began to canter, Chad felt his pulse quicken. Randy, standing by the in-gate, saw him with Shelby and hurried to join him.
“How are you holding up?” Randy asked as he approached.
“Heart’s thumpin’,”
“She’s an instinctive rider,” Randy assured him. “It’s all second nature to her. She’ll be fine, especially in this class, and Dominic’s a pro, though I have to say he seems excited to be back. He’s swishing his tail a bit.”
“So is Shelby, she’s been jiggin’ since we arrived, she’s havin’ a real hard time standin’ still.”
As if on cue Shelby lifted her head and let out a loud whinny. Unfortunately, hearing his stablemate, Dominic lost his concentration for a split second, and it took Cassie a little extra effort to push him forward around a corner, a minor flaw that would cost her points.
“Too bad,” Randy sighed.
“I didn’t see it, what happened?” Chad asked.
“In these equitation classes the rider can’t be seen to do anything but have a perfect position at all times, and she rocked her body around the turn to try and make him move forward. She also leaned into the turn a bit. She’s just rusty, that’s all, and Shelby’s whinny broke Dominic’s focus.”
As she finished her round there was a smattering of applause, but when she left the exit gate she didn’t look happy.
“We screwed up,” she sighed, sliding from the saddle. “Some stupid horse whinnied and Dominic sucked back, lost his impulsion, I had to get him moving again.”
“Uh, that horse was Shelby,” Chad grimaced.
“Dammit, you should have left her at the trailer,” then catching herself she instantly apologized. “Chad, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean that, I’m just disappointed.”
“Hey,” Randy said quickly, “you had a clean round, you looked great, you haven’t shown in a year. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“You’re right, of course you’re right,” she replied, “and Chad, thanks for sticking with Shelby, I know she’s really high. There’s no way she could have been left at the trailer.”
“You’re right about that,” he said, “look at her!”
The mare’s nose was up in the air, her eyes were darting around, and she kept moving her feet, unable to stand still for more than a few seconds.
“Cassie, tack her up and gallop her around the warm-up ring,” Randy suggested. “See if you can get some of that steam out of her. I’d come with you but I have a couple of kids in a class in about two minutes so I’ve got to run, but I’ll be back, and I’ll see if they have the course up for the jumper event on my way.”
“Thanks, Randy,” Cassie smiled. “Good luck,” then turning back to Chad she looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Do you forgive me, I’m so sorry, honest.”
“Of course,” he said, then dropping his voice he added, “but it’s Saturday, so I’d keep that tongue under control if I were you, and the attitude.”
Staring up at him she nodded her head.
“Right, well, pressure, you know?” she said quietly.
“Uh-huh,” he nodded, “That’s why you’re forgiven. I’ll take this crazy little mare to the trailer and get her saddle on her back while you wait for the results, and I’ll meet you at the warm up ring.”
“Won’t you wait with me?” she asked softly.
He wasn’t very happy with her, but he felt his anger fade away, and his heart melt.
“Sure, hon, sure I will.”
With Dominic next to her Shelby settled, and when the results were called out, Cassie and Dominic had come second.
“That’s fantastic,” Chad grinned. “See, it wasn’t as bad as you thought.”
“I’m shocked,” Cassie laughed, and ran in to collect her ribbon.
Buoyed by the surprise placing, she was feeling much better as they headed to the trailer to saddle up Shelby, and with Dominic next to her Shelby seemed to be content.
“I’ll bring Dominic to the warm up ring, maybe it will help,” Chad suggested.
“Yes, definitely,” Cassie nodded as she put her foot in the stirrup and pulled herself into the saddle.
The ride through the grounds was uneventful, but Cassie could feel Shelby was still on edge, and entering the ring she immediately began to trot. Chad led Dominic to stand at the fence to watch, but he
could see that Shelby was still feeling her oats; she wasn’t listening to Cassie at all, and was spooking at imaginary goblins.
Cassie didn’t know how to settle her down, nothing was working, so decided a canter might be better than a trot and pressed her leg against Shelby’s side, asking her to move forward.
It was all the horse needed to explode, and dropping her head she started to buck, but Cassie knew her mare and was ready, and though barely able to keep her balance she managed to push Shelby forward into a gallop.
Standing at the fence helplessly watching, Chad was terrified that Cassie would be thrown, and in the few seconds it had taken her to get the mare back under control he’d broken into a sweat, and his heart had begun thundering against his chest.
“Damn, I can’t take much more of this,” he muttered.
Cassie had the mare in a full gallop, but as she slowed to take a corner she felt Shelby take a bad step, almost tripping. Chad knew exactly what that meant, and began waving his arms, trying to get Cassie’s attention.
“What is it?” a voice called.
Chad turned to see Randy was running up behind him.
“I think Shelby just threw a shoe,” Chad replied.
Randy immediately climbed through the fence, and dodging through the other horses in the ring he finally caught Cassie’s eye. Managing to pull Shelby to a stop, she walked over to meet him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as he jogged up to her.
“Chad thought he saw her throw a shoe,” he said picking up the mare’s front foot. “Yep, sure did, and she’s torn up her foot pretty bad.”
“Oh, shit, I know exactly where it happened. It’ll be over in that corner,” Cassie sighed as she dismounted. “Is there a shoer here?”
“Cassie, look at her foot, there’s no way you can put it back on. You’ll have to wrap this and let it grow out before you can nail another shoe on there. Thoroughbred feet, they make me crazy.”
“So…I have to scratch, we can’t do the jumper event,” she groaned.
“Let’s get out of this ring. I’ll take Shelby, you find the shoe, and make sure there aren’t any nails in the dirt to injure another horse.”
THE COWBOY'S RULES: 3: THE SURPRISE (Cowboys After Dark Book 6) Page 17