Protecting Kate: Dark Horse, Inc: Book 1

by Amy J. Hawthorn

  “You can say no, remember?” Leigh’s sigh expelled enough air to fill a hot air balloon. “But when I saw her, I knew she was meant for you.”

  Joe made a clicking noise with his mouth and came back around the trailer’s end holding a lead. He clicked again and a dappled-gray foal followed him hesitantly.

  Kate’s heart swelled and her stomach sank all at once. Fierce protectiveness and anger tangled with instant love.

  “Who does she belong to? She’s too thin. The owner should be whipped.” Drawn to the little foal like a moth to a flame, she slowly approached and held out her hand for it to smell. She stroked her hand down its neck and murmured sweet nothings. “She’s filthy. Poor baby.”

  “She belongs to you, if you want her. Her mother gave everything she had, but she didn’t make it. They were both neglected and badly malnourished. She needs a new momma. The county doesn’t have the space for a horse at the shelter, no matter how small she is.” Leigh looked down and dug the toe of her sneaker into the grass. “I told Debbie at the courthouse you were thinking of starting a rescue, so if you want to fill out the paperwork, you can adopt her. If not, I’ll take her back and explain.”

  “I’m starting a rescue, huh? Funny, this is the first time I’ve heard about it. You knew that if I saw her I couldn’t refuse.” She crouched and it butted her with its head and nuzzled close. She melted.

  “Guilty as charged. I also know that you’re busy and have more than enough work on your hands already, but I knew she was meant for you. Doc Jones looked her over and said, other than being underweight, she’s actually a healthy little girl. Her momma really did give her everything she had. I only wish we’d found them sooner.”

  Joe handed Kate the lead and adjusted his faded baseball hat. She leaned into his tall frame for their customary hug.

  “I think everyone knew there was trouble out at the Caudill’s, but no one knew that they had horses living behind their place. Tom has been nothing but trouble since we were in school, but he’ll be in prison for a long time now. They finally caught him dealing meth, then they found a lab in his house. If he had given his animals half of the attention he’d given his drugs, they’d be in great health.” Joe paused to scratch his chin thoughtfully. “He was already behind bars when we went out to his place with the search warrant. The lab was expected, but the dead mare and this foal weren’t. We also took a few dogs to the county shelter. They were living in some of the worst conditions I’ve ever seen, Kate. I hope to see them add animal cruelty to the charges they bring against him.”

  Leigh walked over to give the little girl a pet. “Doc Jones sent milk replacement pellets to get you through the first few days, and she’s been nibbling on grain. Doc said to call him anytime with questions, and he’ll help you. Oh. I also sweet-talked Joe into babysitting for you so you can go to the Governor’s shmancy shindig next week without any worries.” Leigh turned her bright smile on her brother as if she were getting away with something.

  “You mean you conned me into babysitting.” He gave Leigh a look that could only come from loving and irritated brother. “She’ll be fine out at my place for the day. Kylie will be overjoyed to see her.”

  “How is my favorite little tomboy doing? I miss her.” Joe’s little girl was hell on wheels. She adored her young cousin, mud, frogs, action figures and all.

  “In trouble, as always.” Joe shook his head. “I have to figure out some sort of birthday party soon. You should come up and visit.”

  “I’ll help with the party if you want. She and I can decorate together, and we can have a barbeque. She won’t want fancy or frilly. Just let me know, and tell her I said that I miss her.” Kate leaned into Joe for their customary hug.

  “Will do. After I unload this little lady’s supplies I gotta get back before Kylie runs the sitter off.” He pinched her nose.

  “Leigh, thank you. She’s a bonnie little thing. I already love her.” Bright emotion swelled beneath her heart.

  “You’ve put a ton of work into this place, but the barn and stable has been your focus. I knew all along you’d eventually get yourself a horse. When I saw her I thought ‘there’s Kate’s baby.’” Leigh met her gaze.

  “How did you end up out at the Caudill’s dump?”

  “Someone said the there was a child living out there, so Joe called me to help. We saw evidence of at least one child living there recently, but no luck in finding them.” Leigh rubbed a hand over the center of her chest, and her eyes went misty. For all her bossiness, deep down beat a marshmallow heart.

  “Have you heard from Preston? He’s leaving you alone now, right?” Leigh’s concern touched her.

  Kate couldn’t hide her pride, and she grinned before she answered. “I haven’t heard from him in over a month. I think he finally figured out that he has to accept the divorce is real. I have to admit, it feels good to be single, knowing I can do whatever I wish.”

  “I’m so happy that part of your life is behind you. Are you ready for the charity auction? We can use it to celebrate the one year anniversary of your independence. Have you picked a dress yet? I wish I could go with you, but I truly can’t.” Regret laced Leigh’s voice.

  “If I could find a way to bow out gracefully myself, I would. If it weren’t for Stephen’s invitation, I wouldn’t go.” Kate patted Bonnie and stood.

  “It’s not every day that a girl gets invited to the Governor’s for a barbeque.” Her cousin placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes.

  “I knew him well before he was elected. Besides, he’s not the Governor anymore.” Kate made air quotes around the word governor. “He’s Stephen Mitchell, former Governor, who I met at a charity marathon ten years ago, and I’d rather stay home.” Kate clicked at the foal.

  “You really are burnt out on glitz and glamour, aren’t you?” Leigh opened the barn door wider.

  “It’s not the glamour so much, but all the two-faced bullshit that goes with it. Seriously, though? I think I’m finished with that part of my life and I don’t miss it one bit. I just want to be me.” Kate had everything she needed in life. She had her home and family. What else could there be?

  Trent watched a two-year-old filly flutter her long lashes at Rick and sidle closer to the rail. Typical. Not many women were able to resist the playboy and that was fine by Trent, he didn’t need the drama. “Did the white sands of Waikiki and hanging out with Oprah finally lose its luster? How long are you in town for?”

  “I was on Maui, in Wailea, idiot. There’s a difference, and no, I didn’t see Oprah once. It’s the wrong time of year. No, someone asked for a favor and I’m trying to decide how best to handle it.” Rick scratched his head as he looked at the little bay filly.

  “What kind of favor?” Trent’s gaze wandered further astray, taking in the sun as it set behind acres and acres of lush green Kentucky bluegrass portioned off by pristine white fencing. Although he’d been home from the desert hell of Afghanistan for six years, the beauty of being back home still took his breath away. He’d promised himself to never again take the sight for granted.

  The pretty little bay inched even closer to Rick and nodded her head, shamelessly flirting with and baffling him. He was one of the best men Trent knew, but had no clue what to do around horses. Considering the man had saved his life, he’d forgiven him the sin and more.

  Rick took a step further from the fence before answering. “A distant cousin wants me to do some investigating for him. The person in question has some pretty significant political pull. Everyone else has turned a deaf ear his way, and he’s out of options.”

  “Are you going to help?” Trent asked more out of habit than curiosity. He already knew the answer, whether or not Rick realized it yet. It might take him some time to take that final step and say yes, but Rick would help. His unshakable core of honor wouldn’t allow anything else.

  “It’s a sticky situation, but I’m thinking about it. He doesn’t have anyone else to turn to.” And that was som
ething that both he and Rick had adjusted to when they were children. They’d come from opposite ends of the spectrum—one obscenely rich and one dirt poor. They found common ground because they were both ignored and left to raise themselves, alone far too young. “If I do, and if I run into any trouble, are you willing to lend a hand? I’ll pay you generously.”

  He could, too, since Rick had money to burn.

  Trent stifled the urge to punch his friend and settled for flipping him off. “I don’t want your money. If you need help, you ask for it. Would you expect me to pay you for a favor?” Although he knew Rick had been raised in a world where everything had a price, it didn’t make taking his money easier for a man who’d been raised on a horse farm in Kentucky. In Trent’s world, helping a neighbor was as natural as breathing.

  “Of course not. But this is different.”

  “How? You’re helping someone who needs it, right? I don’t get it.”

  “It’s like…a job.” He said the word as if it were in a foreign tongue. For Rick, maybe it was. He’d been given every luxury known to man, but it hadn’t stopped him from signing up for the National Guard in a fit of rebellion at the age of nineteen—otherwise, they might not have ever met.

  But Rick’s act of defiance nearly cost him his life in the hellish desert.

  Nearly ten years later, they both wore the scars from that time, inside and out.

  “Are you going to charge him?” Trent adjusted his hat and ran a hand over his filly’s muzzle, only to be ignored again.

  “No, I don’t need to, and he’s family of a sort. But you’d be working for me, if I take it.” Rick put both hands on his hips and squinted at the horse.

  “If you take the job and need help, all you have to do is say so, deal? If paying me makes you feel better, do it, but I don’t want or need your money.” He’d put every penny he didn’t need to ensure Walker Stables was a huge, profitable outfit into savings over the years. Once he’d given Rick control of his investments, they’d multiplied like rabbits in the dark. He didn’t need the money either.

  “Deal. Why does she keep doing that thing with her eyes? Do horses get lashes in their eyes?” Trent couldn’t help but laugh at the confusion on his friend’s face. When both his friend and his horse looked irritated at his amusement, it only made him laugh harder.

  Chapter Two

  She handed the keys to Leigh’s new car over to the valet. According to Leigh, showing up at “the Governor’s shmancy deal in a rusted out pickup could be the social faux pas of the century.” So, because her cousin threw a fit and insisted they trade vehicles for the weekend, she’d dressed in her finest to have a good time—per Leigh’s orders.

  Kate really couldn’t care less, but she’d learned over the years that, with Leigh, it was best to pick her battles wisely. She also understood her cousin’s new four-door might be a simple American made sedan, but—as a gift her cousin had bought for herself after paying off all her student loan debt—it represented a source of pride for Leigh.

  A doorman welcomed her inside the stunning mansion meets-gentlemen’s-farmhouse with a sweep of his arm. “Welcome, Miss. Go on through. Everyone is gathered out back or in the ballroom.”

  Yep, Stephen’s “farmhouse” had its own ballroom, but Leigh didn’t need to know that.

  No stranger to this home, Kate headed straight through to the back deck where she knew the man of the hour would be holding court. She found Stephen and his two sons manning a charcoal grill large enough to feed a football team.

  Colby, the youngest, spotted her and waved her over.

  “Kate! So glad you could make it. Would you like a drink?” Probably ten years younger than her, in his early twenties, he grinned sheepishly and blushed. She couldn’t help but wonder what that was about. They’d known each other for years.

  “No, I’m fine. How are you guys?”

  “Great.” Colby’s brown eyes and thick brows were an identical match to his father’s, but when he barely met her gaze, he confirmed that something was up. “Are you sure you don’t want a drink? I’ll go get you something from the bar. I’ll be right back.”

  “Colby, stop before you scare her off.” Stephen closed the lid on his section of the grill and turned to her. “Hey there, Kate.” Her old friend leaned in and brushed her cheek with his. With kind blue eyes, silver hair and bright smile, he was the perfect gentleman, but she smelled a trap.

  “Stephen.” What else could she say?

  “You need a drink. I’ll be right back,” Colby insisted moments before he slunk off.

  Stephen rolled his eyes at his youngest son and spoke over his shoulder to his oldest who stood guard over a herd of steaks. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. The chicken’s almost ready.”

  “Kate, I need a favor. I hate to drop this on you the moment you arrive, but thanks to my son with the social graces of a doorknob, I’ll have to hit you with it now.”

  “What’s going on?” The sinking feeling only fell deeper into her belly as he cupped her elbow and pulled her into the kitchen.

  “Our plans fell through for the original auction. Susie called, said she’s sick and can’t make it. When Senator Bailey mentioned the auction and made a fuss about needing a Miss Kentucky to Colby, he panicked and blurted out that you were going to be here, so Bailey assumed you were filling in for Susie. If you’re willing, we need to auction you off tonight, dear.”

  Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

  She hadn’t wanted to come at all, and now she’d been pulled back in to the spotlight.

  Shit.

  “What’s the charity this year?” She’d learned her lesson the hard way. Never again would she associate herself with anyone or anything blindly.

  “It’s Carol’s year to pick, so she chose the local animal shelter. They’re behind on their vet bills and in desperate need of an expansion.” She could see the torment in her friend’s eyes. He knew he’d put her in a tough spot, but he’d hooked her with her love of all things furry.

  “Okay. Is anyone else standing on the block?” She hated the idea of being up there alone.

  “If you can believe it, she’s even willing to auction off an evening with Daniel.” His lop-sided smile matched hers at the idea of his son being auctioned. Even though their oldest was well into his twenties, his wife, Carol, continued to dote on both her boys.

  “Okay. I’ll play, but I didn’t dress for the part.”

  The corners of Stephen’s mouth wrinkled with genuine warmth as he made a show of looking her up and down. He beamed at her. “Sweetheart, you are stunning exactly the way you are. I can’t tell you how much Carol and I appreciate this. She’ll be overjoyed.” She would, Kate knew. Carol’s heart was divided by her love for only two things—her family and animals.

  “What time is the auction?” Already she felt like a thoroughbred on the auction block, nerves fraying one at a time.

  “Eight this evening. You know how Carol likes to make sure everyone has time to eat, get seconds and have dessert. She’s forever feeding anyone who comes through the door, no matter that no one in this crowd has ever missed a meal in their lives. I almost forgot—I have a surprise for you.” Her wariness must have shown, since he added, “This one is a good surprise, I promise.”

  “Okay, hit me with it.” Her evening couldn’t get much worse.

  “There’s been a new addition to the family.” He beamed with pride. “We purchased a yearling from Walker Stables. They brought her in this morning, and I know you’ll love her. She’s a gorgeous little girl. A couple of weeks ago, we took one look at her and fell in love. You’ll have to make time to see her before you leave.” Her mood lightened at the sight of his bright smile. He might as well be a proud new parent or grandparent, based on the way this chest filled with pride.

  “I’d love to.” The smile she wore now came easy.

  “Hey, there’s my beautiful wife.” Stephen’s smile brightened further when the petite blond came directly to his side a
nd kissed his cheek.

  “You smell like a charcoal grill.” She wrapped her arm around his waist, seemingly not offended by the smell as she grinned up at her husband. “Are the meat and corn on schedule?”

  “Yes, my dear. I wouldn’t dare mess with the timing of your dinner party.” He didn’t look in the least offended by her asking.

  Stephen and Carol had been married for thirty years, yet each time she walked in the room, his face lit up. Kate couldn’t help but be a little envious of that kind of love.

  At least until he added, “Kate, an angel as always, has saved the day. She’s going to take Susie’s place at the auction.”

  Kate tried to smile as she wiped her sweaty palms down her skirt.

  Carol’s enthusiasm wasn’t daunted in the least by the no doubt uncomfortable expression on Kate’s face. “Oh, Kate, thank you! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. The yard is buzzing with politicians. With it being election year, they’re likely eager to throw their money at any charity that might get them noticed. I plan to take full advantage of their drive.”

  “I’m afraid I didn’t dress the part of a former Miss Kentucky, tonight, Carol. If I had known, I would have but…I’m sorry.” Kate almost skipped wearing the heels that went with her simple sundress, but she knew showing up at the Mitchell’s, even for a barbeque, in less than a dress and heels was not done.

  “Don’t you dare apologize. You’re saving the day, and you look beautiful. We’re close to the same size, so one of my formals will fit you just fine. Come on. Let’s get you dressed up and then we’ll get the introductions over with.” Just like that, Carol took charge in her loving, albeit, steamrolling way.

  Ten minutes later, Kate stood—stripped down to her bra and panties—as she waited for Carol to decide which dress would work best. Used to years of pageant prep, Kate should be right at home. How many times had she changed backstage in a hurry or waited for what felt like hours? Too many to count.