Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
I look over at his desk and see it’s empty, so I quickly beeline my way to Rosy’s stall, making sure she has water before I walk out toward the kitchen.
“Here,” Sammy says, handing me my hat that flew off my head before.
“Thanks.” I smile, reaching for it.
“You got me in trouble,” Sammy accuses me when I reach for my mug that says: I’m Just a Girl Who Loves Horses More Than People.
“What? How?” I ask, but I know how deep down.
“I saddled the horse for you.” He rinses out his mug before putting it in the dishwasher.
“I’m sorry,” I say, filling my mug. “Next time, I’ll saddle my own horse.”
He shakes his head. “Charlie would kick my ass if I let you do that.” He shrugs. “If you need me, I’ll be in hiding.”
I stir some milk into my coffee before I walk out of the kitchen and spot Emmett talking to Charlene, one of the new therapists who started here last month. Her blond hair flies all over the place as he gives her a smile. A smile he never sends my way unless he thinks I’m not watching him, and I say something he knows he has no comeback for.
He laughs at something she says, and it’s so apparent he’s flirting with her. My stomach gets tight as I ignore the feeling. My head is telling me I just need to get over him and move on. I avoid looking back at him, not sure I want to see anything else.
Instead, I head toward my office, pulling out the chair and sitting down, trying not to let it get to me. I open the emails to see if there have been any cancellations for the day. Then I go about filling the spots for the rest of the week. We have seven in-house therapists who work five days a week and do rotations for day versus evening. Something new we started last month.
I print the day out and make copies for each therapist who is on for the day, putting it on their clipboard. “Morning, Lilah,” Charlene says, coming into the office, “how are you?”
I turn and plaster a smile on my face. “I’m great, thank you. How are you?”
“Amazing,” she gloats. I want to hate her, but it’s not her fault that Emmett is a dickhead. She goes to her clipboard at the same time as her first patient comes in.
They leave together out the back, going toward the barn, when my phone rings. I look down and see it’s Caleb. He’s just moved to town and started his new construction company, CW Construction. “Hello.”
“Hey, beautiful,” he replies, and I smile. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m good.” I lean back in my chair, waiting to feel the butterflies from him calling me beautiful, but nothing happens. “How are you?”
“Better, now that I’m talking to you,” he says, and I look down at my boots. “I was wondering if you’re free tonight.”
“I am,” I confirm. “What did you have in mind?”
“We could go for dinner and then maybe go out to Thatcher’s?” he suggests.
I should tell him no and not lead him on, but I don’t. Instead, my mouth speaks before my head catches up. “That sounds great. What time should I be ready?”
Chapter Three
EMMETT
“Okay, so we have another load coming in in two weeks,” Charlie informs me as I sit in his office with the clipboard. “We will have to move twenty horses to the other barn.”
“Building that extra barn was a great idea.” I smile at him since it was my idea to expand. We never thought it would happen, but the business is just taking off.
“Yeah, sometimes you have some bright ideas.” He gets up from his desk. “But those are few and far between.” I shake my head, not bothering to answer him as I get up and follow him out of his office. “Let’s go through the barn and see who we can transfer over there.”
I don’t say anything as I walk into the barn and toss the clipboard on my desk. I already know who I will transfer and who will stay. Fifteen years ago, I finished my second tour and decided that was it for me. I put my life on the line twice, and it was time to get on my path. The path that sent me to the Barnes farm, working side by side with Quinn. I loved the program he created to help fellow soldiers returning home and suffering from PTSD. They come and train with the horses, riding them and caring for them. Giving these soldiers a place to go every day if they are alone, which most are. That was me. I was one of them until I was part of the Barnes family.
When they started talking about expanding, I was the first one to put my name on the list to go with them. I had no roots where I was, so it was easy for me to pack up and leave. Now here I am in charge of handling everything the barns have to offer. I make sure the horses are exercised and brushed out. I make sure there is a rotation with the horses used during the day. I make sure the horses are ready to be ridden. I run the staff of over fifty people who work in the barns, two shifts a day. Charlie is the one who gets the horses ready, making sure he rides every single horse that comes in. Assessing them and telling me how to proceed with making sure they are ready for people. Most of the horses are rescued themselves, so it’s a great company to work for.