6
Slade stood outside of Mandisa’s door puzzled by the events he’d justwitnessed.
What the hell wasthat?
Mandisa claimed she was tired, but it wasn’t fatigue he’d seen in her eyes. Fear, anger, disappointment, distrust, colored every inch of her, and for the life of him he couldn’t understandwhy.
From the moment he’d met her, he’d gone out of his way to let her know nothing happened without her freely given consent. What on earth could make her distrustful of him after the wonderful time they’d had around the breakfast table thatmorning?
His body was tired from the back-and-forth travel over the past few days. However, his mind was still buzzing as it tried to lock in on the uneasiness he’d sensed pouring off Mandisa. Resigned to tabling it for later, Slade walked away from Mandisa’s door and down the stairs. He made a quick stop at the kitchen counter and grabbed a treat, then headed straight for thestables.
He needed to see his other lady, the one he neglected all too often to handle something Bull dropped in his lap. He walked straight to the back of the barn until he’d reached the last stall. A long, amber-colored face framed with blonde hair bobbed up and down when she acknowledged Slade’spresence.
“Hey, Queen-Sorrel. You miss me,girl?”
His red lady nodded and nuzzled into the gentle stroking Slade offered her. Time in Queen-Sorrel’s presence always calmed Slade. Damn if he didn’t need her. Slade pulled a sweet treat out of his pocket and held it just beneath the horse’s mouth. With quick precision, she snatched the apple out of his opened palm, and he knew all was right in theirrelationship.
The pride he felt for this horse bordered on unhealthy at times. But Slade couldn’t help it. She was perfectly made for him. He’d known it the moment he saw her ten years ago. She’d just called to him. She was big and brilliant, with as much grace as horses much smaller than her. She, like him, was blessed when it came to height and breadth. At seventeen hands, she stood taller than most American Quarters. Her solid build was a source of comfort for him. With her he could let go. He never had to worry about being careful how he handled her, or aware that he was bigger and stronger than everyone elsearound.
She’d been the reason he’d purchased this ranch and all the horse stock with it. Walking away from Queen-Sorrel just wasn’t something he’d been able to do, then ornow.
She nudged him with her head, the signal that she wanted to go out and play a bit. As tired as Slade was, he knew it made more sense to rest and then take her for a ride. But like always, whenever his lady asked for something, he had to indulge her. He reached inside the stall and gave her long neck a smooth stroke. The sound of footsteps coming his way made him pause long enough to see Aaron entering thestables.
“It must be real nice knowing all you have to do to get out of the shithouse with your women is bring them a kiss, a sweet treat, or a shinybauble.”
One corner of Slade’s mouth lifted as Aaron spoke. He leaned close to his horse and whispered soothing murmurs in her ear. He pushed away from Queen-Sorrel’s stall and faced his foreman and best friend. “Why? Youjealous?”
“Hell yeah,” Aaron answered. “I’m here all the time with Mama Indy, and she treats me like I’m fertilizer on the bottom of her shoes mostdays.”
Slade waved a dismissive hand at his friend. Both Aaron and Mama played at fighting. But the truth was they each adored one another. It was just their way to fuss with each other all the time. It was the one reason Slade left Aaron in charge of his ranch. It wasn’t just because he was an excellent horseman. And he was, Slade had no doubt ofthat.
Aaron had been Slade’s best friend from the moment they’d met as boys. Each of them possessed an abiding love for animals and adventure that cemented their bond instantly. Before coming to Texas for law school, Aaron spent most of his life on a horse ranch much like Havenheart. There wasn’t a better man Slade would trust with his horses and his land. But Slade kept Aaron here, paid him handsomely to take care of what Slade loved most—MamaIndy.
Slade had lost two of three women he’d loved. His birth mother when he was a small child, and his grandmother when he was just shy ofmanhood.
His grandmother had taken him in when his mother died, spared him from the hell Bull no doubt had planned for him. She’d loved him and spoiled him as any good grandmother should. But Indira Price was the one that loved him, nurtured him, and tanned his lily-white hide when he had more piss and vinegar in him than sense. That old woman was the last living piece of his heart, and when he couldn’t be at the ranch like he wanted, there wasn’t a man he’d trust more than Aaron to look afterher.
“It’s always so damn easy for you,” Aaronchided.
Easy was relative as far as Slade was concerned. Yeah, he didn’t have a problem gaining the interest of a pretty woman. But what did that matter when he still came home to an emptyhouse?
Slade gave himself a mental shake at that thought. He wasn’t ready to settle down with anyone. He liked his freedom too much. But lately, it was getting harder and harder to work himself into the ground when he didn’t have a reason forit.
Saving his grandmother’s company was his motivation now. But one day soon, Slade feared that reason was going to fall short. What would he do then? What would be hisrecourse?
“Stop calling my mama old, and she might not spit in your lemonade when you come ’round begging like you’re wont todo.”
“I wouldn’t put it past that she-devil to actually spit in my damn drink.” Aaron chuckled. “So, what’s the deal with the city-chick you brought back withyou?”
“Bull sent me to New York to buy out a small chain of beauty stores. He just dropped the shit in my lap at the last minute. Threatened me with my grandmother’s company if I didn’tcomply.”
Aaron shook his head. “Man, how long you gonna let this man yank you around for Logan Industries? Is it really worth being on Bull’s leash like youare?”
“Five more years and it’smine.”
“Let’s hope you survive that long,” Aaronquipped.
Slade playfully pushed at Aaron’s shoulder and motioned for him to hand Slade Queen-Sorrel’s tack. Aaron moved the few paces to pick it up and handed it to Slade, and then moved over to prepare the gelding a few stalls away for a ride aswell.
