The Silver Creek Ranch where we’ve agreed to meet isn’t the largest in the state, but it has the Zander stamp of approval, which means it’s one of the best. Over a thousand acres of rolling green paddocks, pristine white fences, and gleaming lake frontage makes me heartsick for our own place in Colorado, but I push my nostalgia aside as I watch Lily take in the impressive view.
“This is the Murphy place, right? Silver Creek?”
“Yep. You been here before?”
She shakes her head. “I’ve always wanted to, though. They’ve done so much to help preserve the Appaloosa breed.” The admiration in her voice is a good sign, and I relax a little as Cooper pulls the car up next to Zander’s battered truck. Offering to replace it with my first real paycheck earned me a long afternoon of heavy-duty manure management, so now I avert my eyes as we climb out and join them.
“Zander! Thanks for making the trip.”
“Ellis.” Zander gives me a curt nod and gestures to the smiling alpha next to him. She’s tall – almost matching Zander’s lean six-foot frame – with deep laugh lines around kind eyes, and a mop of salt-and-pepper curls stuffed under a worn black Stetson. “This is Marianne Murphy, the ranch owner and head breeder. She’s been good enough to meet with us on short notice.”
“Nice to meet you, Marianne.” Her grip is firm but friendly, and her gaze roams over me without being starstruck. “And can I introduce Lily Percy? She runs Rosie’s Blooms over in...”
“Knotty Falls,” the smiling alpha finishes for me, grabbing Lily’s outstretched hand and giving it a warm shake. “Yeah, I know it. I remember my mom saying you have the prettiest riding trails in the Snake River Valley.”
“That’s us,” Lily replies with a shy smile. “I just wanted to say that I really admire what you and your pack have done for the Appaloosa breed. This ranch looks amazing.”
“Thanks. It’s been a lifelong passion for us, but as you’re no doubt aware, what looks shiny on the surface comes with a lot of hard work and sacrifice behind the scenes.” The two women share a knowing look, but then she turns her attention back to me. “And I hear you’re looking to become a part of the Silver Creek family. Zander here definitely knows his way around horses.”
“He taught me everything I know,” I reply, giving the older man the barest of elbow nudges. “Well, after my mom, of course.”
“Ah, Catherine Castle. Nowshewas a vision on horseback.Lady Vetwas my favorite guilty pleasure for years.”
“Yeah, she was pretty great.” I can feel Lily’s eyes resting on me and I quickly clear my throat. “But Zander said you’ve got something special right here?”
“Sure do.” Marianne quickly moves into sales mode, gesturing for us to follow her over to the stables. There’s a yearling waiting for us in the training yard, a well-muscled Appaloosa with a deep chest and a beautiful leopard-spotted coat. Even at a glance, I can tell he’s going to be the pick of the stables. “This is Moondance. He’s from the famous Sundance bloodline, which did so much to establish the breed. He’s just shy of his second birthday, but he’s sale ready.” I know it’s an arduous process toget a yearling ready for sale and Marianne probably has a dozen buyers ready to snap him up. “He’s got enough thoroughbred in him to be flashy, but he’s also got the survival instincts of a mustang. His sire is a Hall of Famer and High Point Champion in racing, halter, and western performance and his dam is an international jumper. Zander’s given me an idea of what you want for your boy, but why don’t tell me a bit about him?” She looks at Lily with a sparkle in her eyes. “Or maybe I should be getting it from the momma horse’s mouth?”
Even with all the adrenaline zipping through my system, I can feel Lily go statue-still.
Crap. Crap.Triple crap.
Probably should have thought about laying a little ground work for this conversation before ambushing her with the shiny horse in front of us.
“Um…” I can feel Zander’s judgmental eye on me as I wince at Lily’s frozen face. “Sorry I didn’t give you some warning, but after hearing about Leo’s last horse, I wanted to get him a replacement.”
She sucks in a shaky breath, her gaze locked on the yearling. “This is a lot more than a replacement, Ellis.”
“Yes, but…”
“I need to...” She turns abruptly towards Marianne, a hand pressed to her throat. “Can I just take a minute?”
“As long as you need, honey.”
Lily has already disappeared around the corner of the stables, and I don’t need the soft growl in Zander’s throat to prod me to follow. I find her leaning against the red-and-white siding, staring out at the view of the sparkling lake. “Did I fuck up?”
She tilts her tear-streaked face my way. “How? By wanting to make Leo the happiest boy in the world?”
I shrug, because as much as I want Leo to have everything he needs, I want Lily to have everything she deserves. And I sure as fuck don’t want to make her cry.
“When I said get something for Leo,” she says with a wry note in her voice, “I was thinking along the lines of a new baseball mitt.”
I nod, but it’s hard not to wince. She’s talking about restraint, which is the very last thing I’ll ever be able to put on my resume. “Okay. But every country boy needs a horse.”
She gives a shaky laugh. “Agreed. And you should’ve seen him with Hercules. He spent hours brushing his coat and sneaking him sugar lumps. I knew Leo had a kind heart, but Hercules taught him to be patient, too.”
I should’veseen that. In fact, I should’ve been there for every happy moment – and every tear shed – but I’d missed so much and now I don’t know how to make amends.
“Then why the tears, sweetheart? Is it just that the horse is too much…?”
