“You mentioned they were under quarantine?” Megan asked.
“It’s standard with livestock to make sure they aren’t carrying infectious diseases, but these horses were given the all clear a few days ago. They’re ready to move,” Priya told her.
“Okay. I’ll ask our new tenant. I can probably let you know later today.” She looked down at the barn, but Jake’s black truck was nowhere to be seen. So, he’d already left to get his horse.
“Perfect. The humane society needs to act quickly on this hoarding situation, so the sooner the better.”
“Got it,” Megan told her, turning around to head back toward the castle.
“Out of curiosity, who rented the stable?” Priya asked.
“Jake Reardon.”
“Oh really?” Priya’s tone changed, and Megan had the sudden impression she might not be the only one who found her new tenant handsome.
“Yep. He’s starting his own horse training business.”
“That’s great. Good for him. Well, let me know what he says. I’d love to get the horses moved as soon as this afternoon if he’s amenable.”
Megan pressed a hand against her heart, which was beating just a little bit faster at the idea of seeing Jake again so soon. “Okay. I’ll ask him as soon as he gets here.”
* * *
Jake Reardon walkedto the end of the barn and stood looking out over the empty pastures beyond. Moving into the farmhouse at Rosemont Castle was the fresh start he’d been depending on for years now, the chance to step into his own shoes for the first time as he grew his business. It had been a hell of a road to get here, but he wasn’t going to think about that right now.
Focus on the positive. And, speaking of positive, Megan Perl was currently walking toward him from the direction of the castle. Megan, the woman who’d stolen his breath that night at Bar None last year, who made him feel alive for the first time in recent memory, and who also managed the property he’d just leased.
“Hi,” she said as she approached the barn. “Settling in okay?”
“Well, my horse is,” he told her. “I haven’t even been over to the house yet.”
“Busy day for you.” She tucked a strand of glossy brown hair behind her ear as she came to stand beside him in the entrance to the barn.
“It sure is.”
“Can I meet your horse?” she asked with a smile.
“Of course.” He led the way into the barn. Twister hung his chestnut head over his stall door, whinnying to them as they approached. “This is Twister,” Jake said as the horse head-butted him affectionately. “Bet you can’t tell how he got his nickname.”
Megan reached out to touch Twister’s face, running her hand over his tornado-shaped white blaze. Her smile widened. “Clever.”
Twister paced to the window at the rear of his stall and whinnied again before returning to the doorway.
“He’s a little lonely this afternoon,” Jake said. “I don’t think he likes being the only horse on the property, but he won’t be for long. A client is dropping off a horse for me to train later this week, and I’m hoping to make that two by the end of the month. I’ll rent out the rest of the stalls to boarders.”
“That’s actually what I came down here to talk to you about,” she said. “Are you familiar with the program we’re running at Rosemont Castle?”
“Only what I’ve heard around town,” he told her.
“Well, when Elle, Ruby, and I came in as property managers last year, we opened an inn inside the castle, so guests can come and have a ‘royal’ getaway. There are twelve guest rooms that were sitting empty, and now they’re generating income for Theo and his family to help Rosemont Castle pay for its own keep, so to speak.”
“Sounds good,” he said, not having any idea what this had to do with him.
“We also run a program with rescue pets. It’s called the Fairy Tails program,” she said with another of those irresistible smiles. “Get it? T-a-i-l-s.”
“I like it,” he said, returning her smile.
“We foster adoptable dogs and cats from the Towering Pines Animal Shelter here at the castle, and our guests can meet them while they’re here. Then, if they’re interested in adopting, they can put in an application and hopefully take their new pet home with them when they leave. It’s been really successful so far, and popular with our guests.”
