After some heavy persuasion, he’d backed down. Scrapped the plant and apartments. Promised to design the development to blend with the landscape—lower impact, more respect. He’d even agreed to rewild a buffer strip between us and the build and add a nature trail.
“Because of the disruption and stress, he’s pledged a hefty donation to Gunner and Cassidy’s kids’ camp,” I explained.
She was quiet for a beat and then said, “That’s good of him.”
“You sound surprised.”
“Just seems like a lot of money to throw around.” She turned away, but not before I caught something guarded in her expression.
“Already dropped the money into the camp account. Cassidy’s buzzing about the cinema room they added because of it.”
Instantly she smiled and visibly relaxed in her saddle. “Those two are like kids in a sweet shop,” she responded.
Something tugging low in my gut. Why had she seemed so uptight about the conversation? The development shouldn’t affect her…unless. “Is the camp putting more work on you? Because if it is, I can talk to Gunner.”
She didn’t need defending, hell, she was more than capable. Gunner said she was thriving juggling online courses, soaking up everything he wasteaching her. But running the training program? That was a whole other weight.
Her head snapped toward me. “I don’t need anyone to speak for me,” she said sharply, nudging Isabelle forward. “And for the record, he’s not,” she added. “He’s splitting his time fairly. I’m happy to pick up the slack if that’s what he needs.”
I didn’t want her taken advantage of just because she was good at her job, she deserved the freedom to fly, not be bogged down with work that wasn’t within her remit.
Training horses, that was what she was supposed to be doing. It wasn’t just a job for her; it wasthedream. And I knew her last one had gone to hell. Kentucky. Racehorse trainer. The guy she’d stolen Dream Maker from.
The horse had been terrified of the starting gates. The bastard gave up on him, left him to rot in a stall. So, Tally did what Tally did, she took things into her own hands. Showed up here with a broken thoroughbred and a lot of fight.
And my brother, all heart and mush where horses were concerned, didn’t just help Dreamy, he gave Tally a job.
“Just looking out for you, Brownie,” I stated. “That’s all.”
We continued in silence, nothing but the gentle thud of Alice and Isabelle’s hooves on the ground. No birds, no wind, no talking, just horses and our soft breaths in a companionable peace.
Approaching the development, the hum of machinery and the clanking of tools broke the quiet. As we pulled to a stop, Tally leaned forward and scratched Isabelle between the ears. Alice nudged Tally’s leg, reminding her that she needed some attention too. When Tally giggled I knew exactly how my damn horse felt. Brownie’s hands were pure magic.
“Gunner said they’re getting an expert in to plan the nature trail and the rewilding.”
“Yeah, he mentioned it at dinner last night.” A white feather landed on Tally’s shoulder. Reaching for it, I got a hint of her perfume and mint as she turned to look at me. “Feather.” I handed it to her. “People say it means an angel’s watching over you.” I wasn’t sure I was into such things, but I liked the idea of it landing on her.
She took it between her fingers, looking down on it with a frown. “Not sure I believe in angels.” She shoved it into her pocket. “You want to go closer?”
I stood up in my saddle and looked over to the site. Tally didn’t need to know I’d already been and checked it out that morning. All I’d wanted was to get her away fromGlenn. Stop him from embarrassing himself.
“I think it’s all okay.” Dropping back into my saddle I flashed her a grin. My boyish, one that usually got me what I wanted. “Fancy coming to see where my house is going to be?”
“Whose is being built first?” When she maneuvered Isabelle around I took that as a yes.
“The future Mr. & Mrs. Miller’s,” I informed her with a laugh. “It’s only fair that they get more privacy.”
She raised a brow. “Yeah because you get all the privacy you need at my cabin, isn’t that right?”
As she rode off ahead of me, her braid flying in the wind, an image of me and her in my house, in my space, made my stomach flip and gave me a feeling I wasn’t sure what to do with.
Chapter 8
Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrinth, Emeli Sande
Tally
The quiet stretch of land offered a breathtaking view of the mountains. The snowy silver peaks glinting in the pale sunlight, sentries guarding the land below them. A bald eagle called to us from above, joyfully welcoming us to the edge of the world. The land endlessly spread out in front of us toward the horizon.
