“I did equine management at college, Gunner. You didn’t.”
Now that made me pissed. I’d taught her everything she damn well knew, because the college had only given her the basics.
“Don’t even try with that,” I warned her. “I’ve lived on this ranch all my life and worked with horses since I was seven years old, so don’t tell me that a piece of paper from the college makes you more qualified. I respect the work you put in at college. I respect the knowledge you bring to this place, Charlie, because I will always listen to your point of view. I do not respect you going against everything we agreed on for that horse. That plan, that schedule of rehabilitation wasn’t written off the top of my head. It was written through years of experience, reading and researching and talking to other trainers. Do you know how hard it is to get Jesse Connor to mentor you? I do and I learned more from that man than twenty years at college will ever teach you.”
She bowed her head and looked remorseful enough that I felt my blood pressure lower. “Just go and get Sinbad in the indoor school and check if he’s still limping after the heat treatment.”
“Fine.”
The door slamming made me groan. “Fuck.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I looked down at the floor, wondering for the hundredth time whether hardwood floors hadbeen the best option. They were scuffed to hell. I hated yelling at people, but this had been something I couldn’t let go. Charlie knew how finely tuned our training and rehab programs were. I could only hope it hadn’t affected Momma’s Pride’s progress.
Stewing over the last half hour and how we moved forward, I was startled by a knock on the office door.
“Christ, Charlie, I’m not that mad, just come in,” I yelled, walking back around my desk.
The door creaked open and just as I sat down she walked in, and my mouth dropped to the floor.
“Cassidy, what the hell are you doing here?”
Chapter 6
We Don’t Talk Anymore – Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez
Cassidy
What was I doing there? I’d been asking myself that with every step I’d taken from the house to the stables. I’d woken after everyone else, seeing as they all woke at a stupid hour every day. Lily, thankfully, had left me to sleep but once I woke I went back to thinking about Lucas and how I could help him. That was what I was doing there.
“I need your…your expertise,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. Professional. This wasn’t about us, it was about Lucas.
Gunner straightened, his usual smirk fading into something more thoughtful. “What kind of expertise?”
“Your help. The professional kind.” I cleared my throat and forced out, “Please.”
He lifted a brow and smirked, making me second guess what the hell I was doing. When he stretched his legs out in front ofhim and crossed his arms over his chest, the air of superiority and confidence boiled my piss, as my Granny Lizzie used to say.
“You know what, it’s fine. I’ll ask someone else.” I turned to leave but Gunner laughed and that had me turning back around to face him. “What is so funny?”
“You are. Pretending to be all pleasant and polite.” He leaned forward. “Just because you want something.”
“I can be pleasant, even if I don’t want anything.”
“Really?” he scoffed. “I’m not sure I’ve seen that side of you. Ever.”
My teeth felt like they might splinter, I was grinding them together so hard. I hadn’t worn ugly braces for almost two years in high school to wreck them now. “Well, that’s probably because we’re not really friends and don’t spend much time around each other.”
“And the one time we did it didn’t end well.” He looked at me with a raised eyebrow, like it was my fault he’d insulted me.
“What did you expect when…” Gunner shifted his position, crossing his legs at the ankle and tilting his head to one side. He still didn’t think he’d said anything out of turn. Stupid idiot. But I did need his help. “Let’s just forget about that. For now,” I muttered the last part because I couldn’t help it. He boiled my piss more than anyone I’d ever known.
With a stupid smirk, he braced his arms back on his desk, probably to show off his biceps. “Okay, just tell me how I can help.”
“I can’t go into too much detail, but there’s a little boy in my class who I think needs some attention..”
“And you want me to…” He sat forward and rolled his hand, encouraging me to continue.
“I wondered if he could spend some time here. You know, maybe clean out some stables, feed some horses or something. I was reading last night that working with animals can be liketherapy. I thought it would be good for him. Seeing as I was here, I thought I might as well just come out and ask you.”
