“What’s wrong?”
Inhaling slowly, I turned to her and silently counted to ten. “You need to let Dick Hazel know that he’s going to have to pay for another couple of months of rehab for Momma’s Pride.”
“Sorry? What do you mean?”
“What I said, Charlie. He needs another couple of months of rehab and you’re going to have to let Dick know.” I tensed as I looked at her. There was a curl to her top lip and an aggressive jut to her chin.
“That’s not my job. That’s yours.”
“I’m your boss. You went against my wishes for that horse. He now needs further rehab, so I’m telling you that it’s your job to tell the owner.”
She folded her arms and the lip curl became a full on snarl. Instantly the frosty atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing.
“I said I was sorry. I told you that he was hassling me.”
“And he doesn’t pay your salary, I do. Of which I think I pay you very well.”
“Debatable.”
Oh no, she was not going there. “I pay you a damn good salary and you know it. You have the use of a ranch truck, which is serviced regularly so I know you’re safe driving to town or to and from ranch business and you get health insurance. So, donot come at me with that one, Charlie because I will win every time.”
“Okay, but he?—”
“We talked about this a few days ago, I’m not raking over the dead embers of it again. Because that horse had a saddle put on him before he was ready, his rehabilitation has not only stalled but gone backward. That means I need to keep him here longer. Therefore, I want you to call Mr. Hazel and tell him that and how much he needs to pay for another two months board and rehab.” I took a beat, realizing I was on the verge of raising my voice and I’d been determined not to do that. “Alternatively, he can keep him at his own place and horse box him in every day. Up to him.”
“Why am I getting the blame for this?” she argued. “He was the one who insisted.”
I shook my head. “Like I said, we discussed it and now we have to face the consequences.” My phone started to buzz in my pocket, but I ignored it. This was more important, plus whoever was on the other end of the phone probably didn’t deserve the results of my anger. “Before you call him I need you to check on Momma’s Pride and make sure he’s okay. It’s taken me almost an hour to get him in his stall and calm.”
“What happened? What did you do?” she said in an accusatory tone that got my spine going straight as a rod.
“What I did was put a light hand on his back. Something even the skittish of horses should be able to withstand. Now, seeing as only last week he would take a blanket, I don’t think a hand is too much to ask. Unless of course he’s had a saddle on his back. A saddle that he’s not ready for.” My chest was rising and falling so fast I was either on the brink of a heart attack or full on rage. Either one was unwelcome. “Just go and see to the horse, Charlie and then call Dick Hazel.” She opened her mouth to argue but I’d had enough. “Now, before I say something I might regret.” Like fire her damn ass.
She didn’t second guess what that might be because she scuttled out of there like a rat up a drainage pipe. As soon as the door closed behind her, I was able to let out a breath. Things between us would not be good after this, because now I couldn’t trust her and that did not bode well for my business.
Maybe a bunch of kids would be a damn sight easier, then I realized that would mean seeing more of Cassidy and I wasn’t sure I could handle that either.
Chapter 10
Fighter – Christina Aguilera
Cassidy
“Lucas, honey, honestly you’re not going to get into trouble.” Pain twisted in my chest as his little body shook with sobs.
“But we’re going to see Miss Wright.” Tears dripped off the end of his chin, soaking into the gray—should-be-white—shirt he wore.
“We are, honey, but only because we’re worried about you.”
Two things had made the emergency meeting a necessity. First, Lucas had no lunch and no money on his lunch card. He tried to hide in the boy’s bathroom, but Bertie had tattled. How she knew, I didn’t want to know, but I was grateful she did. Then, while I taught the class about Henry VIII and his unfortunate wives, Lucas had fallen asleep, his head lolling on the desk, soft snores drawing giggles from the others.
“Be quiet,” Bertie had hissed at them. “He’s tired.” Bless her sweet heart.
When Lucas’s mom called to say she’d be late picking him up again, Mrs. Wright decided it was time for a meeting.
“Is my mom in trouble?” Lucas whispered as I led him along the corridor.
“No, sweetheart. We just want to make sure she’s okay and that you’re okay too.”
