“In my experience when a kid plays up in class there’s usually something else going on. Parents splitting up, someone in the family is ill, or maybe there’s a new baby in the house.” I cleared my throat, not sure what his response would be. “Have you asked her?”
When he didn’t immediately answer, I expected to see a glare full of fire. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
“I never even considered it. She lives in the apartment above the stables and her folks live in Tennessee, so have never thought she might have personal issues.” He looked at the door. “Are you okay to give me a minute?”
“Yeah sure.”
He jumped out of his chair and ran from the office leaving me marveling at the fact that he’d actually listened to me.
Chapter 17
What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction
Gunner
Charlie was watching Benny, one of the stable hands, working a horse in the indoor school seeing as the snow had started, when I caught up with her. At least she was acting like she was watching him, but I could see she was looking off into the distance.
“Charlie,” my voice was low and neutral. For as angry as I was with her, Cassidy was right there might be other things going on that I didn’t know about.
Her head swung in my direction. “What?”
“I think we need to talk.”
“We talked. You made it clear that you’re not happy with my work.” Her hands clenched the top bar of the fence. “Seems like you’re not happy with me full stop.”
I took a breath, because she was right, I wasn’t, but I needed to get to the bottom of why our relationship had changed so drastically.
“What’s going on, Charlie? We used to work so well together. A well-oiled machine.” I put my hand over hers holding the fence. “You’ve seemed distracted lately. Is everything okay back home?”
When she looked at me her eyes were full of tears, and I suddenly wished that I’d had the conversation with Cassidy earlier. I wished that I’d spoken to Charlie earlier.
“Come on Charlie.” I gave her hand a squeeze. “Talk to me.”
She nodded slowly, took a deep breath and then began to talk.
I burst back into the office, stamping snow from my boots. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you waiting so long.”
The smile she gave me hit like a physical force. Not the polite curve of lips I’d expected, but something soft and radiant that stopped me mid-stride. It reminded me of someone else—of Mom’s expression when I’d read her a whole chapter without stumbling, or when I’d first cantered around the paddock without falling. A smile that said she saw something in me worth being proud of.
“Did you figure it out?” she asked, leaning forward in her chair.
The words wouldn’t come as Cassidy moved to the edge of her seat, hope and maybe excitement shining in her eyes. She was the sun peeking through the clouds.
“S-she, erm, she,” I blew out a breath, still floored by the effect of Cassidy’s gaze on me. The memories that it evokeddespite never having been gifted with it before. “She’s been offered a job back home in Tennessee and didn’t know how to tell me. Rightly or wrongly, she was angry with herself because she didn’t know how to approach me. That anger came out in the form of playing up.”
“And now?” she asked, rolling her lips in, waiting.
“She’s leaving.” I shrugged. “Can’t deny it hurts that she doesn’t want to stay and learn from the best, but she’s going to be head trainer with a team of six working for her. It’s a great opportunity for her.”
“And she’s going with your blessing?”
“Yeah, I guess so. I’ve told her she can call me any time for advice.” I was glad we’d finally got to the bottom of things, even though it had left me with a huge headache. I needed a new assistant, but no one I already employed was ready to step up, so I’d have to recruit. “Finding someone to replace her isn’t ideal, especially with the plans with the camp.”
Cassidy gave a one shouldered shrug. “We’ll manage. Unless you want to postpone.”
“Nope. No way. Like I said with that fucking development we need to get ourselves established and the beginnings of a great reputation so, no, we forge ahead.”
Cassidy nodded and reached for her notebook. “I made some notes while you were talking to Charlie. Things that we can do quickly. Things that we need to start to put in place in readiness. Give it a quick look over and if you agree with them I’ll put them on a spreadsheet.”
