“I did the math.” Sierra’s eyes were filled with tears. “We lost about twenty percent yearly from you know who pulling his funding. Anderson alone donated more than that, but with his friends, we got an increase of around fifty percent.”
“You’re saying that with these guys, with Mr. Moneybags out of the picture, we’re gettingthirty percentmore?Yearly?” Lake grabbed the windowsill behind him, appearing faint.
“Yes,” Sierra breathed out the word. “We’re…set. For any repairs, anything new we want to do here. If you’re still donating the money from the Netflix deal—”
“I definitely will when I have it,” Lake interrupted.
“That means if we want to build something new, like a stable extension or accommodation or whatever, we totally can now.”
I felt a little faint, too. “Holy shit.”
Lake let out a wet chuckle. “Jesus…I mean, I knew Anderson was a good guy, but this is…a lot.”
“It really is.” Sierra nodded. “If we build something, this calls for a plaque or something in his name.”
“Absolutely,” I agreed. It really was bigger than we’d expected.
“I’ll give him a call and thank him personally,” Lake said, already getting his phone out.
“Message me if you need me,” I told them as I pushed to my feet and left the office to continue my day.
The stirrup wasn’t easy to repair. I was starting to wonder if it would be better to buy a new pair to attach to the saddle that was still in good condition. It was also one of our most comfortable ones. But it would be a cost I could avoid, if I just—and I managed to nick the back of my hand with the knife I’d been using. It wasn’t the most appropriate tool for the job.
“Shit,” I hissed, and immediately brought my hand to my mouth.
Then I realized what I was doing and what I’d just learned, and started to laugh.
Barry walked in and took one look at me. “I really hope there’s a good reason why you’re laughing with blood-stained teeth in the middle of the stable, boss.”
I laughed some more as he brought me some supplies from the first aid cabinet. After I’d explained to him that we were set for money for the time being, he told me he understood. “But in the future, please don’t spook the volunteers.”
* * * *
In the next couple of weeks, we fell into a deeper new normal.
Jules’ friend came to see the sporty draft and immediately saw the potential. He paid the asking price for the horse, then made a separate donation about ten times said horse’s price “because he could.”
Three more horses—the bays and the pinto—left for their new forever homes, and Rey had started to field some online interest from potential kitten adopters, too.
Everything rolled along at its own pace, as things tend to do when left alone.
Sierra began re-dating her ex and Hudson was busy as ever. Ben had left about a week after Anderson’s visit to go back to New York to work from there on the next part of the book Lake was finishing, and River was overworking.
It was clear River was channeling his feelings towards Ben leaving by keeping busy at the clinic. Lake and I weren’t sure if Dr. Cobb realized River was working too much, or if he just condoned it because he needed the help as his business had started to pick up like crazy.
Either way, Lake had taken River to Chicago for a guys’ day off, which left Rey and me at the house.
Somehow, Rey had managed to get over part of his fear of the open skies above the property, and he now came into the backyard to talk horses with me every couple of days. We’d also put a playpen in the front yard for the kittens, and he enjoyed sitting there with them, watching the hustle and bustle of the rescue, calm as it may have been.
The dogs all adored the kittens and had started to guard them and Rey every time the kid brought the cats outside. Mollie hadn’t been sure about the babies, but now she played with them in the playpen every day.
I’d told Rey I’d be doing my usual thing around the stables while the others were gone, but that I wouldn’t leave the yard in case he needed me.
I’d ridden and hosed Izzy down after and was walking him to the paddock when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I didn’t think much of it, just continued on my way, depositing the gelding with his friends.
My phone buzzed again, and again, and suddenly I realized it could be Lake or River and got scared.
I got it out of my pocket and saw the lines of text. They were from Rey.
