Jade had never been so happy. She was crazy in love with an unbelievably gorgeous and generous man. Not only was it the care and patience Chase showered on her that said he was in love with her, but he also made her feel like she belonged. On his ranch. To him. Yet, this sexy cowboy had made it clear she was always free to go and owed him nothing. That was his brand of love.
The Fourth of July picnic had come and gone. Bill and Carol had been among the guests of honor. Although Katy and Finn had been out of town visiting Katy’s parents, they had returned with great news. Yes, there were unresolved matters; Grandpa’s trunk and her beloved photo were still in the hands of Franco Spatafore. But so far, the deal she had made with Chase had kept him from a confrontation with Franco.
For the past week, Jade had spent time in her new office, contacting her clients to let them know she had changed locations. Not only that, she was diligently working on completing her equestrian therapy certification, which required hands-on training. As she spoke with the parents and guardians of her clients, she was providing them insight as to the benefits of therapy, using horses, in promoting emotional growth in children experiencing anxiety, autism, delayed mental development, down syndrome, brain injuries, and a history of abuse or neglect. Equine-assisted therapies were also often effective for children with motor control issues, behavioral tics, and cerebral palsy. Sitting in her new, red leather chair, she was listening to a podcast on the subject when the Desmond Horse Ranch in Castle Rock was mentioned as specializing in certifying people and in training horses for equestrian therapy.
Well, who knew? Chase had said Kendra Desmond, Allison Hilliard, and Ragsdale had all been at Southside Suzy’s the night he went looking for information on the Spatafores. Jade had not yet met Suzy or her boyfriend, Richard, but Chase credited them with helping him find her. Chase wasn’t sure they’d heard the last of Ragsdale or Allison, but Kendra had taken the hint and even told Allison to forget about him. Jade made a note to ask Chase what he thought about the Desmond Horse Ranch’s equestrian therapy.
After starting his morning with computer and paperwork in his office, apparently a big part of ranching, today Chase had ridden out with Bob, Mean Pete, and Martyman. Branding was finished, and they were cutting out cows to be sold. Red was in charge of the rest of the crew on a cattle drive to new pastures in order for the animals to graze fresh grasses and fertilize the ground. Jade was learning a little more every day about life on a ranch. She remembered having once said to Chloe she might never leave. She prayed with all her heart she never had to.
Chase had asked Coop to stay with her until he returned. He’d told her it was as much for Coop as it was for her, as Coop wasn’t able to ride Bowie as far out on the range as they were going. Coop had joked his dog, Crockett, was not the best checkers player, meaning he would be bored. So keeping an eye on Jade in Chase’s absence would give Coop an important job. Jade loved Coop and agreed without hesitation. Teresa had been in and out of the house as well. Right after moving in, Teresa had eagerly helped Jade add her dishes and kitchenware to the cabinets and countertops, food to the fridge, and staples to the pantry. She’d hugged Jade when they were done, saying how glad she was to have her as part of the family. Jade hadn’t known what to say in regard to the word family. Teresa had sensed that and changed the subject by telling Jade she thought her tattooed eyebrows had faded some, and Bob was sure that would help her get into heaven. They had both laughed. Jade loved Teresa and Bob.
The front doorbell rang, and Jade smiled. Katy had called unexpectedly, saying no one was in the Spatafore offices. She could leave and bring Jade’s books and belongings to her. Katy had been raised on a small Arizona ranch that had long since been sold by her parents during a drought. Her good news was that her mom and dad were in the process of moving to Colorado to be near their only daughter and grandson. Jade was thrilled Katy planned to quit the Spatafores but stay in the Springs. Jade had told Coop of Katy’s impending visit, and he’d fetched a dolly. Then he’d turned on the flat screen in Chase’s den and settled himself on the leather sofa to watch the Alamo fall from Bowie, Crockett, and Travis to General Santa Anna.
“Wait for me,” Coop called.
“Yes, sir.” Jade waited at the front door.
When Coop, pulling the dolly, joined her, Jade opened the door to Katy and her son, Finn. After introducing everyone, there was so much Jade wanted to say all at once, she almost didn’t know where to start. The same must have been true for Katy as they both started talking at once.
“You first,” Jade said with a laugh.
“I have all of your books boxed and in the back of my SUV,” Katy said, smiling.
“I’d be happy to get ‘em,” Coop offered.
“Thank you, Coop,” Katy said, having been asked to call him that.
“I’ll help,” Finn offered politely and headed out with Coop.
Jade escorted Katy to her office and fixed coffee as Katy admired the furnishings and Triple C Ranch quilt. They took seats in the wingback chairs, and Jade told her about the three parts to the Cooper Ranch. Coop and Finn returned, with Finn proudly pushing the dolly stacked with the books his mother had secreted out of Jade’s old office. Then Finn helped Coop unload the boxes near Jade’s bookcase. Coop thanked Finn and disappeared with Crockett and the dolly. Finn quietly took a seat on the sofa underneath the Triple C Ranch quilt. Jade and Katy were just getting started when Coop popped his head in the door with Crockett at his heels. Finn’s eyes, the same hazel as Katy’s, lit up.
“Finn, do you think you’d be any better at checkers than Crockett here?” Coop asked.
“I can sure try,” Finn joked back and scratched Crockett’s head when the dog came to him.
“Dropping off cookies,” Teresa said, arriving with a tray. Coop moved aside, and Teresa set a plate of her homemade chocolate chip cookies on an end table between the wingback chairs. “I’ve got some cookies and lemonade for you gentlemen and a dog biscuit for Crockett. Where would you like them?”
“At the checkerboard?” Coop asked, looking at Finn.
“Yes, sir!” Finn hopped up and followed Coop, Teresa, and Crockett.
“Jade, you must absolutely love it here,” Katy said, brushing back a light brown spiral curl from her pretty face. “I’ve never seen you so happy.” She paused and said, “Come to think of it, I never saw you happy at all until you met Chase.”
“I love Chase so much, and I love it here. I’m happier than I ever dreamed possible,” Jade said with such heartfelt passion she felt a choke in her throat. She could have gone on but didn’t do so out of respect for the fact that Katy had lost her husband the previous year. Hoping Chase never set her free, Jade said, “I owe it all, including my freedom from the Spatafores, to Chase.”
“Chase was a man on a mission when he didn’t know where you were and was trying to find out where the Spatafores were hiding you,” Katy said, then took a bite of a cookie.
“Katy, the Spatafores are dangerous. If you don’t mind my asking, what’s your current status at their office?”
“I’m still there, but I know they’re dangerous. In all honesty, I doubt they’ll have an office much longer. Employees have been quitting on both floors.”
“Because of Mateo’s lawsuit?”
“Yes. As soon as I got back in town, I heard that other women have come forward with accusations about him. The police were at the office looking for him, but he wasn’t there. He’s been laying low at their house, so maybe they caught up with him there by now. I don’t know.”
“What about Franco?” In merely saying his name, Jade felt a chill run up her spine.
“As word spreads around the Springs, as it’s known to do, patients are canceling left and right.” Katy shrugged. “Maybe in part due to his association with his brother and maybe in part because he’s hardly been in his clinic since he—well, you know.”
