She took the phone from her pocket and checked whether Tara texted or called. When she saw Tara seemed to have forgotten her, she scowled.
“Leave her alone and stop worrying. Julio and Rebecca promised to stay with her and bring her right back home,”he chastised her. “It’s not a crime to have fun, too, you know.”
“I’m having fun,” she said, stealing one of his fries. “Here comes your horse,” she said, pointing toward the auction block.
Garrett bid and won, making Riley squeal with excitement. “Yes,” she exclaimed as she kissed him full on the mouth. “I can’t believe you got him.”
Chuckling, he offered her another mini corn dog.
She opened her mouth for him to pop it in and smiled. “What will you name him?”
“I don’t like to name my horses right away. It’s important to get to know them, and over time, their name comes to me,” he said, adjusting her foot.
“I owned a horse, once. The bank took him with the ranch. I called him Sir Richard. His coat reminded me of gold silk. Every morning, I’d go out into the pasture and call for my knight, and no matter where he grazed, he’d come running. For weeks, I tried to get the bank to sell him to me. They auctioned him off, and I never saw him again. I wonder if he thought I abandoned him,” she said, watching the next horse coming up for sale.
Garrett watched her expression as she recalled the memory. The horse meant something to her.
He bid on two more horses, losing both of them. The grey mare came up next, and he almost laughed. Riley sat on the edge of her seat, her eyes gleamed and she sucked in her lip as the bidding started. The auctioneer called once, twice, and Garrett raised his number and called out, “Five thousand dollars.”
The auctioneer started the countdown again and hit his gavel on the block. “Sold to number forty-six.”
Riley turned, her mouth dropped open, and shegrinned. “You teased me,” she accused, pushing him and laughing.
Garrett grabbed her hand and wrapped his arm around her. “I think I’m done. Do you want to stay?”
She shook her head as she watched the men lead the grey from the area.
“I need to settle up and get the horses loaded. Will you be all right if I leave you here?” he asked.
Riley rolled her eyes. “Yeah. I mean There’s always a chance I go home with one of those boys over there,” she said, nodding her head toward a group of older men.
Garrett narrowed his eyes and growled as he gave her a peck. “Be good. I have another surprise.”
Her eyes lit up as she nodded and turned her head toward the auction platform. Garret rose, setting her leg down gently on the seat. He didn’t miss the men stealing glances at Riley as they walked by. Some lingered close to her when he went for the snack. His fierce scowling and blazing eyes sent them scattering as he returned. He didn’t set her leg on his lap because he acted as chivalrous as her Sir Richard. It was a mark of possession. He wanted Riley to be his.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Garrett pulled around the back of the old barbecue place. He greeted an old man who sat outside on a stool by the smoker.
“Hey, Ben. How’s it going?” he called.
“Hey, stranger. We almost went broke waiting for you to return. What’s kept you away?” Ben asked, rising to shake Garrett’s hand.
“I work for Haven Ranch now. We’re on our way home after attending the horse sale in Hondo.” He returned to the truck to help Riley out and returned.
Ben beamed at Riley and tipped his hat. “Why didn’t you say so? You finally found yourself a pretty filly of your own.”
“Riley, meet Ben, the best brisket smoker in the country,” Garret said, putting his arm around her. “Riley mentioned she loves brisket. I knew she needed to try yours. Can you keep an eye on the truck?” he asked. “I got two in the back.”
“I’ll be outside all evening. You know I can’t stand getting stuck inside with all those heathens,” Ben joked. “You’ll have to show them to me when you’re finished.”
“Will do,” he said, helping Riley over the raised ledge on the floor.
They took a booth near the back window, where Garrett closely guarded the contents of his trailer.
“If you planned to watch the horses, why did you ask Ben to do it?”
“Because he’s a stubborn old man. His wife has cancer, and they recently got the approval to receive treatment from the hospital. In the last six months, they’ve barely made ends meet. If I ask him to watch the trailer, I can tip him, and he won’t think anything of it, and it saves his pride,” he explained, handing her a menu. “Everything’s good here. We’ll order dessert to go and bring something for Tara.”
