The entire situation didn’t sit well with me.
Whinnying drew my attention from where I was working upstairs in the loft. I hadn’t realized I’d spent the better part of four hours sequestered in a basic motel efficiency suite above one of several barns on my father’s property. What few ranch hands there were working for my father’s ranch were either living off site or bunking in the newer building several football fields away.
As a little girl, this was the barn where my beloved palomino had been kept so I’d pretended the barn was my personal playground, including the rooms above.
Before I’d settled in, I’d taken a tour of the entire facilities, which I hadn’t done since leaving for school. It was sad to see how my parents’ once bustling, oversized cattle ranch had been reduced in size. Between several hundred acres being sold for housing developments and the ups and downs of the beef industry, I could clearly see the ranch was in trouble.
Still, there were several herds of cattle to be tended to, sheep, several horses, including those being boarded by people only living here half the year, and even chickens. I’d also forgotten how much I adored the place.
As soon as I walked down the stairs, I was met with a pleasant surprise.
First, I did a double take, pressing my hand against my lips. Standing with a man I’d known my entire life was a horse that was a dead ringer to my beloved palomino Sasha.
“Oh, my God. Jose.”
The older man’s face lit up. “Kenzie. I was told you came home. Brought you a little surprise.”
He stopped brushing the horse as I walked closer. “Oh, Jose. It’s so good to see you.” The hug was something I hadn’t realized I needed. He’d been working for my dad for as long as I could remember. I’d grown up with his children running around. We’d played together. Ridden together.
“You as well. I also heard you’re a big shot attorney now.”
I backed away and for some reason, I had to fight tears all over again. Maybe because selling the ranch outright was still on the table. “I’m kind of in between jobs right now.” I glanced at the stunning horse, shaking my head. “She’s beautiful. She looks just like Sasha.” I moved toward the horse’s muzzle, both loving and hating the memories.
“She does. Your dad bought her a few days ago.”
“Really?” I noticed there was a gleam in Jose’s eyes. The question was why. A bribe?
“Yep.”
“What’s her name?”
Jose handed me the reins. “Your dad said you should name her.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jose glanced toward the falling sun. “From the time you were a little girl you loved horses. Your father remembered and thought you might up take up riding again since you were back home.”
“I don’t know how long I’m staying.”
He patted the horse and grinned. “I understand. She’s a real beaut. As soon as he saw a picture of her, he had me run to Colorado and pick her up.”
“You went all the way to Colorado?”
“Anything for his daughter, he told me.”
What the hell was my father up to?
It was impossible to ignore the stunning horse, including the huge tail whapping back and forth. “Horses were my best friends for years.”
“The only birthday or Christmas present you ever asked for was a horse.”
“So I was one-sided.” I pressed kisses on her nose as I rubbed her face. I’d missed being able to ride every day like I had as a kid. “How interesting the change in heart since my father had never wanted me to ride.”
“That’s not true. It was your mother who didn’t want you to fall in love with horses.”
“My mother?” He had to be kidding me.
“She had a bad fall when she was pregnant with you. I was there when it happened. It scared your father to death. For a little while, the doctors were worried she would lose the pregnancy. But she healed and you were always a little fighter, kicking and screaming when born. Your mother was very careful with you after that. I think partially because she wasn’t able to have any other children.”
