Marshall raised his eyebrows. “You’re not talking about—”
“Yes. Sugar Lips. She’s a fantastic horse. I put out some feelers and I think I can get her for a reasonable price. We’ll have to expand, but not immediately. And hire more help, but again, not immediately. There’s plenty of land for more pastures and we can add another tank. We’ve talked about expanding the barn and adding more stalls anyway. This gives us a good excuse.”
Marshall rubbed his chin. “It could be profitable.”
“It would take some capital to get going,” Damaris said.
“I’ve got a good bit saved from my Kelly Boots gig. I haven’t spent much of it. I’ve been using my winnings to contribute to the ranch upkeep and for rodeo expenses. I’ll probably get a loan but I’d be responsible for it, not you two.”
“What about Kelly Boots?” his sister asked. “Do they know about your plans to retire?”
“Not yet. I wanted to talk to you two first.”
“They’ll probably want you to continue at least for a little while,” Marshall said. “But once there’s a new saddle bronc champion…”
“Yeah, I know. But even if that ends I’m sure I can get some more endorsement deals. Not everyone can afford the newest world champion.”
“Marshall and I can put out some feelers for endorsements. I wonder if Hazel would be interested?”
“Hazel is best friends with Ella. Don’t ask her yet. I want to get everything set up or at least in the works before I tell Ella.”
“You never have said why you two broke up.” Damaris gave him a knowing glance. “But if I had to guess I’d say it has something to do with the rodeo.”
Marshall bit off a laugh.
“What? Marshall knows but you won’t tell me?”
“Man talk,” Chase said, knowing that would piss off Damaris royally. “Let me worry about Ella.”
“I need some paper and a pencil,” Marshall said. Chase opened the desk drawers and gave him both. He started sketching what they had now. Marshall was a pretty fair artist, though not like Gabe. But when he sketched something, like the stable and surrounding buildings and pastures, what he produced looked like the real thing. Chase couldn’t draw stick figures that looked like stick figures. Looking at Marshall’s handiwork, they discussed the best place to build additional stables. Obviously, they wanted it near the existing one since their hands and part-time help would be in both places.
As they talked Marshall filled in rough details of the new addition, pastures and a new tank.
“What do you think about asking Harlan Sullivan if his construction company wants to handle the barn addition?”
“I’ve heard good things about them although we’ve never used them,” Damaris said.
The construction on the Walker ranch had all been built before Harlan had moved back and taken over one of the Whiskey River construction companies. “I can give them your drawing,” he said to Marshall, “and their architect can elaborate on it. But I want to give him a more detailed drawing that the three of us have discussed. I’ll feel him out about the job in the meantime.”
“All right. I’ll get to work on it and then we can discuss it some more and make changes.”
“Sounds good. Let us know and we’ll have another meeting. And remember, not a word to Ella.”
*
After she gothome Ella went to the barn to check on the horses and bring Dawn back with her. Most of the time Dawn stayed with Midnight when Ella was gone. They were still the best of friends even though after months on the ranch they both had friends of their own species as well.
“Oh, Midnight,” Ella said, leaning her head against the horse’s neck. “I’m such a fool.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” a deep voice behind her said.
Chase. She whirled around, her heartbeat speeding up. She couldn’t help it. It was an involuntary reaction she had to his presence. Sometimes simply to thinking about him. “Chase. I didn’t hear you.”
“I know. You’d have run away if you had. You can’t avoid me forever, you know. Not if we’re both going to be living here.”
She didn’t deny it. “I can try.”
He laughed. “You said you wanted to be friends.”
