Summer on Kendall Farm(57)

“This is the Kendall,” he said. “We negotiated the fees accordingly. I’m comfortable with them. I believe the horses will get the best care here. And I’m willing to pay for it.”

Kelly smiled. “About the groom?”

“He’s a friend of mine. He’s losing his job at the Rinkhard...”

“Emmett Cruz?”

“You know him?” Trey asked.

“Horse country is a small community,” she told him. “I know him and I’d be proud if he worked here.”

The expression on Trey’s face was approving. “Emmett’s a natural with horses, likes to be with them all the time.”

“I know. There’s a small cabin out by the barn. It’s livable, but I’ll make sure everything is in working order for him.”

“Thank you. And if there are any repairs necessary, send me the bill.”

“That’s very generous,” Kelly said.

“So it will work?”

“It will work,” she agreed.

Trey produced a pen from inside the truck’s cabin and Kelly signed the papers on the hood.

“All right, guys. Let’s unload,” he instructed.

As they started the trucks and headed for the barn, Kelly watched them, speculating where Jace was. Sadness settled over her. She missed him. More than just wanting to thank him for this incredible gesture, she was used to having him around. She missed seeing him and Ari play in the morning and she missed sitting across from him at the dinner table each night.

She liked the way he smiled, the way he was thorough with his work, yet he took the time to make sure everything was correct. She liked the way his mouth seemed to fit hers as if the two of them were equal halves of the same whole.

The three trucks with trailers, now empty of horses, started back down the one-lane road. Kelly felt bereft. Why hadn’t Jace told her he’d done this? Had she given him the chance? She didn’t know when he’d met Trey Demerest. Had he been about to tell her when she’d thrown him out?

He could have canceled the contract. Jace had no power to make contracts for the Kendall. He could have called Trey and told him the deal was off.

Yet he hadn’t. Kelly would have said Jace wasn’t that kind of man. But then she discovered he’d hired an attorney and that her purchase of the Kendall could be null and void. At least it could be rescinded if Jace came up with the tax money. Sheldon would then have to be involved because the property would revert to him, since he was the original owner in this case. Jace could then buy the Kendall from Sheldon, if he could find the means to get a mortgage. Bottom line, to even find out, he would need his brother, since Sheldon was the rightful heir.

And because of the letter Kelly had given him, Jace knew where his brother was.

* * *

THE GROCERY STORE, like the hair salon, was the place to hear all the gossip in Windsor Heights. Since Kelly hadn’t been in the salon in a while, she opted for the grocery store. Besides, there’d likely be more people there. Pacing slowly up and down the aisles, picking up milk and bread, condiments and paper products, she scanned the faces of the other customers. She wanted to find someone she knew. Unfortunately, she saw no one who could give her a tidbit of information about Jace.

He’d gone without a word. And while she didn’t agree with his tactics or what he might do, she wanted to know where he was and that he and Ari were safe. She also needed to thank him for the extra horses now boarding at the Kendall. Kelly had all kinds of reasons to explain her presence if she could only find him.

Finishing her shopping, she paid the cashier and went to her car. Just as she was about to back out a truck pulled into the space next to hers. Kelly stopped. She hopped out of the car with a huge smile and greeted Emmett Cruz.

“Emmett, great to see you.”

“Hello, Ms. Ashton. How are you?”

Kelly shook his hand. “I’m fine. It’s so good to see you.”

Emmett at one point had been a trainer at the Kendall when she was a little girl, before he went to work for the Rinkhards. Kelly had been back two years, but between her running the Kendall and Emmett at the Rinkhard place, they saw little of each other.

“I’ve been meaning to stop by,” Emmett said. “I hear you’re doing great things over at the Kendall.”

“It’s going well.”

“And I hear one of the Kendalls is back.”

Technically true, she thought. “Jason, the wild one.”

“Turned up in the middle of the night with a boy.”

“I guess horses aren’t the only ones you listen to,” Kelly joked.

“This is Windsor Heights. Even a toothache will be talked about.”