* * * *
Chris and Julián made the short trek back to the Cook Ranch as the brisk wind whipped at their jackets. “This really is a beautiful place. Wilbur’s done a great job of maintaining it. So has Gwen.”
Julián looked back at the house on the gently sloping hill and caught a glimpse of Gwen’s golden hair before she disappeared back into the barn. Her voice carried on the breeze as she talked to Tutti, evidently preparing to take that ride she’d mentioned earlier. He’d go along with her if he wasn’t expected back next door momentarily.
He wondered what it would be like for that to be an option. He imagined a place—that place—with the three of them living there permanently. He questioned why he was torturing himself, going down that road, but either couldn’t help himself or didn’t want to.
“Wonder how much Wilbur is asking for the whole shooting match?” Chris asked as they approached the gate.
“Good question.”
He took out his phone and tapped the screen. Gwen had mentioned seizing the day earlier. It couldn’t hurt to make a simple inquiry. While he was at it, he might also look into what the Bucking H Ranch in Colorado was appraised for even though he knew Gwen was already talking with Roger Bedford about it. He’d already checked on Zephyr and was holding his cards close on that deal because he didn’t want Gwen to think he was interfering.
Something about the arrangement with Roger felt off to Julián. He’d never heard of any specifics that Roger had hammered out with her, only that he wanted her to “come home” to talk about it. It might be that he just didn’t like the idea of Roger Bedford holding her ranch over her head. She deserved her dream without a bunch of strings attached to it. He couldn’t envision a happy ending for Gwen if Roger didn’t get his way.
He smiled as he caught a glimpse of Gwen riding Tutti down the sloping back lane of the property and pointed at her so Chris would see. She threw her arms in the air, her hair flying in long golden streamers behind her as she and the horse moved as one through the waving grass, and he nearly forgot who he was calling as the phone began to ring.
* * * *
Gwen sighed with satisfaction as she finished combing out Tutti’s tail after giving the horse a thorough bath. She really was a beautiful animal. Her coat, an even mix of black and white hairs combined creating a bluish-gray tinge, shimmered in the late-afternoon sunlight streaming in through the barn door.
“Nearly done, sugar. Let’s do your tail and then you can have supper.”
She wiped a damp lock of hair from her face and ignored the way her clammy, wet clothing clung heavily to her body. The hot bath she was envisioning before supper had her hands making quick work of Tutti’s lush black tail.
“You look lovely, dahling,” she intoned softly as she stood at Tutti’s flank and finished the braid that might help to keep her tail clean. Tutti had a very horselike predilection for rolling in the pasture and her thick tail had been matted with mud. “I, on the other hand, look like a drowned rat.”
“Not from where I’m standing, love.”
Julián’s voice brought a smile to her face as she peered over her shoulder at him. “Hello there, handsome.”
Julián walked up behind her and kissed her neck as he stroked Tutti’s back. “She looks beautiful. You’re soaked to the skin, aren’t you? What happened?” He nipped lightly at her earlobe and Gwen giggled.
“I figured I’d go for a twofer on the baths but it didn’t work out. At least the water was warm at first.”
“Wilbur has hot water out here?” At her grin and nod, he chuckled. “Spoiled horse.”
“Don’t say that. More like spoiled owner. I might have had to use buckets otherwise. The hose must’ve been through one too many freezes because it cracked and then burst, spraying me from head to toe. I had no choice but to continue using it once I’d started, so I patched the hole with duct tape and went back to work. The duct tape didn’t last long so I just said ‘fuck it’ and kept going. At least it’s not freezing cold outside. I’m chilled to the bone as it is.”
She untied Tutti’s lead rope from the tie-down in the wash rack and led her to her stall. “There, girl. Now stay clean for at least one night for me, all right?”
Julián put hay in the feeder rack for Tutti and dumped a small handful of carrots in the rubber tub next to it. Gwen glanced at him and caught the speculative gleam in his eyes. “Is Chris headed over soon?”
Julián smiled, intention clear in his eyes. “Should be here any minute. Are there clean towels out here?”