Collecting the Pieces by L.A. Fiore

Author:L.A. Fiore [Fiore, L.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: L.A. Fiore
Published: 2016-11-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chris Dearly was the barn manager of Hellar Farm. He’d held the position for twenty years. He knew everything about the horses in the Hellar stables. He managed a team of ten grooms and was the main reason Hellar Farm operated as smoothly as it did.

Chris had requested that we meet bimonthly not long after I had started. The meetings usually only lasted about fifteen minutes, but I liked being kept in the loop. The horses worked the trails, injuries happened and often. Not to mention births and deaths. The former always took my breath away, the latter heartbreaking.

“I will see you in two weeks. If anything comes up, you have my cell.”

“Thanks, Sidney.” He leaned back in his chair. “How are you enjoying Wyoming?”

“I love how different it is from home, the people and the landscape. I love that I can drive down a country road and see buffalo.”

“That still turns my head and I’ve been treated to that sight most of my life.”

I glanced at my watch as Chris said, “You’re going riding now, right?”

“Yeah, my first time.”

Surprise moved over his face. “You’ve never been on a horse?”

“No.” And I had hoped not to be climbing on one now, but Rylee, Duncan and Jayce made a great tag team.

“You don’t know what you’re missing. Jayce is a show off, but he’s a great guide and he’ll put you on someone easy. Crème Brûlée or Angel Food Cake would be good.”

“Actually Duncan’s getting me on the horse.”

“Even better.”

“I still can’t get over that all the females are named after desserts.”

“That was Jayce and Duncan. They started the tradition when they were little and Garrett kept it up.”

“Except Speckled Egg.”

“She’s a princess, so her name doesn’t quite follow the others.”

“Well, the others make me hungry.”

Chris laughed as he rubbed his belly. “How do you think I got this?”

“Good to know. I need to take up running.”

“Ha. Run for me too. Enjoy your ride.”

“Thanks. See ya later.”

Stepping outside, it was hot today but the sky was so blue with not one cloud. I started toward the training paddock; Duncan, Jayce and Rylee would be meeting me there. I couldn’t believe I had let Rylee talk me into this, but she’d been so excited to show me spots only accessible by horseback. I hadn’t gone very far when I heard the sound of voices and followed it to see as Abel and Carly came from around the side of the house. My body tensed in awareness and a bit of jealousy seeing the two of them together. Bitterness was there too since I didn’t understand why he made any overtures to me when he was involved with her—opening me up to the possibility of him only to shut down so thoroughly. And it stung all the more because I had begun to believe they were just friends, but seeing them together I wasn’t so sure. It was moot anyway. I turned to find Duncan waiting for me, standing by the fence looking past me to Abel and Carly.

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