Horses, Hayrides, And Husbands by Jeanette Lewis

Author:Jeanette Lewis [Lewis, Jeanette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Clean & Wholesome, Bachelor, Single Mother, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Second Chances, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Christian Stories, Faith Based, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Love-Family & Forever, Beautiful & Feisty, Country Brides & Cowboy Boots, Small Town & Rural Area, Western & Cowboy Romance, family life, Billionaire Brother Tycoon, Young Toddler, The Epperson Foundation, Charitable Organization, Clydesdale Wrangler, Animals & Horses, Brother Interferes
Publisher: Gelato Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-09-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Travis and Doug were unloading hay bales, throwing them from the back of the pickup to the stack by the side of the stable, when Duke came around the corner leading Jemima by a rope attached to her bridle. One look at his boss’s face, and Travis knew something was wrong.

“You okay?” he asked, heaving another bale, which landed with a dusty thud onto the others.

Duke wiped his forehead with his free hand. “I just got word the state has shut down the grazing pasture,” he said. Wrinkles of concern splayed from the corners of his eyes.

“What?” Doug said. “Why would they do that?”

“They say they have to do an environmental impact study before they can allow any animals back in there.”

Travis shucked off his leather gloves. “What the heck’s an environmental impact study?”

“I dunno for sure. They have to bring in a bunch of scientists and see if the horses are ruining the land or endangering the native species … something like that.”

Doug snorted. “Ruining the land? By eating grass?”

“Yeah.” Duke shrugged. “Doesn’t make much sense, right?”

“Why now? We’ve been using the pasture for years,” Travis pressed.

“I called the Bureau of Land Management, and the lady there said it’s because a local company filed a petition, that foundation I told you about. They want new legislation passed that will affect federally owned lands, and before any lawmakers can consider it, the EPA requires an impact study.”

“Do you remember which company it is?” Travis demanded.

Duke’s eyes looked thoughtful. “The Epperson Foundation, I believe.”

Travis pulled out his phone and Googled it. The page for the Epperson Foundation came up quickly, and he skimmed through their company statement. “They’re a nonprofit, and they want to return federally owned lands to the states,” he announced.

“By shutting down our pastures?” Doug demanded.

Duke shrugged. “Who knows how things work in Washington … or in Boise, for that matter. Those folks don’t have any idea they’re hurting real people and real animals.” He sighed heavily, then gave each of his workers a direct look. “It sure puts a knot in our rope. Without the pasture grass, we’ll have to buy feed for the horses, and … man, I’m going to have to work the numbers to see if I can afford it,” he said thickly. “I may have to get rid of a few horses.”

Travis’s gaze traveled over the stable where the Clydesdales were waiting for their dinner. He’d been here three years, had helped deliver two of the younger ones, and with any luck, Crooner should be pregnant now. He thought about how Jemima got bossy with the others, how Litton liked to butt him around when he groomed her, how El Diablo took off running the minute he was released to the pasture. His heart clenched. Which ones would they lose?

Doug was on his own phone. “Says here the Epperson Foundation is owned by a guy who won the lottery a few years ago. Hey, I remember that! He won something like a billion dollars.

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