“What’s her name?”
“Ginger.”
“Perfect. How long do you have her?”
“One month. The owner wants her exercised daily. You want her today?”
“Are you kidding? Honestly, Silas, I’ve never seen a more beautiful horse since Jo. I can’t imagine what she’s worth. Do you know the owner’s plans?”
“Don’t know anything. Just know we’ve got her for a month. Charlie brought her in last night. He’s managing her for the owner. The instructions are for a basic exercise routine, similar to Dusty.”
“Doesn’t that give you five exercise horses for only four riders?”
“Just hired Becky, a college girl, for the summer to help Willie and Buck with the excursion business. She can ride, and I’m going to put her in the rotation for July.”
Willie walked up and joined the group admiring the new exercise horse.
“Have you seen Becky ride?”
Willie chuckled. “Reminds me of a twenty year old Molly Mack.”
Molly took that as a compliment for both her and Becky. “So you’ve got five exercise horses and five riders.”
“For now. We only have Ginger for the month. Becky will help Willie and Buck get horses and mules ready for back country trips, and I’m going to have her manage the trail ride business. She’ll be busy, but I think it’ll work out. Shall I put you on the books for Ginger today?”
“Yes, please.”
Molly couldn’t take her eyes off the stunning chestnut mare.
It might have been the first day in a month where something occupied her mind more than Bart or the pups. Molly couldn’t stop thinking about Ginger. Her heart had skipped a beat when she’d first seen her. And she’d be riding her that afternoon.
Silas said Charlie had brought her in last night. Charlie was an agent who did business with Mack at the livestock auction. Charlie bought, sold, and managed livestock for professional owners. She toggled through the contacts in her phone until she found his name and pressed call.
“Charlie Frank.”
“Hey, Charlie, Molly McGuire.”
“Molly Omak. To what do I owe this honor?”
“Cut the crap, Charlie.”
Molly heard Charlie chuckling. They were casual friends through horse circles.
“What do you know about the chestnut mare you left at the stables last night?”
“Not much, really. I got a call from an agent in Oregon asking me if he knew a good place in Washington to exercise her for a month. I told her about Silas and Summer’s End, and he said he was sending me a horse that needed boarding and exercise for a month. The agent didn’t blink at the rate. I take it money is no problem.”
“Do you know the owner’s intentions?”
“Not a clue. I could find out. You interested?”
“Maybe. She’s a beauty.”
“My condolences on Jo’s passing.”
“Thanks, Charlie. I’ll know more after I exercise her this afternoon. I was just impressed watching her in the corral.”
“Never seen a more beautiful chestnut, I’ll tell you that.”
