Page 50 of Ethan

Naomi.

She was leaning on the top rail next to Carl, still in her jeans and T-shirt from her ride, her arms folded, watching him with an expression he couldn’t quite read from the saddle.

He pulled Copper up in front of them.

“That was impressive,” Carl said. “What are you asking?”

Ethan glanced at Naomi. She raised an eyebrow just slightly, a small smile at the corner of her mouth.

He looked back at Carl. “Thirty thousand.”

Carl’s expression didn’t change. “That’s a serious number.”

“She’s a serious horse.” Ethan dismounted and ran a hand down Copper’s neck. “She’s placed in the top three at every sanctioned event she’s entered in the last six months. Two firsts, three seconds. Her times are in the top percentile for her age class.” He looked at Carl. “You’re not just buying a trained barrel racer. You’re buying a proven champion.”

Carl was quiet for a moment, his eyes on the mare.

“Who’s been riding her?”

“One of my trainers. Serena McKay.” Ethan handed the reins to Rowdy who’d appeared at his elbow. “She’s been with Copper since the beginning.”

Carl pushed off the rail, walked to the mare, and ran his hands along her legs, checking her feet, looking at her teeth. Copper stood perfectly still and let him.

“Twenty-eight,” Carl said without looking up.

“Twenty-nine five and she’s yours.”

Carl straightened and looked at him for a long moment.

“Done.” He extended his hand.

Ethan shook it.

He glanced over at Naomi. She was still leaning on the rail, arms folded, that small smile still there.

“Not bad,” she said quietly as he walked past her.

“Thank you,” he said, just as quietly.

Carl pulled out his phone, and they exchanged details for the wire transfer, then the older man shook Ethan’s hand one more time and nodded at Naomi.

“Ma’am.” He climbed back in his truck and pulled out of the yard.

Ethan watched him go, then turned around.

Naomi was staring at him.

He looked at her. “What?”

“I had no idea.” She shook her head slowly. “I mean I knew you used to race but watching you out there—” She stopped. “Ethan, you were incredible. The way you moved with her, the turns, the speed.” She tilted her head. “Why did you ever stop?”

“I told you. College.”

“You could have gone back to it.”

The ranch needed me.” He shrugged, but her steady gaze made it hard to sound casual. “It was a long time ago.”

“It didn’t look like a long time ago out there.” She pushed off the rail and walked toward him, stopping close. “You were born to do that.”