Page 40 of The Rancher

Ray stared at her, then smiled. “I’m going to Denver for the day. See Will if you need anything.”

She nodded. “I will. Have a safe trip.”

“I intend to.” He left her with Junebug as he walked out of the barn.

Lyris watched him go. The more time she spent with Ray, the closer she felt to him. She knew without a doubt that she loved him, but didn’t know what in the world to do about it.

Had he really given up on them, or was he just letting her have the space he thought she needed? Maybe he realized that pushing her wasn’t the right way to get her to agree to their being in a relationship. Is that what she wanted? Was she ready to try again, even though she’d been so set against it? Kevin had done a bang-up job of crushing her heart, but was she missing out on the best thing to ever happen to her because she was afraid?

Ray walkedinto the offices of Jacoby Enterprises. He was buying a racehorse for Lyris. He and Jacoby had been doing some business as of late. Breeding different mares with their best stallions. Stormchaser was the stallion most in demand for Ray. Even though he’d only placed second in the last race, his bloodline was impeccable.

He walked up to the desk where a young woman sat. “Ray Kincaid to see Martin Jacoby.”

“Oh, yes, sir. I’m to show you right in.” She stood and walked through a bank of cubicles to the door at the end. She knocked lightly and then opened the door. “Mr. Jacoby. Mr. Kincaid to see you.”

A man in a blue pinstriped suit sat behind a large mahogany desk. He stood when Ray entered.

“Ray. Good to see you.” He walked over and extended his hand.

Ray shook it. “Good to see you, too, Martin. I have to get back to the ranch, but I wanted to finish our transaction today.”

“Yes, of course. That little colt you’re buying will be spectacular, I feel it in my bones.” He pulled out a folder from his lower left hand desk drawer and opened it. “Here we go. One horse, known as Rarin’ To Go, sold to Whispering Wind Ranchfor the sum of $100,000. All you need to do is give me your cashier’s check and I’ll sign this over to you.”

Ray pulled an envelope from inside his suit coat pocket and handed it over.

Martin opened it, confirmed the check was for the correct amount and then signed the bill of sale with a flourish. After that he put it in the folder and handed that to Ray. “You’ll find all the documentation in there. He’s already registered.”

“Thank you, Martin. I’ll have a trailer pick him up tomorrow.”

“Perfect. I hope he grows into a Triple Crown winner.”

Ray chuckled and stood. “You and me both, my friend.” He accepted the folder with his left hand and then extended his right to Martin.

The men shook.

Ray took the paperwork and headed out of the office. When he returned to his 2025 Mustang GTD, he set the folder on the passenger seat, buckled up and headed back to the ranch. Would Lyris take his gift or throw it back in his face? Whichever, he wasn’t giving up.

Marissa shudderedas the man beside her slept in her bed. She might sleep with him, but she wasn’t about to endure scratchy motel sheets. Not when she had 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton on her bed.

Ted wasn’t an unattractive man, he had a great body from working hard around a ranch, but that wasn’t enough. He wasn’t rich, and he wasn’t Scott. But Ted could do what she couldn’t…keep Ray out of the races. His horses were better than hers—faster, better trained, and were ridden by a better jockey. So,she was here, selling herself. And she hated herself for it, but she didn’t know any other way to get the things done that she needed.

Ted had access to the horses and their feed. As soon as she could she’d cut him loose without a backward glance.

“Mornin’ darlin’,” he drawled as he reached over and tried to tug her close.

She’d had enough but couldn’t very well tell him that. “Mornin’ yourself, handsome.” He never seemed to tire of being calledhandsome. “I have to get up. I have early morning appointments. You need to make yourself scarce.”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about that. I think I should start living here.”

She cocked a brow. “And why ever would you think that?”

“Well, I figure, after we’re married?—”

Marissa jumped out of bed. “Married? Who mentioned anything about getting married?”

He crossed his arms underneath his head. “That’s the natural progression of these things. When two people fall in love?—”

She started laughing. “Love! You think we’re in love, just because you’ve slept with me a few times?”