Page 17 of One Wild Chance

“Would’ve been nice to have known that before I almost got kicked,” Jaxon mutters.

“You didn’t ask.” I tilt my head. “She was barely halter-broke when your dad bought her. You need to earn her trust before you put anything on her back.”

“Seems like a horse that green isn’t worth our time,” Jaxon says. “Put her on the list, Grady.”

My gaze darts between the brothers. “What list?”

“Just taking an inventory,” Jaxon says, like it’s nothing. “What to keep, what to sell.”

“You’re thinking of selling her? There’s no way your parents would want that!”

“They’re not here.” Jaxon looks at me like he’d rather get kicked by a few more horses before asking my opinion on the matter. “And nothing’s been decided yet.”

“Your dad bought Rebel because of her bloodline. Her foals could bring in a lot of money at Keeneland.”

“Maybe we should listen to Summer,” Wyatt cuts in.

“You have proof of that?” Jaxon asks.

“I’m sure the auction paperwork is somewhere in the farm office.” I rest a hand on Rebel’s nose, unwilling to let her go without a fight. “But don’t make a snap decision just because your pride took a hit.”

Wyatt barks out a laugh that turns into a cough when his brother cuts him a sharp look.

“I’d like to talk to Earl first about the finances,” Jaxon says. “And the horses.”

“Be my guest,” I say coolly. “But Earl left an hour ago. Once Ada Mae finishes lunch, they go home to rest. He’s seventy-five and was asked to come out of retirement. I think the man’s earned a nap.”

“Then who’s managing the broodmares?” Jaxon asks. “I’ll talk to whoever’s running that operation.”

I step forward. “You’re talking to her. Miriam couldn’t manage the mare barn on top of everything else after your dad died, so she taught me the job.”

He glances at his brothers. “Why didn’t she tell us?”

I fold my arms. “It wasn’t easy for her to ask for help.”

“I’m sure she appreciated you taking over,” Jaxon says, already turning away. “But this is a family matter now. We’ll take it from here.” He starts to walk away.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I follow him, my voice rising. “If you’re making changes, I want to be a part of any decisions with the mares.”

He doesn’t slow down. “My brothers and I need to figure out our plan first. I don’t need your opinion on that.”

I turn to Wyatt for help, but he just shrugs.

Jaxon’s pushing me out of everything. The horses. The farm. Everything I’ve poured my life into.

I throw one hand in the air. “Fine. Suit yourself.”

He stops, and I give him the lead line. “Oh, and Rebel still has the saddle on. You’ll want to take that off before you put her away.” Then I walk out without looking back.

I’m not chasing after a man who won’t listen to me. I know this place and everything in it better than anyone, but I have no legal standing to decide its future. My hands are tied, and Jaxon refuses to acknowledge me when it comes to the farm.

Instead, he’ll go to Earl, and our farm manager will tell him what I could have. Earl might be loyal to his bones, but he doesn’t have the energy for this place anymore. It’s only his love for the Chance family that keeps him and Ada Mae here at all. We desperately need someone who’ll keep the operation from bleeding out slowly, and the only person who can actually do that is Jaxon…which is the most inconvenient truth I’ve had to face in a long time.

I should just step back, let Jaxon publicly fail, and wash my hands of the situation. But I can’t do it. If he goes down, Lucky Chance goes with him.

The only way we could make this work is if he’s willing to see me as an equal. And that’s not happening when he can’t wait to leave.

He made that clear back in high school when the rumors about us began. His friends started talking during lunch, and I was only two tables away.