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“What’s wrong?” I ask, hearing the frustration in his voice.
“Remember the foal that was born last night?” he asks.
He texted me yesterday about it. He bought a Friesian mare and had carefully picked the stallion close to eleven months ago. Perry recently bought a small ranch a few miles down the road from ours and brought his mare. She wasn’t supposed to have her foal for another few weeks.
“Shit, don’t tell me she didn’t make it,” I croak and let my ass fall onto the bed.
“She’s still alive. Well, if I can figure out a way to keep her like that because the mare had complications and just died. Fuck,” he snarls and curses before muttering, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you, I just…dammit, what a fuck-up.”
My heart hurts for him. During our daily texts we discussed a lot about his dream to breed Friesian horses. This mare was the bloodline he wanted to start with and this foal is his future. I jump off the bed because this is something I can hopefully fix.
“Sit tight, I’m on my way.” I grab my keys and rush out the door.
I hear him sigh into the phone and I bet he’s questioning my sanity so I let him know, “We’re going to place the foal with a foster mare. We happen to have a nursing mare and I’m gonna load her into the trailer and bring her to you right now.”
“Woman,” he growls into the phone. “You’re a lifesaver. But are you sure it will work?”
“We’re gonna try. Be there soon.” I end the call and jab the screen to find Hudsyn, my president’s, number.
“Hey Ramona, did you seal the deal with Perry?” Hudsyn quips.
“He called to cancel but I’m heading over to his place now. His mare died and he’s got an orphaned foal on his hands.”
Hudsyn curses. “You’re taking Melba?”
“Yes. I’m heading into the stables right–” I stop talking when I get face to face with Hudsyn.
We both tuck away our phones and Hudsyn orders, “Get the trailer ready and I’ll bring Melba out.”
I run toward the truck with the trailer attached behind it and fire it up to turn the trailer around so we can get the horse inside. It takes another twenty minutes before I’m on the road and heading to Perry’s small ranch.
Ten minutes later I’m parking the truck and I see Perry coming out of the stable and walking toward me. “Are you sure this will work?”
I glance over my shoulder at him and my hands freezes on the latch of the trailer. Damn. He texted me a picture of himself but to be confronted with him is something else. His light caramel eyes are touched by a hint of green and so intense. Dark stubble covers his sharp jawline and I can’t see his hair due to the straw cowboy hat but I’m guessing it’s short since it’s not peeking out from underneath it.
I clear my throat and rip my gaze away from staring at him too long because the bulging muscles underneath his tight shirt isn’t where my mind should be. To be honest, I’m getting a little hot under the collar and it’s been months since I’ve felt my body show any interest toward a man.
Of course, I’ve been avoiding male attention like the plague but I now realize I might be ready to experience pleasure. The way my body is reacting to Perry, I’m suddenly curious how it would feel to get his hands on me.
Holy shit, most definitely not what I need right now.
I jump into the trailer and let my hand slide over Melba to reach underneath her. There are many ways to handle the foster process but I’m going with taking some of Melba’s milk and smearing it on the foal to spread the scent. Some smear feces, sweat, or have other methods; the important part is making it work for both foal and mare.
I take my time prepping both to make the meeting go smoothly. Perry and I hold our breath once the foal sees the mare and the two of them get closer. It’s a process that doesn’t simply go right the first time or the second time for that matter. Fostering can take hours or even days.
Melba is a sweet mare we’ve used a few times and she’s always accepted orphaned foals. A smile tugs my lips when after a while the foal nurses from Melba and it’s as if the weight of the world falls off Perry’s shoulders.
The look he gives me is one where there’s wonder laced with gratefulness and respect. He’s standing close and the back of our hands brush against one another. Electricity sparks my skin from the mere touch.
Perry’s massive hand engulfs mine and he gives me a quick squeeze before letting go while he whispers, “Thank you. This. This right here means so damn much to me, I can’t begin to describe how much.”
I squeeze right back. “Let’s make sure she gets through the night so your mare’s bloodline can continue in her daughter.”
“Yeah,” he croaks while he keeps his eyes on the foal and Melba.
I bump my shoulder against his. “Just so you know, I’m not selling her.”
Perry snorts and a small smile tugs his lips. “Sorry we had to reschedule our appointment. Though, I do appreciate you swooping in and saving the day. Hell, you probably saved my whole fucking dream.”
