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“Care to give me details?”
“Not right now, and is that Ben?” she asked, nodding towards a husky older man heading their way.
“Howdy, you must be Bailey Martin,” he called out before Rick could respond. “Hey, Rick. I wasn’t expectin’ to see you. How was the ride this mornin’? ”
“Can’t complain. I walked away with an eighty-six.”
“That’s great. You’ve got a good chance at Show Champion, but that’s nothin’ new for you. Nice to meet you, Bailey. That’s Curly, the horse you’ve come to see,” he continued, gesturing towards the paint. “But you don’t look like you’re dressed for sittin’ in a saddle.”
“I have my riding jeans in my bag. I’ll watch, and if I think I want to try him I’ll get changed.”
“Sounds like a plan. What would you like to see him do first?”
“Just transitions to start with.”
“Sure. Millie,” he shouted, waving to the girl on the horse. “Put him through his gaits.”
Leaning against the rail, Bailey pretended to pay attention while Rick and Ben chatted. Though she had no interest in buying the handsome horse, she waited until the girl finished and walked up to them.
“Would you like to get on,” Ben asked, “or watch him around the barrels?”
“He’s beautiful, but he looks bigger than sixteen hands.”
“Nope. Put the measurin’ stick against him and he’s right at sixteen, but he’s solid, that’s for sure.”
“By any chance do you have any mares?”
“I have a couple. They’re western pleasure horses.”
“Can I see them? You don’t have to tack them up or anything.”
“You’re not lookin for a racer?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. “Claire thought you were.”
“I am, but I’m also interested in a pleasure horse. I don’t mind which I find first.”
“Come into the barn. These girls are showy and easy goin’, and they’re not as heavily built as Winston. Not as expensive either.”
“Thanks, I’d love to look at them.”
As they started walking towards the barn, she took a long, deep breath. No matter how many times she’d gone through the drill it never failed to make her pulse race. Stepping out of the sun and into the cool barn, she slowed her step and looked around. The aisle was swept, every door had a halter looped around the blanket bar, and glancing into the stalls, she found them clean and well bedded.
“You have a really nice place, Ben.”
“Thanks, it’s a labor of love. This here is Sadie, and next to her is Belle. They’re not out in the paddocks because someone’s comin’ to look at them in a little while. Would you like me to bring them out?”
“Are all the horses here for sale?” she asked, purposely avoiding the question.
“Not all of them. Some we’re still evaluatin’, others are privately owned and board here, and we have our own of course.”
“Would it be okay if I walked over to your paddocks and looked over the fences? I have this thing about watching horses in their natural environment.”
“It’s true,” Rick interjected. “She made me stop as we drove up here.”
“I didn’t make you,” she said, turning to face him. “I asked, and you were kind enough to pull over for me.”
“Knock yourself out,” Ben said with a grin, pointing down the aisle. “Just walk through the back of the barn down there and you’ll see the fields off to your left.”
“Great, thanks. Do you want to join me, Rick?”
