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“I’m out,” the other called.
“Now,” Ally said as I called out, “Four.”
A curse. “Four-two.”
“Five.” My voice rang out clearly and I turned to see whether the other bidder would meet the bid.
When he shook his head, I bit my lip, holding back my grin until I heard the magic, “Sold for five gs! Congratulations, sir. See Tom over here for paperwork and payment details.”
We signed it up and I was given the bank account details so I could put the transfer through. I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face, beyond ecstatic that Daisy was mine. When we’d finished up, I went straight back to her, only to be met by the man I’d outbid.
“She’s a beautiful one, mate. Good bidding.” He held his hand out and I shook it. “Congratulations.” The booklet in his other hand caught my attention. Specifically, the horse on the back cover. My heart lodged in my throat. My belly swooped and the breath I sucked in was harsh.
“Hey, mate, that horse—” I rasped, my voice rough, as I pointed to the auction brochure “—is it here?”
“Yeah, over in the back corner. He’s the last lot to be auctioned. About to go up now. Unique colouring, ay?”
“I gotta go,” I yelled to Ally, already moving. “That horse. I need to see it.” I sprinted, dodging between people. Pushing my way through bodies, tripping and staggering around them. Side-stepping and crashing into a fence or two when the bystanders moved in a way I didn’t expect. Pulling oxygen into my lungs, I pumped my legs harder in an open stretch of pens.
My heart beat hard and sweat beaded my brow.
Then I saw the boundary fence. The last lot.
I skidded to a halt.
People were everywhere.
The bids were coming in hard and fast. Five hundred dollar increments at six grand already.
“S’cuse me. Comin’ through. Watch out. Sorry.” I pushed through everyone to get to the front.
It was her. Eadie.
But it couldn’t have been.
The horse was male—a gelding. But his colouring was unmistakeable. I’d only seen one other horse with a snow-white coat on most of its body, except for its dark brown neck and head. There was no transition in colour between the patches. It was as if it had been dipped in paint, the colours a stark difference.
I looked up and it was like a punch to the gut. The name on the sign was no longer Hayes Horse Farm, but the logo—the two horses with flapping manes and rolling hills in the background, the green and brown colouring—was the same. Exactly as it had been a decade earlier when we’d been forced to leave.
This horse was Eadie’s offspring. Who knew if Eadie was still alive? It was possible. She’d be nearly thirty, but it wasn’t unheard of for horses to live to forty. Still, I didn’t have time to find out. On impulse, I yelled, “Eight.”
The crowd buzzed and I sucked in a breath waiting for the response. “Eight-five.”
“Ten.” I only had one more bid left in me, and my bank account would be completely cleared out. I squeezed my eyes closed and for the first time in my life, prayed.
“Move,” I heard muttered behind me with grumbling in response. Ally.
The auctioneer was trying to ramp up excitement, droning on in a ramble I barely understood.
She shouldered up next to me and grabbed my elbow. I didn’t know what she saw. Whether it was panic, determination, hope, or the inevitable crushing defeat I knew was coming when I was outbid.
“Eleven,” the man behind me roared and the crowd cheered. My shoulders sank, the fight gone out of me. I couldn’t beat it. I didn’t have anything more. I closed my eyes and sucked in a breath, fighting back tears. Damn it. I needed this for Sam. He needed it. Why couldn’t I do it for him. Why now? Why not before I’d bid for Daisy.
“Fifteen,” Ally called out.
My head shot up and she smiled, just a small tilt of her lips, but it was radiant. And I was screwed. I may have promised Sam that we’d both keep our hands off her, but I’d fallen hard.
“Fifteen-five.”
