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ChapterOne
“What are you going to do?” I stared at the mare instead of turning to Brodie Lawson who’d called me to save his ass. After a few minutes in a stare down, where the horse kicked her heel issuing a challenge, I smirked and turned to Brodie.
“I’m gonna get ’em in the trailer and take her with me. Isn’t that why you called?”
Brodie nodded then glanced at the horse. “Yeah but how? I can’t get near her.”
“You’re not me,” I stated with confidence before I turned to the horse again, carefully watching her. “How did you get her here if you can’t get near her.”
In my periphery I noticed him cringe and whipped my head in his direction. “You drugged her, didn’t you?”
“Shit, Wilde, you see her. How else was I gonna get her crazy ass to my ranch?”
“You shouldn’t have brought her here in the first place, so I don’t care, Brodie. Montana is a sixteen-hour drive which means you had to give her some pretty heavy shit to keep her calm.”
Brodie flinched again and I shook my head. “Never mind. You did it so you don’t care. Consider this one mine.”
“Hell no. That horse is worth a lot of money, Wilde. I’m not giving her to you.”
“She’s only worth the money if you can break and breed her. Without me, neither is happening and the only way I can help is if she’s mine.”
“I’ll get someone else to do it.”
I smirked and stared at Brodie. After a long pause he yanked at his Stetson. “You’re not the only one who can break a horse, Wilde.”
“Not the only but certainly the best. I don’t need to breed her but if I decide that’s what I’m gonna do, you’ll get half of what I make.”
“Half?” I glared at Brodie who backed down. “I want that in writing?”
“I’m giving you my word which is just as good as any contract. You know me, Brodie. I do good business.”
“You think stealing my horse and taking profits from breeding is doing good business?”
“Do you think drugging a horse and trying to beat her into submission is good business? If I let that get out, anybody with half a heart won’t sell to you.”
Breeders with good track records would never sell a quality horse to anyone who would abuse them. I didn’t have to tell Brodie that.
“Alright, half of any profits.” He extended a hand which I accepted and shook.
“How long before you decide…”
I yanked a pair of gloves from my pockets and walked toward the corral. “Don’t know. We have ’til spring to think about that. Get the paperwork ready while I get her in the trailer.”
When I reached the gated entrance, I locked eyes with the mare and slowly unhinged the lock, stepping inside the corral. She blew air through her nostrils in a snorted huff and kicked her heels in challenge again. Her message was clear.
Don’t come near me or you get what you get and it won’t be good.
“You’re not the first or the last. Bring it,” I said gruffly, yanking on my gloves one by one. The horse was saddled. Brodie had been trying his best to ride my new friend with the hopes of avoiding a call to me. He should have known better.
“You don’t like it here do you, old girl?”
The horse tossed her head and kicked her heels once more while I moved cautiously toward her. I lifted one hand, turning my palm up, and she dropped her head just a bit.
“I’m not gon’ hurt, ya. You can relax.” I glanced at my trailer near the gate. She followed my line of sight like she knew what I was thinking and went wild. She kicked and lifted, landing a hoof inches from my shoulder. I stumbled back and landed on my ass, rolling out the way just in time to avoid another hoof to the head.
I was quick enough to jump to my feet, watching as the horse shuffled and lifted again. “Son of a bitch.”
“Told you she was a wild one,” Brodie stated from somewhere behind me. “You sure you can handle this?”
