Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“We need to swing by my folks’ place. Mom and Dad aren’t back from Las Vegas, and I need to make sure Lady is stable.”
“Have you called Lily?” Josh asked.
Lily was my sister and was married to Maverick, who worked as a horse trainer for my mother and father. He was more of a horse whisperer, working on the more troubled horses. They lived in the small house on the back of my parents’ spot on the ranch. I knew they would ensure everything was in order, but I wanted to swing by and check myself.
“I did, no answer. She and Mav might be rounding in the horses; I’m not sure. I tried to text Maverick also and no reply from him either. Lady is afraid of thunder if left out to pasture. It doesn’t seem to bother her when she is stabled for some reason.”
“That horse is one of the strangest horses I’ve ever known.” Josh laughed. “Does Haven still come and ride her?”
I nodded even though he wasn’t looking at me. The rain was coming down so hard it was hard to see even with the wipers going at top speed.
“Yeah, at least once a week, according to my mother and Lily.”
We drove silently for a moment before Josh said, “I think they’re getting close to getting the loan sorted. Haven and Sophia aren’t happy with the contractor, though.” He glanced out the window up at the sky as if he could see anything. “If we keep getting rain like this, they won’t break ground anytime soon.”
“I’m surprised they’re not waiting until after winter to start on it.”
“They’ve still got some time to get things done, and according to the girls, they want to be open by late spring or early summer.”
“Makes sense,” I replied.
Josh’s girlfriend, Sophia, was partners with Haven. Originally, she was going to work as Haven’s assistant, where she would do administrative tasks, which she does now, but after hearing Haven’s plans to open a dog park, she was on board and offered to be her partner. Haven jumped at the chance to have Sophia on board, and both women were a force to be reckoned with. Currently, Haven runs a dog walking service where she picks up dogs in a van and brings them to locations where she can let them all off-leash and walk. She does that twice a day, five days a week. And when she isn’t doing that, she volunteers either at the animal shelter or helping out with displaced animals. She had also placed a few horses with my mother and father in hopes that they, Lily, or Maverick, could help them so they could be adopted.
Josh looked out the windshield again. “It’s crazy how fast this rain is coming down.”
“I have a feeling we’re going to have a crazy winter.”
“Yeah, I do as well. We could use the snow, though, after the little bit of rain we got last spring and this past summer. Plus, last winter was pretty mild.”
I nodded once again. Before we pulled down the drive that would lead to my parents’ part of the ranch, Lily called.
“Hey, sorry for the delay. We’re good here. Haven was able to get Lady into her stall.”
My heart dropped. “Haven? She’s there?”
“Yeah, she was here before the storm moved in and offered to help us. It’s crazy cause once Lady knew Haven was here, she wouldn’t have anything to do with me or Maverick.”
I smiled. “Sounds about right. So, you guys are all good? You don’t need me and Josh to help with anything, right?”
“We’re good. I’m trying to convince Haven to stay until the storm clears up some, but she’s insisting she needs to head on out.”
I frowned. “Sounds like her. Stubborn as a mule.”
Josh laughed, clearly knowing I was talking about Haven.
“We’re heading back to the main barn to ensure everything is battened down. If you need anything, give me a call.”
“Sounds good. Thanks, Nate. I love you.”
“Love you too, sis.”
I hit End and looked out the passenger window. I couldn’t see shit with the rain coming down in sheets, but my mind was swirling with thoughts of Haven. What in the hell was she thinking being out in this storm? They said it was going to be bad, with even some flooding expected with how fast it was coming down.
“What are you huffing about over there?” Josh asked as he pulled up to the main barn and parked next to our cousin Hunter’s truck.
Hunter and Blayze were brothers, and Uncle Brock’s only two sons. Their sister, Morgan, didn’t live on the ranch and instead lived with her husband, Ryan, on their ranch where they raised and trained horses. To say the entire family ran the ranch was an understatement. All the grandkids lived on the ranch except for Morgan and Rose. Josh and I technically didn’t live on the ranch, but we purchased land that butted up to the ranch when we received our trust fund from our grandparents. Every acre was then incorporated into the original ranch. Just like everyone else, Josh and I had our allotted acres of the ranch.