Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series) (32 page)

After coming back from California, the cold got to me. I mean, it was chilly before Thanksgiving break, but after enjoying the nicer weather in Santa Barbara, it was like the temperatures had gone done twenty, thirty degrees.

The week went by with a little less problem. Phoebe and I hung out after our classes, Jonah didn’t bother me as much, I didn’t see Audrey anywhere, and only six guys asked me out.

Friday evening, I was able to stay away from the ranch and pretend to study. After all, final exams were coming. Saturday morning was another story though. I was able to ignore the voice inside me begging me to go to the ranch, imploring me to go ride at least for ten minutes, but it was too painful. I had to go.

I stopped by Starbucks and grabbed the usual breakfast, including Garrett’s favorites, though I hoped he was off today. However, when I arrived there and Tom told me Garrett was indeed off, I wasn’t ready for the sharp pang in my heart. All right, I was, but I preferred to think I wasn’t. I shouldn’t have been.

Tom opened the lid of the travel cup, lifted it close to his face, and inhaled. “Ah, paradise.”

I chuckled, patting Midnight’s head. He had stuck his head out of his stall the moment I set foot inside the stable. Such a sweet horse.

“How’s he doing?” I asked. I hadn’t seen him since the accident, and I hadn’t had any news since I stopped talking to Garrett two weeks ago. Midnight had a soft cast around his ankle and moved slowly.

“Better, but he still takes pain meds, and needs lots of rest. He won’t be able to be ridden again for a couple of months.”

“Has Delilah spent time with him?”

He snorted. “Right. Because that’s just like her. Of course, she didn’t. She hasn’t even looked at him since the accident.” He adjusted his hat. “In fact, she doesn’t want to see him anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“She asked Garrett to sell Midnight.”

I gasped. “What? Garrett can’t do that.”

“He doesn’t have a choice. Mr. Hudson approved Delilah’s request, so now Garrett is looking for a buyer.”

No, no way. What if he was sold to a bad owner, worse than Delilah? What if he ended up with an owner like Argus’s previous one, who beat him and let his dogs bite him? I hoped they checked the background of whoever offered on him. My heart squeezed.
Meu Deus
, Midnight would be gone soon and I couldn’t bear the thought.

Which was ridiculous because I was leaving too.

The will to ride faded. All I wanted to do was spend my day with Midnight. Without a word to Tom or an offer to help, I grabbed a brush from the tack room and entered Midnight’s stall. I brushed his coat and he nickered.

“Do you like it, big boy?”

He nickered again and I smiled. When I turned to brush his neck, he poked his muzzle on my arm. “I missed you too.” I wound my arms around his neck and rested my cheek on his soft coat. “I’ll miss you.”

I sighed, still not believing Delilah was so cruel. How could she sell him after all he went through? She was throwing him away as if he was a piece of trash and that infuriated me. I hoped she didn’t show up here today, because only God knew what I would do to her. With all the pent up rage inside me, this was the cherry on top, and I would certainly explode in her face.

“You really like this horse,” Tom said.

I glanced over my shoulder. He still stood behind the stall’s closed door.

I smiled. “I do.”

“And he likes you just as much.” He tsked. “I don’t understand. Garrett and I have been here, giving him attention since he was born. Why would he prefer you, a newcomer, to us?”

Garrett had posed a similar question a couple of months ago. I shrugged. “There’s no way to explain how two people, or an animal and a person, connect. I guess it’s just like when you fall in love. You don’t choose the person you fall in love with. It just happens.”

He tilted his head at me. “Have you ever been in love?”

I frowned. “I don’t think so. I had a boyfriend in Brazil, but we broke up when I came to live in the U.S. I thought I would miss him too much, but the truth was, I didn’t.” He nodded. “How about you?” I asked.

“I had a wife, but she died of breast cancer a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry. No kids?”

He shook his head. “We had plans, but the sickness took us by surprise.”

When didn’t it?

“I’m sorry,” I repeated.

“It’s okay. I miss her, but it has been so long, I guess I’m used to being myself.”

Nobody should be used to being alone. Not that being alone wasn’t okay. It certainly was. However, a person was made to love and be loved.

The sound of tires rolling over the parking lot pavement caught our attention. Tom walked to the door and spied.

“It’s Delilah. You better get out of there.”

I shook my head and stood my ground. “I won’t. She wants to sell him, which means she doesn’t care about him. If she tries to bitch at me about it, I swear I might punch her.”

A smile split Tom’s mouth. “I would love to see that.”

Delilah marched inside the stable holding her head high. “Tom, where’s the list Garrett made of potential bu—” Her eyes shifted from him to me and her words died. Her body tensed. “What are you doing in there?”

I continued brushing Midnight. “Giving attention to
your
horse.”

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from him?”

I snapped my head to her. “Now you’re authoritarian? Weren’t you just asking about his buyers?”

She crossed her arms. “That’s none of your business.”

“Then let me be.”
Before I break your pretty nose too.

Tom appeared by her side with a sheet of paper. “Here it is,” he said, his eyes darting from her to me and back to her.

She ripped the paper from his hands and huffed. Without another word, she tossed her hair aside and marched out of the stable.

I gaped at Tom. “What a bitch.”

Tom shrugged. “What else is new?”

***

After a restless night, I woke up on Sunday with a heavy heart.

Molly was passed out on her bed, so I got ready in silence and left the room. I exited the dorm building and sat on the front stairs. It was only eight in the morning—seven in Cali—but hopefully she would be awake.

The phone rang three times before she picked up.

“Bia, hi, girl,” Hannah answered with an energetic voice. “What are you doing up so early on a Sunday? Didn’t you party until late last night?”

I snorted. “Yeah, right.”

“Why not?”

“I had a big paper to work on,” I lied. Better than telling her the truth. “And why are you this chipper so early?”

“Leo and I just came back from a ride with Argus and Minuano. And later, I’m taking Preta for a run. She misses you.”

“I miss her too.” I had just seen her last week, but it felt like an entire year. “But she’s well, right?”

“Yeah. She really likes Argus, and even Minuano has been nice to them.”

I laughed. Horses could be so temperamental. “I’m glad she’s well.”

“But you already knew that. I mean, it’s not as if I’ll let her not be well. And if she weren’t well, you would be the first to know. So, since you knew she was well, I’m guessing this call is about something else.”

“It is.”

“Should I be worried?”

I laughed. “Not really.”

“All right. Then tell me.”

I took a deep breath. “I need a favor from you, and a favor from Leo.”

***

“Here is your continental breakfast.” I placed the tray and the brown bag on Tom’s desk.

After hanging up the phone with Hannah, I drove to Starbucks, then to the ranch in record time.
Graças a Deus
, there was no cops along the way, because I was sure I had gone over the speed limit.

Tom looked up from the check he was filling out. “Hmm, it smells so good.”

“Great.” I spied out the door. “Is Garrett here?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Tom pulled a donut out of the bag. “What’s up with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You look …” He waved his hand as if trying to find a word.

I smiled. “Excited? Happy? Crazy?”

“All of the above.”

“I guess I am all of the above.” I fished my phone from my pocket and found Garrett’s name on my contact list.

He answered on the second ring. “Hi.”

“Where are you?”

“Um, at the round pen with Delilah’s new horse.” His tone was flat. “Why?”

“Didn’t you see me arriving?”

He paused. “I did.”

“I brought coffee and cinnamon scones.”

“I’m not hungry.”

I sighed. “Garrett, please drag your butt here. I need to tell you something.”

“I’m busy right n—”

“It’s important and it won’t take five minutes. I’m sure Delilah’s horse can take a quick break.”

He sighed. “Be right there.”

Smiling, I pressed the end button.

Tom was looking at me with a concerned frown. “I don’t remember seeing you this excited before.”

“I haven’t felt this excited in a long time,” I admitted.

“Girl, you’re making me nervous. Sit down, please.”

I rolled my feet from the hell to my toes and back. “I can’t sit down.”

“Can I ask what you want to tell Garrett?”

“I’ll tell you once he’s here.” I winked.

“Okay, I’m worried. Did you go out last night? Did you drink from someone else’s cup? Because, you know, you look high.”

I laughed. “Tom, you’re funny.”

Heavy footfalls entered the stables and I tried to hold still. Garrett appeared under the doorframe, his face serious, the muscles in his neck tense. What bit him?

“I’m here,” he said, his voice strained. “What is it?”

I bit my lip to suppress the squeal I wanted to let out. “Okay, are you two ready?”

Tom groaned. “Say it, Bia!”

“I want to buy Midnight,” I blurted out.

Garrett’s eyes bulged. “What?”

“Aren’t you trying to sell him?”

“Yes, but …”

“I’ll be the buyer.”

Tom chuckled. “That’s great.”

Garrett didn’t share our enthusiasm though. “Why?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why do you want to buy him?”

“Because I like him? Actually, I love him. I want that horse.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Jeez, Garrett, you look happy for Midnight. And me.”

“It’s just—”

“Just tell me your price. Let’s negotiate.”

“He’s very expensive.”

“Good for you. My family has plenty of money and a huge love for horses, especially expensive ones.” I grabbed the coffee I had bought for him and pushed it toward him. “Here, let’s celebrate.”

He stared at it for a moment. Then he took the cup, a half-smile on his lips. “Let’s celebrate.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Garrett and Delilah left for her competition Monday morning. I would probably not be all over their itinerary if Tom hadn’t messaged me each new thing he learned.

Tom:
They arrived.

A couple of hours later:

Tom:
Garrett says Golden Racer is nervous. This is his first competition.

The next day:

Tom:
Delilah didn’t score well on the first showing.

On Wednesday:

Tom:
They just had a big fight. Why don’t you call him? I think he listens to you.

Right, because all he needed now was to hear my voice. No. I kept out of it. On Friday, I didn’t even read his texts anymore. I just deleted them.

My plan to keep my head down and only go where I really needed to go was working. Students weren’t pointing at me and whispering as much as they used to. Even the rate of the guys halting in my way and asking me out diminished.

I used my free, alone time to research colleges around Santa Barbara. Some didn’t have pre-vet, but they had biology and chemistry, which could be used as a pre-vet major. I ended up applying for five different places. I hoped to be accepted into at least one; otherwise, I didn’t know what I would do. I didn’t want to stay here anymore and I didn’t want to waste another semester waiting for the time to apply again. Although, I knew it was a close call. Applying in December to start in January? Only with lots of luck. Still, it was all I had.

On Thursday night, I wasn’t in the mood, but Phoebe dragged me to her dorm—her roommate was out on a date. She made loads of popcorn and put on some chick flick for us to watch. Even though I cried at the end when the couple finally declared their undying love for each other, it was good being out and doing something with a girlfriend.