Fan Girl (35 page)

Sean comes out of the house, locking it behind him with a small Australian shepherd at his side. I open my trunk for him to put his bags in and he tells me they have to get the feed, then we can go. I’m completely overwhelmed with the amount of animals I’ve just acquired. I hope I don’t get divorced over this.

Three hours later I meet a wide-eyed Nola at the gates. I called her on the drive over, and Della dropped her off when we got close. Nola jumps in the truck like she’s met the boys before, and we get to the house.

When we pull up, everyone piles out next to the toy garage and the dog and cat get out to sniff around their new home.

Nola comes over to me. “Well, you said you were going to get a horse Ali! What happened?”

I shrug helplessly. “The new owner was abusing the horse at the show. He offered to sell it all for probably half of what everything costs. The boys jumped on it, and I went along. Really, the man was beating the horse with a whip, I couldn’t leave them.”

She hugs me, seeing my distress, and says she’s going to make sandwiches since we didn’t eat lunch. The boys start unloading the horses and get them into stalls. You can hear all the horses in the barn slurping water like crazy. It is so hot. All of them come off of the trailer drenched in sweat. The goats go into another stall, and George is left to roam. He immediately comes to me and sits, panting at my feet.

I rub his ears absently from the fold out chair the boys set up in the shade. Nola comes back with a gallon of sweet tea and sandwiches for everyone. She also brings Deklan.

He walks through the stalls and Misty takes the opportunity to stick her head out just as he passes. He lunges to the side and yells, “Whoa! What the fuck?” I get up and stand by him.

I swallow before beginning. “Babe.”

He turns to me with eyebrows high.

I laugh weakly. “Happy Birthday.”

“What is all this?” he asks me.

“Well, I went to the county fair to get you a horse today, and when I got there I noticed the Gypsy Vanner halter show had just started. I thought I would see if Hettie and Mickey wanted to sell again before talking to anybody else. Jonny and Sean were in the stands, and it turns out the O’Brien’s passed away a month ago, leaving the horses to their son, who is a prick by the way. Sonny was terrified of him and after the show, Donald picked up a crop and started wailing on Sonny for no reason! He offered to sell me everything, the boys said it was a good deal and here we are.”

He looks at me with his hands on his hips for a long minute. Then he points over his shoulder. “That’s not Sonny.”

I nod and forge ahead. “Turns out they have more than the horses we knew about.”

He looks down at the dog beside me that’s leaning on my leg. “How much more?”

“Six horses, three goats, two dogs, a barn cat and two stable hands?” I say it like a question, hoping he won’t be mad.

He looks around, taking in all of the activity of the boys unloading the feed from the truck with a dog trailing behind them. “At least you got the boys in the bargain. They’re living upstairs right?”

I nod cautiously. “So you got me a ranch for my birthday?” he sums up.

“Are you mad? I didn’t know what else to do.”

He shakes his head. “Is this all legal?”

I shrug. “I wrote a bill of sale that we all signed and took pictures of. I already emailed my lawyer and Donald’s. I haven’t heard back yet.”

He finally puts his arms around my shoulders and pulls me to him. I sigh in relief and hug him around his waist. He says into my hair, “You don’t do anything halfway, do you?” I laugh and push him back. He smiles and says he’s going to help the guys.

After all the animals are settled, we take the boys up to the apartment and show them the place. They look around wide-eyed at the newly renovated space that’s a big, open floor plan and is now beautiful. We sit at the table and Jonny starts. “When we got to the farm after the Ag fair, the O’Brien’s let us have their spare bedroom, and we worked the animals. Their set up wasn’t the best, but they loved the beasties. That’s all they needed. About a month after we were there, the couple started buying things, like the truck and trailer. Brand new, paid cash. I asked Mickey, he said he couldn’t take his money with him so he was going to enjoy what it could buy him.”

Sean takes over. “Two months later, they weren’t in the kitchen at breakfast. Hettie always made breakfast and was up with the sun. We waited until around nine o’clock before going to their room. They had passed in the night, side by side. We called the lawyer on the fridge and told him what happened. The O’Brien’s had everything planned and paid for already, of course. Donald flew out for the funeral and the lawyer said it was all left to him, except the remainder of their checking account, which went to us.”

Jonny picks it back up. “We were shocked, of course. There was a little more than ten thousand dollars left. It was supposed to be our wages, and I don’t think they thought Donald would pay us.”

Deklan asks, “Why didn’t they call me? I would have bought the horses.”

Sean shakes his head. “They lost your number. Hettie washed Mickey’s jeans, and it had your information in them. When Donald came, we knew he wasn’t going to keep the horses. He hates them, but I think he wanted to prove he was as good as his parents. He left everything to us, stayed away, except when he wanted to practice for the show today.”

Jonny says, “He would take them out to train for the liberty class and always went with a whip. The first time he was out, we heard Cher shrieking. I’ve never heard such a terrified sound. He was out there in the round pen, whipping her over and over because she wouldn’t move around unless he did. They weren’t trained like that. I don’t think they even knew what they were for. We tried to intervene, and he said he would fire us if we didn’t stay out of it. They were his property. That brings us to today.”

Deklan and I both take deep breaths and are quiet for a long time as we absorb this. “So what now?” Deklan asks.

Sean leans forward earnestly. “We’d like to be under your employ. We take care of the grounds and animals, and you can pay us whatever you’d like. We just really want to stay with the horses, if possible. The goats are good for milk, and the cat will keep the rodents away. Tess the Aussie has sort of adopted Jonny and I, and I think George has taken a liking to you, Ali. Tomorrow we can get the U-Haul, load up everything, and bring it here.” They both look at us uncertainly and I look to Deklan, too.

He’s stroking his chin, thinking for a long minute, then tells them, “Sounds like a plan. I can come out with you tomorrow. If you’ll keep up with mowing the grass around the house and upkeep with the animals, we can make this work. It saves me from having to hire someone, since I’m not here consistently all the time. I’ll set up a business account for you to order feed and the supplies you will need. The stalls need shavings.”

The boys and I sigh in relief. Sean and Jonny stand up to shake our hands and are smiling huge.

I stand up and ask them, “You don’t happen to have a cousin or someone who would be willing to move here to work do you?” All of the men in the room turn to me.

Sean asks, “What kind of work do you need, Miss Ali?”

“Please don’t call me Miss anything, I’m just Ali. And we need a housekeeper.”

I look to Deklan, and he’s nodding. “Ali can’t keep up with a house this big, and she’s going to be having the baby soon. I was going to call an agency this week.”

Jonny and Sean look at each other and shrug. Jonny turns to me. “Me mum has wanted to come to America. She doesn’t have anyone left in Ireland since I left. Me dad passed 'round five years back. We were going to fly her out, soon as we got the horses settled.”

“Sounds perfect, when do you think she can get here? I’ll set up the business account tomorrow, so you can buy her ticket with that. Don’t use your money.”

I really do love my husband. He’s being so flexible with all of this. Nola knocks on the door as we get ready to leave. Jonny lets her in and takes the bags that are loading down her arms. “There’s no food in the fridge yet. I went to the farmer’s market to hold you over a few days until you can make a trip.”

Sean startles her by hugging her tight. “Thank you, Miss Nola. That was right thoughtful of ye.”

She waves this away. “What would you eat in the morning? I just had the time is all. Why doesn’t every one take showers and wash this day away, then come up to the house. I have dinner in the crock pot waiting, whenever you’re ready.”

The boys thank her profusely, and we all split to clean up. As Deklan and I take showers side by side I tell him, “Thank you so much for not freaking out. I had no idea any of this would happen.” He rubs my shoulders. “You did good, baby. I would have done the same thing. I just hate that you were out in the heat all day. I thought you were going to be in the cool air, shopping.”

“We need to get fans tomorrow. I can do that if you’re going with the boys. I’ll call the lawyer too, and figure out what to do with titles and all that.”

Chapter 36

The next morning we wake up early and go outside to do yoga in the backyard again. Halfway through, we hear hooves pounding. Both Deklan and I straighten and look toward the front pasture to see six horses running in a herd around the grounds. Even with their hair bound, it’s a beautiful site with fog swirling around them and dew on the grass. Deklan pulls my back to his front as we watch them. “You did good, baby. Thank you,” he says softly.

My heart melts. “I’m going to take pictures of this as soon as possible.”

He nods his head in agreement.

When they calm and start grazing on the grass, Sean comes to us holding a pitcher. “Milk for your breakfast.”

“Can we drink it like that?” I ask skeptically.

He nods his head. “Oh, yes. I’ve already strained it, it’s just a little warm yet.”

Deklan takes it, and we walk back toward the house. On the ottoman on the patio George is laying down. “Oh Georgie, did you sleep there last night?” I ask him.

He looks at me and wags his tail. Deklan pats his leg. “Come on, George. Let’s get you some breakfast too.”

~

I get to the co-op in town with George right when they open and buy them out of industrial ceiling fans. I also get four extra-large doggie doors, two dog beds, bowls, leashes and collars. I also ask the cashier about who I can call to get shavings for my horse stalls. He asks if I live in Los Rancheros, then tells me they have their own mini magazine with all of the information on the businesses in the neighborhood. I just have to go to the gate and sign up for it.

I head there next, and it’s already sweltering. I sign up for the magazine at the visitor’s office, and they give me this month’s issue. I tell them about the co-op coming to deliver my fans. After that, I sit in the car and leaf through all of the farm ads and ranch services until I find wood shaving deliveries. I call and set up a truckload to be delivered tomorrow morning, then text the boys and let them know.

George hasn’t left my side since he woke up this morning, so I decide to take him to work. He can sleep under my counter at my station. On the way to work I call my lawyer and ask him to call Donald’s lawyer to get the money transferred, and he tells me he’ll call right away. I’m heading into Shell, surrounded by paparazzi, when my phone rings. I juggle the dog leash, my purse, and my phone to get to the door.

My lawyer says the other guy accepted payment and was told by his client anything that’s left in the house will be put in an estate sale, so I text the boys and tell them to take what they want. When I finally look up at my employees, they’re locked on my left ring finger. Michelle shrieks. “You eloped?!”

I sigh. I forgot the paparazzi probably just got a thousand shots of my ring, too. “Yes, and this is George. He’s my new sidekick. I also acquired some horses and goats this week, just so everyone is up-to-date.”

They’re staring at me, stunned for a moment, then lunge forward to congratulate me and squeeze the breath from my lungs.

“So, how’ve things been here?”

They update me on Sashi—she's doing great. The phones are still ringing off the hook from Rolling Bridges fans that want to be tattooed by me, now that I’m associated with the band. Reed has accepted an offer on his shop and will be here in three weeks. He’s driving from New York in a moving truck. I decide I need an assistant after all. There’s too much to get done while I’m still working, even if it is part-time. I text Deklan and tell him I definitely need to borrow his assistant for a little bit. Then I put my phone away and get to work.

There are a ton of phone calls to get through after my shift, and I have to sketch a lot to catch up for being gone over two weeks. I wind up getting home at midnight to a pissed off Deklan. I tiredly take off my heels and drop my purse on the kitchen counter. As I turn to walk up the stairs, I see him leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. I look again at him and notice his eyes are glittering and his jaw is jumping. Not good. “Hey babe, sorry I’m late. Did you not get my texts?”

He nods slowly “I did get your texts. Did you forget your seven months pregnant?”

I shake my head. “No, obviously not. That would be hard to do with a kicking basketball under my shirt.”

“Then how would you ever think it would be okay to be working twelve hours a day and on the road for four traveling exhausted. I bet you didn’t eat, either. You can’t miss meals, that means the baby is taking from your body and you get weaker, more tired, while you’re on the highway in L.A. traffic with crazy fucking drivers.”

I walk over to him and hug him. I rub his back with his arms still crossed. “Babe, I’m sorry you worried about me today. It was the first day back, and I had a ton to catch up on. It won’t be like that all the time, but I am still working three days a week, and we live two hours away in traffic. I told you today I need an assistant. At least then I could get some food.”