The Perfect Gift (3 page)

CHAPTER FOUR

Grace Duvall shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked up at the group of youngsters standing in front of her. Cassidy Davies, one of the first students she had when she moved to Keeneston four years ago, smiled at her. She had brought along her brothers, Jace and Dylan, and her older sister, Piper, appeared to be stuck driving them.

“This is my friend, Ariana Ali Rahman,” she said, pointing to the auburn-haired girl. “And these are my cousins, Reagan and Riley Davies, and my other friend, Abigail Mueez.”

Grace smiled and pulled off her gardening gloves. She stood up from the small flowerbed she was working on and dusted off her knees before shaking their hands.

“It’s nice to meet you all. Now, what brings you here during your summer vacation?”

“Well,” Abigail said as she stepped forward, “see, we need your help. Our really good friends, Zain and Gabe, you know, the princes of Rahmi?”

“My brothers,” Ariana added.

Grace smiled and nodded. She hadn’t reached the age of thirty-three without being able to spot something funny. And years of teaching kindergarten told her these kids were up to something. But for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what it was.

“See, they want to get a horse all on their own,” Abigail continued.

“Doesn’t their father own a
horse farm
?” Grace asked as she tried not to laugh.

“Yes, but they want to do it on their own. They think they’re too big to listen to Mom and Dad anymore,” Ariana told her.

“So, what does this have to do with me?”

“Maybe I can make this simpler,” eighteen-year-old Piper started. “They’re at the same barn where Cassidy said you board your horse, and they think they found the end-all and be-all of horses. The owner is asking $25,000 . . .”

“What?” Grace shrieked. She hated leaving Zoe there, but it was the only place she could afford to board the beautiful paint horse she used for barrel racing.

“See?” Piper said in typical teenage fashion. “They think they can become overnight barrel racers, and it’ll get them girls. Boys . . .” Piper crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.

“It’s a scam, but they won’t listen to us,” Abigail concluded.

“Mommy and Daddy will totally ship them back to Rahmi for the summer if they buy those horses,” Ariana said sadly as she stuck out her bottom lip in a cute pout.

Dylan looked annoyed but started talking anyway. “So, we need your help. Cassidy,” he said giving his sister a nudge, “said you were a barrel racer. We’re hoping they’ll listen to you instead of being shipped back to Rahmi.”

“Even if they act stupid, they’re still our friends,” Jace said with a shrug of his shoulders, showing he was more mature than the average twelve-year-old.

Grace nodded her head. “Give me ten minutes to get cleaned up. God help teenage boys,” she said as she tried not to get aggravated.

She invited the kids inside and hurried to her bedroom. This was why she taught kindergarten. She was tired of boys who never matured past sixteen—like her former husband, bless his heart.

Grace and Bo had grown up in the same holler near Prestonsburg in Eastern Kentucky. They had been childhood sweethearts. She thought their relationship was romantic. He thought marrying his childhood sweetheart was a shortcut bypassing the trouble and time dating took. Grace’s husband had been a good man . . . he just never matured past sixteen. He was addicted to the high of extreme physical challenges. 

Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains was beautiful, but it also let Bo escape reality. He went four-wheeling instead of going to school and rock climbing instead of going to work. Because he had Grace on his side, she covered for him. She told the principal he had mono. She paid the rent on their small apartment while she went to the University of Pikeville. And she talked him into moving to Lexington so she could get a master’s in education. Then, when she got her first job in Lexington and had a larger paycheck, Bo became even more adventurous.

Laying on the guilt trip that she was “too busy doing what she loved” to spend time with him, he talked her into paying for trips out west so he could go climbing. She had loved Bo so much she had gladly handed over the majority of her paycheck to give him his dream.

Then, budget cuts laid her off. She saw the advertisement for the kindergarten teacher in Keeneston and jumped on it. To celebrate, she sent Bo on his dream trip. Ten days into teaching at Keeneston Elementary School, Sheriff Davies pulled her from her class and told her about her husband’s accident.  She was scared. Grace had never been alone. Sure, she was alone when he left to go climbing, but she had always been half of Grace and Bo. And now she was just Grace. She grieved for a long time as she struggled with her new reality. But three months after Bo’s death, she decided she couldn’t give up on life. Grace Duvall had a chance to become her own woman. It was just too bad no one had seen her as that. So she had bought her horse, Zoe, and started barrel racing.

Just the year before, she decided she was ready to start dating again. Only every man in town was so sensitive to the fact that she was a widow they didn’t see her as a woman. And how was she to announce she was ready to start dating again? Just walk into the Blossom Café and tell everyone there? It wouldn’t look good to announce the kindergarten teacher was ready to date—or have sex. So, she tried a dating site. That didn’t go well. All she got were men who wanted to pretend they were toddlers. So Grace had given up. She raced her horse, and that was enough for now.

Grace splashed water on her face and brushed out her curly, dark brown hair before grabbing a University of Kentucky baseball cap and sticking it on. If she could talk some sense into these teenagers, she would feel like she’d made the world a better place by showing a pair of young men how to be responsible.

The group of kids still sat in the living room right where she’d left them. “Okay, let’s go talk some sense into them,” Grace said as she grabbed her purse.

Cassidy came up and slipped her hand into hers. “Thank you, Mrs. Duvall. I knew we could count on you.”

She looked down into a set of hazel eyes that melted her heart. Oh, she was good. They were definitely up to something; Grace just hoped it was something worthwhile.

*     *     *

Nabi unsaddled his horse and started to rub him down. It was nice to let go of his problems and enjoy the day with friends. Now it was time for a shower and then click Send on his email. His father would find him a wife, and within a year he would be a father. And maybe, if he were lucky, he would even have a wife he liked being around.

The sound of the barn door opening caused him to pause brushing his horse. Two people entered and stopped at the first stall to look at the horse there.

“I don’t care what Dad says. I want to pick out my own horse—my own hobby.”

Zain. Nabi knew his voice anywhere.

“Let’s do it. There are two barrel horses out at Cross’s farm that we can buy for $25,000. We’ll use some of the money Grandpa left us. Mom and Dad don’t have to know.” Gabe sat down on a bale of hay, and Nabi could envision the pout on his face.

“Let’s do it. We can be real cowboys instead of just growing up with horses. The girls at Yale will be all over us then.”

“I’m in. Let’s go.”

Nabi shook his head. When he went out to talk some sense into the boys, they were already gone. He tossed the brush into the tack box and dusted off his jeans. It looked like Uncle Nabi was going to have to come to the rescue once again.

The drive to Cross Arrow Farm was relatively short. It bordered the west side of Mo’s farm. Mr. Cross only had about fifteen acres and most of it was run-down. Nabi knew Katelyn Davies had begged her husband, Marshall to go out there many times to do wellness checks on the animals. She was sure Mr. Cross wasn’t caring for them properly.

Mo and Ahmed were similarly worried. Mo had tried to buy Cross Arrow, but Mr. Cross wanted three times the fair market value. It didn’t matter that Mo had the money. He refused to be taken advantage of by a creep. They were currently biding their time and waiting for Mr. Cross to move toward bankruptcy. He only had two boarders, and at the rates they were paying, Cross wouldn’t be able to keep up with his mortgage. Mo’s plan was to buy out the farm and rescue all the animals.

Ahmed was so worried about the horses he even ordered his farm workers to drop extra hay over the fence and to hang buckets of oats during the night so the horses didn’t suffer. That’s why Nabi had to stop Zain and Gabe. First, Cross’s horses were in horrible condition. Second, it was common knowledge Cross had until the end of the summer to pay arrears in the amount of $25,000 to the bank or lose his farm. If Zain and Gabe were responsible for allowing him to continue to neglect his animals and stay on the farm, then he was worried what their parents would do to the kids.

As soon as Nabi pulled his black SUV to a stop in front of the falling-down barn, he knew something wasn’t right. He spotted the twins’ SUV and Piper’s ten-year-old Ford Explorer with a Davidson College sticker; next to that was a tiny two-door sedan he didn’t recognize. He parked his car, jumped out, and hurried to the dilapidated barn.

“I know we don’t know each other, but if you do this it will be the biggest mistake of your life,” a woman’s soft, yet authoritative voice rang out through the dark barn.

Nabi’s eyes hadn’t adjusted to the dark inside the smelly barn, so he followed the sweet voice of the woman talking.

“What do you know about barrel horses? I’m a prince!”

Oh, Nabi was going to kick his butt. He knew Mo and Dani would be even harder on Zain if they heard that. They didn’t tolerate that kind of behavior.

“Well, I guess that goes to show that wearing a crown on your head doesn’t mean there’s anything in it. If you think this is a good deal, then you are one very empty-minded prince. And I know plenty about barrel racing. I have a roomful of trophies to prove it. But that doesn’t matter. You say you’re nineteen and want to be treated like an adult. So grow up!”

Nabi’s eyes widened as the group of people standing in the back of the barn grew near. He saw Zain and Gabe hang their heads and give each other one of those twin looks that meant they were communicating silently. Abby and Kale, along with Ariana and Pierce’s crew, stood with their arms crossed as they watched a woman in jeans and a plaid shirt lecture the boys.

She was pretty from behind. All soft curves and shoulder-length curly hair. Nabi didn’t know who she was or why she was there. Cross was an old cuss with a son down in Mississippi, but no wife or daughter that he knew of.

“You should listen to the woman. She’s giving you the same advice I am going to give you, which is to grow the hell up. If you don’t get your asses home right now, then I will tell your parents about the way you acted here today,” Nabi said as he came to a stop behind the mystery woman.

Zain and Gabe audibly gasped. “Uncle Nabi, please don’t.”

The woman’s back straightened before she turned around. He was struck by her beautiful round face. She had the high color of irritation, and he had never seen anyone who was so adorable when mad.

Nabi had to force himself to look away from the mystery woman and back to the nervous boys. “Then get home right now and never step foot on this farm again. You know how we feel about it. And when you get home, you need to head over to my barn and clean out the stalls. When you’re done with that, I am sure the farm trucks need a good washing.”

The twins groaned and shot looks at their sister and friends standing nearby. But Nabi didn’t care about them or the way Zain, Gabe, and the rest of the kids went sulking off. All he cared about was the appreciative look in the eyes of the woman standing in front of him.

CHAPTER FIVE

Grace looked up, way up, into the most gorgeous set of whiskey-colored eyes. While Grace wasn’t a shrinking violet by any means—she was five-foot-eight—this man was easily six feet tall. His seductive eyes accentuated his strong face and black hair. With a no-nonsense tone, he had sent the kids scampering with their tails tucked, all the while helping them out by not telling their parents. He was kind, fair, and didn’t put up with any of their pretentious whining. And, yeah, he was drop-dead sexy.

Grace looked quickly at her worn cowboy boots, faded jeans, and button-up shirt that did nothing for her figure. She wasn’t one to worry about her looks, but she was very conscious of him checking her out. She cast a quick glance at his hand and didn’t see a ring on a very special finger. Her heart picked up a beat as her eyes collided with his.

“Thank you for your help. They may look like men, but they still have a lot of growing up to do.” The man stuck his hands in his pockets and sent her a grin that made her forget what he was talking about. “So, do you live on the farm? I didn’t know Cross had any family.” The man continued to talk, and finally Grace realized he was asking her a question.

“Oh, no. I’m not related to Cross, thankfully. And you’re welcome. It seems as if you, your brother, and sister-in-law are doing a good job teaching them responsibility.”

He smiled again, and Grace felt heat rushing to a part of her that had been dormant a very long time. “We’re not related. I’m Nabi Mosteghanemi, Dani and Mo’s head of security.” He held out his hand and she took it. It was warm and callused. He held her hand firmly, but the way he ran his thumb over her knuckles made Grace feel like giggling.

“Grace Duvall. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. So, why are you here? Not that I’m not grateful.”

“Cassidy Davies was a student of mine, and she had her cousins talk me into coming over here to knock some sense into the boys. This is my horse,” Grace said, smiling as she reached into her purse and pulled out an apple. She walked over to a nearby stall and snuggled up to her horse’s head. Zoe nuzzled her with obvious affection and happily chewed on her snack.

“She’s a beauty.”

“I think so. I’m hoping I can win a few more barrel races and afford to move her to a nicer farm. See, I’m a teacher, and I don’t make all that much. This is the only place I can afford to keep her for the time being.”

“Get all your things. I’ll not have you keeping this fine horse here,” Nabi ordered.

Grace felt her hackles rising. She had been her own woman these past four years and wasn’t used to taking orders. “Excuse me?”

Nabi had the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I just hate thinking of you here. The barn looks unsafe. Not only am I fearful it’ll fall on your horse, but I’m worried about you as well. Please, let me repay you for your help with Zain and Gabe by boarding your horse at Desert Sun Farm until you find a more suitable place for her.”

“Desert Sun Farm? There’s no way I can afford that,” Grace gasped. They had Kentucky Derby winners at that farm.

“I’m not going to charge you for it. It’s a way to show my thanks. There’s an empty stall right next to my horse. I’ll have someone come and pick her up in twenty minutes if you will agree.” Nabi reached forward and took her hand in his. “Please, Miss Duvall.”

“Mrs.”

“What?”

“Mrs. Duvall.”

Nabi dropped her hand. “Oh, I’m sorry. I guess you’ll want to confer with your husband then. But know my offer is still open.”

Grace let out a deep breath. This was where all her would-be suitors ran for the hills. “My husband passed away four years ago. And thank you, I think I will take you up on the offer.”

“I’ll call the farm now. By the time you have everything packed up, the trailer will be here.”

Grace watched as he stepped from the barn and made his call. He didn’t seem to be scared about talking to her after she told him about her husband. So many men just didn’t know how to act so they made excuses and ran.

She didn’t know what to make of the offer to board Zoe, but she wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. To have her horse in such luxury as Desert Sun Farm . . . she’d feel so secure whenever she’d leave Zoe. With her mind made up, Grace tossed all her supplies into her tack box and locked it up. There wasn’t much, but she pulled her two saddles from the tack room along with the rest of her riding gear and set them down outside the barn door.

“Here, let me help you,” Nabi said as he shoved his phone into his back pocket and took the saddle from her grasp.

“Thank you. I really don’t know what to say or how I can possibly repay you. The peace of mind this will give me . . .” Grace pushed the baseball cap down farther to shield her eyes from the sun.

“My pleasure. I’m sorry about your loss. Your husband, I mean.”

Grace almost groaned. Now he would pity her. “Thank you.”

Nabi gave her a slight nod before walking back into the barn and hefting her tack box up as if it weighed nothing. Grace felt the disappointment more than usual. She’d had hopes for this one. He was kind, strong, and compassionate. But now he seemed totally freaked out by her. The sound of a truck pulling a trailer reached her as she walked Zoe from her stall.

“Just what in the hell is going on here?” Mr. Cross yelled as he stormed up to the barn. “Where do you think you’re taking that horse?”

“Zoe is coming to Desert Sun Farm,” Nabi told him as Grace’s view of the old crooked man disappeared behind Nabi’s large shoulders.

“I can talk for myself,” Grace said as she leaned around Nabi to see Mr. Cross’s face turn red.

“You can’t leave before the end of the year or you owe me a cancellation fee of $1000,” Cross said smugly. He knew she didn’t have that type of money. “And if you’re boarding your horse at Desert Sun Farm, then that money shouldn’t be a problem for you. Your horse doesn’t leave here until you’ve paid it.”

“I don’t have that kind of money!” Grace gasped as Cross made a move to grab Zoe. Zoe grew nervous and pulled back, but Nabi was there with a gentle hand to calm her.

“Let me see the boarding contract,” Nabi said simply as he motioned for the workers from Desert Sun Farm to put Zoe in the trailer.

“No. It’s none of your business,” Cross spat.

“But it is mine,” Grace said, encouraged by Nabi’s thinking. She’d never been given a copy of the contract and couldn’t remember what it said. “I would like to see it.”

“You signed it. You should remember it,” Cross said. “You owe me that money, or I’ll sue you and take your horse as payment.”

Nabi stepped forward and lowered his voice. “You show Mrs. Duvall that contract right now, or you won’t see a dime. If you don’t produce it, then any attempts to contact Mrs. Duvall will be taken as harassment, and I’ll have a little talk with the sheriff about it.”

Cross grunted and headed inside as Zoe was loaded into the trailer. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’ll do if I have to pay that money.”

“I have a feeling you won’t need to,” Nabi said before lifting the tack box and putting it in the trailer.

Cross walked slowly from his house and with pursed lips looked up at Nabi. “I can’t find the blasted thing. I guess you can take her, but I won’t forget this.”

Grace gulped at the underlying threat. Nabi stepped closer to him and talked. She could see his lips moving but couldn’t hear what he said. She did see that Cross lost all color in his face and then shook his head before hurrying back inside.

“What was that all about?”

“Just coming to a little understanding. Now, I’ll be happy to escort you to your new stable. Just follow me.” Nabi smiled as he opened the door to her car for her.

Nabi hurried around to get into his SUV. That little prick had tried to threaten her. Before he knew it, Nabi had threatened him within an inch of his miserable life. Normally, he wasn’t so aggressive. But the thought of that man causing any harm to the delectable Grace Duvall set him on edge.

He looked into the rear-view mirror and saw her following him. So, she was a widow. Nabi wondered if she was dating again, or maybe she already had a boyfriend. Someone as adorably sexy as her wouldn’t last long in Keeneston. The Rose sisters would have her fixed up in a second. That was too bad. Grace was the first woman to get his attention in a long time. It wasn’t just her looks—it was also the way she talked, the way she cared for her horse, and the obvious way the kids liked her. It was just too bad he probably wouldn’t have a chance to get to know her better.

The barn came into view as he saw Zain and Gabe tossing some hay into the stalls they had just cleaned. Interestingly enough, the others seemed to be washing the cars for them. As soon as they saw Nabi, they dropped the hose and soap and pretended to be sitting there watching Zain and Gabe clean out stalls. What was going on?

He pulled to a stop, and the trailer pulled around the parking lot and backed up to the pasture next to the barn. Nabi hopped out of the SUV and hurried to open Grace’s door for her.

“Welcome to your new home . . . I mean, Zoe’s new home. I’m sure you live with your boyfriend.” Nabi slammed his mouth shut as Grace’s eyes grew wide. Gosh, he was an idiot.

“Boyfriend? I don’t have a boyfriend. Why would you think that?”

Nabi couldn’t have heard her right. “You don’t have a boyfriend? I just didn’t think it was possible for a woman like you to be single.”

“I’m sure your girlfriend wouldn’t like you talking like that.” Grace blushed.

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Abby shouted from where they were hanging out by the barn doors.

Nabi didn’t know what to say. Apparently Grace didn’t either since they both stood staring at each other, not saying a word.

“Mrs. Duvall, what is Zoe doing here?” Cassidy asked as she broke their stares.

“Mr. Nabi invited Zoe to stay here for a little while. Wasn’t that nice of him?”

Cassidy nodded. “Uncle Nabi is nice like that.”

“That’s right. He always looks out for everyone,” Abby chimed in.

“Whether we like it or not,” Zain groaned.

“But we always appreciate it,” Gabe said as he elbowed his brother in the side.

“Uncle Nabi is the best,” Ariana smiled as she ran up and gave him a hug.

“Yeah, he’s the coolest,” Kale said. “He once taught me how to hack the . . .”

Nabi cleared his throat. “Thank you for that. What has gotten into you guys today?”

Innocent faces all stared back at him. “Well, it is your birthday,” Piper said quickly to fill the silence.

“It’s your birthday?” Grace asked. Nabi nodded, not taking his eyes off the kids. They were up to something. “And you spent your afternoon helping me instead of relaxing and enjoying your day. I just love birthdays. I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done.”

“You could bake him a birthday cake,” Cassidy suggested.

“Or cook him dinner,” Piper added.

“Girls,” Nabi said with censure in his voice.

“No, that’s a great idea.” Grace smiled. “I would love to have you come to my house for dinner. But I’m sure you have other plans.”

“He doesn’t,” Dylan jumped in.

“Great!” Grace beamed and Nabi felt his heart flip in his chest. “How about seven?”

“That is very kind of you. I look forward to it,” Nabi said with more excitement than he meant to show. “Well, I’ll let you get settled. I’ll see you tonight.”

Nabi walked calmly to the SUV and didn’t breathe until the barn was out of sight. He had four hours until dinner, and he hadn’t a clue what to do. He hadn’t been on a date in a long time. The time he spent with women usually involved starting at a bar and leaving her house before morning. He needed help.