Hopefully not at her expense.
“All right. I’ll admit I was born and raised in a metropolitan area and have never lived on a ranch. However, I have spent several years volunteering at a wild-horse sanctuary. I realize I’m on a learning curve here, but I have read a lot and my bachelor’s degree is in business management with a minor in conservation and environmental science. I’ve done a lot of studying on the subject. Wyoming isn’t tolerant of wild horses.”
He snorted. “You’ve read about it? Like in a library? And you think a little piece of paper somehow makes you qualified to manage a horse farm? With wild mustangs, no less. Exactly how many wranglers do you intend to hire?”
She shook her head. She was afraid this subject might come up. “None. At least at first. I’m working to find like-minded donors to help me reach my vision, but until more funds come in, I can’t afford to hire any help.”
“You’re doing this alone?”
“Well, not all alone, obviously. I have you, don’t I? At least for a little while? I don’t think we’ve talked about the length of your—indenture.”
“I think most guys are going a month of weekends.”
“That’ll do. You can show me how to get the ranch up to scratch. I’m a fast learner.”
“You’re going to have to be, because fixing up the ranch won’t be your only obstacle. Just how much experience do you have with mustangs? I’ve spent my whole life working with horses, and they still surprise me from time to time. Wild mustangs? That’s a whole other thing.”
“Yes, but they need my help.” Her pulse quickened as adrenaline blasted through her and her spirit lifted. For a moment Jax’s words and attitude had discouraged her, but then she remembered how many ways the Lord had come through for her. He’d guided her to Jax. She didn’t believe in coincidences.
“You train horses, then?” She wanted specifics.
“Quarter horses for ranching and rodeo.” His eyes gleamed with pride. It appeared they shared a love of horses. She just had to convince him she was serious in her intentions.
“I’d love to see your herd.”
His gaze widened epically and Faith choked on her breath. Had she just invited herself over to his property? Heat flared to her cheeks.
To her surprise, he nodded. “Sure. Why not? If you don’t have any other plans this afternoon, we can head on over there after we’ve finished eating. Give you the opportunity to see a working ranch in action and get up close and personal with a real, live horse.”
“Excuse me?” she huffed. “I’ve been around horses, thank you very much—and ranches, too. I worked at a ranch every summer while I was in college, and since I graduated, I’ve been volunteering weekends at Mustang Mission. I’m not the greenhorn you seem to think I am.”
“Your shoes would suggest otherwise.”
She chuckled. “Hey. I wasn’t planning to go riding today. I’m new in town. I had to guess at the dress code. For all I knew this auction would be a black-tie event. Were we in a larger metropolitan area it probably would have been tuxes and cocktail dresses.”
A rich, deep laugh rumbled through his chest. “In Serendipity, honey, we have exactly two dress codes. Go-to-church clothes and everything else. If you ever have a doubt, dress casual.”
He tipped his hat and her heart purred. This was where she wanted to be. In the country, with real horses, real cowboys and a real chance to make a difference. Not back home where no one—except her friends at Mustang Mission—seemed to understand what she wanted to achieve.
This was home. She felt it in every fiber of her being.
Now she just had to convince her new neighbors—and the possibly hostile cattle community—that she and her mustangs belonged there.
Jax’s phone trilled. He slipped it out of the plain black leather case he wore on his belt, glanced at the number and scowled.
Susie.
“Now why would she...?” The rest of his sentence trailed off into puzzled silence. He grimaced. His ex-wife was the last person he wanted to talk to, especially today. Faith had somehow, although he had no idea how, gotten him out of his own head for a while. He’d actually been enjoying himself for a change, and that had happened far too little in his life in the nine months since Susie left him.
Count on Susie to dump ice water on his good mood. Without even answering the phone, he sensed she was about to completely ruin what up until now had been a perfectly good day.
It just figured.
He cupped his hand over the receiver and flashed Faith an apologetic shrug.
“Excuse me just a moment, will you, Faith? I’d better take this. It’s my ex-wife on the line.”
“Of course,” she said with an encouraging smile. “Take all the time you need.”
He strode a few steps away from Faith and held the phone to his ear, trying not to grit his teeth when he spoke.
“Did you need something?” Jax didn’t bother with pleasantries. He couldn’t imagine what she wanted. He’d already done what he could for her. He hadn’t contested the divorce, hadn’t protested the way she’d taken almost everything of value from the house when she left, hadn’t even argued over the amount of money she’d taken from their shared accounts—though he remained deeply grateful that the ranch’s accounts were separate and that she hadn’t been able to access them. She’d drained away everything she could from him, including his confidence and pride, until the love he’d once felt for her had withered into dust. He had nothing left to give her.
So why was she contacting him now?
“Are you at the house?”
“No, I’m not.” He started to tell her he was at the auction but then cut his words short. His shoulders tightened with strain and his gut squeezed so forcefully he could barely breathe. He didn’t have to answer to her, not about his whereabouts or any other part of his life.
Besides, Susie didn’t even live in Serendipity anymore. She despised the small town in which she’d been born and raised. She probably didn’t even know about the auction, seeing as it was the first—and Jax hoped only—one ever.
“Why are you asking? Are you in town? Do you need to see me for something?” Had there been some kind of legal hang-up? He hoped not. He’d thought the divorce was a done deal.
“Go home. Now.”
“What?” Jax asked, his voice a low rumble. He didn’t care for the way she was ordering him around.
“Just go.” She sounded a little desperate.
“Wait—” Heat flared through him in a flash of foreboding and he muttered something unintelligible under his breath. “Susie? Susie?”
