Page 53 of Catching Mr. Right

Chapter Twenty-One

CASPER

A limousine pulls into the ranch’s circular driveway, gravel crunching as it comes to a stop. Soldier’s ears prick up. The driver gets out and opens the door for a woman in a form-fitting Italian suit. She pats her coiffed, almost gray hair and brushes some invisible lint from the lapel of her jacket. She used to be a stunning blonde, but each time I’ve seen Juliette’s mother Moira over the past eighteen months, she’s aged years.

“Here we go again,” I mutter to myself as I take off Soldier’s harness and smack him on the rump. “Get lost.”

He lunges forward with a whinny, and then gallops flat out across the field like Juliette taught him to do. He flies for the same gate we took that day with Mandy. There’s no way I’m letting anyone take him from me.

I can’t stop thinking about her. Mandy. She spent the night in my bed. She left her wings on the bed post. It seemed so real. I can’t recall the last time I was that damn happy, as I was with her asleep on my chest. I was hoping we’d have a chance to talk about it, maybe repeat it. But she’s called in sick these past couple days, and she hasn’t stepped foot on the ranch.

What if it’s because of my dick? What if she changed her mind about it being an accident? What if I really am a fuck up? Most of all, what if she never talks to me again? I know I’m going to lose her, but does it have to be so soon?

“Great trick,” Moira calls from the driveway as I stride toward her. “Now if you could call my horse back I would like to organize to take Soldier home.”

“Juliette’s horse,” I retort. The only part of Juliette I can’t let go of.

“My horse, Mr. Morgan,” she says when I get to her. “Soldier is a thoroughbred Andalusian with pure Spanish blood lines. He’s not some pet. He belongs at stud. That’s what my daughter would have wanted. That’s the agreement we made. You got Juliette, and when she was done with her career I got him.”

“He’s all I have left of her.” It’s the same conversation over again. The one we’ve been having every few months since Juliette’s funeral.

“I know that.” Her expression softens. “You were very important to Juliette. You were important to us. You could have stayed with us after…”

After the accident that took their daughter’s life? After the questioning by the police? After the news broke a story about my penis? Hell, someone on social media got a hold of the article and hash tagged the damn thing #Murderdick. My fucking dick went viral. “I couldn’t. I felt responsible. To blame for what happened.”

“We never held you responsible. But you took my property, Casper. I want him back. Now.” I know she wants him for the same reasons I can’t give him up. He’s as much a part of her daughter, as he is a part of the woman I loved.

“Wish I could.” I shrug. “He’s gotten lost. It’s going to take me some time to find him.”

As I brush past her, she grips my arm. “And while you’re looking for him will you accidently get lost too? Like the last four times?”

“Hard to tell.”

“We can only do this dance so many times.”

“Then perhaps you should leave him with me.” I jerk my arm from her grip. I can’t give Soldier up. Can’t give up that connection to Juliette.

She sighs and shakes her head in disappointment. “You need to give him up for your own good, Casper. Before I get the police involved.”

“You do what you have to do,” I toss over my shoulder. “I’m not giving him to you.”

***

“Cas? Are you in here?”

“Yep.” I leave the tack room, rope coiled over my shoulder, a bridle in my hand. “What’s up?”

“Claire said you might be in here.” Mandy follows me as I pass her.

“She was right. I was.” I stride across the yard and into the field.

“Where are you going? What are you doing?” Mandy asks, keeping up with me.

She’s wearing those pink cowgirl boots again. The ones that make it impossible not to notice her legs. Those legs that were wrapped around my hips while she screamed my name. The pink in her hair has almost faded, leaving streaks among her silvery strands. Why the hell hasn’t she shown up until now? “Soldier. I told him to get lost.”

“You did what?” She gapes. “Why?”

“It doesn’t matter. Suffice it to say he’s trained to get lost.” I shift the rope on my shoulder. “So now I have to go catch him.”

---