Page 85 of Knight Life In Vegas

“Okay, good. It wouldn’t work if you hated the idea.”

“I think it’s a smart first step. She’s independent, and unlikely to give up that freedom until she feels secure.”

“I hope we can make her feel that sooner rather than later. Maybe we could even get a proper pack house when we get this place financially stable again.”

“You don’t have to worry about money when it comes to the care of Charlotte and the boys,” I promised. “Anything you need for that, consider it covered: a home, a family vehicle, university funding when the boys are older. They’ll want for nothing if I can help it.”

That was one thing I was good at. I could throw dollars at a problem and fix it. Where my emotional intelligence ended, my bank account began, and I just hoped that was enough.

“That’s…waymore generous than we were expecting,” said Francisco. “You’re sure?”

“She’ll have everything she needs, and I’m never going to spend my fortune on myself. Plus, Bryce has a trust fund. It would only be fair the rest of my family get their share as well.” I focused on my mate and the shiny golden horse she rode that sailed over the jumps. “Not to derail this heartfelt conversation, but what exactly is she meant to be doing out there?”

“Most of the horses have no jumping experience,” said Dylan. “She’s checking which ones might do best with it for beginners.”

Her lemon meringue sweetness swept by me, easing my nerves. She was so peaceful on horseback. I felt it down to my bones, how those animals gave her steadiness and security. I hated that they made me nervous when they brought her suchjoy. She was far better suited for the other men fate had chosen. They could all share that joy together.

“Think we’ll ever get you up on one?” Francisco asked.

“Maybe when hell freezes over.”

Dylan laughed. “You could be her guinea pig for lessons. If you rode Sugar Snap, your feet would still touch the ground.”

“I think I’ve suffered quite enough humiliation lately. Let’s not add to the pile.”

Dylan nudged me playfully. “You’re way too much fun to tease.”

“Be nice,” Eduardo admonished.

“I’m always nice.” Dylan grinned.

“So, what’s our family tree going to look like if we bond Charlotte one day?” Francisco asked.

“Oh god. It’s a fucking web at this point. You’ll earn an additional son besides her two, three sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter.”

“I’m too young to be a grandpa,” Dylan squawked. “I was just warming up to the idea of being a dad.”

“Warm faster,” I ordered. “She deserves the world, and I need all of you to help me give it to her.”

The bond was less distracting while on horseback. I had to focus, so Beau’s emotions became more akin to background noise than a speaker next to my ear.

Applesauce had the attitude of a jumper, and Scout decidedly did not. I was going to work my way through their roster, getting to know each of the horses as well as Dylan did so they could be paired perfectly when lessons began. Most people wouldn’tdo jumping, but we still needed to know who was suited for that anyway. There were always the ambitious horse people who wanted to compete, and I was in a unique position to train them for that.

Eclipse was a breeze beneath me, not shying away from the jumps at all. I already knew I loved this horse and would use him for lessons as much as I could.

It was a shame these beauties didn’t have some wide-open spaces to run. Wild fantasies of owning a ranch filled my head: fields full of horses and rolling hills, outdoor corrals, a gorgeous and sprawling farmhouse with a wraparound porch. I wasn’t a cowgirl by any stretch of the imagination, but the desert was beautiful and horses improved every vista.

My mates were all waiting for me when I pulled Eclipse to a stop.

“Ready for my next subject.”

“Sassafras is already saddled,” said Dylan. “I’ll bring him out for you.”

He returned with a bay beauty, fur exceptionally glossy under the lights. I stepped off Eclipse, hovering atop the boundary wall between the arena and the stands, and climbed onto Sassafras. I took him in a loop and he stopped short in front of one of the jumps, sniffing it curiously.

“Come on, Sassy.” I guided him over it, but he insisted on stopping to check each of the jumps in turn before finally letting me take him in a proper loop, where he trotted over each of them with ease. “Silly goose. Are you going to have to sniff test everything at every lesson?”

With no answer forthcoming, I gave him a few laps of exercise, letting him choose his preferred pace.

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