Page 68 of Back in the Saddle

“If we don’t get rain soon, we may have to sell some of the foals as weanlings instead of yearlings,” I said.

Taylor sighed. “I know. We won’t get as much money for them. We never do. They look scrawny compared to yearlings.”

“We should probably consider selling a mare or two as well.”

“I think we should see how we go in the January sales first.”

My shoulders relaxed. “Agreed.” Now for the big question. I knew my answers, but we needed to be on the same page. “What will we need to do to survive another year of this?”

“Keep some, agist some, sell some. That’s all we can do. And I hate to say it… but we’ll need to reduce staff again.”

It’s something I didn’t want to hear, but it was the truth. We normally had ten permanent staff with four extra during breeding season. We were down to eight and two. I sighed. “It’s so hard because they’re like family and they have families and it sucks. Who would we even let go?” I couldn’t, wouldn’t, be able to choose. “Salty is the only one working in his family. His wife looks after his ailing mum. Cleo has been saving up for a new car. Fran is planning to have a baby. Rachel is still paying off the debts her husband left her. Everyone has something, everyone needs the money.”

“It does suck. Have you started a list of the mares and foals and what you think we should do?”

“I have,” I said. “But I think we should work through it together. We always make better decisions when we talk about things.”

“Yes, we do.”

I reached out and took her hand.

We rode like that for a while. And for a change, Mrytle tolerated Capall walking right beside her and touching her.

I was glad we’d at least started the conversation we should have had months ago. I was even happier that she wanted my input.

I sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t insist we talk about this sooner. It put all the pressure on you, and you would have felt unsupported.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “That was unfair.” As a result, she’d stopped asking for my input.

Taylor gave my hand a squeeze. “We’re in a different place now. A better place, where we work on things together.”

I smiled and nodded. She was right. There was more than just hope in my heart now, there was certainty for our future together.

26

Taylor

Ciaron and I got dressed. I paused as I watched him pull his jeans up his muscular legs and over his fine arse. When he pulled his green shirt on and buttoned it up over his chest, the sight was just as good. I loved how his wide, strong shoulders stood out.

“Are you going to get dressed?” Ciaron looked down at the dress in my hands.

“I got distracted.”

He chuckled. “As much as I love seeing you in your underwear, we do have a party to get to.”

I pulled the woollen dress over my head. It was form fitting at the top and flowed at my waist.

Ciaron let out a low whistle. “Isabelle said I’d be happy with the dress. That was an understatement.”

He was standing in front of me within seconds. I couldn’t believe I was jittery at his closeness. Another thing I’d taken for granted.

“You look stunning.” He pressed his lips against mine.

“Thank you.” I ran my hands down his chest. “I love this colour on you.”

“Let’s go beforeweget distracted.”

He took hold of my hand and led me into the living room. Isabelle and Callum were already waiting, chatting to each other. Were all brothers and sisters like this or were they so close because they lived out here on the farm?

“We’re going to have to start locking her up,” Ciaron said.

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