Page 12 of Growing Into Love

“Jaz,” I say, impressed by how authoritative I sound as my insides have gone all mushy. “I need your help.”

I explain the situation quickly, shoving the old groom’s phone back at him. When I’m finished, Jaz doesn’t hesitate.

“I’m on my way,” he says. I can hear him getting into his car in the background, the sound of the ignition turning. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Don’t worry, Cass—no one will be calling Defra today. I’ll help you get that horse to Oak Hill.”

See, this is why I can’t stop loving him.

FOUR

JAZ

“Clive, get in!”I call.

Clive hurries to the passenger door and scoots into the car. I peel out of Stephen O’Donnell’s drive—his sheep are recovering well—and head to Delilah Cunningham’s stables.

My mind churns with worry. Cass sounded like she could be in shock. I fill Clive in on the situation while we drive.

“Oh, Cass Wright, the girl Mrs. Pritz wanted to set me up with, yeah?” he says eagerly.

I guess I know Clive wasn’t the man Cass meant to send the text to. Don’t know why that fills me with such relief though. Clive’s a decent bloke.

“This isn’t a date, Clive. This is a very dangerous horse we’ve got to deal with.”

“Right,” Clive says, cowed.

Nerves jangle through me, worry over Cass, and Del, and the horse all mixed together. Seeing Cass’s name on my phone was a real jolt, a spike of adrenaline that set my skin buzzing. I’ve talked to Cass on the phone hundreds of times, but it all feels different now. After getting back late from the Cotsworth farm, I couldn’t stop looking at that text. I read it over and over, wondering who it was for, going through the options in Hart’s Crossing, dismissing them all, then wondering why I was bothering.

Then I’d start the whole process over again.

I really do need to delete it.

“Isn’t that our turning?” Clive says, pointing. I nearly miss the drive to the stables, yanking the wheel so sharply that Clive flies into the passenger door.

“Sorry,” I mutter.

“You seem a bit distracted,” he says.

“I’m fine.”

“If you say so.”

We pull up to the outdoor arena and my heart does a backflip when I catch sight of Cass.

I see her nearly every day and yet suddenly it feels like I’ve never really seen her at all. She’s in her riding gear—seen her in that a hundred times too. But suddenly I’m noticing how the jodhpurs hug her long, slender legs, how her fleece is unzipped to reveal a hint of cleavage. Her hair is like molten gold in the sunlight, a few strands coming loose from her bun. Her full lips, her proud chin, the way her nose turns up slightly at the end… Mrs. Pritz was right. She really is lovely.

The horse, the one she called Naturally Sweet, paws at the dirt and shakes his mane. He’s frightened and a frightened horse is dangerous. A wizened old groom watches from a few yards away, his expression murderous. He must be the one who was going to call Defra. It’s good Naturally Sweet is already tacked up—getting a halter on him would likely prove a nightmare. I see Delilah out in the field, her back resting against another groom, her eyes closed. Can’t tell how bad she’s hurt from here but at least she’s sitting up. That’s a positive sign.

I park and get out of the car. My eyes meet Cass’s and something sparks in her gaze. I feel a pinch in my stomach. She looks so wild and strong, her hips squared, legs apart, as if she’s ready to tackle the world. She’s always had a confidence I’ve admired but I never realized how sexy it is.

Christ, Jaz, pull yourself together. She’s Dec’s sister.

“There’s an ambulance coming for Del,” she says. “We’ve got to get Naturally into Gal’s trailer before they arrive. The sirens will set him off again.”

I nod. “Bring out your calmest horse,” I tell the old groom.

He frowns. “I will not. Don’t want any of the other horses here to be at risk.”

“I’ll do it,” Cass says, jutting out her chin in an expression of defiance that makes my pulse quicken. “It’s Maisy, right? She’s the gentlest soul in this whole stable.”

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