Page 13 of Growing Into Love

She marches off to the barn and returns a minute later leading a docile old mare.

“I’m not putting her in the ring with him,” I reassure the groom. “But she’ll calm Naturally down.”

Cass brings Maisy over to the rail and Naturally wanders up to inspect his new friend. She snorts at him, and he nickers. “Good,” I say. “Keep her there, Cass. Clive, my bag.”

Clive hands it to me and I get out a syringe and fill it with the proper dosage of xylazine—enough to mellow Naturally out but not enough to fully sedate him. We need to get him in the lorry.

“Naturally Sweet, this is Maisy,” Cass says, running her hand through Maisy’s mane. “Isn’t she nice? Yeah, go on then, say hello.”

She’s so damned good at this, her quiet poise relaxing both horses. Maisy touches her nose to Naturally’s and they blow at each other. Cass laughs, a soft, musical sound that echoes through my chest. I wonder if she laughs like that with the guy she’s sexting.

I climb through the fence rails and stand still for a few seconds, allowing Naturally to grow accustomed to my presence. Cass keeps talking gently to both horses. I trace the lines of Naturally’s neck and locate the jugular vein. I move slowly toward him, trying to get the needle positioned while making as little direct contact with the horse as possible. I keep my breathing calm and even—I’ve done this hundreds of times but now I fear I’m off my game. I focus on the faint pulse of the vein at Naturally’s neck then sink the needle in and push the plunger down. He starts but doesn’t rear or try to bite me, which is good. I quickly slip back to the other side of the fence.

“Bravo,” Clive says, looking impressed.

Cass doesn’t look at me at all. She keeps patting Maisy’s mane. But I notice her jaw is clenched. Is she angry? Embarrassed? Was I meant to say something back? I thought she wouldn’t want me to acknowledge the message.

Or maybe she’s not thinking about the text at all. Maybe she’s forgotten about it already and I’m the sad idiot who can’t stop rereading it.

“Need to give it a few minutes,” I say, returning the syringe to my bag. Soon, Naturally’s head begins to droop. “Cass, let’s walk him over to the lorry with Maisy.”

She nods, her head only half turning in my direction.

I get back into the ring, calmly and slowly taking the reins that hang from Naturally’s bridle. “Come on, boy,” I say softly. “That’s it. Let’s go. This way.”

He plods out of the arena a few steps behind me, and Cass meets us at the gate with Maisy. Together, we walk the horses to her lorry. Naturally Sweet gets in without a hitch, and I’m glad of it. He’s a sizeable horse, almost sixteen hands I’d guess. Cass really put herself in danger to save him.

I feel a twinge of protectiveness. She shouldn’t be risking her safety. She could have been seriously injured. She’s got the competition coming up—I know how important it is to her. Declan’s been complaining about her dreams of a horse sanctuary for weeks now.

“Clive, take the car,” I say, tossing him the keys as Cass locks the back of the lorry. The old groom comes over to take Maisy. I can hear sirens wailing in the distance. “Follow us to Oak Hill.”

“Sure thing, boss,” Clive says.

“Give me your keys,” I say to Cass.

She finally looks at me, her eyes flashing like chips of ice. This pinch in my stomach is the sharpest one yet. “I am perfectly capable of driving.”

“No, you’re not,” I say. “You’re in shock. You need to eat something.”

“I’mfine,” she insists, but her hands tremble as she goes to open the door. I reach out and put my hand on top of hers. Her fingers are cold. I’m so aware of the delicate bones beneath soft skin, the sharp points of her knuckles.

“Cass,” I say quietly.

She yanks her hand away. “Drive then, I don’t care,” she growls, storming over to the passenger side. We get in and head to the road, Clive following behind us. We pull out just as the ambulance arrives.

“I hope Del will be okay,” I say.

“She has to be,” Cass says. “She’s got to get on a plane with me tomorrow.”

“Right.” I privately fear that may not happen, but I’m not about to voice that fear aloud.

Silence engulfs us, a horrible silence that crackles with tension. This can’t be the new normal. Cass is my friend.

I should say something comforting.

“You could have been hurt,” I blurt out.

Hmph. That sounded more accusatory than concerned.

---