Page 81 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
Ciara followed his gaze. And there, a family of four was disembarking from a maroon minivan, her very first guests. She squealed in delight, causing Rowan to chuckle, then again as another car pulled up right behind them. Before she made it to the parking lot, two more cars had pulled in, then another three. From then on, the flow was continuous, rapid even, as the main parking lot quickly filled, and the cars began to file into the huge field beyond. License plates represented not just the local area, but out-of-towners, even from other counties. There was no time to be nervous as Ciara welcomed each guest.
Minutes passed, and then an hour and more, as the crowd swelled to more than Ciara dared dream. The workshops and activities began to great excitement. The overnight guests gushed over the accommodations, and many of the visitors inquired about booking a retreat. Of course, the horses were the main attraction, and dozens of families showed interest in adoption. With their proactive safety measures, the horses did just fine with the attention, enjoying the joyous atmosphere.
Now Ciara was roaming the grounds, helping wherever she was needed. She stood off the path as a group of grinning peoplepassed. “That was so cool!” a little girl gushed as the crowd dispersed from one of Frank’s presentations. “I’m now a horse expert.”
“Are you now?” Her dad laughed, lifting an adoption application off the table. He winked at his daughter. “It may just come in handy.”
As the child squealed, Ciara waved Uncail Frank over. “Your workshops are getting great reviews. I appreciate your help.”
Satisfaction lit his kindly face. “It’s great teaching people who are so eager to learn. I’m happy to do more anytime.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. They’d planned the workshops specifically for the festival, but perhaps it could be something they offered on a regular basis. Ciara had been looking for a way to give back to the community. The classes could be open to everyone, not just those adopting horses.
She gazed over the crowded field, stopping on the man who was rarely far from her mind. Rowan was speaking to a group, who watched with clear admiration, as he gestured with his muscular arms. He said something, and they all clapped.
How could she leave this place? How could she leave thisman? And yet the horse rescue’s commencement brought her departure all too close.
It was time to make a decision.
CHAPTER 16
“Describe how a horse views the world.”
The boisterous audience erupted in conversation, as the question appeared on the large screen. Several hands rose, then more and more, as Rowan traversed the stage. He waited a few moments, then pointed to a little girl with a bright purple dress and blond pig tails.
“With his eyes?” she ventured in a voice as sweet as the cotton candy she clutched.
So cute.“That’s true.” He handed her a small stuffed animal shaped like a horse, then turned to the rest of the audience. “Can anyone be a little more specific?”
The audience conversed louder, and a few called out educated and/or humorous guesses. When all was quiet, he continued, “Horses have bigger eyes than any other land mammal. Because their eyes are located on the sides of their head, they can see nearly 360 degrees – almost all the way around them. Ironically, the only places they can’t see are straight ahead and right behind them.” He grinned at the little girl. “Would you like your mom to see behind her?”
“No way!” the little girl’s brother shouted before the girl could respond. “I’d be grounded forever.”
The crowd laughed. Good humor abound, amidst the successful fair, the elated crowd, the horses that would soon be going to new, loving homes. Rowan had never felt so part of something, even at his own ranch. In a roomful of people, he’d always been alone. Not anymore. He connected with people, forming new relationships, redefining old ones. The entire town had come out to support the horse rescue – and Ciara.
He slid a glance to his co-host. She was laughing at something the little girl said, her natural affinity for children sparkling. For just a moment, he allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to be part of the sea of happy families, to have a wife and kids.
No.He couldn’t be a part of that, not when he was so like his father. Yet as his gaze returned to Ciara, for a sliver of a second, a voice whispered,What if?
Ciara asked the next question for the trivia game, snagging his attention from impossible dreams. “Do horses have emotions?”
This time, the whole audience shouted “Yes!”
Ciara tossed half a dozen plush horses to excited children. “That’s right. Very strong ones, actually, and they respond to human emotion. That’s why it’s important to always be gentle, kind and patient with them.”
It was now Rowan’s turn, but he’d run out of questions. The crowd was still excited, and they had a few minutes before the next activity. He spoke into the microphone, “You did so well with the trivia, you mastered all my questions. Does anyone have a question for us?”
Several hands shot up. He pointed to a boy in the back, who shyly asked, “What do horses eat?”
“Horses are herbivores and eat vegetation,” Rowan answered. “They enjoy hay, bran and rolled oats as well as treats like apples and carrots.”
“So no pizza?” the boy joked.
Rowan laughed. “I’m afraid not.”
Several other people raised their hands, and Rowan and Ciara took turns answering. Ciara gravitated closer to him, and they frequently brushed sides. He doubted she even noticed. He couldn’t stop noticing.
After several more horse-related questions, the little girl with the purple dress raised her hand again. “Are you two married?”
