Page 33 of Cowgirl Bikers MC: The Complete Series

Ivar’s smile grows and I realize I just voiced my thoughts. Shit.

I quickly step around him and ask Ramona, “How’s it going?” And place my boot on the fence as I lean my forearms on it as well.

She gives me a thumbs up at the same time Ivar comes up next to me. “Would it be okay if I take a picture of the horse? Ramona mentioned she’s finished training him and it’s ready to be sold. Perry, a buddy of mine, might be interested. He mentioned buying a small ranch. Perry grew up around here, a few towns over if I remember correctly. He wants to breed Friesian horses but also wanted to have a Quarter horse he could use around the ranch.”

“Sure, but let me ask Ramona first. We all have our own tasks here at the ranch when it comes to breeding livestock. The horses have a different routine. The one training them is the person who decides when they are ready and when, and to whom, they can be sold. It’s a personal matter, the whole start to finish angle we’ve put in place.”

“Sounds like a well-oiled plan,” Ivar murmurs.

I give him a smile. “It works. Though, I also have to ask Ramona because I don’t know where her head is at.”

Ivar’s face grows serious. “She’s not as broken as anyone might think.”

I’m getting ready to fire off something in the lines of, “Mind your own business,” but he gives a tiny shake of his head.

“The shit she went through is traumatic and still fresh in everyone’s mind but give her some leeway. The nightmares? It happened at night and she can’t control them, hence her waking up the way she’s been ripping from her sleep. But she also feels as if everyone is walking on eggshells around her and it’s why, like you mentioned, she feels best when she’s out here working with the horses. It’s solitary work where you guys aren’t pressing your nose against the glass to watch her every move.”

I swallow hard and croak, “She said all of that?”

“Some, but she didn’t have to. For an outsider it’s very easy to observe people,” he simply says.

“It happened right under our fucking noses. Under our own damn roof,” I snap.

He holds out his hands. “Don’t bite my head off. You asked for my help, I’m giving it to you. The strong woman is still in there, she just needs to dust some shit off before she can shine again and that’s her dust to deal with in her own time.”

“Got it,” I grumble.

He checks his watch and pulls out his phone and it’s then I notice, “Does your watch give you alerts from your phone?”

Holding the phone up he adds, “Yes, makes life easier if I don’t feel the phone vibrate. I received a text from my buddy, Perry Woodards. I texted him to make sure he was still interested in buying a Quarter horse.”

“And?”

“He is.” Ivar grins. “So, how about a picture?”

I turn and grab the fence. Lifting myself up I lean over and wave to catch Ramona’s attention.

She guides the horse toward me and I ask, “Ivar might have a buyer for Dover. You mentioned to him he was ready to be sold? If so, can he take a picture?”

“Sure.” Ramona nods and shrugs.

Ivar looks at me for confirmation and I mouth, “Go ahead.”

He doesn’t waste any time and quickly snaps a picture to fire it off to his friend. I watch his thumbs fly over the screen and they seem to be deep in conversation.

Ramona and Dover come closer when Ivar asks, “He wants to call. Is it okay if I put him on speaker?”

Ivar holds my gaze and I know if he does put it on speaker, he won’t be able to hear his friend’s side of the conversation.

“Sure,” I quip.

He thumbs the screen and instantly a voice rumbles, “Like I said…I’m interested in that horse but the woman riding it has to be the one who sells it to me. This way I can ask her out for dinner.”

“Charming,” Ramona replies in a disapproving tone. “But you first have to convince me why you think you’re fit to be the new owner of said horse. You see, we don’t breed horses just for fun or money for that matter. We breed and train them to be the best fit for a new owner and whatever expectations they have for a horse. So, instead of wanting to take me out to dinner, let me hear your charms for the horse and he might become yours.”

All she gets in reply is a husky chuckle along with the words, “Charming indeed. I’ll let Ivar give you my number and we’ll chat some more in private.”

The connection breaks and Ivar raises an eyebrow at me in question. My eyes slide to Ramona and there’s a slight twinkle in her eyes and a small smile tugging her lips. This might be just what she needs to regain her focus and to move forward.

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