“You can say that again. I didn’t realize how much work until I purchased one.”
Maisy perked up at his words. “You could always sell him and buy yourself a four-wheeler.”
Daryl hesitated for a moment before he shook his head. “Black Beauty has become somewhat of a project for me.”
“A project?” Maisy couldn’t keep the anger out of her voice.
Sawyer put an arm around her waist and pulled her close as if he was worried she might attack the guy. It was a legitimate concern. “Well, you’re probably right about not selling Black Beauty. You wouldn’t get much for him, anyway. Not with his major health issue.”
“Health issue?” Daryl said. “What kind of issue? The guy I bought him from said he was in perfect health.”
Maisy didn’t know what Sawyer was talking about either. He hadn’t mentioned any major health issue to her.
Sawyer shook his head. “Well, the man who sold it to you probably didn’t known what signs to look for. But I’ve had two horses with equine mambolitis.”
“Equine mambolitis? What’s that?”
Maisy didn’t have a clue, but Sawyer seemed to. “It’s a virus that’s transmitted by a tiny horse fly. It causes swelling in the legs—I bet you’ve seen that on Black Beauty.” When Mr. Bradley nodded, Sawyer went on. “But mostly it affects a horse’s brain and behavior. It’s no wonder you haven’t been able to train him. Even an expert trainer wouldn’t be able to train that horse.”
What was Sawyer talking about? They’d been doing a great job of training Angel.
“So there’s no fixing him?” Daryl looked truly concerned, and suddenly Maisy realized what Sawyer was doing. He was talking Daryl out of wanting to keep Angel.
“I’m afraid not,” Sawyer said. “All he’ll be good for is making manure.” He paused. “Of course, I can always use manure.”
“Are you interested in buying him?” Daryl asked.
Seeing a chance to help, Maisy jumped in. “Oh, please, Saw. I don’t care if he has a bad brain and bucked me off and broke my collarbone. I love that horse and want to keep him.”
“Now, Maisy, we can’t keep someone else’s horse. And Daryl has just said that he doesn’t want to sell.”
“I might think about selling him,” Daryl said. “If the price is right.” He glanced at Maisy. “I mean, it seems like your wife has really gotten attached to him.”
She thought Sawyer would correct him, but he didn’t. “It does seem that way. I guess my life will be a living hell if I don’t please the little woman.”
The amount Daryl wanted for Angel made Maisy feel sick to her stomach. There was no way Sawyer had that much money and she resigned herself to the fact she would have to let Angel go. But instead of declining, Sawyer nodded and held out his hand.
“Then it’s a deal, Daryl.”
Chapter Thirteen
Sawyer saw the shocked look in Maisy’s eyes as he shook Daryl’s hand. He was pretty shocked himself. What the hell was he doing? He didn’t need a horse. Nor did he have thousands of dollars to spend on one. He knew where to get the money, although he knew it would come at price. If it would keep Angel safe and take the sadness from Maisy’s eyes, he was willing to pay that price.
“You can just Venmo me the money,” Daryl said.
“Sorry, I don’t have that app.” Or the money to send through it. “How about I meet you at the bank in Simple tomorrow morning?”
Daryl didn’t like the idea. “How do I know I can trust you to show up?”
Maisy jumped in and played the part of indignant wife to a tee. “If he doesn’t show up and buy me my horse, he won’t be sleeping in my bed for a month.”
That seemed to appease Daryl. After they made arrangements about what time to meet, he hopped in his truck and drove off. As soon as the trailer lights disappeared from view, Maisy turned to Sawyer.
“You have that kind of money?”
“No. But I can get it.”
She stared at him for a second before she hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Sawyer. Thank you so much.”
“I didn’t just do it for you, Maze. I’ve gotten attached to that horse too.”
“I know. I was just so sure we were going to lose him to that idiot. But you played Daryl like a fiddle.” She drew back, but kept her arms looped around his waist. He liked them there. “Equine mambolitis?”
He grinned. “He fell for it, didn’t he?”
“But if he looks it up online, he’ll know you made it up.”
“He doesn’t care enough to look it up. Getting a ranch and a horse were just a whim. The excitement of playing cowboy will wear off shortly—if it hasn’t already—and he’ll sell his fake Texas ranch and head back to the big city. He’ll never give another thought to Angel. Or should we call him Black Beauty?”
“Don’t you dare. He’s Angel.” She winked at him. “Just like his new owner.”
“Don’t try to brown-nose me just because I saved that damn horse. I need a horse like I need a hole in the head. What am I going to do with him when I leave? I can’t leave him with Chester and Lucas when he won’t even let anyone ride him.”
“I’ll get him saddle broke.”
“Of course you will. Maisy Sweeney can do anything . . .except blow bubbles.”
“I’m working on that.”
Just the thought of Maisy sitting in her trailer with her face all scrunched up in concentration as she chewed bubble gum and tried to blow bubbles made him laugh. She joined in. Seeing Maisy laugh up close was like watching sunlight dance across water. Her brown eyes sparkled and her freckled nose crinkled and her soft lips opened to reveal the gap in her front teeth.
At the sight of the gap, the memory of sliding his tongue over the slight space popped into his head. Hot, thick desire unfurled inside him and his hands tightened on her waist.
She stopped laughing and her gaze locked with his. She must have seen his lust reflected there because her eyes registered surprise.
“Sawyer?” His name came out all breathy and sexy. He wanted to let her go and step away, but his body refused to listen. He drew her closer as his head dipped.
Her lips were as soft as he remembered. As he brushed a kiss across them, they separated and welcomed him inside a warm, wet mouth that tasted like sweet nectar. He devoured the sweetness with deep pulls and gentle tongue sweeps as his hands slid down to her butt and lifted her up on her toes, pressing her against the growing need beneath his zipper.
She moaned into his mouth and scraped her fingers through his hair, knocking his cowboy hat off as she fisted his hair in her hands like she never wanted to let him go. The kiss grew hotter and wetter and Sawyer grew needier. He had never felt need for a woman as strong before.
He walked her back towards the barn. When they were hidden inside, he slid his hand under her shirt and filled his palm with soft, naked breast. He brushed over the little nipple that had been teasing him for the last few weeks and groaned as it tightened. He now understood what had happened on their tequila night. It hadn’t just been the alcohol. Or his heartache over Lauren. It had been this all-consuming desire. He and Maisy had sexual chemistry in spades. Lincoln had seen it at his and Dixie’s wedding. Which was why he’d asked Sawyer to keep his distance.