“At least, there’s that.”
I pulled into a makeshift spot next to a cruiser and hopped out of my SUV. My gaze immediately went to the scrawny man sitting on a stump with his arms behind his back. He might have been restrained, but he was still cursing up a storm.
Sergeant Ruiz met my gaze. “Well, he took a swing at me, so we can arrest him for assaulting a law enforcement officer, at least.”
“Small mercies,” I muttered. My entire team was beyond frustrated that we were still dealing with this asshole. But animal abuse cases were hard to prove and even harder to get a decent sentence for. I strode forward, meeting Samuel’s angry gaze. “You’re on probation, Mr. Miller.”
“Trumped-up charges. I ain’t did nothing wrong.”
My gaze traveled to the paddock behind him. A paint mare who would’ve been gorgeous if she wasn’t skin and bones was behind the fence, along with a miniature donkey who limped away from Miles. Then I caught sight of another figure. This one moved with practiced ease, her hair piled up in a messy bun. Everly looked my way for just a moment before turning her attention back to the horse. And I turned my focus back to the man in front of me.
He didn’t even deserve to be called a man. He was the lowest of the low. I took a step closer. “Praying on innocent animals doesn’t make you strong. It makes you lower than dirt.”
“Hey! You heard that. He insulted me. Told lies. I’m gonna sue.”
Ruiz let out a low whistle. “You know, I didn’t hear a thing. Did you, Young?”
“Just the wind. And maybe the phantom sound of a jail cell locking.”
“I’m not going to fucking jail,” Samuel blustered. “They’re my animals. I can do whatever I want with them.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. And I’m going to make sure the judge throws the book at you this time.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “You already told a bunch of lies about me. Said I was an animal beater. I had to go to Idaho to get those two useless fucks.”
I’d done everything I could to keep Samuel from hurting another creature. But apparently, not even spreading the word around the county had been enough. “Good thing you won’t be able to buy any more while you’re sitting in a cell.” I looked at Ruiz. “Keep an eye on him. I need to talk to Miles.”
“Happy to, boss.”
I left Young with Ruiz and moved towards the paddock. My steps were slow and measured, not wanting to spook the paint. Everly’s were the same as she spoke to and stroked the horse. “You’re okay now. No one’s going to hurt you ever again. Hayes will make it so. He might be overbearing, but he’s a great defender.”
“Is that so?”
Everly didn’t jump, but when she turned to glance at me, it was with a scowl on her face. “You might have a few redeemable qualities.”
I couldn’t help the fact that my mouth started to kick up at the corners. But that smile died when I took in the wound on the mare’s neck. “What the hell happened?”
“Keep your voice easy, Hayes. This beautiful girl doesn’t like the sound of anger. I’m not sure how it happened, but it was never treated, and now it’s infected.” Everly moved a gauze pad with some sort of antiseptic gently over the wound. “That’s it, girl. We’re going to get you fixed up.”
The mare rested her head on Everly’s shoulder as if exhausted to the bone. Everly used her free hand to rub soothing circles on the unmarred side of the horse’s neck. “We’ll have to get her on antibiotics and a high-calorie diet so she can get back some of the weight she needs. Miles said he’d take them both to his barn for a while.”
“That’s good. It’ll be a lot calmer there than at the county shelter.” They always lacked space at the shelter and needed more hands on top of it.
“She can’t go to a shelter, Hayes. It took me an hour just to get her to let me touch her. Another hour to look at her wound. She’ll freak in a place like that.”
“Maybe you should take her, then.”
Everly’s eyes swiveled in my direction. “Me?”
“You’ve got one paddock done, another almost there. That’s enough space for these two.” I inclined my head towards the tiny donkey Miles had managed to catch. He was now examining it while the animal chowed down on some grain.
“I don’t know…I wanted to get a barn up before I took on any animals. Have some storage sheds built. A few other things.”
I leaned against the fence. “You’ll never be completely ready. But you have to start somewhere.”
Her fingers ran along the paint’s coat. “You have a point there.”
“I know my family can pitch in this weekend and get you as set up as possible.”
Everly tipped her head back to look the horse in her eyes. “What do you say, beauty? Want to come live with me after you’re all healed up?”
The mare blew air out through her lips, making Everly laugh. The sound was light and free as if all the things that weighed on her shoulders had been lifted in that one moment. I wanted more of those laughs. I could drown in the sound and be a happy man.
I cleared my throat. “I think that’s a yes.”
Everly pressed her forehead to the horse’s cheek. “I think so, too. I’ll take good care of you, girl. And I promise you’ll never have to be scared again.”
30
Everly
I’d made an art out of avoiding Hayes for the past few days—at least when other people weren’t going to be around. I didn’t trust myself. That kiss had been too much. And now it haunted me. It had been the perfect mix of heat and comfort, a feeling I could sink into, get lost in, and never return from.
So, I’d stayed busy. So busy that I’d poured myself two cups of coffee this morning. I listened for sounds of Hayes stirring but only heard Koda’s soft snores from his dog bed. Chip was perched on the edge of the pillow, looking at the dog with fascination.
“Careful, buddy. He could eat you in one bite.”
Chip’s head jerked in my direction, and then he ran back into his hidey-hole. I wanted to do the same thing. But the entire Easton clan would be here in less than an hour. I’d opted to hold off on the barn and focus on the paddocks and a couple of storage sheds instead. I could make do with that for a year or two and let my savings grow.
I had the exact plans I wanted. Gabe had been kind enough to go over them with me, suggesting a few tweaks or places I could save money, so I was ready to go when the time was right.
What could only be a large truck sounded from the gravel road leading up to the property. I set down my coffee and headed for the front porch. My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw the eighteen-wheeler coming over the ridge. I had no idea how it had even made some of the turns on this road, let alone how it would turn around to get back.
Gabe hopped out of his truck and directed the massive vehicle towards the area where the barn had once stood. The trailer carried a huge load of lumber and other materials. I moved down the steps like a robot, not even noticing when Hayes came up alongside me, and an array of different vehicles parked in open spots.