Read Safe in His Arms for Free Online Page B

stalls. “You have a full house today.”
    “Pure laziness on my part. They’d be willing to go out and run around in the rain, but then we’d have to clean ’em up again. Bubba’s owner is coming out to pay a visit tomorrow, and I’m prideful enough to want all the horses looking good.”
    She stopped walking. “Wait a minute. Bubba’s
owner
? That’s not you?”
    “No. A racing stable had already contracted for the foal when I bought Saucy Lady, assuming it was a live birth. It was, so they’ll take him once he’s weaned.”
    “That’s terrible!”
    His gaze was stoic. “That’s the horse business. I knew I wouldn’t get to keep him when I bought his mama.”
    “But . . . but you’re a wealthy man. You could buy him back.”
    “I did offer, but they won’t sell. They agreed to amend the contract for a price, though, so Bubba goes to them on the condition he won’t start his training until he’s two. He was born late in the year, so theoretically they could take him out early because of it, sort of like a kid who’s enrolled in school before he’s ready. They could ruin him if they do that.”
    “Let me get this straight. You had to pay them to do the right thing for a horse that doesn’t belong to you?”
    “Yes, and that might sound like a stupid financial decision, but I couldn’t let that little guy go without protecting him.”
    “It doesn’t sound stupid. It sounds humane.” She wondered how many times he’d been chastised for such impulses when he was younger and being groomed to be a hardheaded businessman.
    “I’ll be watching them like a hawk, too. If they show any signs of trying to race him too soon, my lawyers will slap an injunction on them and I’ll sue to get him back.” He tugged the brim of his hat down over his eyes.
    “You’re a good man, Adam.”
    He shook his head. “Like I said before, don’t go making me out to be something I’m not. I’ve made some business decisions I wish I could do over.”
    “In the past.”
    “Yeah, but the repercussions extend into the future.” His jaw tensed.
    “If you’ll excuse my saying so, you’re pretty hard on yourself.”
    “Now you sound like Will. He keeps telling me not to beat myself up over things I can’t change.”
    “Smart guy.” She hesitated. “Can we make a detour and go see Bubba before we head down to Rocket Fuel’s stall?”
    He glanced at her. “I was afraid of that. You’re getting attached, aren’t you?”
    “And you’re not?”
    “I . . .”
    “Adam Templeton, you are a big old softie and it’ll tear you up inside when Bubba leaves, so don’t get all macho on me and pretend otherwise.”
    That made him smile. “Okay, I won’t. Let’s go see that little guy.”
    When they arrived outside the stall, Valerie set down the grooming caddy so she could lean against the stall door and peek in. Adam joined her there, his hips mere inches from hers. She could hear him breathing, and the scent of his aftershave tantalized her. She was developing a massive crush on Mr. Templeton.
    Bubba was nursing.
    Valerie couldn’t imagine separating mother and baby. “I suppose he’d have to be weaned, regardless of whether he stayed here.”
    “He would. Don’t worry. It’ll be a gradual process. I won’t ship him off until he’s used to being on his own.”
    “But he’ll lose his home as well as his mother.”
    He glanced over at her. “I love these horses, but I’m in the business of raising them for sale. If I tried to keep them all, I’d go through a hell of a lot of money in a very short time. I’m not focused on the bottom line the way I used to be, but I’d rather not lose money on this venture if I can help it.”
    “I know.” She gazed at him. “I didn’t mean to sound judgmental.” But she had sounded that way, and he’d been judged his whole life and found wanting. “I’m sorry. Of course you have to sell horses to keep the ranch going. I was out of line to make that