Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Kat

"H e's a little antsy," Trey says, his voice flecked with worry as I stand calmly on the mounting block. My left hand holds Shadow's reins at the base of his neck, my right hand on his saddle. The big horse tosses his head and shifts his front legs.

Trey stands on the other side of him, one hand on the cheek piece of the bridle.

"He's fine," I say, and as if just to be contrary, Shadow's back end skitters away from the mounting block. I immediately let go of the reins and Trey walks him around in a wide circle twice until he's calm again.

"Maybe we should try this another day." It's both adorable and frustrating that my brother is suggesting such a thing. On one hand, I love the care and concern he has for my safety. On the other hand, I can ride just as well as he can, if not better. His worry is a little offensive.

"We're doing this today," I say with a pointed look. "Not only is he ready, but I'm ready and I don't have a lot of time to spare. I specifically left this hour open in my schedule so I could do this."

"Fine," he grumbles and leads Shadow back over to the mounting block.

I take a moment and smooth my palm over the black horse's neck. I pull a peppermint out of my pocket, unwrap it, and offer it to him. He crunches on it with his tail flicking back and forth. He stands perfectly still so I take the reins and again place my hand on his saddle.

I decide to lean across him, something we've been practicing for weeks, but I don't go gently. I put my full weight over his back and just lie there.

Shadow doesn't so much as twitch a muscle.

"Maybe he only needed a peppermint," Trey mutters.

"Okay, let's do this." I straighten up, prepared to put my left foot in the stirrup, but I take in the slew of grooms and trainers who've come to watch. They're all standing along the wall just outside the barn office door, quietly talking as they watch me.

Not many of them can break horses to saddle so they're here to either learn something or watch me get handed my ass. My gaze starts to drop back down to the stirrup but then flies up, realizing that a man stands there in the group who is most decidedly not an employee of Blackburn Farms.

Gabe Mardraggon.

I have no clue when he came into the barn, why he's here or why he didn't announce himself. I suppose I've been so focused on getting my head in the right mental space to take this next big step that I'm not sure I would've paid him any mind had he been standing right beside Shadow.

But now that I know he's here, I'm slightly discombobulated.

I can jump off the mounting block and go see what he wants. I would do this in the privacy of the office because no doubt, we'll come to blows no matter the reason for his visit.

Or I could ignore him and keep true to the time I've carved out of my hectic schedule to conduct this very important piece of training that both my horse and I are absolutely ready for. Not only is it important, but it's one of my greatest joys as a trainer because of how complex the entire process is to get a horse to this point.

Fuck it. I'm getting on this horse.

I put my boot in the stirrup and without hesitation haul my other leg up and over Shadow's back. It comes to rest whisper light against his right side and I gain the other stirrup.

Shadow tosses his head but Trey holds him tight.

"Easy," I coo, rubbing one hand against his neck until he settles. "You've got this, big guy."

"Want me to walk you around the ring once?" Trey asks.

"No. Let go."

His green eyes tinged with concern hold mine for a second, then he reluctantly releases the bridle and takes several steps back.

Okay, buddy… let's do this.

"Walk," I say, a simple command I've been training him on but he's never had to obey with a human on his back. Elbows by my side and hands forward so I don't put any pressure on his bit, I wait to see what he does. The young horse balks for only a second before he takes a few tentative steps forward. "Walk," I repeat.

The barn is silent, all the people watching us, I'm sure holding their breath. Well, maybe not the Mardraggon. He might very well be wishing for Shadow to stomp me into the ground.

My confidence rises with every step Shadow takes and I apply slight pressure to the left rein to urge him closer to the wall. He responds beautifully, all that work with the long reins paying off.

The only goal I have is to walk him around the entire arena once and that will be enough for one day. We make it to the far end with no hiccups and I tug ever so gently on the right to get him to follow the curve of the wall. He steers beautifully but as we pass the large doors on the end, an unexpected event happens—a farm truck approaches down the gravel lot just outside the doors and while the truck's engine isn't overly loud, the crunching of rocks under the tires spooks Shadow. My first indication of his distress is the pinning of his ears backward and that's all the notice I get. My legs tighten their grip against his sides as he jumps sideways. I drop my hands, fighting against my instinct to pull hard on the reins.

"Easy," I murmur, but the truck ambles closer and the gravel crunching gets louder.

It does nothing to calm the young horse and he bucks three times before rearing up on his hind legs. I make a mad grab for his mane, still not wanting to pull on the reins, which could cause him to rear even higher. The long hair slips through my fingers and I'm holding nothing but air. I start to fall backward, which is about the worst way I could go off a horse, but at the last minute, I heave forward against gravity and throw myself to the side, kicking my boots free of the stirrups.

I vaguely hear Trey yell, "Fuck!"

A few of the trainers shout as I come free of the saddle. I'm still twisting in the air as my feet hit the ground, the momentum preventing me from sticking the landing. My body goes flying and I crash onto my left side in the dirt with a jarring thud.

The air is knocked out of me but an immediate assessment of the lack of severe pain tells me I haven't broken anything. I roll to my back, wheezing as I struggle to inhale oxygen while staring at the wooden beams of the barn's vaulted roof. I trust Trey has Shadow in hand, which is the most important thing so he doesn't hurt himself, and I just wait for my lungs to unfreeze.

My eyes widen in surprise when it's Gabe Mardraggon's face that appears first in my field of view, his expression fierce and angry. "What the fuck was that?" he snarls, before he asks, "Are you okay?"

I nod, still unable to talk but oh how I'd like to. I'd like to tell him to fuck off but I'm only at the panting stage of regaining my breath.

Gabe is physically pushed aside as Trey comes to crouch beside me, his eyes roaming my body as he takes everything in. A decided lack of tears, my inability to talk and no odd angles on my legs or arms. "Knock the breath out of you?" he asks.

I nod.

"Anything broken?"

I shake my head.

"Can you get up?"

I shrug.

Trey grins and rises, holding out his hand to me. I side lock my palm against his and when his grip is tight, I let him haul me up. The move is made much easier because to my surprise, Gabe's hand goes around my arm to help lift me from the dirt.

Trey glares at Gabe. "Get your goddamn hands off her."

"Make me," Gabe replies, his amber eyes flashing with challenge.

I pull free from both men, brushing the dirt from my clothes. My left hip is sore and as I take a few steps, I can't help the limp as I try to alleviate pressure off that side.

"You're hurt," Trey accuses.

"Sore," I whisper, still willing my lungs to fully inflate. "I'm fine."

My head swivels, taking in Shadow as one of the grooms holds on to his bridle. He's shying back and forth and I jerk my head. "Go ahead and take him to his stall."

The man nods and leads Shadow away, who continues to toss his head and prance with energy. He doesn't look scared, merely spirited right now. I watch critically to make sure I don't see any injury but he appears fine.

"I told you, you should have done this a different day," Trey grumbles as I start walking toward the office. "He's not ready."

"He's absolutely ready and I'm going to try again later tonight after I finish my work," I mutter. I'm aware that Gabe is following us, as expected. He's clearly here to talk business with me and thus, the reason I'm heading to the office rather than taking Shadow to his stall myself.

"No way you're getting back on him again," Trey says.

I stop mid-stride, turn to my brother and poke him in the chest. "Just knock it off already with the overly concerned brother routine." I poke him again hard and lift to my tiptoes to get in his face. "It's old and stupid. I'm qualified to do this job and there is no reason for me not to get right back on him. So stay out of my way."

Trey holds out his hands in surrender and I hear Gabe snort in amusement behind me. I whirl to face him, taking pleasure that his eyes flare to have my displeasure aimed at him. "And you… what are you doing here? You can't just show up without an appointment—I'm busy and my time is limited."

"Apologies, Your Highness," he replies with a mocking bow. "But I made changes to the trust agreement and I thought you might want to go over them."

My mouth falls open in surprise because I didn't think he'd do it. I'm immediately suspicious. "Exactly what changes were made?"

Gabe jerks his head toward the office. "I'll be glad to tell you in private."

"There's nothing you would tell her that I can't hear," Trey growls, stepping to place himself by my side. He crosses his arms over his chest, a resolute glare on his face.

Gabe shakes his head. "It's bad enough I have to deal with your sister but I'm not about to deal with you too." His eyes then come to me, hard and unyielding. "If you want to learn about the changes, call me and we'll set up a mutually convenient time to meet."

I'm stunned when the irritating man walks past us toward the door that leads into the small office. He makes it three long strides before I'm moved to follow. "Gabe… wait a minute."

Trey starts after us but I hold out my hand. "Stop. You're not coming."

"But—"

"No buts." I glance back and see Gabe's already walking through the door into the office, shutting it behind him. I can't assume he's waiting for me and is most likely walking right out the outer door to his car to leave.

I scramble after him but when I skid into the office, he's not walking out, rather sitting behind my desk. While I'm relieved I didn't have to chase after him, I'm pissed he's making himself at home.

"Do you mind?" I seethe, jerking my thumb. "Get out of my chair."

"Make me," he says with the corner of his mouth uplifted, eyes twinkling with challenge. That's apparently a favorite saying of his.

I roll my eyes and instead plop down on the small plaid couch that's seen better days. Each Blackburn barn and arena has a small office attached to it but this is the barn I do most of my training in, so this is, for all intents and purposes, my office. The paneled walls are covered with framed photos of various shows I've competed in and strung with ribbons. Shelves are full of plaques and trophies, all of them covered in dust because who has time to keep a barn office clean when dirt floats in the air continually.

I kick my boots up on an old worn chest covered in horse magazines, holding back the wince of pain from my hip. I guarantee a bruise the size of a salad plate is forming there. I clasp my hands over my stomach and stare at Gabe, waiting for him to give me the disclosure he was so eager to reveal that he showed up without notice.

"I've removed the reversion clause from Sylvie's trust," he announces, his tone clipped as he tosses me a manila envelope and I manage to catch it before it smacks me in the face. "It already has my signature on it and only needs Ethan's."

"Why now? Decided to play the caring uncle?" I ask, unable to keep the skepticism out of my voice as I pull the papers free to examine them.

He ignores my jab. "Did you review the information I sent over about the winery? I'd like to make some decisions on investments and expansion."

"It was a lot of information." Pages upon pages that I had printed out, read once and then my eyes crossed because it was so overwhelming. I'm ashamed I have to admit, "It was difficult to make sense of it all."

"I'll be glad to sit down with you and explain it," he says neutrally, but despite the lack of any inflection, his offer dredges up an array of feelings, all of which are unpleasant.

"The way you helped me back in college?" I ask quietly. "Because wasn't that just a big setup?"

Gabe's expression hardens. "That's in the past, Kat. We're talking about the winery now."

It pisses me off he won't admit that I was nothing but a game to him. A well-thought-out, brilliantly orchestrated plan to lure me into his web so he could move in for the kill. "Hard to separate the past when it's standing right in front of me," I retort, anger bubbling up.

Gabe rises from my office chair, frustration clear in his eyes. "I'm trying to do what's right for Sylvie. No more, no less."

I can't let it go though. He wants to focus on the here and now, but it's hard to do when he caused me so much misery in the past. "I remember too well how your ‘right' works, Gabe. You humiliated me when I needed you most. Which means you cannot be trusted, so how can I trust that you're wanting to do right by Sylvie? You'll have to pardon my skepticism when you've shown to be nothing but a fraud in all you do."

He flinches, as if my words have hit their mark. Moving from around the desk, he doesn't look at me as he heads to the door. But his response shocks me. "I was a fool back then, Kat. But I'm not that person anymore. And it was never a setup. Never!"

"You say that, but it's hard to tell which Gabe Mardraggon I'm dealing with—the bully or the businessman," I say, standing my ground.

Turning to face me, Gabe clenches his jaw, his eyes darkening. "I'm always the businessman but in this instance, I'm just Sylvie's uncle trying to secure her legacy because that's what my sister wanted."

Admittedly, those words sound genuine and I suppose the ease by which he granted my request to change the agreement to Sylvie's benefit and his detriment speaks even louder. For a moment, there's a flicker of something else in his eyes—regret, maybe? But it's gone as quickly as it appeared.

"I'll email you some dates I have open if you want to sit down and go over the winery stuff together so I can explain it." Gabe reaches for the door, but his eyes pin me with an unyielding intensity. "Have Ethan sign the trust agreement and get it back to me to file. Then I want to see Sylvie."

There's no doubt he deserves it at this point and I know it's something Sylvie wants. "I'll arrange it."

Gabe turns and strides out, leaving me with a whirlwind of papers and mixed emotions. I flip through the trust agreement, seeing his scrawling signature on the last page. Dealing with him is going to be more challenging than I thought, both professionally and personally.

Glancing at my watch, I see I have plenty of time to take this over to Ethan, especially since my ride with Shadow got shortened. I push up from the couch, not holding back the groan of pain from my hip. I brush it aside though, still intent on getting back up on the gelding tonight.

I nab my phone from the desk and send Ethan a text. Where are you?

Main house , he replies.

My fingers tap out a short response. On my way to see you.

It takes me no more than five minutes to traverse the path from the training barn up to the house in my utility vehicle. I see Marcie's car in the driveway and smile. I've been so busy this last week trying to keep up with my regular work plus the additional duties I've taken off Ethan, I've hardly been to the main house. I think Marcie's staying over now at night, which is a good thing as that's just extra support for Sylvie. Say what you will about my brother and Marcie falling in love, but the flame-haired school principal has become a mother to Sylvie in all ways. I expect Ethan and Marcie will marry sooner rather than later and I'm here for it.

After removing my boots in the mudroom, I enter through the kitchen. It's Miranda's day off, so there's no delicious smell of simmering dinner or baking sweets. I do find Marcie and Sylvie at the kitchen nook table, bent over a workbook together.

Their heads raise and both smile at me before Marcie stands up. We move toward each other, a hug first on our agenda.

"Long time no see, stranger," I say as I bend to wrap her small frame in an embrace.

"You're working too hard," she murmurs, squeezing me tight. She then lowers her voice so only I can hear. "Thank you for helping Ethan. You and your brothers really stepped up and it's made all the difference."

"Glad to," I assure her and after we pull apart, I ruffle Sylvie's hair. "What's up, munchkin?"

She hoists her book. "Fractions."

I wrinkle my nose. I still hate math. "Gross."

"So easy," she counters in her lilting French accent.

"Oh yeah," I tease, grabbing the book to look at her work. "If it's so easy, why is Marcie helping you?"

Marcie laughs as I look at Sylvie's answers, her handwriting absolutely perfect. "Not helping her. Checking her work."

I toss the book back down. "Glad you're doing that because I draw the line at math."

Sylvie giggles, sliding the workbook closer to her. Marcie's hand comes to my arm. "Ethan's finishing up a few things in his office, but we're going out for Italian after he's done. Want to join us?"

"I'd love to but I've got a date with a handsome boy later tonight," I reply, my grin broadening into a playful smirk.

Marcie's eyes flare wide and she dips her head in close. "Oh, really. Do tell?"

"He's tall, muscular, dark and handsome." Marcie's eyes twinkle with interest. I hold my hand up above my head. "He's about seventeen hands tall and has the maturity of a toddler."

She rolls her eyes. "A freaking horse? Why can't you be normal and date so I have interesting gossip to discuss with Ethan?"

"Who has time to date?" I ask, walking backward toward the hallway that leads to Ethan's office. "Besides… I much prefer horses."

Marcie waves me off, shaking her head. I start to turn away but Sylvie stops me. "Aunt Kat, have you talked to Uncle Gabe lately?"

I'm not ready to tell her about our meeting today because Ethan needs to hear those details first, but I nod at her. "Saw him just a little bit ago and I'm on my way to discuss some things with your dad now."

Sylvie's eyes alight with hope but thankfully she doesn't press me on seeing Gabe right now. It's not my decision to make, but I'll push Ethan to allow it to happen.

I find Ethan bent over his desk, consternation on his face. His head pops up when I walk in and he rubs at his eyes before yawning. "Hey."

"Hey," I say as I settle into a chair. I toss the envelope on his desk and nod at it. "Gabe amended the trust agreement, removing the reversion clause. All you need to do is sign it and that winery will never go back to the Mardraggons."

Ethan's dark eyebrows rise. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," I confirm with a nod.

"I didn't think he'd ever do that."

I shrug. I had my doubts, but part of me could see Gabe doing what was in Sylvie's best interests. "Means that winery will stay within the Blackburn family."

"Guess we better really learn the business now, huh?" Ethan muses, settling back in his chair.

"Why not? Trey and Wade think we should get into breeding thoroughbreds."

Ethan groans as he shakes his head. "I don't need one more thing on our plate right now."

"We just stay the course with everything," I say, injecting a note of firm assurance into my voice. "There are apparently some decisions that need to be made about the winery. Gabe and I are going to set up a meeting to go over everything."

"You don't sound too bent out of shape about it," Ethan muses, his eyes studying me critically.

"It's a necessary evil," I reply, blowing off his keen perception. I have to admit, Gabe amending that trust agreement has gone a long way toward soothing some of the disdain I have for the man.

Not all of it though.

Ethan looks out the window, the sun setting over the rolling pastures. "Gabe sure is making some bold statements when it comes to family loyalty."

"What do you mean? He's done something else other than amend the trust?"

Gaze coming back to me, Ethan nods with a half smile. "It hasn't been in the news, but I heard through the grapevine that Gabe had Lionel removed as chairman of the board of Mardraggon Enterprises. Apparently staged a very successful coup and had himself named the new chairman."

"Oh, wow," I murmur in amazement. That indeed makes a very loud statement about his loyalties to his father.

Then again, I could argue the only reason he amended that trust was to see Sylvie so he could have a direct influence over her. Gabe has only ever been loyal to himself.

Unbidden and most certainly unwanted, a flashback hits me hard of a time when I didn't think that about Gabe.

A cool fall day in Lexington, Gabe and I were studying together. The sun was bright and we both wore UK sweatshirts, the outdoor temps comfortable enough to spread out on a blanket. He'd been helping me with math the last few weeks and I'd found a surprising comfort in his presence.

Gabe had his nose buried in a textbook for his economics class and I was lying on my stomach, diligently working through complex equations that were admittedly a bit easier to digest with Gabe's easy style of teaching.

I was comfortable in the silence with him and ignored the other students walking by as I concentrated on the work. It was a difficult problem and I tapped my pencil's eraser against my chin while I contemplated. I was determined to figure it out on my own and not ask Gabe to guide me through it. I'd rather rely on him to check my answers.

My entire body locked tight when Gabe reached out and moved a lock of my hair back behind my ear. It was the first time he'd ever touched me and I looked at him in surprise.

His golden eyes shone bright in the sun and we just stared at each other a long moment. Finally, I had to ask. "Why did you do that?"

"Been wanting to do that for a long time," he replied.

It was such a tender moment of touch, soft words laced with yearning. A stark contrast to the animosity of our families and the natural rift that stretched between us.

It was utterly confusing because Gabe never came across as anything other than a new friend who was willing to help me with my schoolwork.

"Can I take you out to dinner tonight?" he asked.

"As in a date?" My mouth gaped. "You can't be serious."

He waved an impatient hand. "Of course I can be serious."

"Our families hate each other. We hate…" My words trailed off as I realized… I didn't hate him the way I'd been taught to. Something had changed in the last few weeks, and he no longer seemed like an enemy. "Our parents won't approve."

"They don't have to know," he replied, and there was something very appealing about having a secret like this. It was exciting, being away at college in this new little bubble of freedom and experiencing new opportunities.

Gabe Mardraggon was forbidden and God help me, it made him sexier.

My answer sealed our fate. "Okay… I'll go out to dinner with you."

"Want to come out to dinner with us tonight?" Ethan's voice busts through my memories. He's staring down at the trust agreement which is lucky for me, as my cheeks feel heated.

"Um, no. Thanks. I'm working on Shadow this evening." I stand from the chair, move to the edge of the desk and put my hand over the trust agreement so Ethan is forced to look up at me. "I think Gabe has earned the right to see Sylvie."

That suggestion troubles my brother, as I expected it would. He shakes his head ruefully. "I don't know, Kat."

"Sylvie wants it," I point out. "Your daughter wants this relationship."

Ethan scrubs his hands over his face, his expression miserable as he sighs. "Fine. I'll set something up with him."

"I'll be glad to chaperone if you want me to. I'm already dealing with him on the winery."

"Would you really?" Ethan asks, his expression lighting up with a surge of relief. "I just don't have it in me to be around anyone in that family. Logically, I understand he's not his father, but all I see is a Mardraggon and it makes me furious what they did."

"I understand," I say, moving my hand over to lay on top of his. "I got this, Ethan."