That was how I felt walking toward the pasture, a flashlight and shotgun in my hand. Me and Billie casually aimed our guns their way until the police arrived. Jared looked like he wanted to piss his pants when I pointed the gun directly at him.
I just smiled.
“I told you once not to inquire any further about my horse. I had mentioned that mountain lion with the bullet between its eyes and you still didn’t believe me? You really are as stupid as you look.”
“Shut up!” he yelled at me.
“Gladly,” I said as I saw the flashing red and blue lights pull up the drive.
I set the gun down to make the job easier for police, and Billie followed my lead. I wasn’t sure if Jared was high or just that full of rage, but he jumped for me. He tackled me to the ground and attempted to put a hand on my neck. Before he could apply any pressure, I got him once good in the nose.
Just then, the police surrounded us, and they pulled him off of me and immediately had him in cuffs. Marly looked like she was going to shit herself as her hands were pulled behind her back and cuffed.
Billie and I gave the police our statements, and then they left the farm with the two criminals in tow. I was asked if I wanted to press charges; I asked the officer if a horse ate hay.
He laughed at my joke and took them away.
Now a year later, the farm was much different than it was before. The new stable was three times the size of the old one. Granted, William had to spend a lot more than we got from the insurance claim, but it was the best way to grow the farm.
Half the stable was set up with nice stalls for boarding horses. We could collect what was essentially rent for each horse kept and cared for here, from their owners. The other half of the stable was for our private ventures. William and I had put in a lot of time and effort into a breeding facility and the stalls to accommodate that. Riley was dead set on still being able to compete competitively in the barrel racing competitions. I suggested that we put together a sponsored team by the farm. Riley loved the idea, but William was skeptical. With a three-month trial period, the team was a success. The sponsored riders kept their horses here and brought lots of competition earnings and recognition. Everyone wanted to check out the multipurpose facility.
Business was better than ever, and a retired Triple Crown winner was on its way to be delivered there, to his new home.
Things were finally going well. Riley and I worked as a great team, and he had truly become an advocate for horses. Occasionally, when he learned of a horse that needed to be rescued, he would hook up the trailer and come back with a new addition to the farm.
We had officially retired Tigger; he no longer felt the joy in barrel racing, but that was okay. Athena picked up the torch as Riley’s partner, and she hadn’t disappointed him yet. Tigger was fine being a companion horse on the farm.
I had a surprise for Riley that I was going to share with him today, as soon as he came back from this competition. One of the mares we were trying to breed was finally pregnant, but she was no longer the only pregnant lady on the farm.
When Riley finally came home, we unloaded Athena and the other horses that were part of the team. The other riders went back to their homes after cleaning up and putting their gear away. Rodrigo took care of the horses, and I was left to enjoy Riley’s company.
Riley pulled me into bed that night as a thunderstorm came through. Since the fire happened, I didn’t have a stable to retreat to for a while, and so Riley would hang out with me in the trailer. He was living here with me full time now.
I was absentmindedly playing with my mom’s ring on my finger when Riley asked if he could see it again. When I said yes, he pulled it off my left ring finger and then grabbed my right hand, placing it on that ring finger instead. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a box and opened it.
“Emma, I hope it comes as no surprise that you are the best thing to ever happen to me, even when I was stupid and had no idea. I want to keep working on this life, this business we have rebuilt. You are everything I have ever needed. But I need one more thing. I need you to be my wife. Will you?” he asked.
My heart leapt out of my throat. So I answered him the way that I did when he asked me to be his girlfriend. I placed my mouth on his and gave him the answer he was looking for.
When I pulled back to take a breath, I realized I was straddling him. I wiggled my hips suggestively and instantly felt his body react to the movement.
“So I have some good news to share with you,” I said.
“Any better than this?” he asked as he slipped the beautiful ring onto my left ring finger.
“Depends on who you ask,” I said.
Then I smiled.
Riley had never been very patient, and he looked like he wanted me to get on with it already so that he could get on me.
“You know the mare we have been trying to breed?” I asked.
“Mhmm,” Riley said, grinding his hips into my pelvic bone.
He was anxious to celebrate our engagement.
“Well, she’s finally pregnant,” I said with a smile.
