"Because none of my horses have been on this property until today's ride," Asha replies evenly. "And you transported Gypsy here using a commercial hauling service directly from California. Those trailers service multiple facilities. It's entirely possible she contracted the bacteria during transport."
The accusation hangs in the air, and Madison's face pales, her grip on London's arm tightening.
"London, I'm so sorry." Her voice breaks on the words, tears pooling in her eyes. "This is all my fault."
He immediately cups her face in his large hands, thumbs brushing away the tears that spill down her cheeks. "Hey, don't do this to yourself. I offered Gypsy a stall while you were in town.That was my decision. We don't know anything for certain until those tests come back."
Watching him tenderly console the woman who may have just destroyed his horse and endangered his entire stable unleashes a mix of emotions I was not prepared for. Rage, heartbreak, and a possessiveness so fierce it frightens me all war for dominance. He just found out she's likely responsible for his beloved horse falling ill. Strangles is not a death sentence, but it can be.
I turn away, unable to watch and rationalize how he ran from me when I needed him most. I know these scenarios are not the same, but all of this is too much on the heels of what we just shared. He cares for her, and my stomach can't take it.
I don't even make it halfway down the barn before Fisher is at my side. "Where are you going?"
"I need to get out of here," I say, not slowing my stride.
"You're running, then? What you saw back there isn't what you think."
Those words make me stop. "What is it you think I saw?"
"I'm not sure, but it looked a lot like hurt." He furrows his brow and looks toward the barn. "This isn't the same. Madison isn't Riley. He's not playing a game."
I cross my arms, my annoyance with his speech steadily rising. "Are you saying it was a game back then?"
"No." He runs his hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words, which is new for Fisher. Fisher doesn't trip over his words. One thing about Fish is that he's always been a reliable rock. Ever since we were young, he was wise beyond his years, which is why a knot starts forming in my stomach. His nerves are getting the best of him because he knows what I don't. He has information he didn't have before. "All I'm trying to say is he cares about Madison."
I roll my eyes. "I'm so glad you chased me outside to tell me that."
He reaches for my arm, stopping me from taking off. "You know what I'm trying to say. You, of all people, should know thedifference between caring for someone enough that you don't want to hurt them versus loving them."
He's right. I do. I sigh. "That doesn't mean I care to witness it." I let the silence hang between us. I'm not here to argue. Am I upset? Yes, but that's of my own doing. "Look, I need to find Seabiscuit. He ran off right before the storm. I hitched a ride with London on his horse."
"Okay, but just to confirm. You're not running?"
I shrug. "Not right now," I say with a small smile. "You gonna help me find that horse?"
"Let's do it," he says as we walk, the gravel crunching heavy underfoot.
Before London left me naked and cold to wallow in what he called our shared mistake, he said, "I am what you make me." I want to make him mine, but I'm learning that won't come easily. I have to accept that being different isn't a betrayal—it's survival. Making him mine might be painful, but where there is love, there is pain, and with faith, patience, and a sprinkle of luck, I think this pain will be useful not just for me…but for us.
Chapter 26
LANEY
"Hey, I've been looking for you. What are you doing hiding out over here?" I ask Asha, who's standing at the top of the steps overlooking the backyard gardens, where her family is hosting their Belmont Stakes watch party featuring three Thoroughbreds from their stables in the race. That's a huge deal, and I'd think she'd be happy, but since she's up here instead of enjoying the party, I know something is up.
"I just have a lot on my mind right now," she says before taking a sip of her champagne.
I lean onto the stone wall beside her. "Want to talk about it?" I ask, not wanting to unintentionally rock the wrong boat. I assume she's talking about the future of Fairfield, but it could also be about Trigg.
She licks her lips. "My dad just bought a new property."
"That's not a surprise, though, right? You knew he was looking at land." She had to bail on Sydney and me to go tour a property with him, and while she was inconvenienced, it hadn't really come up again. I was hoping that, during that time, he'd come clean about the things I already knew.
"No, it's not that…" She draws in a sharp breath, and I recognize her familiar reluctance. We hold back from naming the things we fear. "I guess it kind of is."
Her somber gaze locks with mine, and even shrouded in worry, she remains one of the most beautiful women I've ever encountered. There's something timelessly elegant about Asha Fairfield, a grace that makes the secret I've been keeping heavier with each passing day.
"I understand why he's making these moves. If we relocate our breeding facilities to a separate location, we will significantly reduce our maintenance costs. Running a breeding operation alongside training facilities and showcase stables, keeping everything pristine and uniform, is hard on our bottom line."
