“I know what you’re thinking.” His expression turned hard as he stared at the horses. “Nothing excuses this. And you’re right. But you can’t imagine how quickly things go wrong, how quickly things… progress. I needed the money for her, and a lifetime of savings just went so fast. She was the one who knewhow to care for horses. I tried, but…” His voice trailed off, and he breathed deeply. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”
Despite everything, a sliver of compassion sparked. Maybe it was the hopelessness in his eyes, or the tender way he held his wife, but clearly matters were not as she first assumed.
“I have to sell the horses. I was hoping someone would want them for…” He hesitated. “Well, for something good, but I see the reality. I’m just sorry it went this far.” He shook his head, straightened. “As I said, the auction isn’t until noon. Come back later, and you can get what you came for.”
“Actually, I came early for a reason.” Ciara stepped forward, breathing deeply. Only the perfect pitch would show the opportunity forbothof them. “I’m not a kill buyer.”
He cocked his head to the side, his gaze turning skeptical. “You don’t look like one, but I just assumed. I tried to find a reputable buyer. A few people came out, but they said the horses were in too rough shape. Not worth the time and effort.”
The horses gazed forlornly at her, and her heart strained. They were worth all the time and effort in the world. “I don’t feel the same,” she said firmly. “I’m not here to ship them across the border. I run a horse rescue. I rehabilitate horses, helping them recover so they can find good homes.”
For a second his eyes lit with something akin to hope; in the next his shoulders slumped. “I can’t afford to donate them. We need the money too badly.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you donate them,” Ciara quickly corrected. “I want to buy them.”
The man looked confused. “Like I said, the auction is in a few hours. You can bid on the ones you like.”
“I don’t want to buy just a few. I want them all, and I’m willing to pay for it.” She reached into her purse, pulled out the check she’d already written. “I calculated the price per poundand added extra for the inconvenience of cancelling the auction. I hope my offer is generous.”
His eyes widened when he saw the check, a good sign, she hoped. She wasn’t lying when she said he’d be unlikely to get more, even with multiple bidders. Of course, that meant she’d probably pay less if she waited for the auction, but she couldn’t risk losing a single horse. “I’d like to do this now before the auction so I can spare the horses – and you.”
He nodded, yet still seemed unsure. She gestured to the animals, beautiful even in their state. “You’d get less in the auction. And you know what will happen if someone else buys them.”
The uncertainty in his eyes disappeared, replaced by hope, satisfaction and clear, unadulterated relief. “Despite how it seems, I care about the animals. I was just so preoccupied with Sue.” He shook his head. “No more excuses. I may not have done right by them before, but I can do right by them now. Are you ready to make the deal?”
“This very moment,” she confirmed. “I have trailers waiting on standby at our ranch. They can come as soon as I call.”
“Then you have yourself a deal.” He reached out with a calloused hand, and she shook it heartily. The sun emerged from behind the clouds, its brightness reflecting pure happiness. By the man’s hopeful look, she hadn’t just helped horses today.
“It’ll be difficult to cancel the auction at this late time, but I’ll message the people who inquired and put up a sign,” he said. “If you come inside, we’ll get everything settled.”
“That would be great.” Ciara beamed. Her mood wavered slightly when she cast one more look at the horses, but she fortified herself. Soon they would blossom, just like the last rescues. “Before we conduct business, do you mind if I give the horses more water? I brought buckets in my trunk.”
He turned to the horses and seemed surprised at the state of the water. “Of course. The hose is on the east side of the house.”
“Great.” She turned to her car, hesitated. “Also, I was wondering if there might be a cooler place we can bring them. Somewhere with shade?”
At the sight of the sun-drenched paddock, he deflated a little more. Clearly, he hadn’t realized how much he’d neglected the horses. “There’s another paddock on the east side of the building. It’s smaller, but has some shade. If you want, I can help–”
“That won’t be necessary,” Ciara quickly said. She wouldn’t ask the older man to do any physical work, but the offer was kind. “If you give me a few minutes, I’ll move them.”
He wiped his dusty palms on his overalls. “I’ll get everything prepared and meet you inside.”
Ciara raced back to the car to get the buckets. Filling two at a time, she quickly brought them to the horses. The animals were thirsty, but not afraid. Hopefully, once they were treated properly, they would recover without any lingering effects.
After the horses were settled, she couldn’t stop herself from staying for a few minutes, granting comforting words and gentle touches. Most of the horses were receptive, perking up at the attention. She could have remained all day, but she pulled herself away. She wouldn’t give Mr. Owens a chance to change his mind.
Judging by the warm greeting the older man gave her, there was no danger of that. From there, everything progressed smoothly, albeit slowly. After she gave him the check, they spent time discussing the horses, then he went off to get their papers.
His wife returned in his absence, a beaming smile on her face. Mrs. Owens still thought she was Jane, but Ciara didn’t mind. She learned Jane was the couple’s daughter, and that she was sweet, kind and all things wonderful. She played along,and the woman basked in her company. Mrs. Owens shared how much she loved horses, and seemed to have no idea of the state they were in. She did realize that Ciara was taking them, however, and made her promise to take good care of them. She knew she would, because Jane had always been the most responsible of daughters.
Finally, Mr. Owens returned with the documents. They discussed the information for each horse, and it was almost noon by the time she called Frank and asked him to send the men with the trailers. They wouldn’t arrive for an hour, but that was fine. She needed time to prepare the animals for the trip.
Mr. Owens walked her to the door, his demeanor changed drastically from her arrival only hours ago. “Thank you again. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
“I appreciate you changing your plans at the last minute,” she said honestly. “I know this was an inconvenience.”
“It was worth it. Those kill buyers are bad news. One even sent a nasty message when I told him the auction was cancelled.”
