Her breath caught.
“There’s a horse in the clinic now, getting a check-up. Wanna meet the team?”
She nodded, letting him lead her across the yard, past parked staff cars and a massive horse transporter.
When they reached the door, he paused, twisting the handle.
“In here.”
The cool blast of antiseptic hit her nostrils. She stepped in—and froze.
Her lungs stuttered. Her heart cracked open.
Trixie.
The first love of her life stood in the centre of the exam room, glossy-coated and radiant under the overhead lights.
A young man in a white coat hovered beside her, scribbling notes.
“She’s not hurt, is she?” Shannon surged forward, hands trembling as she cupped Trixie’s warm neck, kissing her muzzle, burying her face into the soft silk of her coat.
“She’s perfect,” the vet said with a smile. “Fit as a fiddle.”
Tears spilled over her cheeks. She turned to Jamie. “Does this mean she’s yours now? You bought her?”
Jamie leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, exuding command. “I don’t own her.”
Her chest caved. “Then who—? Jamie, don’t tease. Who owns her?”
“You do.”
She blinked. “No, I—what?”
“She was always yours, Shannon.” His voice dropped to something more intimate. “Harry registered her in your name the day she was born. Harry kept the papers locked in his safe. I found them when we started negotiating the purchase.”
Her lip wobbled. “Harry never told me…”
Jamie stepped closer, towering and calm, his hand brushing a tear off her cheek with a knuckle.
“I’ve made sure she stays yours forever. Thedust needs to settle at Meadow Dawn before you go back,” Jamie said, watching her.
“I want to upgrade the place to mirror Unity’s setup. State-of-the-art. A legacy you can build on. All this,”—his hand swept across the yard—“belongs to us now, Shannon. But until then, I figured you’d want her close.”
She blinked at him, her voice quiet. “All this is yours, Jamie. Not mine.”
His jaw tightened, the muscle ticking once. He didn’t argue. Just kept stroking Trixie’s neck with slow, grounding sweeps of his palm, letting the silence speak for him.
A soft sigh slipped from her lips. “It’s such a shame I can’t ride her.”
“I know,” he agreed. “That’s why I’ve arranged for Mitchell Ashfield to ride her on your behalf. You’re listed as the owner and trainer. He’s already agreed but wants to discuss the next steps with you personally. Are you happy with that setup?”
Her mind spun. “Uh-huh.”
Joy and grief crashed together, knotting in her gut. Trixie was finally hers. Safe. But Harry was still dead. And now his yard was in her hands like he wanted.
Jamie noticed the shift in her energy. His hand settled on her lower back, his touch firm and reassuring. “Walk with me, love. I’ll show you her stall.”
He guided her out of the clinic, across the concrete yard. They entered a vast barn, the scent of fresh hay and leather thick in the air. Open-fronted stables lined the walls, many still empty.
