Page 93 of Country Contract

“Yes, ma’am. Mr. King in today?”

We walk and talk as she leads us into the main hallway.I soon realize this small house isn’t a house at all, it’s their office.

“He just ran out to another stable to help break a tricky mare. She’s been close, but the inconsistencies she’s getting on her ranch bring back bad habits before they can truly break her. Tommy is in the back. Who is this gem?” Sally looks over to me, and her older eyes show me love at the first glance. Her kind and gentle eyes move up and down my body, taking in the details of my outfit and my hat. I move my hands to take it off my head, but she raises a hand to stop me. “No need to be so formal. We’ll be heading outside in a minute.”

“This is my friend, Harlow. She’s got an eye for beautiful horses,” he says confidently.

Mrs. King grins at me. “I’m sure she does. You look like the kind of girl who knows something good when she has it.”

We walk through the office and come to a mud room in the back with a pen set up and eight small but excited puppies running around. Their little yips and barks get louder before I hear a thump and running paws. A longhaired and springy dog jumps the gate with ease to check on the pups. They crowd her and look for her assurance.

“How old?” Harrison’s eyes brighten at the sight of the little fur balls. I’m sure I looked the same way when I first saw Cleo.

“Almost seven weeks. They’ll be ready to go in about two more. You looking for a boy or girl?”

“Doesn’t matter to me.”

“Well, get in there and see who you click with!” Sally beams, crossing her sturdy arms under her chest.

Harrison lifts one leg over the gate and then the other, but no time is wasted before Mom and the pups all rushover and shower him with love. Mom is mostly black and white with touches of brown. Her eyes are a piercing blue and trained on Harrison’s movements as he pets her litter.

Harrison sees a red and tan pup waiting at the back of the crowd, tail wagging excitedly. It has a golden color to its eyes and a white belly.

The little one waits and waits until Harrison’s arm reaches over the other pups, and he scoops him or her up into his arms. His face is soon covered in little kisses and its butt wiggles so much it almost falls out of his grasp. After a few loving strokes from Harrison, the pup calms down and looks attentively up at him.

“Boy or girl?” he asks.

Looking over at Mrs. King, I see her hands settled on her hips with a wide grin.

“That’s a girl. We’ve been calling her Red since she’s the only one.”

Harrison looks over to me. “I think I found my girl.” He winks.

Rolling my eyes, I nod in agreement because I could tell from here that pup is his.

“Well, let’s bring her out with us, and she can visit your new mare.” Sally waves us out the back door, and we make our way to the stable.

It’s huge inside with cobblestone walkways, large stalls, and sliding iron openings for the horses to peek out if they are given the option. On each door is a rectangular chalkboard that has the tenant’s name written in some pretty impressive script.

As I walk down the stalls, I read some of the names to my right.

King.

Justice.

Big Mac.

Crown Royal.

Apple Jax.

Brownie Batter.

“Where is Majesty?” Harrison asks as we come to the last few stalls.

“She’s in the indoor arena. We weren’t sure if you were going to want to ride her, so we do have tack ready to go.”

Majesty?What a name. Is a horse like that going to do well on a farm?

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