Page 90 of Awaiting the Storm
Charli walks in while I’m knee deep in spreadsheets and leans on the edge of my desk with her arms crossed. She doesn’t say a word until I stop what I am doing and give her my full attention.
“I want the job,” she says.
“What job?”
“Head trainer.”
I blink up at her. “You?”
“Yes, me. I know this operation inside and out. I’ve worked every season since college. I trained under Giles. Hell, I’m the one who trained Jupiter for Shelby, and we just placed second in Cheyenne.”
I exhale slowly. “Charli, I know you’re talented, but this situation involves more than just one horse. We have twenty boarders and eight training contracts with outside clients. Ironhorse is about to launch a competing program, and we can’t afford to take any chances right now.”
“I’m not a chance,” she insists. “I’m the best option.”
I shake my head. “We need someone experienced and proven. If we don’t maintain our performance, we’ll lose clients. You’re not ready yet.”
She doesn’t flinch. “I am. You just refuse to see it.”
I look away, jaw tightening. “This isn’t personal.”
“It’s personal,” she says. “Because I give a damn. I love this ranch just as much as you do, and I’ve earned a shot. Give me one month. You don’t like how I’m doing? I’ll step down. No argument.”
I study her. My little sister, who’s not so little anymore. She’s stubborn as a mule, and she’s never backed down from a hard day’s work. She’s been here fighting for this ranch as hard as I have been.
“One month,” I say. “If things don’t go well or if you get into it and realize it’s too much for you, I’ll bring someone else in. Deal?”
Her face breaks into a grin. “Deal.”
Daddy ambushes me the next morning. He catches me in the barn as I’m saddling Luna.
“I’m hungry,” he announces.
I glance over at him. “Okay?”
“I want something good. Not oatmeal or turkey bacon. Let’s go to Ryse & Shine. Imma Jean makes those honey biscuits I like on Wednesdays.”
I groan. “I’m not in the mood to be social, Daddy.”
He crosses his arms and gives me the look. The one that says this isn’t up for discussion. “Too bad. You could use a little sugar and a strong cup of coffee too.”
And so I find myself in one of the booths at the Ryse & Shine Café,nursing a cup of coffee with a slash of sweet cream while Daddy chats up Imma Jean, flirting like he’s twenty years younger and his daughter isn’t sitting right here.
She sets down our plates—biscuits, sausage gravy, crispy bacon, seasoned fried potatoes, eggs over easy—and winks at him. “Let me know if you want something sweet for the road.”
“You wanna come home with me?” he asks.
“Oh my God, Daddy,” I gasp.
Imma Jean laughs and pats his shoulder before walking away. He watches her with a grin.
“You’re so embarrassing,” I say.
He shrugs. “What?”
I take a bite of biscuit and sigh. It’s so good that I moan.
“Grandma would have both our hides if she knew we were eating this,” I say.
