Page 61 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
Rowen.
She shook her head, forced her thoughts back to the present. “As for my plans–” She gestured to the house. “I still have to move my belongings, but I don’t own a lot. I should be able to do it over several weekends with a rental truck.”
Ciara and Rowan had already discussed living arrangements. For the time being, she would stay in the guest room as part of the lease of the ranch. The expansive suite was fully furnished, with its own bathroom and more than enough space. There was a boarding house several blocks over, but Rowan had talked her out of it. He’d been trying to save her money, he claimed.
Did he want her close for other reasons?
He gave no indication he was leaving anytime soon; instead he’d brought in more personal belongings and created an entire office in one of the spare bedrooms. Still, he might suddenly decide to return to his world of power and wealth, leaving her and the horse rescue behind. Not that it truly mattered, since soonshewould leave. That’s why she had to protect her heart.
Even if it was too late.
Other changes were transforming the ranch. The loaned workers were leaving as they hired local employees to take theirplace. The facilities were undergoing extensive updates, and the stables were emptying as loving families adopted recovered horses. Frank and the Byrne brothers represented the only constant presence, at least for now. Quinn and Spencer worked virtually and hadn’t detailed their future plans. As for Rowan…
His future was as cloudy as a stormy Irish morning.
Several horses stomped, drawing her attention. Freshly groomed, the gleaming animals roamed the broad open space, exercising and enjoying the mild morning. How different than the horses she’d first saved, healthy and happy and lively. All except Jasmine.
Ciara frowned as she regarded the sick mare, which stood alone, huddled against a corner. The ill palomino continued to eat and drink poorly, more restless by the day. Recent tests revealed nothing, which meant more tests, more waiting and more worrying.
“Everything is going to be all right,” her uncle’s warm voice interrupted her reverie, and she turned as Frank placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The perceptive man could always tell when she was upset. “You’re doing all you can, and worrying won’t help either of you. How about distracting yourself by updating us on the contest?”
She dragged her gaze away from the horse, brightening slightly at the reminder of their success. “It’s great. We already have enough money to renovate the administrative building and the back stables. The entry deadline for the contest has passed, but we still haven’t announced a winner. I’m trying to find a way to soften the loss for those who didn’t win.”
“I have an idea,” Davey proclaimed. “Why don’t you give them all a complimentary retreat?”
Ciara smiled at the youngest Byrne brother. “Those donations made the horse rescue possible, and I’m grateful toevery person who contributed. Unfortunately, we won’t have any money left for the horses if we give everyone a free vacation.”
Davey scrunched his face in concentration, then gasped. “What if you don’t give them a free stay, but a discount instead? Then they won’t feel like they lost money. It would also give them a reason to come.”
Ciara slowly straightened. “That’s a great consolation prize.”
Davey beamed, while Spencer tapped on his tablet. “Something like that would be easy to implement. I’ll write the copy for the website, and we can randomly draw the winner. If you’re ready, we can announce the lucky person online today.”
Ciara clapped her hands. Everything was coming together. “Sounds great.”
“Sounds bad,” Davey declared.
Ciara smothered a chuckle. Somehow her one-woman horse rescue had turned into a committee including all the Byrne brothers. It was all the better for it. “Is there a problem?”
“You can’t just announce it on the website.” Davey lifted both hands. “That’s so boring! You should have a big party.”
Ciara maintained a neutral expression, so he would know she took his ideas seriously. “A party may be a little much for announcing the winner, especially when he or she is unlikely to be present. The entrants came from all over the country.”
“The party doesn’t have to be just for the contest,” he persisted. “It can be for everything.”
She opened her mouth, yet the denial caught on her lips. A party solely for the raffle would be too costly, but for the horse rescue’s launch… “I was considering options for our grand opening, something more exciting than simply proclaiming we’re here. Something to draw attention, announce our presence to the community.” Ideas swirled in her mind, possibilities and opportunities. “We could invite people to the ranch for food, games and entertainment. Visitors could meet the horses andlearn about adoption. We could even have presentations and workshops.”
Uncail Frank nodded. “You’ll have to keep the more introverted horses away from the crowds, but with a ranch this large, it shouldn’t be hard. You could move them to the far stables for the day. Most of the horses are very social and love to be around people.”
“And some might get adopted,” Quinn broke in. “You could even use it as another fundraiser.”
“Local businesses might donate prizes,” Frank pointed out. “Grandma Leigh often contributes baked goods to charity events, and other businesses may supply products or gift certificates to promote their businesses.”
“We could always purchase prizes, too.” Ciara got a thick pad from the drawer and started a list. “Of course, there aren’t a lot of people nearby, but it would give us some local publicity.”
“If we put it on the Internet, the entire world could take part.” Spencer typed on the tablet, then turned it, displaying a picture of their social media page. “Some out-of-towners might consider adopting a horse or attending a retreat.”
The opportunities grew a thousandfold. “You could do that?”
