A Fair to Remember by Barbara Ankrum Read Free Book Online Page A

ghosts.
    For a long time, he stared out across the valley, listening to the sound of water rushing over the stones. Monday lay down atop his dad’s grave and stretched out. Jake reached down to scratch her. “You would’ve liked this dog, Dad. Looks like she’s already likes you.”
    Above him, a Stellar’s jay peered down at him and ruffled its black and blue feathers. Jake smiled as his chest tightened. “I suppose you both already know I saw Olivia last night, too. She’s turned into a beauty, hasn’t she? Yeah. She’s dead set against us, but I don’t think she knows what she wants. Something has her spooked.” He grinned. “Pardon the pun. But I have a feeling she could bear a little watching over, if it’s not too much trouble.”
    “Anyway, I’m not planning on failing, but if this doesn’t work out,” he said at last, “I’ve decided I’m gonna sell the house. Your house. Pull up stakes here once and for all. I can’t really think of another reason to stay besides Olivia.”
    He got slowly to his feet. Monday jumped up, ready to follow. “Anyway… that’s what I’m thinking about. Miss you guys.” He started to go, but turned back around. “Oh, and don’t worry about Deke. He’s doin’ good and I’m going to see him today. Who knew we’d end up business partners?” The jay squawked at him and he smiled. “Yeah, me either. You two take care. I’ll see you again, soon. But not too soon.”
    As he pulled the truck back out onto the road, the jay called out behind him. Jake smiled and headed toward Lane’s End Ranch, the Canaday place.
    *
    Carrie Keeler pulled into Lane’s End with her latest problem child at nine a.m. The red and grey horse trailer, emblazoned with the rescue logo on the side, was becoming a familiar sight here since Olivia had started her fledgling business of teaching dressage to area kids.
    What she did for Carrie wasn’t for pay, because the rescue organization spent all their donation dollars on pulling horses from terrible situations.
    Was it crazy she had no fear of horses on the ground and yet she couldn’t bring herself to ride again? Yes. Yes, it was. But it was her crazy and she’d learned to live with it.
    Olivia generally reserved Sundays for this sort of work, since, as the official black sheep of the family, she didn’t attend church with everyone else and, for that same reason, Sunday mornings were typically clear.
    This horse, Zabar, Carrie had warned her, would be a challenge. Even as her friend pulled the truck into the yard, the sides of the six-horse trailer shook with its single passenger’s wrath. He was kicking the living daylights out of the transport from the inside, which was never good and could easily lead to a fall.
    Zabar’s survival and future would depend on what Olivia could accomplish with him, today, as Carrie had been completely unable to connect with him in the drive from Wyoming. A horse who’d been abused and neglected, and who couldn’t bond with a human, would never be adopted. And putting him down, the only other alternative at this point, was something none of them wanted.
    But she felt sure she could help him. At least, she hoped she could.
    Carrie backed the trailer into position near the round pen, parked the truck and came around to unlatch the gate.
    Jake’s truck pulled in as she and Ken, her father’s long time stableman and a real part of the Canaday family, were attempting to unload the horse from trailer.
    A rush of pleasure skidded through her, as Jake got out of his truck. The memory of the kiss they’d shared in the water made her heart race. Idiotically, she wanted him to kiss her again. Right now. But a little warning bell dinged in her head, urging caution. But for better or worse, Jake was back in her life. The question was, how exactly did he fit in?
    Monday jumped out of the truck with Jake, who looked every inch the cowboy in his worn, low-slung denims, boots and rolled up shirtsleeves. As