When they arrived all the hands were on deck to unload the horses. Cody made sure the most expensive horses got the bigger more prominent stalls, because as he said they were used to more luxurious surrounds. He said winning horses were an extension of most people’s families. The vet they had chosen was on hand and he had startling news for them, it seemed that one of the mares was in foal. Cody said he’d put in calls to try and find out who they had bred her with.
Depending on the stud used she could have a foal that wasn’t worth anything. According to Darren the vet she was close to delivering, he said it would only be a few days if that before she did, he noted that she was carrying very, large as well. So, they would keep an eye on the horse. Once Cody got a hold of the old owner, they told him they weren’t sure who the foal belonged too. They had mated her with Gamblers Run one of the horse’s she’d bought tonight, he had won a huge race this year and his stud fees the owner said had nearly broke them. But they said they had found she was carrying too large in their opinion to be carrying a thoroughbred’s foal, and they assumed she’d gotten mated up with one of the wild horses that filter through their property from time to time.
But the vet’s timeline matched up with the delivery date the vet had set. He said he could do a horse DNA comparison once the foal was born. Angel had smiled she’d never thought she’d be trying to figure out the parentage of a foal. But the vet explained that the DNA test were needed for racing anyway, so they had proof of a horse’s blood line.
She stood on her back porch and watched the stars in the sky, the moon was full, and it had been a hell of a day, she just wanted to relax. She’d been a long way to that, when Grant came running up and said “Cody, wants you to call the vet. Tempest Reign is having problems already.” She rushed inside to her office and hit the speed dial for the vet who assured her he was only halfway home, and he would turn right back around. He told her trailering to and from the auction had probably brought on early labor. She rushed down to the barn where she saw Tempest Reign lying on her side. She had just got the damn horse and already she was attached to it.
She’d only been there five minutes when the vet came rushing in. She watched as he rolled up his sleeves and went to check the horse. Within a minute, he was telling them the foal was turned wrong, and he was going to have to readjust it. He showed Cody how to help him as he realigned the unborn horse then they saw its tiny hooves being pushed out. He assisted by pulling on the foal’s legs to help it be birthed sooner. When the solid black horse was born, she herself didn’t see the need for a test that was Gambler Run’s son. Everyone calmed down and thought it was all over until the horse began to contract again. The vet said loudly “I’ll be damned, no wonder she was carrying large.” With his assistance, she delivered another foal, another boy who appeared to be identical to his brother. She heard Cody whisper “Identical foals that are both alive.”
He said it with such wonder in his voice, that she was curious. It was the vet who filled her in on the fact that mares who carry twins are generally made to abort one foal, because of how dangerous the labor could be to the horse. For her to not only carry two nearly, full term foals and both live is miraculous, and for her to be healthy afterward as well. I’ll stay here overnight to watch the foals but, they seem fine to me. Cody looked at Angel and said, “You should be thinking of names for the little ones.” Angel said evenly “We will cross that bridge later, let’s get these boys through the night first.”
Angel still couldn’t believe it a week later when she, looked in the stall and saw the horses. They were beautiful, miniature copies of their father who it had been proven was their sire. It was nearly unheard of.
Kyle and his wife had come earlier in the week and they had finalized some things about the rehab center, his wife had been as excited as he himself was. When Kyle had seen the two foal’s he said “I’ll be damned.” He’d then looked at Angel and said, “You’ve got someone good on your side girl, things like this don’t happen often.”
They had decided on naming the twins Gambler’s Storm, and Gambler’s Tempest which basically meant the same thing. Tempest Reign herself was doing very well shockingly enough. The original owners had stopped in to catch a glimpse of the miracles, they had been stunned when Cody had called them back after the DNA test to tell them the news.
They had promptly fired their vet for not catching the twin pregnancy to begin with. Racing was an expensive business mistakes like that could not be overlooked. As it sat those foals were worth a fortune right now, when Cody got done training and racing them, they’d be a gold mine.
They had a meeting with a realtor tomorrow to look at four ranches in the area which were up for sale. She had invited Kyle and his wife along for their input since they’d be living on the premises. When she got out of the shower the next morning she pulled on some tailored dress slack, her dress boots and a tailored white button up shirt with a black tailored dress jacket over it. She was going for the business look today. When she arrived at the realtor, she realized it was the first time since coming to town she had not had to bring security with her. But she knew in large part that was because her father and grandfathers would be there as well as her grandparents, aunts, and Kyle and Meredith. Any more would be massive over kill. The realtor told them about the properties she had available then tried unsuccessfully to try and interest her in a larger place. The first place on the list she had to admit was beautiful it had a natural pond on the property it would have to be cleaned and drained and have work done to it, but the landscape was beautiful. The main house was a decent size for Kyle’s family to grow into. But there was something missing, and she could tell Kyle felt it too. So, they were off to the next place, and the next one. Finally at the last place there were oak trees lining the driveway entrance all the way up to the house. The main house looked like a home the barns were a little on the small side but that could be rebuilt no problem. There were no zoning conditions they had to meet, and there would be no interference from the neighbors as the closest one was a mile away. It was plenty big enough and she could tell from Meredith’s eyes this was the one she dreamed of. Kyle’s eyes were taking in everything and he seemed energized.
She looked at her grandparents and aunt and they too could feel the positive vibe coming from the land. She looked at the realtor and said, “We’ll take it.” The realtor then said, “There is land that surrounds this place that is available for sale as well if you need it later.” She was surprised when her father said, “I will buy the land surrounding the ranch, I don’t want anyone trying to move in and upset what she is trying to build here.” She herself would have bought the land, but she was, just happy that they were going to be able to get things started soon.
Her Aunt Ellen had volunteered to be project manager and anyone who didn’t conform to her idea of the best and fastest she knew her aunt would chew them up and spit them out. Ellen already had contractors lined up and an architect who was going to sit down with Kyle and Meredith to first make sure the main house was safe and the way they wanted before they moved on the outer buildings. They would have a long time, care facility here for those who didn’t need medical care but needed to recuperate from injuries and the like. She had already spoken to the local juvenile authorities and, they were open to day trips for their kids who showed promise. Things were going to happen, and she couldn’t wait to see them complete.
She had an event with her family to attend for charity that evening it was hard to believe she hadn’t even been in town two weeks and things had happened this far this fast. Her grandma Belle and Marigold had brought her the dress they had chosen. It was rushed with a mermaid design had a bolero with it, it was in black and had crystals on it under the bust line, she had to admit it fit her perfectly. She had someone coming to the house to do her hair and makeup for the evening, her grandma Marigold’s idea. She was, wearing strappy black heels and her hair was being piled up in curls all over her head. Her hair was up perfectly with little jewel stick pins in it arranged. She wore a necklace her grandma belle had given her, while her grandma Marigold had given her the earrings and bracelet to match; she’d been stunned when her aunts had given her the matching ring as well.
She’d never been so spoiled or felt so loved. It wasn’t the items that they gave her that made her feel so loved it was the look in their eyes when they gave them. She grabbed her clutch which had her credit card, her ID, her cellular and her invitation to this event and headed downstairs where to her surprise most of her family awaited. When they saw her, the men did a double take and the women clapped. Her grandmothers met her at the bottom step and said “You look so beautiful” almost in unison.
Hunter cleared his throat and said emotionally “Wow, I just find my little girl and she is already grown up. One thing is for sure I will have the most beautiful escort in the place.” When they made it, outside she was shocked to see a stretch limo that they were all apparently traveling in. As they arrived at the charity ball they were assisted from the car and her father offered her his arm. She looked around in stunned amazement this place was so far outside anything she’d ever known.
How in the hell was she supposed to fit in here, she mentally shook herself and gave herself a dressing down, making sure she reminded herself that this was her world she’d been born to it. It wasn’t her fault she’d been abandoned this was her world she wasn’t an outsider. So, her head held high and a smile on her face she walked with her dad into her idea of hell.
She’d lived among crooks, conmen, criminals, murderers and addicts; she knew their look and this room despite their money reeked of them all. She was in a room full of sharks just waiting to scent blood in the water. She said as much her dad saying, “Shark infested waters ahead.” To which her father smirked a bit and said, “Good eye, there will be those genuinely interested, those who are snide, those who want your money, and those who want all the above.” She glanced at her father and said, “Thanks for the heads up.” It was said, sarcastically and he knew it. He continued saying “I have some enemies here who would love nothing better than to get back at me through you. Stick close to, one of us at, all times. If you get, separated we should be easy, to find if anyone asks you for, anything tell them to contact your attorney, Hannah will know how to deal with them. If anyone gets to persistent look for Grant, he will never be more than ten foot from you at all times.” He made it sound like she was going into a war of sorts, and she guessed she was more, or less.
When the family reached their table, they found their name cards and seated themselves. They hadn’t been long seated when one of she would guess her father’s enemies walked up, he said “Hunter why not introduce me to your lovely escort.” She figured the joke was on this man if he thought he remotely had a chance with her. Hunter said, “Marcus Dermot this is my daughter Angel McDaniel’s, Angel, Marcus is one of the men I told you about earlier.” The man’s eyes were filled with disbelief about her being his daughter, but when he took in the expression of the people at the table what came out was “Good God, you’re serious?”He glanced at her then at the people at the table and said “Judging by your table companions and the fact that she has the Denae hair I’d guess she is Stacia’s daughter as well.
How in the world did you hide her all these years?” It was his father Jamison who said “We didn’t hide her, Angel was stolen from us, and until recently we didn’t know of her existence. But we’re very thankful now.” The man Marcus said simply “I can see why, she’s enchanting.” To which Angel said coolly “And she’s sitting right here, she isn’t something for you to talk about as if she doesn’t exist. Either you learn respect and address me properly or don’t address me at all.” She saw Marcus turn vivid purple by the time she’d finished speaking, then she heard someone laughing and a man’s voice say, “I’ll be damned, I don’t think I’ve seen him put in his place quite so neatly since the last time Hunter did it.”
Hunter rose and said, “Damon when did you get into town?” The man in question was in his mid to late twenties so she wondered at his relationship with her father. She listened as the man said “I got back last night, just in time for Patricia’s get together here. You know how it is, either we attend her forays, or she makes our lives hell. It’s easier to give in.”
Hunter nodded and smiled he said, “Damon you remember my family, and the Denae’s.” At his nod, Hunter said “But you don’t know our Angel, Angel this is Damon Huntington, Damon this my daughter Angel.” She noted if her father had introduced her as his Mistress this man wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. But the fact she was his daughter caused him to choke on his drink. Angel smiled and said, “Nice to meet you I think, though if you keep choking like that it might be the last meeting you ever have.” Damon parroted the consensus around here saying “Are you serious?” Hunter nodded and replied, “She is mine and Stacia Denae’s daughter.” As if mentioning her mother explained everything Damon said “Wow, I’m gone a bit over a month and come back to everything changing.”
said without looking over her shoulder at her father and Damon “Not everything is changing unfortunately, some people are still jackasses.” Hunter followed her gaze which was on John Kingsley and his mulish son Jared Kingsley. He asked, “Are they still giving you problems?” Angel scoffed loudly and said “With, Grant and the others around the ranch? Please they’d have to be suicidal to try. Then again they’d have to be suicidal to try me period I’d bury them both.”
Angel excused herself to go with her grandmothers who wanted to introduce her to someone. Hunter snagged Grant and said, “Make that no more than five feet, Kingsley’s here.” Grant nodded and followed behind them, Damon who hadn’t missed this byplay asked, “What’s the problem?” Hunter broke the story down for him up till current day and Damon said, “Good God, how could she have done that to her child, to your child?” He couldn’t believe how well the girl had turned out to have been raised in such a manner.
His eyes trailed the room until they found, her and he said, “Uh oh, looks like Jeffries is trying to move in on your daughter.” Hunter laughed and said “Seriously? Have you taken a look at my daughter, there isn’t a red-blooded man not related to her tonight who isn’t drooling over her, but she won’t give them the time of day, not unless they’re a horse, or someone she cares about.”
They made their way slowly to where she stood with her grandmothers and Jeffries and arrived just in time to hear her say “Thank you kindly for saying I’m beautiful, sir, though I have no idea who the hell you are. But I have a mirror I know what I look like; your commentary isn’t needed nor is it wanted.”
Both Hunter and Damon winced; Hunter said, “That could have been better done.” Angel said laughingly “Yea and when he told me I was beautiful he could have looked at my face and not my breast too, but he didn’t.” Damon laughed, and Hunter sent a serious glare at Jeffries. Angel said smoothly “Oh, calm down dad, he isn’t the first guy to stare at my breast here tonight; I doubt he’ll be the last. Hell, for that matter guys have been trying to see through my clothes since I hit twelve if you want to be precise about it.” Hunter said through gritted teeth “I don’t care to be too precise about it, or to know if any did thank you very much.”
Angel couldn’t contain her mirth at his expense and said “Don’t worry dad, I don’t have time for men at, the moment. The second I do I’ll call you and, tell every last detail.” Hunter must have realized she was having him on because he said, “You little heathen, what did I do in my lifetime to deserve such an irreverent child.” This was said with a, smile so she knew he was joking. She replied smoothly “You must have done something good Dad.”
Before they could get into anymore conversation Patricia arrived to try and steal her brother, but Angel waylaid her saying “Mrs. Davidson, I have been meaning to ask you, what exactly does your charity do? I’ve been looking into various charities in town and am working on a project of my own at present.”
Hunter knew she got the ability to completely turn things to her way of thinking from him. She had Patricia Huntington-Davidson eating from her palm in five minutes flat and anyone who knew her knows that is impossible. When it came around to asking about her new pet project Patricia looked enthralled with all the plans and things that she had planned for the rehab center. Patricia said “Anytime you need help with fundraisers or projects for the center you give me a call I would love to be a part of that effort and helping with it. We’ll get together one day and have lunch and discuss our charities.” When Patricia walked off without remembering to take her brother he said, “You have to tell me how to do that.”
Angel laughed but before she could say anything her mobile in her clutch rang and she answered it, it was Cody, and there was a possible problem with Gambler’s Tempest. She told him she’d be home at once. She told her dad “I have to go, its Gambler’s Tempest they think he’s sick, vets on the way now.” Grant had poured from the shadows and said, “I can get her home Hunter and have the driver come back for you all.” Hunter nodded and then hugged his daughter and said “If you need us, you call we’ll come by as soon as it’s okay to leave. If you end up at the clinic, you call either way.”
When she was gone Damon asked, “Who is Gambler’s Tempest?” Hunter explained briefly and Damon said eyes wide “You’re staying here at this event, over seeing if that foal is, okay? Hell, Hunter that damn foal is a miracle to begin with.” Hunter nodded and said, “You’re right but their gone now, I don’t have a ride.” Damon smiled and said “Yes, you do.”