By the end of the meeting things had been completed as she had hoped, and everyone knew what they had to get done. Her Aunt Lillian would be handling ordering fifteen passenger vans for the Center and two trucks, as well as a minivan for Meredith’s personal use. She herself would call the trailer dealership and have two trailers built to specification.
The crews were already working on the dorms now, building them. The old barn had been razed and they had built a new more modern one with cement flooring that had drains for cleaning them. Everything would be state of the art.
When she arrived home, she saw that Brady was just returning. She, walked out to the barn as he was unloading the stallion. Cody’s breath left his body all at once as he breathed out “God, he’s beautiful. Don’t get me wrong we have some beautiful horse’s here, but this fella he is amazing. Imagine the horse’s he will throw.”
Heartbreaker threw back his head when he scented the two mares. And Cody laughed and said “Tim got it right; he is a randy little bastard. He is wanting at the mares now.” He paused then said, “I don’t get why he sold him though, he could have gotten the twenty-grand in stud fees from someone.” Angel smiled then said evenly “Our randy fellow here made it hard for Tim to keep him, he kept jumping the fence to cover Tim’s mares.”
Cody stared at the horse then said, “Well at least we’ve been forewarned that he will be trying to jump fences and cover all mares present.” Cody, nudged Angel then said, “Those interviews I told you about the first rider will be here this afternoon, will you be available?” Angel mentally went over her list of things she had to do today. It was already 2 p.m. she said simply “Ring my cell when they are here, and I will come down.”
She turned to Cody before leaving and asked, “Did you get a chance to get that information off my desk?” Cody paused as if trying to remember what information then said “Yes, I got it, it’s in the office in the barn. Let me get all these ladies and gents into bed and then we can discuss those too.”
She nodded then decided to have a slow walk back up to the house; she didn’t take near about enough time just for herself to relax and breathe in the fresh air, just to enjoy all that she has. She knew she was pushing herself hard, but she really needed to get these two projects off the ground. She couldn’t really explain the driving need it was just there she needed this. Once everything was up and running, she could take a step back some.
Kyle would run the everyday part of teaching people to ride. She had several Therapists who were going to volunteer their time to talk with those who needed them. She even had doctors who wanted to volunteer time, they’d come in anytime a guest needed them.
Everything was falling into place; it only hit her it was a week out from Christmas when she walked in the door because she saw the huge tree in her family room. She knew she didn’t have a lot of time to get out and about to shop for people. So, she did the next best thing, she blew off the rest of her work for the day and went online. She gave her credit card a serious workout. But she believed in rewarding those who helped you and stood by you. And this would be her first Christmas with her family she wanted to always be able to remember it.
That’s when the idea hit her, Kyle and his wife and their sons were living in their camper trailer out at the Hope House Ranch. She wondered if it would offend them if she offered them one of the empty two-bedroom homes here until their place was finished. She put the theory to the test by calling Meredith, when she answered she said “Hi, Meredith, it’s Angel here. I don’t know what I’ve been thinking lately but, we have a house here on the property it isn’t big by any means, but if you all wanted to stay there until your place is finished it’s yours for the asking. It’s just a little two bedroom nothing fancy, but it’d be a good place for Christmas.” She seriously thought she’d done something wrong when she heard Meredith crying on the other end of the line and could hear Kyle trying to comfort her. Kyle was the one who said “You are, something else Angel, since the day we met you, you have blessed our lives. We’d love to stay in the house.” Angel smiled and said “I’ll have Katherine get it ready for you guys. Feel free to come check it out.”
When she’d gotten off the phone, she realized she had a lot more to do. She phoned Deanna to ask if it were possible to get a rush job done on the small house before the Barlow family arrived. Deanna said she’d already finished that small house, but she could do a rush Christmas decorating job.
She figured she should give Cody a heads up since he would be their neighbor. When she made it to the barn, she noted Cody wasn’t alone. She walked up on the conversation she knew she wasn’t supposed to hear. As the person standing next to Cody said snidely “It is my job as the jockey to ride, it is your job to just get them ready when I want them. An owner is going to pander to their jockey more than their trainer any day.” Angel stared at the back of the woman and said coldly “I wouldn’t count on it, sister.” At Angel’s voice the girl turned towards her and asked angrily “And who are you? A ranch hand.” Angel laughed and said, “Does it look like I’m dressed like a ranch hand?” The girl took in Angel’s obviously expensive attire and said, “So you’re the daughter of the owner or his Mistress one.” Angel said “With all those wrong assumptions it Is a miracle you can even ride a horse without trying to go backwards. I’m Angel McDaniel’s and this is my ranch. I own it, and you’re unwelcome. No one in this lifetime will disrespect a man I respect completely are we clear? I wouldn’t expect an offer from any friends of mine.” By this time Grant had arrived and was glaring as he escorted the jockey who wouldn’t be off the property.
Cody said “Angel, you don’t have to protect me child.” Angel replied vehemently “You’re my family, everyone here is a family, and no one messes with my family.” She shook herself mentally and then said, “I came to tell you I offered Kyle and Meredith the house near yours until theirs is finished, so they can have a proper Christmas.”
Cody just shook his head in disbelief and said, “You’re something special Miss. Angel, and God help any man who breaks your heart. We would all kill him and bury the body.” They had a quirky extended family all of them working together for a common goal, it worked for them.
She asked, “How’s the new babies?” Cody smiled and said “I got to spend a little time going over those beauties you bought for the center. They’re going to be good little riders, and those you bought for here are some fine horse flesh.” He paused then said, “But I’m going to have to work with Heartbreaker, I think he’s so damn randy because he’s bored. Thoroughbreds they are smart, they know when they’re being humored and not appreciated. We need an exercise rider at least until we find a good jockey.”
She asked cautiously “How many more of these jockey meetings you got scheduled today?” Cody sighed and said “There are two more coming for interviews. Jockeys mostly aren’t a loyal bunch; they are there for the race and then they are gone. I’d really like us to find one willing to stay and ride exclusively for Wild Creek then the horses will feel more secure as well.”
A male voice behind them said evenly “Then I’m your man.” He paused then continued saying “I didn’t mean to eaves drop but I couldn’t help but overhear what your trainer was saying.” Angel shook her head and looked at the Hispanic man who stood before her she said, “He’s not just my trainer; he’s my friend, Mi Familia.” She paused looking at him closely taking in his appearance before she, noted he looked nervous as if he were worried about something. She continued saying “Around here people have to pass a strict background check, but those who stay become one of us, our family. We want the same loyalty from who we bring here. That we would give to anyone else.” She could see the shadows in this guy’s eyes; he had secrets, things he wanted to hide. She said, “This is your chance, Enrique, you can come clean on the floor about everything, and we wipe the slate clean, or you can leave and never come back.”
His eyes widened the moment she called him by his name. She said, “There are hundreds of ways to tell when a person lies. I’ve studied that art religiously my whole life. I can help you change your life and make it better. But making the choice to do things right is up to you.” Enrique was stunned; he’d never been called on his lies quicker by anyone in his life. Hell, he wasn’t even from here, some rich guy had picked him up in the city dressed him all proper and paid him to do a job. Hell, he hadn’t known the girl would be this damn smart.
He asked, “Who are you lady?” his accent bleeding through, Angel laughed and said “I was raised in California in one of the worst neighborhoods you’d ever see. People died every day. So, nothing you tell me will surprise me. But I won’t be lied too, cheated, or have those I love taken advantage of. So, you decide right now Enrique what kind of life do you want?”
She was young a lot younger than him, and she had lived harder than him and look where she was. She could help him get a better life, for him and his sister. He had been Louisa’s only supporter for two years now. He asked, “What kind of help can you give me?”
Cody answered for her saying, “Room and board in exchange you bust your ass all day without complaint. We will teach you what you need to know about horses.” Enrique said evenly, “I got a sister, I am her guardian, and she’s thirteen. I wouldn’t be here trying this now if I didn’t need a way to take care of her.” Angel asked, “What do you have to tell me first?” Enrique sighed and said “This old white guy he pulled me off the streets and asked me to do a job. I’m just supposed to mess things up a bit, nothing serious. Just misplaced stuff he said.”
Angel nodded and said “If you work hard, and I do mean hard no slacking, I’ll make sure your sister has the things she needs for school, and you’ll have a roof over your head. You’ll make 400 a week, it isn’t as much as the other hands, but they have a lot more experience and I’ll be footing the bill for your sister’s education.
Now tell me this Enrique, how smart is your sister?” Talking about his sister was the way into Enrique’s heart, he clearly loved her. He said “She’s very smart she gets good grades all A’s. I don’t like her going to the school she does it’s dangerous.” Angel nodded and said, “I know the feeling I attended a school like that. I’ll check around at private academies and I’ll sponsor her into school but, she has to work hard to stay in school. You have to make sure she studies and gets up and is ready when the car is ready to take her to and from school.” Enrique stared at her in shock; no one had ever given him anything. He was stunned; he said “I promise me and Louisa we will work hard, we’ll learn. You won’t ever be sorry.” Angel pointed to Devon who was behind Enrique, though Enrique hadn’t known it and said, “Devon will take you to pick up your sister. Bring what you need.”
When they were gone, she turned to Cody who said, “And where are you putting the two new strays?” She pointed to the old barn which had been turned into a storage area on the bottom and an apartment up above and said, “I guess I need to get Kathryn to help me clean it up some, I may have to get furniture delivered too.”