Snow Melts in Spring (17 page)

THIRTY-ONE

SATURDAY MORNING, GIL TURNED HIS TRUCK ONTO A PITTED GRAVEL road north of Russell and headed for the Chappell Quarter Horse Ranch near the Saline River. He and Mattie soon passed through the entrance of a spacious property consisting of several barns and a brick ranch house, surrounded by a fenced pasture.

When Gil shut off the diesel engine, a sturdy woman exited the barn, followed by a tall, lanky man wearing a ball cap.

Gil caught the fresh, damp scent of rain as he stepped from his truck onto the sodden gravel. He grabbed his hat and jacket from the backseat.

“You the fellow that called about the mares?” The woman held out her hand to greet him, and he noted her graying blonde hair, firm grip.

“That’s right. Gil McCray.” He turned to the doc, who was getting out of the truck. “This is Mattie Evans, the vet I spoke of on the telephone.”

“Nice to meet you. My name’s Yvonne, and this here’s my husband, Wayne.” The woman smiled, her face tan and wrinkled. “I take it you’ve traveled all morning. Probably like to stretch your legs a spell?”

At Gil’s nod, the couple headed for the metal barn, which housed an indoor arena where a girl with long, jet-black hair worked a bay mare. They watched as she sped through a reining pattern. The young lady rode with precision and sat the horse well.

Yvonne moved to a nearby table and spoke into a speaker system. “You need to practice your rollbacks some more. They’re sloppy. Slide to a complete stop and don’t rush through it.”

“That’s Natalie Adams,” she said when she returned to her husband’s side. “She’s riding some of our horses to train for the Miss Rodeo Kansas competition.”

Mattie rested her foot on the bottom rail of the arena fence and observed the rider. “How did you get involved in such training?”

Yvonne chuckled with a low, throaty voice. “We’ve been helping pageantry competitors for years now, ever since our daughter ran for a title. I was a queen myself, a long time ago.”

Gil studied the older woman, who probably made quite a sight in her day. Of course, Mattie would have made a fine queen too, with her long hair and flashy smile. Especially dressed as she was today in tan jeans and a suede jacket with fringes that swished and swayed with her every move. In his estimation, the only thing missing was the gold crown.

MATTIE TURNED TO GIL, WHO MOTIONED TOWARD TWO HORSES TIED up to the arena. She recognized the determined line of his brow and knew he had business on his mind.

“Are those the mares?” he asked.

Yvonne nodded, then frowned, her attention drawn to the rider in the ring who pranced backward on the bay, the horse’s head beating up and down in agitation. “Wayne, you want to show them around? I need to help this gal in the arena.”

Yvonne headed toward Miss Adams, while Mr. Chappell led Mattie and Gil to the other side of the barn. “Over here, we have the two mares you mentioned on the phone. Some of their offspring are out in the pasture.” He stopped a few feet from a red roan, and Mattie had to admit the mare looked dynamic. She stood about fifteen hands tall with nice conformation.

“I’m not sure how much you know about foundation bloodlines, but this ten-year-old has some Driftwood in her. She placed first and second at the National Finals Rodeo two years straight.” The man seemed quite pleased, but Gil remained poker-faced.

“If you’d like, you can ride them after lunch,” Mr. Chappell said. “Yvonne’s got ribs in the oven.”

“Thanks for your hospitality,” Gil said without consulting Mattie.

“The wife and I like to treat our guests when they come. Gives us a chance to visit and get to know them better.” He smiled and moved on to where a big bay mare stood tied. “This girl’s refined, with good bones and mind. She has some Doc O’Lena in her and placed in the AQHA World Show a couple years ago. Both our son and daughter have earned top money on her in roping and barrels at the pro level. That’s her dam out there that Miss Adams is riding. Quite versatile in the show ring.”

Mattie stepped up to the mare and ran her hands down the front legs. Nice and straight, and her forearms were long and muscular. She circled the mare for overall conformation.

When she’d finished her inspection, Mr. Chappell turned to leave. “We can load up in my old truck to look at the others in the pasture. Wouldn’t want to get your shiny rig all muddy.” He gave an impish grin, then led them to his truck outside.

Gil opened the passenger door for Mattie, and she slid in between him and their host. It seemed that Gil sat particularly close, or maybe that was due to all the jostling she endured as Mr. Chappell drove through several bumpy pastures to a herd of yearlings.

The young horses milled about the parked truck, curious, yet skittish. Gil opened the squeaky door, and they sprang from their hind feet as though a gun had fired, their short tails hiked in the air.

Gil pointed to a colt with a broad chest and muscled rear. Mattie acknowledged his interest right away.

Mr. Chappell noticed too. “That one’s an experiment we tried, mixing our Eddy stallion with a daughter of Flying X 6. So far, we like what we see.”

“I do too.” Gil stepped from the truck to study the colt. “He reminds me of a horse I once trained. How much would you sell him for?”

The man hesitated and shook his head. He got out and rested his elbows on the hood. “I don’t think Yvonne’s ready to sell that one.”

Gil’s eyes sparked, and Mattie knew he was prepared for the challenge. “Are you by any chance a football fan?”

“THE WIFE AND I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR SPORTS,” WAYNE SAID. “OTHER than watching the grandkids play.”

Gil frowned, not what he wanted to hear. He decided to approach the man from another angle. “Name your price, and I’ll buy him today.”

Wayne removed his cap and brushed his fingers through matted, gray hair. “Mister, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but if you’re that interested, you’ll have to haggle it out with my other half.” He gave a nervous chuckle.

“The colt would make a good stallion, wouldn’t he?”

“Yvonne seems to think so. You interested in standing a stud?”

Gil braced his forearms on the opposite side of the hood, ready to cast his proposition like a well-set fishing line. “Let’s say I purchase this little guy, train him up, and put him in some competitions. Maybe he earns high points, maybe a championship or two. Seems to me that would serve you well by bringing you business from the western half of the United States.”

The man placed his cap back on his head. “Sounds like a good plan, but I wouldn’t count on my wife selling.”

Mattie came to Gil’s side and squeezed his arm. “Which of these fillies are you prepared to sell — seeing as how we came all the way out here to buy mares?” She smiled sweetly at Mr. Chappell, but the pressure on Gil’s arm tightened.

Wayne’s eyes shifted from her to Gil. “You two in business together?”

Mattie withdrew her hand from Gil’s arm, and his skin felt cold where her fingers had been. “We’re friends, good friends.” He searched her eyes, hoping to see affirmation of this in their depths.

She lowered her gaze, then turned to Chappell. “I’m providing the health exam . . . should you both agree on a deal, that is.” At her smile, the two men chuckled.

“Better listen to her. Sounds like she carries a lot of sense in those little boots she wears.”

Gil glanced down at Mattie’s red ropers. “I’m thinking the same thing.” Once the words were out, Gil’s heart tugged against his chest.

A little while later, Wayne drove them to the house and went to check on lunch. As soon as he left, Gil reached for Mattie’s hands, too excited to contain himself. “If I manage to drive out of here with that Six colt, I’ll have you to thank.” He wanted to thank her now with a nice warm kiss. Instead, he brushed the few stray hairs from her face that the wind whipped loose from her braid.

“I can’t believe you tried to influence him with football.” Her mouth curved in mock disapproval. “I’m glad it didn’t work.”

“This is business, and a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. If she sells that colt to me, I’ll need to hire a private vet to assist with the mares and the breeding of a stallion. How would that strike your fancy?”

“What, work for you in California?” She extracted her hand from his, and the fringes on her jacket swayed. “I don’t think so.”

Gil captured her by the shoulders, not willing to let her go so easy. Despite her protests, he could tell by the way she melted into his touch that she was right where she wanted to be. “Doesn’t the thought of success tempt you a little? There’s lots of money to be made in the horse industry. The two of us might make a pretty good team, don’t you think?”

“I like being my own boss. Somehow I don’t think it would be nearly as fun if you were in charge.”

She broke from his grasp, but her eyes shone with anticipation.

THIRTY-TWO

MATTIE’S HEART RACED AT THE LURE OF GIL’S OFFER. SHE REMINDED herself that it was just that — a work proposition, not a marriage proposal. And what if it were a proposal? She’d known Gil for a little over two months, hardly enough time to learn about a person — to know his heart and soul. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, wishing the damp air would cool the warmth in her cheeks.

“I’m guessing my measure of success isn’t the same as yours. You know how I feel about the Flint Hills. And what about my practice? Am I to leave my clients without someone to care for their animals?” She leaned against the horse trailer, glad for the touch of the cold metal.

“California is pretty too. Mountains on one side, ocean on the other, and green hills in between.” Gil pulled an envelope from his inside coat pocket. “I received this in the mail this morning. The team’s hosting a retirement party for me in a couple weeks — a big shindig. I’d like you to be my date.”

Mattie swallowed to soothe the dryness in her throat. “In California?”

“Yes, come with me and meet my friends.” His grin beseeched her. “I’ll show you the property I want to buy — the place where you’d work. Together we could build you a breeding facility with all the latest technology for artificial insemination.”

“Aren’t you afraid of getting in over your head?” Mattie reminded herself of Clara’s warning to take things slow.

This was not slow.

“I’ve been thinking about this for some time. What do you say? Will you go to the retirement party?”

Mattie swallowed the dryness in her throat. She’d taken off work from the clinic today. Now he wanted her to take off for a weekend. “I don’t know, Gil — I need time to think.”

Gil reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Okay, but don’t take too long. You know how impatient I am when I want something.”

A SHORT WHILE LATER, MATTIE SAT ACROSS FROM GIL AT THE Chappell dining table, Yvonne at one end, Wayne at the other, and the Miss Kansas Rodeo contestant next to Gil. Natalie Adams had perfect olive skin, much prettier than Mattie’s own ruddy complexion. Yvonne passed a platter of barbecued ribs, and Mattie pierced a juicy strip and placed it on her plate.

“Wayne showed me a Six colt in one of your pastures this morning but said you’re not interested in selling him. What would it take to make you interested?” Gil asked Yvonne.

The older woman’s eyes narrowed. “Sometimes no means no.”

Gil straightened, and the wooden chair creaked beneath him. “Surely every horse on this property has a price? Aren’t you interested in selling horses?

“Wayne tells me you plan to run your operation in California.” Yvonne handed Mattie a bowl of fried potatoes. “There’s a lot to know about standing a stud. If you lived closer, we could help you — steer potential customers your way.”

Mattie smiled as she passed the dish to Wayne. She liked the way this woman thought and hoped Gil would listen.

“You don’t know who I am, do you?” Gil shifted his head from one Chappell to the other.

“Gil recently retired from the San Francisco 49ers as their quarterback. He’s used to people recognizing him.” Mattie half-teased, but Gil’s expression crumpled into a frown as though insulted.

Yvonne’s face didn’t crack, but Mr. Chappell smiled. “I wondered why you asked about football earlier.”

“I thought I recognized you,” Natalie added. “My dad’s a real fan of yours.”

“Is that so?” Gil clasped her outstretched hand, his wounded pride easily assuaged.

“Sorry we didn’t recognize you, but the wife and I aren’t up on sports,” Mr. Chappell said. “We appreciate that you like our horses, though.”

“They’re some of the finest I’ve seen. While I value your offer to help, I don’t think finding customers will be a problem. That is, if you’re willing to sell.” Gil released Miss Adams’ hand and smiled, but his taut cheekbones hinted at agitation.

“I’m not prepared to market that particular colt.” Yvonne got up to retrieve a pitcher of tea and placed it on the table. “His mama had problems delivering last year, and we won’t be having any more colts out of her. I’d like to see how he’s going to turn out before I decide whether to sell.”

The woman wouldn’t budge and judging by the clouds gathering on Gil’s face, Mattie wondered if they were in for a storm.

“I CAN’T BELIEVE SHE WOULDN’T SELL THAT COLT TO ME.” GIL clenched the truck’s steering wheel as they headed for Diamond Falls later that evening. He shook his head in frustration, having been prepared to pay top dollar for three of the Chappell mares if she’d sell the colt.

“You ought to be thankful she sold you anything, considering your behavior.” Mattie stared at her lap and picked at a piece of mud on her jeans.

“What do you mean, my
behavior
?” Gil’s annoyance grew.

“Let’s just say when you want something, you don’t let anything — or anyone — stand in the way.”

Gil clamped his jaw. Had he really behaved poorly? He tried to remember his discussions with the Chappells, specifically those that had made him testy. “I disagree. If anyone behaved badly, it was Yvonne. She invited me out there to buy horses, then she didn’t want to sell the one I liked.”

“It’s her business. She can do whatever she wants. Had I been the owner, I’m not sure I would have sold the colt to you either.”

“Why not?” Gil couldn’t understand Mattie’s change of attitude. She’d been cold and standoffish ever since lunch. Not the sweet, sensitive-natured woman he’d grown fond of, but more the uptight female she’d been when he first met her. “What did I do that was so terrible?”

“For one, you were arrogant. You told the woman you didn’t need her help. Big mistake.”

“But I don’t need her help. I know exactly who my target customers are and how I’m going to attract them.”

“Okay . . . okay.” Mattie raised her hands in the air. “I’m just saying, you could’ve handled the situation more gently, and Yvonne might have sold you the colt.”

“That’s not the way I do business. With me, it’s all or nothing.”

Mattie sniffed. “Natalie Adams certainly gave you all of her attention today.”

Gil’s neck twitched. Was that jealousy in the doc’s voice? “She found my objectives interesting if that’s what you mean.”

Mattie eyed him with the aloofness of a thoroughbred.

“Fine, let’s stop talking about the horses. What about my retirement party? What’s your answer, will you go? I need to buy our plane tickets.”

She shook her head and stared out the passenger window at the darkening sky. “Right now, the only place I want to go is home.”

“You mean
my
home?”

Mattie visibly bristled. “I mean, your
dad’s
home.”