The Family Plan

“And her price is almost fifteen percent under the next lowest bid.”

Hannah whistled. “That’s a lot of money.”

“It’s not just the money. She included several items in her bid the other two contractors missed.”

Jolyn had impressed Chase with her attention to detail. Unlike the other two contractors he’d dealt with, she’d patiently explained all the components of the bid in everyday terms he could understand.

“Money’s not everything,” Aunt Susan cautioned. “There’s experience and reputation to consider. She doesn’t have much of either, I’m guessing.”

“You’re right. She did provide me with several references, though, including the Wild and Wooly West manager and her former boss at the commercial contractor in Dallas. I called both of them earlier. They gave her glowing recommendations.”

“That’s to be expected.” Aunt Susan removed a pitcher of iced tea from the refrigerator. “A person doesn’t give out names of people who won’t talk them up.”

“True. But I did ask a lot of questions, described exactly what I’m building. Both men expressed their confidence in her abilities.”

Aunt Susan sat in the chair across from Chase. “I have no right interfering in your life, so feel free to tell me to butt out.” She lowered her voice and directed her gaze to the family room. Mandy continued to entertain her great uncle, who was trying his best to watch her and the six o’clock news at the same time. “I know Jolyn is your friend, but she’s also Dottie’s daughter. Working closely with her could lead to trouble. Big trouble.”

“Believe me, I know.” Chase rubbed the back of his neck, massaging the kinks loose. “But Jolyn supports me where Mandy is concerned. She always has.”

“Are you absolutely sure? Family ties are strong.”

“Pretty sure,” Chase answered honestly.

“Dottie could try and use Jolyn to get to you without Jolyn realizing it.”

“Jolyn’s aware of her mother’s goals and I think she’s savvy enough to not let herself be manipulated.”

“In my opinion,” Hannah said, “you’re safe using Jolyn. She needs this job if she wants her business to succeed, and she won’t do anything to screw it up. Neither will Dottie.”

Hannah looked at her mother as if challenging her to disagree. Susan gave a noncommittal shrug.

“I like that she’s here in town.” Chase leaned back and stretched out his cramped legs. He wasn’t used to sitting as much as he had this afternoon. “The other two contractors admitted that while workers may be on the job every day, they would only make the trip from Pineville two or three times a week. If something were to go wrong, Jolyn would be five minutes away.”

“It’s cool you’re giving a woman a shot at this. And the money you’d save…” Hannah rubbed her thumb and first two fingers together. “You can do a lot with all that extra green stuff.”

Chase quickly added some numbers in his head. “I can pay for the holding kennels, waiting room furniture and a three-year lease on an X-ray machine.”

Susan rose from the table. “Sounds like you’ve decided.” The tiny hint of disapproval in her tone was unmistakable.

“Not yet,” Chase said. “I’m going to sleep on it tonight. See how I feel tomorrow.”

“I’m glad you’re taking your time deciding.”

From outside came the sounds of tires on gravel and the Raintrees’ pet dog, Biscuit, barking. Gage and Aubrey had arrived with the pizza.

Hannah grinned knowingly at Chase and said too softly for her mother to hear, “When are you going to tell Jolyn she has the job?”

“In the morning.” He grinned back at her. “She’s bringing Sinbad by early to have his sutures removed.”

She jumped up to give her mother a hand with dinner and patted Chase’s shoulder as she walked by. “You’ve made the right decision, cuz.”

Chase thought so, too. There were any number of reasons why he shouldn’t award the job to Sutherland Construction Company and an equal number of reasons why he should. Granted, he might be taking a chance, but his gut told him to hire Jolyn.

And besides, he rather liked the idea of working with her. It felt right, and nothing had felt right for Chase in a long, long time.

JOLYN PULLED BACK on Sinbad’s reins, squeezed gently with her legs and commanded him to walk in a firm voice. He obeyed and slowed from a fast trot, but not willingly. She didn’t blame him. Between the trip from Dallas and his latest injury, two weeks had passed since she’d last ridden him.

Sinbad disliked confinement. He was an athletic animal, taking pleasure in racing from one end of the arena to the other or leaping over obstacles most horses would refuse. Advancing age had affected his ability somewhat, but not his desire. If Jolyn were to give him his head, he’d gallop the entire half mile to Chase’s house.

Instead, they walked. Because of her, not him.

Jolyn hadn’t raced or jumped or done anything more demanding than a controlled lope around the bullpen since the accident. She hadn’t ridden Sinbad at all until four months ago and then she’d done it against doctor’s orders. But if she hadn’t climbed onto Sinbad’s back soon, she might never have gotten on a horse again.

Sometimes, Jolyn dreamed about the fall. In her dreams, she and Sinbad were flying over the wagon, just as they’d done in every performance for nine straight years. The crowd held their breath in collective anticipation.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the sharp thwack of Sinbad’s hoof hitting the side of the wagon. She felt his broad body shift beneath her as he was thrown off balance, saw the ground rush up to meet her, heard the sickening crunch when she hit and her own low “Oomph.”

Agonizing pain shot up her leg, so fierce it literally blinded her. She had no time to recover before Sinbad toppled like a giant oak tree and rolled on top of her, pinning her beneath a thousand pounds of thrashing, terrified horse.

She was told later that in clawing his way to his feet, Sinbad had injured her further. Broken ribs, a separated shoulder and torn ligaments were only a few of the injuries she’d suffered. Jolyn didn’t remember. She’d lost consciousness well before then.

She’d replayed the accident often enough to know it was just that: an accident. It could have happened to anyone at any time. Unfortunately, it had happened to her and changed the course of her life forever. She was lucky. It could have ended her life.

Jolyn rode bareback today, another reason she held Sinbad to a walk and probably why she was thinking about the accident. She’d decided against putting a saddle on him, afraid the cinch might aggravate his injury.

All at once, Sinbad lifted his head and whinnied shrilly. He recognized their destination, having traveled this same route countless times, and no coaxing on Jolyn’s part could keep him from breaking into a fast trot.

They reached Chase’s barn just as the sun crested the distant mountains. Jolyn loved morning rides and was glad when Chase suggested she come by early to have Sinbad’s wound examined and the sutures removed.

Their meeting the previous afternoon had gone well. At least, she thought so. Chase gave no indication of how her bid stacked up against the other two, telling her he’d let her know his decision in a few days.

The wait would be excruciating. No matter how tempting, she was resolved not to mention the bid or the clinic this morning, even if she had to spend the entire visit biting her tongue.

Chase must have heard Sinbad’s hooves clip-clopping up his driveway, for he came out from around the side of the house at the same moment she was dismounting. Slowly. Jolyn’s feet touched ground, and she cemented her teeth together to avoid crying out. She led Sinbad around in a small circle, as much to settle him as to walk off the pain in her knee.

“There,” she said to Sinbad in a whispery voice, “that wasn’t so bad.”

Chase reached her a few seconds later, a steaming mug of coffee in his outstretched hand. “Morning.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” She took the mug with fingers that were stiff from constantly yanking on Sinbad’s reins.

“Hope you still take it with cream and sugar.”

“I’ve learned to take it any way I can get it, but I still prefer cream and sugar.” She raised the mug to her lips. The coffee was warm but not hot, and she drank several large swallows.

“So, how’s our boy doing?”

“Good, I think.” Jolyn led Sinbad over to the hitching post just inside the barn.