Page 84 of Booked for Theft

“But we’re buying animals. How is that a charitable contribution?”

“Apparently, the horses are deemed to be a ‘gift’ in exchange for the contribution.”

“How fucking sleazy,” I grumbled.

“You can wage that battle later. For now, the horses will be safe, and I got them all. Nobody wants failed thoroughbreds, so they’ve been having trouble finding homes—at least homes willing to pay several thousand a head.”

I grabbed my phone, dialed my mother’s number, and braced for chaos.

“What’s wrong?” my mother demanded.

“Nothing’s wrong with me. You’re going to be angry and try to murder me in the next two minutes, though,” I informed her.

She sighed. “What did you do now?”

“I rescued twenty-five off the track thoroughbreds so they wouldn’t be sent to a kill market, and I need to toss them into your pasture.”

“Why would I get angry at you over that?”

“It’s twenty-five horses you did not have to deal with yesterday that you now have to deal with today. That is a lot of horses.”

“But they’re thoroughbreds. Any stallions?”

“Good question. Bradley? Are there any stallions?”

Bradley checked the papers. “There are three, assuming the stable didn’t have them gelded. Rest are mares.”

“Three stallions unless the rescue gelded them, twenty-two mares. We’ll have their registrations.”

“We were talking about throwing up a proper barn and an indoor arena, and if we have twenty-five new horses to handle, it’s now a need rather than a want. Good. Well done! Are you going to be picking one for yourself?”

“I am,” I confirmed. “Can we come visit Sunflower and Majestic later today?”

“Of course. Wait until after three. She has a doctor’s appointment at two.”

“We’ll try to make it for two so I can be at her appointment.”

“She’s having her hooves done,” she warned.

I sighed, as I’d learned the sound of the farrier doing his work tripped my trigger for unknown reasons. “I’ll do my best to keep from cringing, but no promises.”

“If you cringe, you cringe. Do you want roast for dinner?”

“Yes, please.”

My mother laughed. “We’ll see you this afternoon. Love you.”

I told her I loved her back before hanging up. “Sunflower is visiting with the farrier at two, and I’ve decided to be brave. Have your mom bring the Chinese food to my mom’s place, and we’ll call it a day.”

“That works. What about the paperwork?”

“We’ll pack it up and put it in the closet for now. Tomorrow, we’ll start looking into this in earnest after work. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and some rest will do us both a world of good.”