“There's nothing wrong with asking for help,” Jacob goes on, pressing the same issue. “All I want is to make sure the horses are taken care of, and that you don't get into a situation you regret.”
“You are the last person to tell me what I will and will not regret.” I keep my chin held high as I continue staring at Jacob. He stares right back, unflinching. A few seconds ticked by before it dawns on me just how intimate this feels. Blinking, I step back and see a woman with short red hair eyeing us curiously.
I let out a slow breath realizing that I'm wasting my time arguing with Jacob. I have a stubborn streak in my personality, and I don't like being told what I can't do. But the best way to prove him wrong isn't to argue with him, it's to bust my ass and show him how capable I am.
“You're right, Jacob says, surprising me a little bit. “But I can speak from experience, and I can see a problematic situation arising before it does. That's all I'm trying to prevent here. Nine horses are a lot for anyone to take care of.”
“Again,” I press. “I am fully aware.”
He steps forward, coming close to me again, and I can't help the way my body reacts to him. A shiver goes down my spine and I feel heat rush between my legs, pussy quivering with want. I need to get a hold of myself, quickly make my way through the rest of the horse fair, and go home to take a cold shower.
Jacob opens his mouth to say something, but then his phone rings. He pulls it from his pocket and looks like he's about to decline the call but then he suddenly answers. I can tell right away that it's some sort of emergency when he says he'll be there as soon as he can.
“Is everything alright? I rush out, suddenly worried that something happened to one of my horses. Though, I would hope somebody would call me right away as well.
“No,” Jacob says with a heavy sigh as genuine worry and anxiety start to take over his handsome face. “A mare who's only a few weeks away from her due date is having a bad bout of colic. He looks past me at the other vets who he had been walking with. “I'm afraid I'm going to have to go respond to this. One of the older male vets says he'll accompany Jacob.
I step to the side and see the red-headed girl is still standing there watching us.
Jacob turns to her. “Sorry, I'm not gonna be able to get that drink or dinner he says and a rush of something goes through me.
Is it irritation? No...
It's a weird sickening feeling that's making me angry.
But there's no way I'm jealous.
“Oh...okay,” the redheaded woman says, looking from Jacob to me and back again. “I hope the horse is all right.”
“At least she’s having two vets respond to her,” Jacob says automatically comforting this woman. He gives her a nod, looks back at me, and then hurries off. I let out another breath and continue the way I was walking, going up and down every aisle to look at the remaining booths before I head back to Silver Ridge myself.
“The barn looks great,” I tell the girls, stopping in front of Bailey’s stall. I only arrived home a few minutes ago, and, of course, the first thing I did was go out into the barn not only to drop off all the stuff I got from the horse fair, but to check on everyone as well.
Everly and Maria invited a few friends from school over, and their little crew tagged-teamed dusting the rafters, cleaning the metal bars on the stalls, and sweeping up all of the loose hay and shavings that I've been meaning to get to all week. They have Lucy in the crossties, and I'm a little worried about the liability risk. I really do need to sit down and see what it would take to apply to become a nonprofit. I can have release waivers ready for anyone who wants to come and volunteer.
“Are you gonna show her?” Maria asks Everly in a hushed voice
“Show me what?” I ask and Ev looks at her friend with annoyance.
“Well, I kinda have to now,” Everly says with a huff. She picks up her phone from the grooming tote and comes over to me, opening up TikTok. “I wanted to wait till I had more followers, but look what Maria and I started!”
I take the phone and can't help the smile that splits my face. “I guess I shouldn't have been irritated with you guys doing TikTok dances instead of working,” I say as I scroll through the profile the girls made, bringing awareness to our little rescue operation here.