“I need to brush the mare down.”
“She doesn’t have a name?”
“Not one that suits her yet besides pain in the ass.”
I chuckled. “Well, I don’t think that would be very fitting for a Golden Horse.”
“Probably not. You want to comb her down while I muck out her stall? She’s actually calm when she’s being brushed down.”
“Sure.”
It was obvious by the cleanliness and organization of the barn that he took pride in what he did. It was something our team desperately needed.
Hunter led the horse into the barn. Before bringing her in, he’d changed out her leather bridle for a soft bridle and hooked her up to a lead rope. I petted her neck. “Hey, beautiful girl.”
The horse I’d had from childhood had passed away two years earlier. My parents had given him to me for my fifth birthday. I’d loved Pete, and had named him after the character in Pete’s Dragon.
The mare whinnied as I unbuckled the girth and removed the saddle. In business clothes it proved to be difficult, but I managed. With the right mindset, anything was possible. “Where do you put your tack?”
He tipped his head to the left. “In the tack room right over there.”
I followed the direction Hunter had indicated. On my way there, I sensed him watching me. My plan was to let him ask me about the job first. I grabbed a brush and proceeded with the mare’s mane. “Hey, sweet girl. I’m just going to comb out the tangles.”
For a few minutes, we worked in silence.
I was on the tail when Hunter asked, “You going to tell me about this job I’m going to turn down?”
His arrogance was beginning to irritate me. But from experience with men just like him, I figured he was probably trying to rile me. Well, I play with the big boys. I can be unfazed.
I set the brush down. “Well, you were correct. And I know when I first tell you, your reaction is going to be no.”
“Go on.”
“It’s head coach of a minor league football team in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We’re the Mustangs.”
/> He laughed out loud, and I knew what was coming next. “A minor league football team? Are you joking with me? You realize I was an NFL coach, right? That would be a demotion. And considering I turned down the Packers last week, I don’t think there’s a chance in hell I’ll entertain a minor league team.”
“Yes, I realize that. Hear me out. The program is being revamped. The goal is to get it as respectable as the minor league baseball teams. I can guarantee you it would be more challenging. And you would be a pioneer in this venture.”
He shook his head. “Whoever put you up to this is wasting their time. I’ll give them credit sending out a pretty little lady who knows her way around a horse. But my answer is no to whoever sent you.”
Anger surged through me, and I turned back to the horse and finished without another word. Hunter finished the stall, and I led the horse in and closed the door.
Whipping around, I narrowed my eyes at him. “Mr. Owens, no one sent me. I am the general manager. It’s part of Wales Enterprises.”
“Damien Wales owns a minor league team? You’ve got to be fucking with me. That man has a damn good head on him; I can’t believe he’d waste his time on that nonsense.” He paused and gave me a hard stare. “What did you say your name was?”
“I didn’t. But it’s Kendall.”