Chapter 7
Tia got out of her car and looked around. This was her sanctuary. She loved it here.
Sammy ran out of the car and bounded off into the meadow.
“Tia. What are you doing here?” she turned to see Mr. Woods, her farm manager walking towards her. He was more like an uncle to her.
He had managed the farm for her grandparents before she had inherited it. He chose to stay on when she asked him.
He outstretched his arms and gave her a big bear hug.
“Mr. Woods!” she returned his hug. “I needed to get away.”
“Big city bothering you?”
“Something like that.”
They walked over to the corral and Tia got a good look at her horses, Arwen and Aragorn.
“Have they been behaving?” she asked with a smile.
“You know how they are. Can’t live without each other. Kind of like me and Mrs. Woods. Can’t stand to be apart from her for even one day.”
Tia gazed over at her horses. Mr. Woods’ words hit closer to her than she wanted to admit.
“Any signs of mating yet?”
“No. Not yet. But it is still early in the summer. You know he doesn’t get her riled up right away.”
They both laughed and turned towards the house.“Everything looks great Mr. Woods. You know how much I depend on you.”
“I know Tia. I know how much you love it here. How long you planning on staying?” he asked.
“Quite a while this time. I have some things to sort out.”
“Man trouble?” He asked and noticed her saddened look. “I’m sorry Tia. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s okay. Um, since I’m going to be here for a while. Why don’t you take Mrs. Woods on a vacation?”
“Now that sounds like a nice idea. Maybe we’ll go up to the Cape.”
“Yes it does.” Tia’s gaze returned to the horses. They were nuzzling each other in a loving way.
She sighed heavily.
Zayn drove slowly through the small town of Kent, New York. It had the looks of a small American town. He wondered why Tia had never mentioned this place to him.
Like something out of a picture book. Antique stores, small restaurants, a general store. Coffee shop. Bakery.
Just the kind of place Tia loved. She would drag him to small villages and towns when they lived in London.
She loved the quaintness and small town lifestyle. He pulled over and quickly glanced at Lisa’s directions once again.
He had made it this far and didn’t want to get lost.
He was only a short ways away. He glanced up and saw a flower shop. He smiled and quickly got out.
Tia raced across the land of her farm. Pushing Arwen fast. She felt the wind in her hair. The air rushing in her ears.
As she turned Arwen back to the farm, she slowed her to a slow walk. She patted Arwen’s neck.
“You love Aragorn don’t you girl. He’s good to you.” She lay her body down on Arwen’s neck and enjoyed the ride back to the farm.
Zayn pulled into the long drive of Tia’s farm. He slowed Lisa’s SUV to a stop in front of the house.
It was a modest two-story house. But when he got out of the SUV he took a closer look.
It was completely done in stone and it resembled the cottage in Canterbury that they would go to on weekends.
He continued to scan around the area and noticed that the flowers and decorations were an almost exact duplicate of that same cottage.
So, she couldn’t forget he thought. He heard hooves behind him. He turned to see Tia galloping towards the barn.
Tia looked and saw an SUV parked in front of the house. When she saw the color, she recognized it as her sisters. What was she doing here?
“Lisa!” she called out. She yanked on Arwen’s reins when she saw Zayn step out from behind the SUV.
Dear God. What was he doing here?
Zayn walked towards her, in his hands he carried a bouquet of pink roses. He remembered.
Pink roses were her favorites. She didn’t dismount from the horse.
He reached up and took a hold of Arwen’s bridle. She sniffed him and nuzzled his shoulder.
“She likes you.” Was all that Tia said.
“She’s beautiful. Just like her rider.” Zayn said glancing up at Tia.
She could feel her heart racing. She suddenly felt light headed. He wasn’t supposed to be here. She needed time alone. Or did she?
