Mystery at Brightfields

Chapter 17.

Zoe headed back to grandpa's house for lunch after releasing Becky and Jade to go home for a nap. They were going to let Laycee and Bob back outside together later in the afternoon. Laycee was napping herself with a full belly. 

Zoe opened the back door to the house and saw Maggie at the kitchen table looking up flights on her computer. 

"Hey honey, how is Laycee doing? One more night until the nurse mare comes, right?" Maggie asked, glancing up from the laptop.

"She's great, a good sleeper, and she's seems to like Bob a lot so we have been turning them out together for some exercise. Tonight is the last overnight shift, so hopefully no more long nights of feeding and the nurse mare accepts her and vice versa." Zoe replied. "What are you up to?"

"Oh you know, just looking for flights back to LA." Maggie sighed. "It looks like we are going to have to go sooner than later. And by sooner I mean we're going to have to leave the day after tomorrow. Flights are at a decent price, we can go over the weekend and Monday and return on Tuesday. Pretty much just to go through our stuff, grab some extra clothes in some suitcases, see dad, and set him up for the move too. Get you girls back here before school starts." 

"Okay, so just 3 days then? I can work with that. Sure that's enough time for Rosie to sort through all of her stuff?" Zoe joked. 

Maggie chuckled. "Going to have to be. I might take another trip back in a few weeks or two, to make sure your dad and our transport of stuff makes it all here. But we will cross that road when we come to it."

Zoe nodded and grabbed one of the sandwiches off the table. She headed upstairs to do some more research on nurse mares and foals before she had to head back to the barn. 

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Zoe woke up with a start to her phone pinging with a message. She must had fallen asleep while reading on her phone. Luckily it had only been about 45 minutes. 

P: Afternoon :) Looking forward to tonight. Heading to the barn with Elvis, you going to be there? 

Z: About to leave here in a few :) see you there

Zoe got up out of bed and stretched. It was going to be a long rest of the day so it was probably good that she fit a nap in. She had read a few articles about introducing nurse mares and foals just so she knew what to expect tomorrow when the vet brought the mare over. 

Hopefully for the amount of time that the mare was going to be there no one would get attached. Knowing the history of Brightfields and their love for horses, she doubted it. 

Since Zoe had already rode earlier that morning she changed into jeans to keep a bit warmer and threw on a sweatshirt and Pin's jacket. 

Laycee still had 15 minutes or so before her next feeding, so Zoe ducked into Raven's stall to give him some treats. They had a great train that morning and he deserved it.

"Hey again buddy, guess we are going to be out of town for a few days here pretty soon. You'll be okay though. I'm coming back on Tuesday and you'll be my first stop as soon as we get back here. I'm sure either Pin or Marcus will ride you at least once, so don't get too excited for your break." Zoe whispered in his soft neck. Raven was already starting to grow some more coat now that the days were getting shorter.

Zoe heard the sound of hooves entering the stable yard, and stuck her head out to see Pin dismounting Elvis and giving him a pat on the neck.

She smiled. She always felt better when he was around. And now they were going to have a whole evening together. Zoe exited Raven's stall and headed Pin's direction. He was looking around at the new construction. Zoe had forgotten that he really hadn't seen everything since he had left.

"Hey" said Zoe approaching him. "How about a tour of the place?"

Pin smiled and pulled her into a hug.
"That sounds lovely. I hadn't had the chance to look around yet. I'd been distracted with you, and with Dad fussing all over me since getting back."

Zoe took his hand and led him over to the tack room.

"Well, not that we aren't arguing. Here is the new tack room. Definitely much bigger, heated, some extra couches, and space for everyone's tack and such. You've already seen the updated stall fronts. How about the office?" Zoe went on and they walked over next door.

"I guess this is your office now? Since you own Brightfields. Marcus has been taking care of the day to day with grain orders and such and your dad has been taking care of maintenance and making sure all of the construction stuff was done correctly. Stable yard didn't really have too much damage, just needed some extra paint. They fixed some support beams of the stable and the hay hutch. Of course you know all of this I don't know why I'm rambling, you're the one getting all the bills"  Zoe laughed.

"That I am." Pin smiled back at her.

"Speaking of that. Can your whole Duke-man-ship thing be something we talk about tonight? I really don't understand all of it. I've asked Ted a bit about it bit, and you know your dad. Mouth zipped tight. I think he was waiting for you to tell me. If that's alright." Asked Zoe.

"Sure. Although I'm still learning what all of it entails myself. What responsibilities will come with it, schooling, politics, policies, money... You know. I only had the crash course before I left and I'm supposed to meet up with some people or counsel or whatever soon...semi not looking forward to that. Let's talk about that later. Before I get stressed or worried about it now." Says Pin.

"Whoa whoa, now."  Zoe replies softly. Reaching out for him. " You're going to be great at being a Duke, Pin. It's going to be a big adjustment for you and everyone, but you're going to be so good at it. You care about people and animals, you're not selfish or conceited. You'll be amazing."

Pin wraps his arms around Zoe's waist and burries his face in her hair.
Taking a deep breath, pulling back and looking sadly into her eyes, he replies.
"What if I'm not good at it?"

Reaching up to hold both sides of his face Zoe pulls his lips down to hers.

She kisses him softly and reassuringly.

Pin tangles his fingers in her hair and pulls her in closer, intensifying the kiss.

Zoe sighs into him, kissing Pin back eagerly.

After a few moments, Pin pulls back.  He leaves his forehead against hers as they catch their breath from the kiss.

Pin smiles down at her. "Laycee is probably getting hungry."

Zoe had completely forgotten that anything else existed and he eyes flutter open.

"Right. Let's go. As long as you promise there will be more of that later"  says Zoe still catching up.

Pin kisses her head, starting to pull away from their embrace.

"Deal."