Erin still hadn’t unpacked her car. Being ready to leave the ranch at a moment’s notice gave her a sense of security. If Wyatt fired her, she would be devastated, not only because she needed the job, but because she couldn’t bear to leave Violet behind. Erin didn’t know what she’d do if she were forced to abandon that horse. However, simply knowing that she could leave the ranch made her feel as if she were more in control of her life.

When her first payday arrived, Erin was thrilled to get a check. She immediately went to the main house, hurried upstairs, and sat on the bed with her checkbook to tally how much money she would have in the bank after she deposited it. The sum wasn’t huge, but after deducting her last month’s rent for the cottage, which would make her square with the landlady, and paying for her auto insurance, she had plenty left over for her cell phone and fuel expenses. What remained would be around three hundred dollars.

She hurried downstairs to find her uncle, who was in the kitchen kissing his wife. Erin cleared her throat. When Slade raised his head, he flushed, the added color lending his burnished complexion a ruddy glow.

“I’m sorry,” Erin said, trying to back out of the room. “I should have hollered or something.”

Vickie extricated herself from her husband’s arms. “Don’t be silly. I’ve got fresh pecan pies, and we’re delighted to have you join us.”

Uncle Slade sauntered over to take a chair at the table, then patted the oak surface to indicate Erin should join him. Because Vickie and Slade hadn’t been married long, Erin was reluctant to infringe upon their privacy. This was their home, after all. But Vickie insisted that she have a piece of pie with them, which was accompanied by coffee. Erin was glad of the distraction. She needed to talk with her uncle, and she wasn’t quite sure how to start.

After finishing her pie, Erin just blurted out what was on her mind. “Uncle Slade, I’ve fallen in love with Violet.”

“With who?”

“The mare you recently bought. I nicknamed her Violet, because she’s the proverbial shrinking violet.”

“Oh!” He nodded and then sighed. “I screwed up buying that mare. I think the former owner drugged her up before I looked at her. She seemed as calm as could be until I had her delivered here. Now I’ve got an impossible-to-handle horse on my hands.”

“No!” Erin cried. Then, after modulating her voice, she said more softly, “She’s only frightened. Wyatt and I believe she’s been abused.”

“You don’t say?” Uncle Slade frowned and shrugged. “Well, that’s sad. But the bottom line is, I’m not running a horse rescue. I hoped to use her as a ranch horse, and that isn’t looking likely.”

“Please, don’t sell her.” Erin’s throat went tight. “Well, sell her, yes, but only to me.”

Both Slade and Vickie gave Erin a startled look.