LJ started to look, but then the stallion tried to bolt and the reins burned through his fingers. He blew out a breath and steadied himself, speaking low and sweet to the horse until it quieted, too. As soon as he could, LJ turned to check on the woman. She was still on the ground, hunched convulsively forward with an older man crouched at her side. Solid shoulders filled out his faded shirt even as a potbelly tested the last button above his belt buckle. “Talk to me, sweetheart,” he said.

No response.

“Your horse,” the man tried. “Andra, your horse!”

“It’s okay. I have it under—” LJ stopped as the man flapped a hand at him, not glancing away from Andra.

As soon as he mentioned her responsibilities, she blinked, taking a small breath. Then she shot to her feet, glancing around. She registered the horse first. Then LJ, her lashes widening in the belated reaction to his height he’d been expecting. He didn’t have a joke ready this time, either.

He swapped the reins to his left hand and put out his right. “I’m LJ Delisle. And damned sorry I startled you that way.”

Her throat worked, her shoulders tense beneath the old T-shirt that said, “Eat. Sleep. Ride.” She took his hand, her grip strong and certain despite the sweat dampening her palm. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect anybody to be standing there.”

“That’d be your cue to explain what in the blazing hell you’re doing in my barn, son.” The challenge came from the older man’s mouth with all the softness of a pistol being cocked. Beside them, the stallion’s ears swiveled forward, and he danced at the end of the reins.

LJ snapped up taller, bristling, then slapped on a smile to cover it. It was a fair question, however little he appreciated the other man’s wording. “I was about half an hour early for my interview. Nobody answered the door at the house, so I came on up to the barn.”

“Interview for what? We’re not hiring.”

Or maybe they were hiring until he scared his future boss flat on her ass. He’d seen a lot of people get leery at the breadth of his shoulders, but her reaction was a long way past normal.

“Dad, were you listening to me last month at all?” Andra’s voice was tight. “If we had somebody to get the colts from weaned to saddle broke, Jason and I could train a lot more horses per year. We might even have a shot at matching demand for once.” Her father opened his mouth, and she glared at him.

“Uh, I’m happy to wait up at the house until my scheduled time.” LJ glanced between father and daughter, then offered the stallion’s reins to Andra.