The reality check, and the fact that she’d arrived at Sutherland’s, made her think of the stallion. As she pulled between the majestic white pillars that marked the drive to the stables’ compound, she wondered how Sabbath was going to like his new home.
As it turned out, his hooves didn’t even get a chance to touch the ground.
When she halted the eighteen-wheeler in front of the clapboard expanse of a stable building, Peter and her father emerged from the office. Their expressions told her she was in for it. Peter was looking serious and her father wore the pained grimace he always did when he was going to deny her something.
Without stopping to greet them, A.J. got down from the cab and wrenched open the side door to the trailer so she could check on the stallion. They followed her inside.
“That horse has got to go,” Peter said. “Your father agrees with me.”
“Arlington, darling,” Garrett urged, “please be sensible.”
A.J. let out an exasperated breath. “Look, I don’t have the time to argue with both of you. My first priority is getting this poor horse out of the shoe box he’s been in for the last hour and a half.”
“You’re not bringing that stallion into the stables,” Peter said.
“Doesn’t look like you have much choice, does it?”
“You’re the one who’s out of choices. I’ve found a buyer for him.”
“What!” She wheeled around. “You’ve no right to sell any of our horses without my permission!”
“Tell her, Garrett.”
“Tell me what?” Fingers, shaking from anger, sought out her diamond.
“Well, dear, I—”
“There’s been a little change in paperwork,” Peter said. “Courtesy of your stunt, I’m now president of the corporation that owns Sutherland Stables.”
“And what exactly does that mean?”
“Now I can run the business freely without worrying about your spending habits. I’ve got veto power. I can streamline operations, maybe even diversify. And I can send this demon as far away from here as I want.”
“He’s not a demon!”
“Then your definition of the word and mine are different. One thing I do know is that buying that stallion is another example of your inability to think things through or see financial realities.”
“Financial realities! I’m talking about a champion. I’m talking about winning. What we need at this stable are winners, not bean counters.”
“You paid way over market value for him.”
“He’s worth every penny.”
“He’s worth half what you paid.”
“How would you know?”
“Because that’s what I sold him for.”
A.J. looked at Garrett, stunned. “You can’t be serious about all this.”
“Peter is right,” he said with a pleading tone. “The horse is dangerous and you probably paid too much for him.”
“So you’re giving him the stables?”
“He would never abuse—”
“What would you call unilaterally deciding to sell a horse I have every intention of competing on?” She watched as her father fumbled through his pockets, looking for Rolaids. As he downed two and chewed desperately, she said, “This is ridiculous. It’s unnecessary.”
“Arlington, I’m worried about your safety.”
“I understand, but it takes risk to succeed.”
“Calculated risk,” Peter pointed out.
“I’ve made the calculations. I’m taking the risk.”
“But you’ve got to learn to accept authority,” Garrett said. “You can’t keep running around, acting on a whim and explaining later. This is a big business now. There are other people involved. It’s not just a family hobby anymore.”
With a stiff spine, she began to check Sabbath’s fastenings. “I know all that.”
“Don’t bother getting him out of the trailer,” Peter told her. “The new owner wants him delivered tonight.”
A.J. was about to take her stepbrother on when she remembered writing out all those zeros. What had started out as yet another impulsive move had just proved to be a stroke of genius.
When she faced them again, she was smiling. “You’re looking at his new owner.”
“Don’t be flippant,” Peter said, turning away. “Just leave him here in the trailer—”
“I own him, not the stables. So you can take your fancy new corporate title and stick it up your—”
“You’re lying.”
She pulled out the receipt. “Got the paperwork right here.”
Peter took the documents from her hand, lips tightening as he reviewed them: “Well, good for you. But you can’t board him here.”
“What do you mean?” A.J. looked over to her father for help.
“Now, Peter,” Garrett hedged, “we can’t just—”
“I’m in charge here and we’ve just run out of free stalls.”
A.J. snatched the papers back. “Fine, then get out of this trailer and I’ll move right along.”
The two men stared at her like she was crazy.
“What? You’ve made it perfectly clear that my horse and I aren’t welcome so we’re going elsewhere. I’ll pay the stable the going rate for use of the trailer and return it in the morning when I come back for my things.”
“Now, wait a minute—,” her father began.
“Where are you going to go?” Peter asked.
“None of your business.”
Besides, A.J. thought, I’m not sure myself.
“Darling, we’re a family,” Garrett said. “These stables are here for you.”
“But you didn’t make me an equal participant in their future, did you?”
“Come home and let’s talk about this some more,” her father begged.
“I’m not going home.”
“Don’t you think you’re being a little rash?”
“Rash? Shouldn’t you be talking to your new president? He just tossed me out of my own stables. If you’ve got a problem with the way things are working out, make an appointment and speak with him.”
Peter shook his head. “This is exactly why you could never have made it in business. You’re too emotional.”
A.J. didn’t respond to the dig. She was through arguing and on to planning her next move. She had an animal the size of a bus with no place to put him, it was getting late and she now had nowhere to stay herself. She needed to think of a plan and fast. To do that, she had to get rid of Peter and her father and find somewhere to gather her thoughts.