Creamed Canter: An Equestrian Women's Lit Story

By Mary Kit Caelsto

After winning the cooking competition, business is picking up at the Fox Hunt Inn. Lindy needs an assistant and fast. But when her new hire may be sabotaging her business, and disaster threatens the inn, she needs to make some hard decisions.

Being a businesswoman isn't easy, and even Renaldo, her champion dressage horse, is picking up on the tension. Lindy might be feeling as creamed as a can of corn. Will she be able to canter into the future with more time for her horse and with the Fox Hunt Inn flourishing as it should be?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Kit Caelsto
• Release date: May 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005394684

Book preview

< Creamed Canter >

Fox Hunt Inn Book 2

Mary Kit Caelsto

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Also By The Author

Creamed Canter

Steady On Course Preview

Correction on Course Preview

Spins Are Wild Preview

About the Author

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Permission is granted to make ONE backup copy for archival purposes.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

FOX HUNT INN BOOK 1: CREAMED CANTER

Copyright © Mary Kit Caelsto, 2022

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cover Art ® 2022

Cover art by Epona Author Solutions

Book formatting by Epona Author Solutions (http://eponaauthorsolutions.com)

Electronic Publication Date: May 2022

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

Please support horse rescue and rescue organizations. You may just find your next best friend.

Also By The Author

Equestrian Women’s Fiction

Noble Dreams Series

Steady On Course

Standing On Course

Correction On Course

Walking On Course

Course Perfect

Shadbelly Faults

Husband On Board

Double Clear

Riding Double

Rompers and Rosettes

Crossed Rails

International Obstacles

Baby Green

Mare Stare

Future Courses

Fox Hunt Inn

Poached Piaffe

Creamed Canter

Cardinal Oaks

Flying Changes

Field Obstacles

Water Hazard

Time Penalties

Western Star Series

(women’s fiction w/ romantic elements)

Spins Are Wild

Turn And Burn

In The Chute

Back In The Saddle

Winning It All (Coming Soon)

Sweet Equestrian Romance

Shiloh’s Second Chance

Racehorses and Romance

Riding Home

Claiming His Irish Trainer

His Irish Proposal

Roping Paige

Fantasy/Magic Realism

The Musimagium

Hidden

Tonic Chords

Songs & Horns

Songs & Paperwork

Discovery of Songs

Songs & Fury

Touch of Magic and Roses

Chasing Neptune’s Cat

Draco Magus

The Pegasus Project

Pegasus In Flight

Chapter One

The judges had warned her that after winning even a small, regional competition her business would increase. It wasn’t as if she’d been featured on Triple-D, and yet, the higher number of reservations made her head spin. Though she still had stretches of days when she wasn’t booked, they were and far between. Most people visited just to sample her food and maybe watch the horses on her weekly afternoon open houses. Some wanted selfies with her, but mostly it was about the food, and she appreciated it.

Lindy placed the finishing touches on some raspberry tarts, then slid them into the refrigerator. She turned to check the timer on her brisket and paused to go over her mental to do list. If business kept up like this, she might have to hire a sous chef, which she probably should have done a long time ago. She glanced out the window at one of her boarders riding in the outdoor arena. She wished she could be out there with Renaldo. They hadn’t had much of an opportunity to train, and she hoped to enter him in another show soon.

She glanced at the white board on her stainless-steel refrigerator. Everything was done. Assuring herself the world won’t end and the brisket, which had a couple of hours left to cook anyway, wouldn’t be ruined if she went to the barn, she hurried from the kitchen before she could talk herself out of it.

Renaldo stood in his stall, nickering at her as she entered the barn. I know, big guy. I’m coming. She ducked into the tack room, gathered his equipment, and put a few treats in her pocket. Then, she set everything up and led him from his stall. Though always the gentleman, he sizzled with excitement. He waited while she groomed him, though with each passing moment, she sensed his desire to get into the ring growing. He needed a good exercise, maybe a gallop in the fields if she had time. She needed to clone herself, maybe a few times, just to make sure everything got done. With his tack adjusted, she led him outside to the arena.

Vivian nodded to Lindy. We’re almost done here, she said.

Take the time you need. I think we’re going to work on listening and transitions. It seems the day for it. Though Renaldo stood at the mounting block, his ears swiveled back and forth, listening to her as she climbed aboard. They walked off, his strides long and fast. Yeah, we’re a bit anxious to go. She kept him walking forward, taking the time to work big circles at the far end of the arena, and then some bending and flexing exercises.

Looks like it, Vivian said. She stopped and dismounted. If you see a reservation come through from Edward and Louisa Marks, they’re my parents. They’re coming to visit, and I suggested they stay here since I’m at the barn most of the time anyway. We’ll be doing the touristy things while they’re here, and they’re not that much trouble at all.

I will. Haven’t seen it yet, but I also haven’t checked bookings yet this afternoon. Everywhere she turned the need for at the bare minimum a personal assistant seemed obvious. Maybe someone who would appreciate a bit of an internship in the kitchen as well as being able to help her. She couldn’t focus on the idea too long because Renaldo gave a half-hearted buck as she asked him to yield his shoulder. Yep, the big guy needed to work out his energy again. She cued him again, thankful when he obeyed, and then urged him into a big canter. He leapt into it, nearly unseating her. Maybe they both needed this, she thought as the wind whipped past her face.

By the time she was done they both were sweaty, and all her cares had been shoved aside for a little bit. She took him back to the barn, untacked him and turned him out, then went to the house, checking on the brisket before showering. She sat in her office and composed a help wanted ad. With the additional income from the increased bookings, she could afford it, and no doubt having an assistant would pay off in other ways. She submitted it to a couple of job sites, then finished dinner. Her guests arrived at the table for the meal, and she served it to acclaim. Only when they were finished eating and in the common room did she have a little bit of food, rinse the dishes, and started the dishwasher. She picked at the meal, not hungry after the day. Maybe this was why she’d lost weight since the competition. She probably needed an assistant more than she thought.

~* * *~

Lindy watched the young woman sitting across from her at the big dining room table not fidget. Do you have experience in the culinary field? Lindy asked, glancing at the woman’s resume.

I worked at McDonald’s for a while, she said.

Is that something you’re interested in? Lindy asked, thinking this was going to be yet another one of those interviews that wasted her time. It seemed looking for an assistant gave her even more work to do.

The woman shrugged. Maybe I don’t know.

Which made since with the woman’s interrupted college career to find herself. As much as Lindy empathized with her, she could tell they just weren’t going to be a good fit. Thank you. I expect to finish interviewing in a couple of weeks, and you’ll hear then. She walked the lady to the door, not surprised to find her next interview standing there. She shuffled papers in her folder. You must be Tammy Eastman?

Yes, ma’am. And I recognize you from television.

Thanks. I’m doing interviews in the dining room. Lindy led the way. At least Tammy had more experience than