Follow a Wild Heart: A Christian Contemporary Western Romance Series

by Natalie Bright

  Within a few more minutes Lexi was dropped off by her mother. While Lola and Buck kept the kids occupied, Carli introduced herself to the mothers and answered their questions. With all the paperwork in order, she turned to greet the second class of LoveJoy Riding School students. She brushed clammy palms on her jeans and took in a deep breath. After giving riding lessons for almost a decade in Georgia, she couldn’t figure out why this new venture had her nerves on edge.

  Nathan pulled up in his truck, got out, and walked towards Buck and Lola. Carli hid her surprise, turning her focus to the kids. She hadn’t talked to Nathan since he and Lank had swung at each other like two hot-headed clowns.

  Everyone gathered in a semicircle as Carli gave her introductory speech.

  “Hello and welcome to LoveJoy Riding School and the Wild Cow Ranch. We’re so glad to have you here today. We’ll learn about horses and I think you’ll all have a good time. I’m Carli. This is Mr. Buck, Mrs. Lola, and Mr. Nathan. They are all here to help us. We just have a few rules. No yelling, especially around the horses. Keep your voices soft and low. Horses can sense your fear. No hurting the horses or each other."

  “What about keep your hands to yourself?” Shauna interjected.

  “Yes, for sure. Definitely. Is that one of the rules from your school?”

  The little girl nodded her head.

  “Thank you for reminding us, Shauna. Would you like to be the first to meet our horse friend? I can show you how to pet him.”

  The little girl hesitated but stepped up. “What do I do? Will he bite me?”

  “You just reminded me of two more safety rules. Don’t hold your fingers out to a horse like this. He might think they're something to eat. In the future, when we feed carrots or apples, we’ll hold our hands flat like this. And don’t stand behind a horse. It could spook him. We don’t want you to get kicked. Watch your feet so you don’t get stepped on.”

  The girl said, “Sounds dangerous. He’ll hurt me.”

  “You just need to know about safety. These are big animals. Some of them weigh a thousand pounds. So, we have to be careful. But mostly, they’re gentle and sweet. Here, take your hand and hold it under his nose. Let him smell you first. Then you can pet his shoulder. Like this. See, he’s soft.”

  “Ooh, that tickles. His nose wiggled.”

  “He likes you,” Carli told her. She turned to Lexi. “I could really use your assistance today. We’ve got some new kids and it’s their first time here. I need someone your age to help me.”

  Lexi still scowled and mumbled to herself, but she peered at Carli rather than looking away.

  “What do I have to do?”

  “You can stand next to me. You’re closer to their age. They might trust you more. Little by little, we’ll all learn about horses.”

  “I know what you’re doing, by the way. Making me think I’m gonna help you, but really you want to play shrink on me. Trying to be my friend but you just want to warn me about Raven. You’re just like my mother.”

  Carli walked closer to the girl and dropped her voice to a low murmur. “You’re a smart girl, Lexi. But I’m no counselor and I’m not your mother. I haven’t figured out my own life yet. I’m glad you like horses and I’m glad you came back. I think you’ll enjoy your time here and I really hope we can be friends. As far as Raven goes, he’s not welcome on my ranch.”

  After a big sigh, the girl let out, “Sure, I’ll help.”

  Carli watched the busyness as everyone pitched in, adults and kids alike. A common interest brought together by the horses who clearly enjoyed the attention. She noticed the smiles on every face. The moments of laughter, and the looks of concentration as they focused on their tasks. Lexi and Lola worked to show Jared and Shauna how to brush their horses, and Nathan ran in between, helping find saddles to fit each kid and getting tack for everyone. Buck leaned against the fence, watching. Her heart lightened as she felt more determined than ever to make this riding school work. Deep down, she knew it was the right path for her.

  Carli approached Nathan with a wide smile. She decided to keep the conversation neutral. “Nate, thanks for helping today. I saw how good you were with that little girl.”

  “Shauna? That girl’s a pistol. Funny, too. She kind of took over, was showing me what to do. Although I don’t think she’s been around horses much. I like her. I'm glad to be of some help.”

  “I’m surprised to see you here today. You haven’t answered my texts.” Carli leaned her back to the fence next to Nathan.

  He looked straight ahead and didn’t turn to acknowledge her. “The last time I was here, as I recall, I professed my love and you called me an idiot. Thought I’d give you some space.”

  “Yeah, well…” Carli stammered. “Don’t take it personal. I called both of you idiots.”

  “You got that right about one of us being a bigger idiot than the other.”

  “Honestly, I’m still confused over the whole situation. I’m not sure why you two got so angry at each other.”

  Nathan laughed. “It’s not the first time Lank and I had words that turned into fists. We all grew up together, his sister and my siblings. We have a history, but I apologize for getting you involved and for my behavior.”

  “I accept your apology. As far as the rest, I am flattered that you expressed your... uhmmm, interest. You are a great friend, but I don’t know what I want right now. Everything is moving too fast.”

  “It’s all right. You don’t have to decide anything. Yet. But that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna try to convince you otherwise.” He pushed off the pipe rail and walked away to help the young boy Jared with his saddle.

  The morning passed in a blur. Carli didn’t take the kids on a trail ride because of the two youngest but instead kept them close in the corral working on going and stopping. From the looks on their faces, the kids had a blast. And Lexi even seemed to be enjoying herself.

  After horses and tack were put away, Carli stood with the new boy Jared as they waited for someone to pick him up.

  “Your mom must be running late.”

  “She’s not my real mom.” He answered with a deep frown. “She’s my foster mom.”

  Carli hesitated. She didn’t want to pry but was curious about this quiet young man.

  “Did you have fun today?”

  “I guess,” was his short reply.

  “I’m glad.” She had the same problem reading him as the other kids. They didn’t show much excitement or joy about being at the ranch, other than the light in their eyes when they worked with the horses. She did see that, but still questioned her efforts. Was she making a difference in their lives? Could she make a difference?

  He suddenly turned his face to her and smiled a snaggle-toothed smile. “My dad knocked my teeth out.”

  Carli’s heart dropped to her knees and she was stunned into silence. She didn’t know what to say, or how to respond. Before she could think of anything, a car topped the hill and drove into ranch headquarters. A mix of emotions and thoughts were rambling through her brain.

  Before Jared reached the car, he stopped and turned to Carli. “Can I come back here?”

  With relief and tears burning the backs of her eyes, she smiled at him. “Of course, you can. You’re welcome here anytime, Jared.” The little boy wrapped his arms around Carli’s waist. He squeezed her tight. She felt as though she might burst out crying before he let go of her. Through misty eyes she waved and watched them drive away.

  Lola and Buck came out of saddle house with Nathan.

  “Thanks for your help this morning,” Carli glanced at her ranch foreman, but Buck suddenly stopped, his face turning a shade of ashen gray. Lola didn’t notice. She kept walking.

  “Buck!” Carli ran towards him. “Buck, are you okay?”

  Nathan caught the ranch foreman just before he hit the ground.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Lola spun around in the corral at the Wild Cow Ranch and dropped to her knees next to her hu
sband. “Buck. Tell me what hurts.” She gently patted his cheeks, but he didn’t open his eyes. “Thanks for catching him, Nathan.”

  “I’ll bring my truck around. Let’s get him to the hospital.” Nathan ran to the fence and flung himself over it in one fluid motion, not taking the time to unlatch the gate.

  “What’s going on? Is he okay?” Carli grabbed hold of Lola’s arm who was cradling Buck around his shoulders.

  Lola’s eyes were glassy from unshed tears, but she was also in “take charge” mode.

  “I dun want no hors-pi-tal.” Buck’s eyes fluttered open for a minute as he leaned on Lola.

  Lola held her husband. “You just hush, old man. We’re taking you to the ER. No argument.”

  “Carli’s eyes glistened, her heart raced, and her hands trembled. This place couldn’t run without Buck. And she couldn't lose him.

  About that time Lank ambled out of the saddle house, but then broke into a run dropping to his knees next to Buck. “What happened?”

  “Here's Nathan with his truck now. We’ve got to get Buck to town. Can you follow us, Lank? Carli, you can ride with us.” Then looking from Lank back to Carli, Lola asked, “Would that be okay?”

  Both of them simultaneously nodded. “Sure. Sure.”

  With Nathan on one side and Lank on the other, they gently eased Buck to his feet. He got a little agitated and fought them, trying to regain his balance. “I can walk on my own.” But then doubled over in pain. “I’m fine. Y’all don’t need to fuss over me.”

  “Yeah, you look real fine.” Lola shot her husband an angry glance. “Put him in the pickup, boys.”

  They half-carried Buck to Nathan’s vehicle, loaded him in the front seat, and Carli and Lola piled in the back. “My purse!” Lola hollered.

  “I can bring whatever you need to the hospital later. Let’s just get Buck to town.” Lank shut her door and nodded to Nathan who peeled out before Carli’s door was even shut. She leaned towards the middle using the momentum of her body to swing the door closed, thankful she didn’t end up in a heap on the gravel. She leaned up to look at Buck. His face was gray, his eyes closed, but he didn’t seem to be in too much pain.

  On the drive, Lola didn’t cry but stared off into the distance through the window. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost Buck. He’s my life, my world, my best friend. Please, God, please heal him and keep him safe.”

  “Yes, we’ll pray, Lola.” Carli grabbed her hand and they locked fingers.

  “We’ve got to think positive, have faith.” Nathan maneuvered through an intersection with horn honking and turned onto the blacktop towards town.

  Carli tried to hold her emotions in check. She couldn't lose Buck. Eyes closed she mustered the strongest internal prayer she could. He was the only real father figure in her life.

  Growing up with the Fitzgeralds hadn’t been that bad. As a toddler, it was comforting for Carli to be tucked in at night and cared for by them. She couldn’t remember, and didn’t really know, her birth mother who had given her up.

  Looking back on her childhood, Carli was very grateful to the Fitzgeralds who started her on horse riding lessons when she was around five years old, before first grade started. They recognized her passion and encouraged her.

  Carli remembered one childhood friend in particular, a red-haired girl named Patty. Carli noticed the little girl had a mommy and daddy who brought her for riding lessons. Little Patty wore shiny new riding boots, skinny pants, and an oversized black velvet helmet. Carli came to the barn in faded blue jeans and sneakers, until she earned enough allowance to buy her first pair of real cowboy boots. But she had fallen in love with horses then, it didn’t matter what she was wearing.

  Carli remembered that Patty’s parents always stayed for the entire lesson, cheering. On the other hand, the Fitzgeralds made a habit of dropping Carli off at the barn, said they had errands to do, or a doctor’s appointment to attend. After all, they were older than most of the parents around. Again, Carli told herself she didn’t care. At least she got to learn as much as she could about horses. And her four-legged friends always returned her love, no questions asked, or judgments made.

  When the lesson ended and Patty’s parents took her home, oftentimes the Fitzgeralds were late to pick Carli up. She’d sit on a hay bale and dream about her life. Maybe one day she’d have a horse of her own. Maybe her real mommy and daddy would come back for her and cheer her on in a riding competition. She leaned back on the hay and looked up at the white clouds, thinking of so many things. Sometimes her riding teacher noticed the foster parents were late again, so she’d ask Carli to help with some chores—rolling the cloth bandages used on horses’ legs or folding the white English saddle pads and stacking them neatly.

  Eventually, one or both of the Fitzgeralds would pull up to collect her and take her home. Most days they didn’t offer any explanation for being late. Or if they did, it might be something like, “The doctor kept us waiting forever.” Carli never put up a fuss, just figured that’s the way it was, and actually, she found being with the horses and around the barn to be the most fun of her young life. She later realized it was this experience and knowledge that had given her the confidence to begin giving riding lessons in Georgia and open her own business.

  As the years ticked by, Carli progressed in her riding ability and became active in horse showing. The Fitzgeralds couldn’t afford to send her to every show so when Carli was a teen, she took on part-time jobs around the barn and then at a feed store so she could earn money to pay for her own show expenses.

  Anyone would say she had a good life, a good upbringing, even special perks like riding and showing horses. What child wouldn’t love that? And Carli was grateful to the Fitzgeralds. She told herself, and them, how thankful she was, time and time again. But even though her homelife offered security, the result was that Carli had taken care of herself for as long as she could remember.

  It seemed there was always one piece of herself missing. She knew that, now more than ever before, as she looked at Buck slumped in the front seat of Nathan’s truck. His previous gray pallor had changed to red-faced and he was sweating profusely, his speech somewhat mixed up as he kept trying to tell them no “hors-pital”.

  She never experienced a heartfelt connection with the Fitzgeralds like she had with Lola and Buck. She missed having a father who cared for her deeply, loved her unconditionally. Right now, Buck was the closest thing to a real father for her. And it would devastate her if anything ever happened to him.

  Someone had thought to call ahead, probably Lank, because when they pulled up to the hospital a team was waiting on them with a wheelchair. With looks of concern on their faces, several of the nurses called Lola by name and asked Buck where he hurt. Everything happened in a blur after that, as Buck was whisked inside and the rest of them collapsed into well-worn, straight-back waiting room chairs. Within minutes, Lank joined them.

  Nathan found the vending machines and brought everyone a hot cup of coffee. Carli couldn’t help but grimace at the bitter taste, and then hoped Nathan hadn’t seen the look on her face. They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, Lola occasionally wiping tears from her face.

  Lola suddenly stood. “Prayer circle, now.” Without a word they grouped around Lola and joined hands. She looked at Lank and nodded.

  Lank prayed.

  Carli’s eyes blurred and she couldn’t quote a word he said, but when they all ended with "Amen," she thought it was the most beautiful prayer she’d ever heard, and her heart was comforted. She stared at the ranch hand. That cowboy was certainly full of surprises.

  Nathan’s phone buzzed and he answered. “At the hospital with Buck. Yep. I understand.” His face turned dark red and Carli could see a jaw muscle flex as he gritted his teeth. “My dad. He needs my help. I hate to leave y’all, but I’ve got to go.” He turned to Carli. “Call me later and let me know how he is.”

  “Sure.” She gave him a small smile.

 
; “Thanks, Nathan. I really appreciate all you did today.” Lola stood and gave him a hug.

  “See ya, man.” Lank nodded.

  Carli watched their exchange with interest. Apparently, all the fist punching had been resolved, whatever that had been. She should just forget it. No matter how much time she spent going over that situation in her mind, she’d probably never understand it. Men.

  The antiseptic smell of the hospital was soon replaced with the pleasant aroma of buttered popcorn as a volunteer emerged from an office to operate the machine. Carli studied the lobby. They had driven to the next larger town over from Dixon as it was a little closer than the trauma center in Amarillo. Lola explained they could stabilize him here and take him on to the bigger facility if necessary. She, Carli, and Lank were the only ones in the lobby at this time of the afternoon on a Saturday. A few people walked through turning towards the hallway with patient rooms. Carli lost track of the time, and the doctor finally came out to speak with Lola. She stared into his tired face, grabbed onto Carli’s hand, and squeezed.

  “Mrs. Wallace, your husband is going to be fine.”

  Carli felt as though the entire building swayed in a collective exhale, a giant breath it had been holding.

  “We think it was a case of angina where blood flow and oxygen are restricted to the heart, maybe a panic attack thrown in. Those can both be very debilitating and feel like a heart attack. Maybe a little acid reflux, which is intense heartburn. The good news is it wasn’t a stroke or heart attack.”

  “Oh, my, thank you, Doctor. Thank God. When can I see him?”

  “He’s resting now, and the nurse is changing his IV fluids. In a few minutes, I think. I might keep him overnight for observation and run some more tests in the morning. I’m a little concerned about his elevated blood pressure. Acid reflux can make you feel like you’re having a heart attack. We’ll need to talk about his diet.”

  After the physician walked away, Carli quietly asked, “Acid reflux? What did he eat?”