Ranch at River’s End

by Brenda Mott

  “Jenny and her folks are rodeo competitors and all, so they can obviously ride,” Nina argued, “but I think Mac would benefit more from lessons with Stella or Darci. You know, it’s something she’s been wanting to do for a while now. How many times has she bugged you to get her a horse?”

  Too many. Michaela had been dragging him to auctions, pointing out that their little bit of acreage was going to waste. She’d nearly had him talked into it before the shooting, then after…

  Jordan wanted to throttle his sister for putting him on the spot. “A lot,” he conceded.

  “Okay then.” Nina gestured, palm up. “Let her go riding, Jordan. It’ll be good for her. Fresh air, wholesome exercise, professional supervision. What more could you ask for?”

  How was he supposed to argue with that?

  “I guess. But I want to come, too.” He couldn’t rest easy knowing his daughter was on a horse and he wasn’t there.

  “You’re more than welcome,” Darci said warmly. “We’ll put you on a horse, too. Does tomorrow sound good?”

  “Tomorrow’s fine.” He was sure Mac would rather ride than go boating.

  Sure enough, Michaela and Jenny had come over just in time to hear the last of the conversation, and Mac let out an ear-piercing squeal, throwing her arms around Jordan’s waist.

  “Thank you, Dad! I love you more than chocolate!”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’d better be careful, missy.” He tapped her nose, earning a “Da-ad.” “And you have to wear a helmet.”

  “I’ll wear a tutu if you insist, just as long as I can ride.” She and Jenny clasped hands, jumping up and down as much as Mac could manage.

  A sudden image of his little girl on a huge quarter horse chilled Jordan to the bone, and he wanted to take back his consent. Tell her she couldn’t go after all. But he could hardly do that, given her obvious joy. She hadn’t smiled that much in ages. “We will make sure she’s safe,” Darci said firmly, laying a hand on his arm as Mac and Jenny hurried off to tell their friends.

  Fine. But who was going to make sure he was safe from the feelings he was starting to have for Darci?

  CHAPTER TEN

  SATURDAY MORNING DAWNED slightly on the chilly side, a few scattered clouds threatening to bring showers. Darci hoped the rain would hold off. She wanted today to be perfect for Michaela. She was afraid if they didn’t get the little girl’s lesson in right away, Jordan might change his mind.

  They met at the Shadow S shortly after lunch, and by then the sun had come out, though the breeze was a bit chilly. Darci wore a jean jacket over her T-shirt, and tugged her cowboy hat low over her eyes as she got out of the car with Christopher. Jordan and Michaela pulled in beside them as they were parking, Nina with them.

  The girl’s entire face lit up like a Christmas tree as she got out of the SUV. “Hi,” she said to Darci. “Where’s my horse?”

  Darci laughed. “Slow down, kiddo. He’s not ready yet because I thought you might like to help tack him up.”

  “I sure would!”

  Nina chuckled and Jordan shook his head. “I don’t think she slept a wink last night. She was up at the crack of dawn, ready to ride.”

  “This will be good for her,” Nina said. “You’ll see.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Don’t worry,” Darci said. “We’re putting her on the gentlest horse we have on the place.”

  “My horse,” Chris muttered.

  Darci ignored him. “Dollar’s great with kids. So come on, Mac. Let’s go get him.”

  Mac leaned on her cane, walking more quickly than Darci had imagined she could. Inwardly, Darci smiled. Nina was right. This was going to be good for the girl.

  Darci felt Jordan’s closeness as they all walked to the barn with Stella. She still couldn’t get the kiss they’d shared off her mind, no matter how many times she tried to convince herself it had meant nothing. If so, then why did it keep her awake at night?

  She should just be happy that Jordan hadn’t written Chris off as the town villain—that he seemed willing to give her son the benefit of the doubt. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket, not so much to ward off the chilly breeze as to keep from biting her nails. Jordan’s nearness had her rattled.

  “I saw the flyers for the ranch rodeo,” he said. “I take it Shauna Roark approved?”

  “She was thrilled,” Stella said.

  “I’m really glad she didn’t have a problem with us doing this for Tara,” Darci added. “Hopefully the Indian summer we’ve been having will come back for a while.” The rodeo was planned for the second Saturday in October.

  “So, tell me,” Nina said. “How does a ranch rodeo differ from a plain old rodeo?”

  “The events are a little different,” Darci said, “and local ranches compete with each other in teams of four to five people. There will be events like team penning and wild cow milking.”

  Jordan chuckled. “That ought to be interesting.”

  “It’s something to watch all right,” Darci said. “I’ll be entering on Aunt Stella’s team. It will be her and Uncle Leon, and me and Christopher.” She laughed. “I may end up visiting you in the E.R. again.”

  “We’ll hope not,” Jordan said, his eyes sparkling.

  “How do you milk a wild cow?” Michaela wondered.

  “Very carefully,” Stella said. “Like Darci said, it’s something to behold.”

  “Can we go, Dad?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Jordan said. It was in Sandra’s memory, after all.

  By now they’d reached the barn and Dollar’s stall. Darci haltered the bay gelding and let Mac lead him out. Jordan looked apprehensive. “Isn’t that the horse Chris was riding last week? The one Mac said did all those fancy sliding stops?”

  “He won’t give you any trouble,” Darci said. “I promise. Mac, when you finish riding today, I’ll teach you all about brushing your horse down, cleaning his hooves—things like that. Part of the lessons here at the Shadow S are caring for horses, not just riding them.”

  “Cool!” Michaela said, holding her cane in one hand, Dollar’s lead rope in the other. The bay gelding walked calmly at her side, and the girl looked thrilled.

  “So, what am I supposed to do while you give her a lesson?” Chris asked. He shot Michaela a resentful glare, and Darci flushed with embarrassment. Michaela was riding Chris’s favorite horse, but that didn’t excuse his rudeness.

  “Why don’t you take me on a trail ride?” Nina asked. “That is, if it’s all right with your mom and your aunt?”

  For a moment, Darci thought she saw Michaela flash her own look of resentment at Christopher. Suddenly Darci knew she needed to trust her son more. “Fine by me,” she said. “Aunt Stella?”

  “Don’t see why not,” Stella said. “I’ll go with you. I don’t get a whole lot of chances to just ride for pleasure these days.”

  “How am I supposed to ride when she’s got my horse?” Christopher asked, again glaring at Michaela.

  “Mac has a name,” Darci said, “and quit being rude, Christopher. Dollar’s not your horse. Besides, you can ride one of the others.”

  “How about that sorrel Appaloosa we got at the auction?” Stella asked. “I think you’ll like him.”

  “You’d trust me with him?” Chris asked. “I thought you said he was spirited.”

  “He is,” Stella said, “but he’s not mean. Okay by you, Darci?”

  “Just be careful, Chris,” she said.

  While Christopher went with Nina and Stella to catch and saddle the Appaloosa, Darci showed Michaela how to brush Dollar down and the proper way to saddle him. Soon they were in the arena, Michaela mounted on the bay gelding. She practically glowed with excitement.

  “Look, Dad! I’m riding!”

  “I see that.” Jordan chuckled from his perch on the arena fence.

  Darci noted the look of pride on his face, even though it was mixed with apprehension. He held Michaela’s cane for her
, and his knuckles gleamed white.

  “Don’t worry,” she called out to him. “We’re good.” Then to Michaela, “Okay, sweetie. Hold the reins right about here. You’re going to signal him with your legs, through your body language and through the bridle reins.” She continued giving instructions, and while Mac had some weakness in her bad hip, she balanced herself in the saddle better than Darci had expected. “Don’t be afraid to use the saddle horn,” Darci instructed. “There’s nothing wrong with holding on any way you can. We’ll work on finesse later.”

  The normal lesson time ran a good hour, but Darci wondered if that would be too much for Michaela’s first time. She decided to stop after forty-five minutes. Mac did well, and by the end of the lesson she looked tired but happy.

  She swung down off the gelding’s back with Darci’s assistance. Jordan had walked over, holding his daughter’s cane. “You did great, snicker-doodle,” he said. “I’m proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Dad. Can I help unsaddle him, too?” she asked Darci, stroking the horse’s neck.

  “Absolutely. Like I said, we’re going to show you the ropes all the way.” She let Michaela lead Dollar to the hitching post, where Darci demonstrated how to untie the cinch, then lifted the saddle from his back and showed Mac how to brush him down. Dollar hadn’t worked up much of a sweat, but was slightly damp under his saddle blanket. Once he’d been brushed dry, Darci picked his hooves out, explaining to Michaela why it was an important thing to do, especially after a trail ride.

  “A stone caught in his frog or inside the edge of his horseshoe can leave an ugly bruise. It can cause a horse to walk tender footed for days.”

  Michaela took it all in, wide-eyed.

  When they were finished, Darci slipped the hoof pick into the grooming tray along with the currycomb and brushes. “Now I think we’ll reward Dollar by turning him out into the paddock with the other horses so he can kick up his heels a little.”

  “Can I do it?” Michaela asked eagerly.

  “I don’t see why not.” Darci pointed out the paddock, a short distance away. “Just put him in there and take his halter off. Do you think you can manage?”

  She nodded. “I can do it.”

  She took the lead rope, and cane in hand, walked Dollar toward the pipe-rail enclosure.

  “Look at her,” Jordan said with pride. “I don’t know when I’ve seen her so happy.”

  “She did really well,” Darci said. “I mean that. She’s a natural.”

  “She’s always loved horses. Thank you for doing this for her, Darci. I’m sorry I was so stubborn about it.”

  “No problem. You were just worried. I’m glad she had fun.”

  Minutes later Michaela rejoined them, and the three of them talked about the upcoming ranch rodeo. “I can take some flyers to school if you like,” she said. “And ask permission to hang them.”

  “That would be great,” Darci said. “I—” She broke off midthought as Dollar and several other horses ran across the grass near the barn. Jake barked a warning.

  “Oh, no,” Michaela said, alarmed. “I must not have gotten the gate latched right. Darci, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s my fault,” Darci said. “I should’ve gone with you.”

  “Can I help?” Jordan asked.

  “We’ll need halters and buckets of grain,” Darci said. Uncle Leon was out repairing fence, so it was just the three of them. “Don’t worry, Michaela. They won’t go far.”

  At least she hoped not.

  JORDAN TOOK A HALTER and lead rope and a bucket of grain from Darci. “Stay right here,” he instructed Michaela as they headed out of the barn. He indicated a bench seat outside the stables. “Sit there and wait for me, Mac.”

  “Can’t I help?”

  “No. Just wait.” He felt bad to be short with her, but they had to hurry, and her cane would hamper her movements.

  Dollar and the black mare Darci’s aunt and uncle had bought at the auction trotted down the driveway as Jordan watched, a paint horse and a buckskin with them.

  “I’m sorry,” Jordan said once they were out of earshot of Michaela.

  “It’s okay,” Darci said. “Things happen. Next time I’ll go with her and make sure she understands how to latch the gate properly.”

  “If there’s a next time,” Jordan said.

  Darci flashed him a look. “Surely you’re not going to punish Mac for this by not letting her take lessons after all?”

  “We came to try it out,” Jordan said. “I never made her any promises.”

  “Jordan, that’s not fair,” Darci said. “I mean, she’s your daughter and it’s really none of my business how you discipline her, but don’t you think you’re being a little harsh?”

  “I’m not trying to be harsh,” he said, walking quickly but calmly toward the wayward horses. “I’m just being sensible. Mac’s not cut out to handle horses.”

  “Because she left a gate open? Come on, Jordan. It could happen to anyone. You’re not using it as an excuse, are you? Because letting Mac on a horse scares you?”

  Jordan had to admit Darci’s comment held a grain of truth. “I’ll think about it,” he said gruffly.

  “Didn’t you see the way she lit up on that horse?” Darci asked. “I thought she was going to burst with happiness.”

  “I know.” He sighed.

  “Admit it. Mac was happier today than she’s been in a long time. Am I right?”

  Briefly, Jordan squeezed his eyes shut. Sandra…why did you have to leave us?

  “You’re right,” he said quietly. “That’s the happiest I’ve seen her in ages.”

  “So, don’t take that from her.”

  “I’m not an ogre,” he said. “I’m just trying to look out for what’s best for Mac.”

  Darci laid her hand on his arm. “I know you are,” she said. “So am I.”

  His breath caught. That Darci would feel protective of his daughter left him feeling warm inside. He’d done everything he could since the shooting to take care of Mac and be sure she was safe and happy. Still, he couldn’t help but think she missed out on a lot not having a mother. He’d seen the way she looked at Darci today, eager and adoring. Darci had won her over by letting her handle Dollar, tack up the gelding, brush him…

  And not getting mad when Michaela made a mistake. Was his daughter hungry for a woman’s influence? Maybe she needed someone like Darci in her life. Nina was good with Michaela, and loved her niece beyond a doubt, but she was busy with her practice. Maybe his daughter needed something more.

  “All right,” he said. “I’ll let her come back for another lesson.”

  “Good.” Darci grinned at him. “Now let’s get these horses rounded up before Aunt Stella gets back and sees what a mess I made.”

  That Darci was willing to take the blame for what had happened also touched Jordan. He slowed his pace and walked calmly toward Dollar, shaking the bucket of grain at the gelding. The bay immediately trotted to Jordan’s side, shoving his big head into the bucket. The buckskin followed suit, and within minutes Jordan and Darci had the four horses caught and haltered and were leading them back toward the paddock.

  Nina, Stella and Christopher appeared over the ridge, coming down the trail above the stables.

  “What happened?” Stella asked as they neared, pulling up on the reins of the sorrel mare she rode.

  “We had a little mishap, that’s all,” Darci said. “Gate didn’t get latched properly.”

  “Dollar’s a bit of an escape artist anyway,” Stella said. “You don’t latch the gate tight, he’ll worry it open with his mouth.”

  Jordan helped put the horses away, and Darci latched the gate, giving it a firm shake to be sure it was fastened securely. His hand brushed against hers as he handed her the halters and lead ropes, and he felt as if his skin had been touched by fire. If he wasn’t mistaken, Darci felt it, too.

  “So how about you?” she asked. “Do you ride?”

  “A little. It’s bee
n a while.”

  “Would you like to go for a trail ride with me sometime?”

  Very much so. “Yeah, I would,” he said.

  “How about tomorrow?”

  “I’ll have to see,” he said. “I promised Mac I’d take her and Jenny out on the boat this weekend. You could come with us,” he added on impulse. The voice in his head told him it wasn’t a good idea. Especially after the kiss they’d shared last time. Jordan ignored it. “After all, we never did get the chance to go out on the water the other day.”

  “No, we didn’t,” Darci said. “Yeah, I think I’d like that.”

  “Great. Come on down to the house in the morning, say about ten o’clock? You can bring Christopher, too, of course. We’ll have lunch on the boat.”

  “I appreciate that,” Darci said, “but I think he’s going to stay here at the ranch for the weekend. He really likes working with my uncle.”

  “I don’t blame him,” Jordan said. “It’s a nice place.” Then, “Have you thought any more about letting Christopher have a puppy? I noticed he hasn’t come over to see them and they’ve got their eyes open now.”

  Darci gave him a crooked grin. “Are you trying to get back at me for getting your daughter on a horse?”

  He chuckled. “No. But I think every boy should have a dog. Chris really seemed to want one.”

  “He does. But I’ve discouraged him.” Darci sighed. “Okay, fair’s fair. You let Michaela ride. I guess I can let Christopher have a puppy.”

  “Good. Bring him over and he can pick one out. But they won’t be weaned for a few weeks yet.”

  “He’ll be over the moon,” Darci said.

  “Mac was, too, when Chewy wandered into our lives. Dogs are a good thing to teach a child responsibility.”

  Darci bristled. “Are you insinuating Christopher needs a lesson in being responsible? Because I can assure you he’s been through the wringer on that one.”

  “Whoa.” Jordan held up his hand. “Not at all. I’m just saying dogs, like horses, are good for kids.”