April chewed her bottom lip. “You dress like a matron or a spinster who couldn’t care less one way or the other. Try wearing something more suitable for your age and perhaps do your hair in a different way. Let go a little bit and have fun. You aren’t doomed, you know.”
Louise reached up and patted her tight chignon and fingered her hair. “I . . . I don’t know what to say.”
“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, Louise. I only want to help you.” April gave her new friend a quick hug.
Louise’s eyes glittered with unshed tears. “I’ve always felt such a responsibility after my father died to take care of my mother and maintain the boardinghouse. There’s never been much time for me.”
“And you’ve done a great job. I know how proud your mother is of you and Natalie, but you can make time to care about yourself, or no one else will.” April sighed. “I should know because I’ve cared more about my own wants than I should,” she admitted.
“Will you help me? I’m afraid I don’t know where to begin,” Louise said.
“I’d love to! How about after supper? I’ll come to your room and see what can be done.”
Louise giggled. “You almost say that like I’m a lost cause.”
April laughed, picking up her dusting rag again. “Not at all. Underneath that severe appearance lies a soul of passion and ideas. I’m sure of it. You just have to be yourself.” Her answers seemed to appease Louise, and they zipped through the rest of the chores in record time.
April hitched Sassy to the wagon right after lunch and hurried down the street to Cynthia’s. Billy had volunteered to meet her there to help lift Jane and her wheelchair into the wagon. She was glad for that since it would be hard for her to do it alone. Cynthia would leave when they did in order to get back to her job. The arrangement for her to work at the boardinghouse in the afternoons until supper was working out perfectly with her schedule for her daughter.
Pulling up to the gate, April set the brake and climbed down. Billy was already on the porch chatting with Jane. It appeared that they were getting along quite well. April had never seen Jane so animated. It seemed having someone close to Jane’s age was good medicine for her, and she was lapping up Billy’s chattering like the hummingbird sucking up nectar from the flowers near the front porch. Well, good for her! This might turn out to be a fabulous day.
Cynthia hurried up the pathway to meet April. “Good afternoon, April,” she said. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this. Jane has been rather cantankerous with me this morning. She’s in one of her moods.”
April took her hand and said, “Now don’t go worrying, Cynthia, Wes and I will get her right out of that mood, you’ll see. This is going to be so good for her.” She smiled, nodding toward the porch. “It looks like she has a new friend too.”
Cynthia turned in time to see her daughter give a wide smile to Billy. “Hmm, you’re right . . . but we don’t know much about him, do we?”
They started for the porch. “You don’t need to worry. I know him, and now he is working for Morgan Kincaid at the stage depot. Do you know Mr. Kincaid?”
“Indeed I do.”
“Then that settles it. You have nothing to fear if you trust Mr. Kincaid’s instincts.”
Cynthia regarded her with a pensive look. “I suppose you’re right on that point. Let’s get Jane in the wagon so I won’t be late for work.”
When Cynthia picked up her daughter to carry her to the wagon, the blanket fell away, exposing April’s specially made boots on Jane’s feet and her belt firmly holding her jeans in place. April drew in a quick breath.
“Is something wrong?” Jane asked.
April recovered. “No, no . . . I just got a stitch in my side, that’s all,” she lied. Why didn’t Wes tell her that he was giving the leather goods to Jane instead of letting her think he had a lady friend? Was it to make her jealous?
April put on her best smile. There was no need to take it out on the little girl. It wasn’t her fault that she owned them now.
Once Jane was settled in the wagon with a blanket around her legs, she waved to her mother and Billy, who promised to come back some night and play a board game. April urged Sassy forward in a trot down the road toward the Rusty Spur. She was glad to have something to do outside, especially since it involved horses.
April kept her eyes on the road ahead, carefully guiding Sassy, who was a bit frisky. “Jane, are you excited about horseback riding?
” Jane turned in her seat to look up at April with her large, piercing eyes and beautiful bouncy blonde ringlets framing her small face. “I have ridden before, you know,” she snapped. “It’s just been since this accident, I’ve not had an opportunity, and then no one would care if I wanted to or not.” Her face twisted into a frown.
“I’m sorry about that. But someone cares now,” April said, and she turned her head in time to see Jane’s face soften.
“It will be nice to do something besides sit around the house. The only time I get out is to go to church.”
April could hear the pain in Jane’s voice. “Maybe today will change that. Wes said his grandfather had terrible pain in his joints, but when he’d go riding, his joints moved easier. There may be something to that. Maybe it will help you to move your legs and help you to walk again.”
Jane shifted on the seat, crossed her arms in her lap, and became quiet. April tried to draw her into conversation, but she only muttered one- or two-word answers until they neared Wes’s ranch. April figured that it was because she didn’t know her very well. She wondered how Juliana had been able to break through that exterior. At least Billy had brought out a few smiles today.
Wes stood with his arm propped up on the fence post next to the corral in anticipation of their arrival. “Howdy! Nice afternoon, isn’t it, ladies?”
If she didn’t know better, April could have sworn his hair beneath his hat was combed and he wore clean britches. His normally scruffy jaw was clean-shaven. She wasn’t sure why, but April was pleased with his overall appearance and couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in his eye when he winked at her. “Good afternoon,” she said with a half smile.
Jane murmured hello. Wes lifted her wheelchair out of the back of the wagon while April climbed down and stood nearby, ready to assist.
“April, why don’t you turn Sassy loose in the pasture while we have our riding time with Jane?”
“Good idea.” April began unhitching her horse, and once Wes placed Jane in her chair, he came to assist her. Sassy seemed to know that she was home again and raced to the pasture. To April’s surprise, Jane laughed.
“I think she wants to be free, Miss April.”
“Could be you’re right, Jane.” April watched her horse romp with several other horses in utter abandon. “But this isn’t her home anymore.”
“Well, let’s get started.” Wes pushed the wheelchair over to the corral. “I see you wore those nice leather boots. Do they fit all right?”
“They’re only a tiny bit long,” Jane answered, looking down at her feet. “But they are so nice. I’m wearing the belt too.”
Wes chuckled. “Then I’ll be sure and tell the lady who donated them how pleased you are.” He turned his gaze to April and winked again. Thankfully, Jane couldn’t see him wink since he was behind her. He stopped her wheelchair and knelt down in front of her. “Before I get a horse for you, have you ridden before?”
Jane stammered, “No, I haven’t.”
“But you told me—” April frowned as Wes interrupted her.
“I thought so . . . Jane, you have to do as I tell you, understand?” Wes studied her face.
“I will. Honest.” Jane placed her right hand over her heart, grinning at Wes.
“Then I have just the horse for you. I’ll go get her and we’ll be all set.” He stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
April waited until he was out of earshot before she spoke. “Jane, why did you tell me you’d ridden horses?”
�
��Because I felt like it,” Jane said with irritation in her voice. She pulled the blanket off her legs and draped it over the wheelchair in readiness to be lifted.
April knew what she wanted to say but didn’t reply. Besides, she’d promised God she would watch her words.
Wes came back leading a beautiful mare. “This is Cinnamon. She’s ’bout the gentlest mare around and will do whatever you tell her to do just by the touch of your knee or a gentle tug of the reins.” He led the mare into the corral while April pushed Jane’s wheelchair inside and stopped next to the horse.
“She sure is pretty! I hope she likes me,” Jane whispered to April anxiously.
“I’m sure she will.” April patted Jane’s shoulder.
“Okay, ladies. April, I’ll pick Jane up if you’ll go around to Cinnamon’s other side and put Jane’s leg over the saddle, then put her feet in the stirrups.”
April could feel Jane’s shoulder tense underneath her hand. “You’re going to be fine. See how still she stands waiting for you?” Jane bobbed her blonde curls in response with a nervous look. April knew that a horse seemed very powerful and big when one encountered it for the first time, and Cinnamon was big. April might have chosen a smaller horse to start with.
Wes scooped Jane up into his arms and carried her to the mare, and April guided her leg over to the other side of the saddle.
“How’s it feel?” Wes stood with his hands on his hips.
“Gosh . . . like I’m way up high.”
“Are you scared?” April asked, looking up at Jane.
“A little.” Her voice shook.
“Well, don’t be. I’ll keep hold of the reins and lead you around the corral,” Wes said.
“Hold on to the saddle horn, Jane.” April handed Wes the reins.
“What’s a saddle horn?” Jane looked down at Wes.
“It’s what we call the point sticking up on the saddle.”
Jane put both hands around the saddle horn and held tightly. April climbed up onto the top rung of the fence and watched as Wes led the mare in a walk around the dusty corral. When Cinnamon tossed her mane with a snort, it made Jane jump and nearly lose her seat, but Wes was right there to guide Cinnamon and reassured Jane that her movements were normal for a horse. A couple of times around the ring and Jane was smiling.
“May I hold the reins now?”
“If you want to. When you want to stop, just pull back slightly. If you want to go left or right, since you have no feeling in your legs, just give a tug with the rein in the direction you want to go. That’s all there is to it.” Wes handed her the reins.
“Will I ever be able to ride like April?” Jane’s eyes were shining like a starlit night.
“Could be, but we may have to tie your legs in place somehow. We’ll think about it.” Wes rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Not wanting to leave Jane by herself, Wes walked alongside the horse. April watched the pair from her perch on the fence. She was impressed that Wes showed so much patience with Jane. He was a calming presence, and his long fingers gently guided Jane’s on how to hold the reins. April also noticed how his jeans hugged his backside and long lean legs and were tucked into his black leather boots. His plaid shirt brought out the green flecks in his eyes, and as he neared her, April decided that no man should have lashes that long.
“Look, April,” Jane yelled, “I’m riding by myself!” Jane’s face was glowing with delight, and April was glad to see how much difference there was from the girl’s previously sullen countenance.
April clapped her hands. “I knew you’d love it! Would you like me to take a walk alongside Jane for a bit, Wes?”
“No, I’d rather be right here since Cinnamon knows me.” Wes paused and glanced over at April.
His look said he was pleased to be doing exactly what he was for now, and he gave her a small smile. “In a while we’ll stop and have some huckleberry pie.”
“Pie? Yum!” Jane smacked her lips as she came close to where April sat. She tested her ability to stop the mare. Cinnamon obeyed and Wes stopped too, standing close enough to touch April’s leg.
April reached out to give the horse a loving pat on her withers. “Don’t you just love being on a horse’s back?”
“I don’t know about love, but I do like being way up here,” she answered. “Cinnamon is huge. I could get used to doing this every day.”
“Wait until you learn to let her trot, then it becomes more fun. But you’ll have to feel really confident in the saddle for that to happen.” Wes pushed back his hat to see the little girl better.
“Do you mean we can do this again?” Jane’s eyes were wide with delight.
“I think that can be arranged. Maybe April can help us out again,” Wes said as he curved a look at April.
April shrugged. “I have nothing else to do until my brother arrives, although I don’t see that I’m much help to you.”
“’Course you’re helping. We need your help, don’t we, Jane?” Jane gave April a sweet smile. “Yes, because I’d like to learn to ride like her. Billy told me all about you.”
“He did, did he?” April laughed. “Who knows, if you learn to ride well enough, I might let Billy ride Sassy with you and Cinnamon, if that’s okay with Wes.”
“Fine by me. Now go ahead and have a few more laps around and then we’ll have that huckleberry pie.”
Jane was only too happy to comply but didn’t know how to get the mare moving, so April told her to make a clicking sound with her tongue or say “giddyap.”
When the girl was out of earshot, April looked down at Wes. His shirt was open at the throat and his neck was tanned from long hours outdoors. When he smiled, she noticed that he had a slightly crooked tooth, but his lips were nice with a natural lift at the corners. She wondered if he’d ever kissed Natalie. It had been a long, long time since April had been kissed by Luke, and she found herself wanting to feel the taste of Wes’s lips against hers. Am I crazy? He’s just an average horse trainer. He owns a few measly unkempt acres, and I’ll inherit a ten-thousand-acre ranch. He doesn’t have any family. I have a father to answer to. These thoughts jumbled her mind and she couldn’t think straight, especially with Wes standing so close.
“So, did you bake the pie yourself?” April asked.
“I did. Picked the huckleberries myself. Here, let me help you down,” he said, reaching for her. April slid down off the fence rail, his hands supporting her at the waist until she was touching him leg to leg. They were so close she could smell his soap and see his mouth twitch.
Wes backed away, turning to look at Jane on the other side of the corral. “One more circle and then we’ll stop for today, Jane.”
Jane made a face at him, and Wes just laughed. April stood next to him with sweaty palms, her heart thudding hard against her ribs. Was it just the September sun that made her feel so warm?
Wes ushered April and Jane into his sparse home and took them to the small kitchen. He knew his home was not like either of theirs, but it really didn’t matter to him. Material things didn’t impress him much. Still, he could see the disappointment in April’s eyes after they entered the house. As long as he was comfortable, had food and shelter and his horses, he felt like life was good. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone to share his life, but it would have to be a compromise. He always wondered why women wanted doodads and knickknacks in the first place. They were just another thing to keep track of.
He pushed Jane up to the kitchen table, still littered with a couple of plates and a glass from lunch. “I was just about to clean this up when you gals arrived,” Wes said, hurriedly picking up the plates and carrying them to the sink.
“Do you live alone?” Jane twisted in her chair to see him.
“Yep. My pa’s been gone now for about four years,” Wes answered as he placed a pie on the table.
“It must get pretty lonely here, then.” April stood next to the table. “May I help with anything?”
“Nope. You just sit t
here and act like company while I dish up the pie. I make good huckleberry pie and picked these berries just yesterday,” he bragged. He cut three slices and placed them on old rose china plates. “I’ll take the chipped plate. You gals get the nice ones.”
Jane giggled. “You’re funny, Wes.”
He looked at April, who was a little quieter than normal as she took her fork and tasted the pie. He waited for her reaction while she chewed.
“Wes . . . your skill as a cook surprises me.” April licked a crumb from the side of her mouth. “A horse trainer who can cook. Now there’s a story for you. I wonder what other skills you have hidden.” Her blue eyes seem to flirt, and Wes’s heart thumped. He swallowed hard.
“I’m a man of many talents, but I try not to show off too much,” he replied. Her nearness earlier at the corral had made his hands shake, but he pretended she had no effect on him now as her gaze flittered back to him across the table.
Jane finished off her pie. “I can’t wait to tell Mother what a delicious treat we had. I love huckleberries.”
Wes shuffled toward the sink with his empty plate, his spurs jingling, then walked to the cupboard to take out a jar. “Here, Jane. Take this jelly home for your breakfast. It’s my mother’s special recipe. It’s mighty fine on hot buttered biscuits.”
April rose and took the other dirty plates to the sink. Wes liked the way she looked in her jeans, but he’d liked the soft feminine side of her in the calico dress too. Not to mention the beautiful gown she’d worn to Josh’s wedding. His throat went dry just remembering how she’d looked that night with her shoulders bare. But maybe it was the pie that made his throat dry.
“Would you ladies care for some water now? I’ll go draw some cold water from the well.” He walked back to the cupboard to retrieve the glasses. As he reached to open the cupboard door, his hand brushed against April’s. Wes felt a sudden rush of heat. “Sorry.”
“Excuse me, but . . . er . . . Wes, I need the necessary room.” Jane looked around.
“All I have is the outhouse, Jane. Maybe April could help you.” Wes felt the heat rising in his face. He sure didn’t want to offer her the slop jar in his bedroom.
A Love of Her Own Page 15