Mandy drew abreast of Zach. “What’s up?”
Zach explained, and Mandy grasped her brother’s arm. “It’s fine, Luke. I’ll be right there.”
“Well.” Luke tightened his hand on Rosebud’s halter handle. “I guess. If I get nervous, we can leave, right?”
“Right,” Zach assured the youth.
Luke touched Rosebud’s ears with his free hand. “Okay, Rosebud, let’s go.”
As they drew near the arena, Tornado emerged from his stall and began to circle his paddock. The stallion let loose with a shrill whistle, clearly excited to see Mandy again. Zach was unprepared for what happened next. As the horse circled from the back of his paddock, he lengthened his lope, bunched at the rump, and went airborne, clearing the five-foot fence as if it weren’t there.
“Oh, shit.” Zach didn’t know what to do. He had no way of protecting Mandy and Luke, and the stallion was bearing down on them at full speed, a glorious sight to see with his mane and tail lifting in the breeze, but a terrifying spectacle as well. “Head for the house!” he barked at Mandy and Luke.
Zach lunged into the horse’s path, shouting and waving his arms, frantic to distract the stallion long enough to allow Mandy and Luke to escape. To his horror, Mandy ignored his instructions. Coming up behind him, she grabbed his arm and said, “Zach, it’s okay. He’s just coming to say hello.”
Hello? That horse would pulverize all of them. “Get out of here! Now.”
Miranda darted around him, straight into the stallion’s path. “Don’t be silly. He won’t hurt me.”
And, miracle of miracles, Tornado didn’t. As Zach watched, frozen, the stallion braked at the last possible second, skidding to a stop a mere three feet away from Mandy. She laughed and moved right in. “Hello, Tornado. How’s my big guy? Huh?” She tucked herself close to the stallion’s shoulder, going up on her toes to loop an arm around his neck, her free hand fast at work to dole out rubs and scratches. “Ah, sweetie, you’re shaking. It’s okay.”
Zach’s muscles felt as if they had dissolved and run into his boots. Tornado whiffled and shoved his nose under Mandy’s arm. It was as if the huge animal was trying to hide from the world, and her armpit was his only safe haven.
“What’s happening?” Luke demanded, sounding panicked. “Is that a big horse? Where is it? Will it trample Rosebud and me?”
Making a mental note that the kid’s first concern seemed to be Rosebud, Zach grasped Luke’s elbow. “No worries, Luke. Let me get you and the mini back to the porch. I’ll explain on the way.”
Reluctantly, Zach left Miranda with the most dangerous horse he’d ever seen while he hustled her brother away. En route, he told Luke an abbreviated story of how Tornado, the stable nightmare, had taken a shine to his sister.
“I can’t get near that beast half the time, and he’s never allowed me to pet him. But, I swear, your sister could climb on his back and he’d let her do it.”
Luke chuckled. “Mandy’s got a way with frightened things.” The kid’s smile faded. “I think it’s because she’s been afraid so many times herself.”
Zach wanted to hear more about that, but right then, his one thought was to get Tornado back into his paddock. He’d holler for Cookie and Ethel, he guessed. Somehow they’d corral the horse and herd him back to where he belonged.
Zach carried Rosebud up the steps. No time to do battle with the stairs right now. Then he hurried back down for Luke. When the kid was safely sitting down, Zach started to tell him to stay put, but Luke interrupted him.
“She’s fine, Mr. Harrigan. Hear that? They’re coming this way.”
Zach turned to look, and sure enough, there came Mandy, Tornado trailing behind her like a dog taught to heel. It was ... incredible. No, damn it, it was impossible, and he would be a fool to believe the situation would remain status quo. Tornado had never been near the house, and strange things set him off. He could blow up at any second, and Mandy would be first in his line of attack.
Zach hurried back down the steps. The second his boots connected with the ground, the stallion snorted and stopped, head thrown up, ears back, eyes ringed with white. His lips drew back from his strong yellow teeth. Zach froze.
“I’m going to call for help. Stay where you are and keep him calm if you can. Reinforcements will be here within seconds.” Zach grabbed for his cell. “Talk to him. Do the lovey-dovey thing. If he blows up, he’ll take us both out.”
Mandy placed a palm on the stallion’s neck, gently stroking him. She fixed a questioning gaze on Zach as he dialed Cookie. “Reinforcements? For what?”
“To get him back in his paddock.”
Cookie answered his cell and barked hello just then. Zach turned his attention to the foreman, but before he could get three words out, Miranda grabbed the phone and turned it off.
“A bunch of people will frighten him. If you want him in his pen, I’ll take him.”
Zach didn’t want her within kicking distance of that stallion for another second. “Look, you’ve got to listen to me. I know he’s taken a shine to you, but he’s completely unpredictable. If the wind blows your hair wrong—if you move your hand too fast—” He broke off and pinned a worried glare on the horse. “He’s quiet now, but if a worm pops its head out of the ground, he might go nuts. If he does, he could kill you. Even if he doesn’t intend to. I mean it.”
“He’s a lot more predictable than most people.” With a withering look at Zach, she turned on her heel. “Come on, Tornado. Let’s go back to your pen.”
Again, the stallion followed her like a well-trained dog. Zach fell in behind them, but kept his distance, terrified he’d spook the horse. He saw Cookie round the back corner of the arena building. The older man froze in his tracks when he saw Tornado. Zach shared the sentiment. It was an “oh, shit” moment.
Amazingly, Mandy led the stallion back to the fencing without incident. Once there, she crooked her neck to look back at Zach. “Which one is his yard?”
Zach cut a wide berth around her and the stallion to unlatch Tornado’s gate. As it swung wide, Mandy led the horse inside. “Hurry out,” Zach said.
“If I do, he’ll only jump the fence again. Give me a few minutes with him. Let me assure him that it’s okay.”
Zach wanted to dash in there, grab her by the arm, and drag her out. But he didn’t dare. “Mandy, don’t push it with him. He’s dangerous, I’m telling you.”
“I know,” she said softly, running light hands over the stallion’s regal head. “With enough reason, aren’t we all, Zach?” She cooed softly to the sorrel, and the animal thrust his nose under her arm again, making her giggle. “More armpit sniffs? Tornado, ladies like their privacy.”
Zach pushed the gate closed, rested his elbows on the top rung, and cupped a hand over his eyes. Please, Jesus, keep her safe. Zach sure as hell couldn’t. He listened as she spoke to the horse. “I know, I know.” Her voice trembled with understanding. “Someone was horribly mean to you, and you’re still so afraid inside. But it’s over now, sweetheart. Zach will never let anyone hurt you again.”
Zach leaned closer, trying to catch each word. He knew the voice of experience when he heard it. She knew how it felt to be afraid, and the horse sensed that. They were kindred spirits, tempered by the same kinds of pain and betrayal. The tension eased from Zach’s body. Even as tears stung his eyes—it made him sad to think Mandy had endured abuse—he smiled slightly. Once again, she’d nailed it on the head. Tornado didn’t want to hurt anyone. He was just seeking love and comfort from the one person he sensed he could trust.
“Do you have any treats?” Mandy asked.
Zach jerked his mind to the question. “I, um, yeah.”
“Can you get me some? I’ll settle him in his stall and shut the doors so he can’t jump the fence again while I’m here. Otherwise, he will, and for reasons that are beyond me, you don’t seem to want him at our barbecue.”
Zach pushed away from the fence. “Trust me, my reasons are many.
If you can get him into his stall, that’s where he needs to stay.”
He hurried around the building to find Cookie standing outside the personnel door. The foreman doffed his hat to scratch behind his ear. “What the Sam Hill happened? He jump the fence?”
“He did. I saw my whole life flash before my eyes.”
“I bet ya did. Where you goin’?” Cookie asked. When Zach explained, Cookie said, “Why not let him attend the barbecue? The whole place is fenced. Ethel’s the only hand still here. She can veer out when she leaves so as not to spook him. Let the little lady give him treats from the porch while he watches the fun.”
Zach spun to stare at his foreman and wondered just how rapidly senility could manifest itself. “What? You’re joking, right?”
Cookie chuckled and plopped his battered hat back on his head. “You’re sleepin’ outside that damned stallion’s gate, tryin’ to make friends with him. That’s a great idea, but why miss another opportunity when it runs up and bites you on the ass? That crazy horse loves her. Won’t hurt him a bit to stand by the porch, watchin’ all of you make happy. If he blows up, and I doubt he will with her there, your porch may take a few knocks, but other than that, what harm will be done? You already know he and Rosebud are friends. He wouldn’t hurt her.”
Leaving an unpredictable and potentially dangerous stallion loose in his yard near a lit barbecue and a blind teenager didn’t strike Zach as a fabulous idea. But when he searched Cookie’s gaze, he saw that the foreman was dead serious.
“Get the treats. Take them back to the house. Before she leaves, have her put Tornado up for the night. Simple.”
With that, Cookie sauntered past Zach into the arena.
Tornado handled the barbecue as if he’d attended dozens of them. He stood next to the elevated porch, gazing adoringly at Mandy. Occasionally Rosebud would tear herself from Luke’s side to venture over to rub noses with her giant friend. The two equines whickered and chuffed, apparently communicating. Unusual. Large horses often detested smaller ones and picked on them, but Tornado was as gentle as a lamb. Maybe it was because Rosebud was a mare.
Zach was tense at first, but when Tornado continued to exhibit only calm acceptance of everything, including the repeated slap of the screen door, he started to relax. The horse seemed to cross over some invisible line when Mandy was present, going from crazy to sane.
While the potatoes baked—Zach liked to do them the old-fashioned way—Luke asked if he could take another walk with Rosebud, alone this time. Zach was about to say no. He didn’t want Luke to leave the safety of the porch.
“It’ll be fine,” Miranda assured him. “I’ll go out with Tornado.”
Zach was dubious, but Miranda seemed so confident all would be well that he fell back on Cookie’s advice—to let Tornado see life, up close and personal, with no abusive or fearful events. Over the time that the stallion had stood by the porch, Zach had started to buy into the idea that Miranda’s presence somehow soothed the stallion, forestalling any maniacal outbursts from him. Zach could only shake his head and accept it.
Tornado didn’t act up while Zach got Luke and Rosebud lined out for a walk alone. The stallion stood contentedly with his head hanging over Mandy’s shoulder, watching with keen interest as Zach schooled Luke in the proper handling procedures. “If you feel her halt, pay attention. She’ll tap with her hoof sometimes, so feel with your foot to see what she’s telling you. It may be something in your path, a hole in the ground, a rock, or whatever. When you’re holding this halter handle, Rosebud becomes your eyes. You understand? It’s her job to guide you and warn you of danger. If you listen, you’ll have a blast.”
Luke nodded, his expression animated. “I can do it, I think.”
Zach forced himself to back away. With more confidence than he actually felt, he said, “Sure you can. I’ll watch. If you do something wrong, or if she does, I’ll call out to you. Okay?”
Luke nodded and signaled Rosebud to move forward. Zach stepped back and folded his arms. It was gratifying, but also terrifying to observe Luke, a blind person, depending upon a horse that Zach had only halfway trained to guide.
“Loosen up on the grip, Luke!” Zach called. “You’re confusing her. She thinks you want her to stop. Just relax. Trust her.”
Luke relaxed his hold, stumbled after the horse, who quickened her pace, and then righted his balance. After he’d taken a dozen steps, a huge grin spread across his face.
Mandy watched for a moment and then turned her gaze toward Zach. Even from fifteen feet away, a distance Zach maintained because of Tornado’s presence, he could see the gratitude in her eyes. “Whether or not this goes anywhere,” she said, “thank you so much for this moment. Luke’s never willingly walked outdoors alone. When I forced him, it ended in disaster. This is the very first time he’s grabbed onto the idea and really enjoyed it.”
Zach found it difficult to speak. Watching Luke and Rosebud together was the culmination of more than two years of dedication and hard work, the first stint with a dog trainer, and the last several weeks doing hands-on training with the mini. It was extremely rewarding, but for reasons beyond him, it was also earthshaking. He returned his gaze to Luke, taking in his glad smile. The kid hadn’t relaxed yet, but with each passing moment, he seemed to gain more confidence.
“I hope this works,” Zach heard himself say. “I hope Luke shapes up and proves to me that he deserves her.”
He wanted to take the words back the instant he said them. This was Mandy’s brother he was talking about. To his relief, she didn’t take offense. Instead, she smiled and said, “He has a lot of measuring up to do. But just look at him. He loves this. For the first time in years, he’s free. That’s such a gift for someone like Luke, who’s fought so hard not to be free. Now that he’s gotten a taste of it, he has something wonderful to work toward. Thank you.”
Zach stiffened. “Yo, Luke! When she angles across your legs, listen up. There’s a pipe on the ground a few feet ahead. You need to go around it or stop.”
Luke jerked to a halt. “What do I do?”
Zach stepped forward a few paces so Luke could hear him clearly. It occurred to him that he’d just shouted and Tornado hadn’t even flinched. “Steer her in one direction. See if she goes.” Zach deliberately didn’t tell Luke which way to go. “If she still angles in front of you, try the other way. She’ll tell you when you’re picking the right direction.”
Luke aimed left, and Rosebud blocked him. Zach grinned as the kid switched directions. Rosebud happily went that way, and they were off again.
“That’s amazing.” Mandy curled a hand up over Tornado’s neck as she flashed Zach a grateful smile. “Absolutely amazing.”
What amazed Zach was that his head-shy stallion seemed to love having Mandy’s hands on him, no matter where she decided to put them. Zach could get that. Oh, man, could he ever get that. Looking at her now, he knew he’d never clapped eyes on a more beautiful woman. The old oil stick went hard. He angled his body away from Mandy so she wouldn’t see, silently lecturing that part of his body that had no brains to behave itself. Fat chance. He had to get out of here for a second.
“Hey, Luke, wait up!” he called. “I want to show you something else.”
At least the kid wouldn’t be able to see how embarrassed Zach was right now—or why.
Chapter Ten
Zach couldn’t recall ever enjoying an afternoon quite so much. The weather was perfect, balmy for February, and kissed with sunlight. He worked hard to be a good host, engaging Luke in conversation, cracking jokes, and trying to set a relaxed mood. Except for the steaks, which would take only minutes to grill, the simple meal was ready once the potatoes had baked. Zach turned off the oven and left them inside to stay warm while he gave his guests a tour of the stable.
Tornado accompanied them to the arena. By this time, Zach had almost stopped worrying about the stallion. The horse stuck close to Mandy and seemed to take everything in stride. Still, Za
ch used a back entrance to avoid the stallion section at the front of the building. Cookie waved at them from across the arena. Ordinarily his smug expression would have irritated Zach, but today he decided the old codger was entitled to it.
Ethel, preparing to wrap it up for the day, emerged from the feed room, stopped dead, and gaped at Tornado in startled amazement. “Is that the same horse?”
Zach lifted his hands in bewilderment. He couldn’t explain the transformation. Ethel waved and exited the barn through a side door well away from Tornado.
At first Luke was afraid to pet the horses. “I can hear them. That’s enough.”
“Don’t be silly, Luke,” Mandy said. “They’re inside cages.”
“Can’t they bite?”
Mandy shot Zach a questioning look. He responded with, “Yes, horses can bite, but none of these have ever bitten anyone. You don’t need to worry about that.”
“They’re just bigger versions of Rosebud,” Mandy said. “You’re not afraid of her.”
To distract Luke, Zach began giving biographical sketches of every horse. When he mentioned that he’d bottle-fed Stormy when her dam rejected her, Luke stopped.
“She must be pretty used to people, then, right?”
“She is. For a long time she followed me around like a pup whenever she saw me. She thought I was her mother. I had an awful time living it down with the help.”
Luke laughed. “Where is she? Are you sure she won’t bite me?”
“Positive.”
The boy held out his free hand and tentatively ran it over Stormy’s lowered head.
“She’s so big!” Luke marveled. “I never imagined they were so tall.”
It struck Zach in that moment that Luke had never seen a full-size horse, or had forgotten if he had. What else had the kid forgotten or never seen? Looking around the arena, Zach realized it couldn’t be easy to get around in a completely black world. No wonder Luke took the path of least risk, depending on Mandy for everything. By her own admission, she had made that easy for him to do.
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