by Leann Harris
“I’ll see you O-eight-hundred on Friday.”
The stiffness went out of her spine. He knew his words shocked her.
“I want to ride again, Sophie, but I know common sense when I hear it.”
“You’re an unusual man, Zach McClure.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
“Because you’re letting common sense rule over ego.”
“No. I’m just a man who finally has a goal—to ride again. I don’t need Prince Charming to scold me like Balaam’s donkey scolded him.”
She frowned.
“You remember that story in the Old Testament— Numbers, I believe, where the Balaam was asked to curse the children of Israel and his donkey avoided the avenging angel standing in the road?”
She studied him. “I do, but you wouldn’t have beaten Prince Charming.”
“True, but he would’ve sensed my weakness.”
“Good thinking.” She laughed and disappeared around the corner of the stables.
Zach slipped back into the truck.
“What were you two whispering about?” Ethan asked as they drove off.
“Sophie thinks I’ve got more sense than a donkey.”
Ethan frowned. “What does that mean?”
Zach laughed.
Sophie walked into the ranch office and checked the afternoon schedule. The answering machine blinked. She hit the button to listen to the messages. Two of the messages were from new clients wanting information about riding lessons for their children.
The last message was from Beth who wanted to talk.
Sophie called.
“Did he show up?” Beth asked breathlessly. “I called his house, but he didn’t answer his phone. And he doesn’t own a cell phone anymore. He threw it away when he moved to that apartment.”
“He did? Why?”
“Because he didn’t want to have to talk to us, and if he didn’t have the cell phone, he couldn’t answer our questions when he was out. He said it made him feel like a dog with a microchip.”
“Everything’s good, Beth. He showed up and helped with Andy.” She explained how Zach had worked this morning, then rode again. “He stopped when he was tired.”
“My prayers have been answered.”
“Well, you need to keep praying. It’s the first step and it’s going to be a long road.”
“It’s a start, Sophie. I—” A quiet sob stopped her.
“He’s coming on Friday morning for another lesson.”
“Oh, Sophie, I’m out of town. I’m scheduled to go to New York on a buying trip for the store.”
“Ollie will be here to help.”
“Can I call Mom and Dad and tell them the good news? They are dying to know what’s happening.”
“Sure. Of course, if Ethan talked, it will be old news.”
“Ethan’s so tight-lipped, he wouldn’t tell me if the house burned down. I’ll call.” She laughed. “You know, Sophie, I think you can handle Zach in a way none of the rest of us can.”
“I’m not family. It’s easier for a stranger to tell him the truth than his family. He knows I’m not trying to spare his feelings.”
“Maybe. But I think it’s more than that. Zach looks at you—”
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s something more. I don’t know how to describe it. I’ll tell you this, I haven’t seen that look in his eyes with any other girl.”
Obviously her friend was giddy with excitement and didn’t know what she was talking about. Sophie shook it off.
“I’ll call you when I get back into town,” Beth said.
The dial tone sounded in Sophie’s ear. She pulled the handset away from her ear and stared at it.
Beth hung up on her. Hung up.
Sophie put the phone back. What on earth was Beth trying to imply? Zach looked at her in a different way. And that “way” was boredom. Indifference. She was his sister’s bothersome roommate.
“Miss Sophie, we’re here,” Penny Littledeer called out.
“I’m coming,” Sophie called back as she raced out of the office, Beth’s words ringing in her ears.
Chapter Five
Ethan’s cell rang. He pulled it out of his shirt pocket and offered it to Zach. “Answer it. I’m driving.”
Zach looked at the ID. Beth.
“I think you should talk to Beth.” Zach tried to hand the phone back.
“No, no. You answer it.”
Zach could let it go to voice mail, but it would only postpone the inquisition.
“Hello.”
“Zach? Are you with Ethan?”
“I am. He’s driving me home.” He waited for his sister’s reply. “I’ll put you on speaker.” He hit the button to allow Ethan to hear, too.
“Aren’t you going to tell me about this morning?”
“What do you want to know?” Zach wouldn’t make this easy for her.
“Stop stalling. How was your ride? Are you okay?”
He laughed and told her how the morning went.
“He did great,” Ethan added.
The joy in Beth’s voice told him of her delight and relief. Glancing at Ethan, he saw his brother’s involvement in the conversation. It hit him then that both of his siblings had suffered with him as he struggled to find himself again. The realization of how selfish he’d been hit him hard. “My next lesson is Friday morning.”
“I won’t be there. I’ll be in New York.”
“Don’t worry about it. Someone has to work.” After they said their goodbyes, he hung up and handed the phone to Ethan.
Putting the phone back in his shirt pocket, Ethan laughed. “I’m amazed how our sis knows everything the instant it happens.”
“It is one of the mysteries of the universe.” It had been that way ever since Beth had turned thirteen. He and Ethan might have turned into guard dogs, but Beth returned the favor by monitoring their movements as teenage boys.
“Do you remember when Beth dragged Sophie home?” Ethan asked as he negotiated the truck onto the interstate.
Zach remembered. He’d come in from checking fences, wet and grumpy, and found his sister and her roommate in the kitchen giggling. Beth threw her arms around him, kissed him, then introduced Sophie. She stood by the refrigerator and looked like she’d been touched by the angels with the sun streaming through the windows causing red highlights to dance in her hair.
“Yeah, I remember that weekend. My horse stepped into a gopher hole and I had to walk miles to the barn in my new boots.”
“And if I remember, you were wet.”
“That was because Clancey was spooked by the isolated thunderstorm that broke over our head.” A more sure-footed horse Zach had never had, so that accident had rattled him. There hadn’t been another place to seek shelter on that stretch of desert where it rained.
“You had some bad luck that weekend.”
There’d been all sorts of reasons why he’d been on the wrong side of annoyed. Aside from the fact it had rained on his new boots, he’d also managed to put a gash in the leather. But when he clapped eyes on Sophie, something in him shifted, tipping him off balance. There was a certain fragileness in her that hit him in the heart. It wasn’t her frame or build, but there was something in her eyes that spoke of a longing.
And need.
But what shook him was his reaction to her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and ask her why she looked so lonely, but sanity quickly returned and he knew he had to keep his distance. Ethan had been stupid enough to date one of Beth’s friends. After two dates, things went south and Ethan didn’t hear the end of it for a year after that. Ethan made sure Zach was as miserable as Beth made him.
Yet, when Zach decided he didn’t want to act on his feelings, he regretted it.
“What I remember is you stomped around like a bull with a cocklebur in his hide that weekend and nothing made you happy.”
“I ruined my new boots.”
Ethan’s lau
ghter filled the cab. Zach shook his head, but he had to smile looking back at it. He hadn’t handled things well that weekend. Added to the chaos was his reaction to Sophie.
Later that night as Zach got ready for bed, his thoughts continued to swirl around Sophie. He sat on the side of the bed and took off his artificial leg, placing it by the nightstand. His crutches leaned against the nightstand.
He took off the protective stocking that cushioned the end of his leg. In the hospital in D.C., seeing other patients, both male and female without their limb wasn’t uncommon. It didn’t shock him anymore, but the first time his mother saw his leg, her eyes filled with tears.
What would Sophie think? Would her reaction show her distaste and revulsion? Or would she cry like his mother? There’d been countless times in the hospital when family members would visit their loved ones and see them without their artificial limbs. The two main reactions to seeing the stumps were revulsion or pity. Neither reaction appealed to him.
He stretched out on the bed, picked up the remote and turned off the bedside lamp. Rolling to his side, he let his thoughts return to Sophie.
His conversation with Ethan brought up so many memories. After that first weekend when Sophie and Beth came home from college, he’d seen Sophie a couple of times after that. Once when he visited Beth at school, he’d offered to take both girls to dinner, but Sophie declined, claiming to have a test to study for.
After he’d graduated from college and been commissioned as an officer in the army, he went to UNM to say goodbye to Beth. There’d been a moment when he and Sophie had been waiting for his sister. Sophie had asked why he’d joined the army. He’d told her that both his father and grandfather had been in the army. It was a family tradition. What he hadn’t mentioned was that the only way he could afford school was with the army’s help. Those were lean years for the ranch.
His last trip to see Beth was when they attended her college graduation. Sophie hadn’t been there. Beth told the family that Sophie had signed up for the army and she’d already gone to basic training.
At that news, a small flare of hope settled in Zach’s chest. Maybe their paths could cross? If a person was stationed in Baghdad, the chances of running into old friends weren’t good, but it did happen.
They hadn’t met. Instead, he ended up going home early wounded. He couldn’t stop wondering what her reaction would be if she saw him without his artificial leg? She’d been a medic and had seen worse things. She’d already proven that pity wasn’t in her vocabulary.
He folded his hands behind his head. Sophie Powell was a lady with guts. And smarts.
It was something he admired. And was attracted to.
Sophie’s stomach knotted. Doubts about whether or not Zach would show up plagued her. He said he’d come, but she worked with vets who said they wanted help, wanted to ride, but ended up not showing. She walked to Sam’s stall. The horse came to the door and stuck her head out.
“Hello, you sweet thing.” Sophie rubbed Sam’s nose. “You ready to work today?”
“I am.”
Sophie whirled and faced Zach.
Zach stepped to Sophie’s side and lightly stroked the horse on her neck. “Sorry I startled you. I’m not late for Andy’s ride, am I?”
“He only comes on Mondays and Wednesdays. But you can help me with a new student who signed up last week.”
“A newbie like me.”
“You can see how we start. This little girl had a stroke and her mom feels riding will help.”
“Really?”
“You’ve been riding for years and didn’t know how beneficial it was?”
His hand stopped stroking Sam’s neck. “There’s a lot of things I’ve forgotten. But I’m ready to relearn those things. And I believe I’ll see them in a new light.” He shook his head. “Who would’ve thought that mucking out a stable could hold such appeal for me?”
“And hope.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.” The word rang down the aisle of stalls.
“If you’re willing to work, I’m happy to have the help. Right now, I want you to take Sam to the mounting steps while I get the tack. Later I can show you some of the specialized tack we use.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Good to have you on the team, Zach.”
He paused, as if he savored the word. “Teamwork, huh?”
“That’s it. Teamwork. And sometimes our path with a rider isn’t a straight line. We might take two steps forward and one back. But we keep going.”
He didn’t say anything, but he needed to understand if he started this therapy it wasn’t going to be easy or a straight shot, but he would improve.
“Teamwork it is.”
She could breathe again and smiled at him. When he grinned back at her, suddenly her mind short-circuited and butterflies filled her stomach.
After several moments, Zach said, “Your new student is looking at us.”
His words snapped her out of her stupor and she turned and raced away.
An hour later, Zach led Sam to her stall. Thoughts of a little girl sitting atop Sam, smiling and enjoying herself, filled his head.
“Sam, I’m impressed what a patient, wonderful lady you are.”
The horse nodded.
The little girl fell in love with Sam and was eager to ride. Sophie had gently led Sam around the ring, talking to the little girl. It had been obvious when the rider tired and Sophie had ended the session. There’d be nothing but praise for the child.
“Your performance was great, Sam,” Zach whispered to the horse as he put her into the stall. He went to work caring for the mare, talking to her, telling her what a good horse she was.
The morning passed quickly and Zach helped Sophie with two more riders. At noon, he walked into the office, needing a few moments to rest. His leg throbbed and he knew he couldn’t go any farther. His cane rested in the corner of the office, but he was to the point where he didn’t need it unless he was extremely tired. Pride led him to be stupid the last time. This time, he’d listen to his body.
Ollie motioned Zach to the back of the room to the table and chairs. “Sit yourself down, and rest a minute.”
Zach joined the older man.
“You’ve been a great help this morning,” Ollie said.
“There’s a lot of work here.”
Ollie rubbed his neck. “Yeah, since Margaret had her stroke, work’s kinda built up.” He stood up and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Want some?”
“Yes.”
“I hope you like it black, because I don’t do that fancy stuff that Sophie does.”
“In the army you drink it black.”
“A man after my own heart.” He poured a second cup and brought it to the table.
Zach sipped the dark brew.
Ollie studied him. “You going to be hanging around here for a while?”
“Plan to. I want to work with Sophie to get a program for vets going.” He needed to ask Sophie who’d she contacted at the army. He might have more connections she could use.
“Good. Sophie needs to have some help. Margaret’s not in any shape to do it.”
Zach took another gulp of his coffee, sensing Ollie had more to say, and the old cowpoke would take his time at getting there.
Ollie leaned back in his chair and took another gulp of his coffee. “We’re going to need some more help here at the ranch.”
“I see volunteers working.”
“Yup.” Ollie ran his hand over his face. “But what we need is someone who knows his way around horses, who can direct things when Sophie is tied up. Make no mistake, we can’t do it without the volunteers, but I’d feel better with someone who knows his way around stock. You know horses and been with them a long time. This ranch could use your help.”
“Are you going to quit, Ollie? Is that why you’re looking for a replacement?”
Ollie leaned forward, nailing Zach with a hard stare. “I was set to quit, bu
t Margaret had her stroke. I told Sophie I’d stay, but I hadn’t counted on my doc telling me I’ve got cancer. I’m going to the hospital next week and get cut on.”
“Does Sophie know about this?”
“I haven’t told her and don’t plan to. She’s a strong lady but I ain’t going to burden her with my news. But she’s going to need someone to help her with her thoughts.”
Zach knew Sophie’s world was about to crash in on her. “I’m far from being up to speed.”
“So? You got a brain and can see what needs to be done. You can tell the volunteers what to do. Guide them. As you build up your strength, you can do things yourself.
“Sophie needs someone here who knows horses. Someone to lean on. I plan to continue, but I heard that those treatments make you puke out your guts. There might be days I’m worthless. I don’t want to do that to Sophie. She’s working her heart out here. I think maybe if I’m here and you’re here, we can keep going.”
Questions whirled around in Zach’s mind. “Is there any chance that the owner’s children or friends might help? Wouldn’t they want to keep the ranch going? Or is there someone else who might help? Sophie’s family? Your family?”
“Sophie’s family?” Ollie snorted. “I don’t recall them ever being here or calling. Don’t count on them. As for Margaret’s kids, forget it. The two that are in town are as worthless as—” He swallowed the rest. “They don’t like what Margaret’s done. They’d be just as happy if we shut down the program.
“My son lives up in the Northwest. He has a lot on his plate.” Ollie shook his head. “The way I see it, I think the good Lord above sent you to help Miss Sophie. And she’s the one who can help you.”
Zach wasn’t sure he’d agree with Ollie’s conclusions. Divine intervention?
The door to the office opened and Sophie walked in with three sack lunches. “I hope you two are hungry.” Walking to the table, she held up the sacks. “I’ve got one turkey sandwich, one bologna and one peanut butter.” Placing the sacks on the table, she looked from Zach to Ollie. “Anything wrong?”
“No,” Ollie answered. “I’ll take the bologna. You got Fritos in there, too?”