"Which is all well and good, but I have to wonder if you're trying to prove you're better than all the two-legged people out there?"
Tye jerked her head up to stare at him, then carefully put down the paperweight. "You sound like you're telling me to give up or something." She couldn't help the anger that rose. His words put her on the defensive.
The doctor shook his head. "No, not at all. I'm glad you're doing so well. Believe me, a lot of amputees don't adapt as quickly as you seem to be doing. Some struggle all their lives. I'm merely saying take it easy. If you overdo it, you're going to end up with blisters and soreness, then you'll be back on crutches or in the chair."
"Of course I know that. I'm careful, but I'm not stopping for anything."
"I guess I ought to know you by now, Tye. You're like a steamroller when you decide on a course of action, but think about what I've said."
As Tye prepared to leave the office, the doctor waylaid her. "There's one other thing I'd like you to consider. I try to get active amputees like yourself interested in talking to new amputees. Would you be willing to do that?"
Something inside Tye stiffened, and she began to shake her head no.
"Do you remember Doris, the girl who came to see you? How did you feel after she spoke to you?"
"Yeah, I recall Doris." Tye crinkled her brow. "I was depressed when she came to see me." She didn't like thinking about that early time in the hospital. She had thought her life was over.
Slowly, Tye admitted, "Near the end of our meeting, Doris said something that really hit home. She told me I could work hard and resume a normal life, or sit and stare at the walls. Since I'm not yet thirty that might be quite a long time. At that moment, a pinhole of light pierced the darkness."
"Wouldn't you say talking to someone who experienced amputation makes a big difference?"
Tye gave the doctor a doubtful look. "You really think anything I say could make a difference?"
"I do. You've got a lot to offer, Tye, I want you to think about it. Your determination would be an asset. Another thing I wanted to mention since you're a horse person is that you should check out the riding clinic in Riverdale."
"Riverdale? That's not far from where I'm living now." Tye looked at the doctor doubtfully. "My riding is coming along. I'm doing pretty good on my own."
"I didn’t mean for yourself. It's for disabled kids. Maybe you could donate your services. It's a non-profit program, so there's not a lot of money."
"It's for kids with disabilities?"
"All types of disabilities. Riding is a great confidence builder for kids and adults."
Tye left the doctor's office with the riding clinic's address in her pocket. On the way home, just out of curiosity, she drove down the back road where the riding stable was located.
Parking her vehicle beside a small red barn, Tye walked around the back of the barn, following the sound of voices to a small fenced paddock.
Two boys and a girl, about ten years old, each rode a horse in the enclosed area. Several adults watched from outside the arena as a tall woman wearing skin-tight riding breeches and leather boots gave instruction to the mounted children.
The children wore safety helmets and three teenage girls on foot led a horse each, while another person walked beside each horse.
"Okay, now everyone bring your horse to a halt." The instructor appeared to be in her early thirties with dark hair tucked up under a wide-brimmed straw hat. Briefly, she glanced at Tye, then back at her students. "Michael, pull gently on the reins and hold them steady. Very good. Everyone give your horse a pat for a job well done. Parents, you may come into the arena now. The girls will help each child dismount."
As the children began to dismount with their helpers the instructor turned to Tye, an inquiring lift to her brows. When Tye looked at the woman fully she could see how striking she was. She had a creamy complexion, slim dark brows, and a full, sensuous mouth.
"Hello, my name's Tye." Tye held out her hand.
"I'm Samantha Evans, the manager here." Samantha took her hand firmly, then gave a sigh. "Sorry, but if you're looking to get a child into this program, we can't handle anymore."
"No, actually, Dr. Winan's from Oklahoma City told me about this place. I thought I'd check it out." Tye made a sudden decision. "He thought maybe I could help you out, Samantha."
"Call me Sam. Samantha’s such a mouthful. So Dr. Winans sent you? Do you know anything about horses?" Sam asked immediately, her eyes lighting with interest.
Tye smiled. "I grew up with them."
"Really? I'm liking you already. We can always use extra help. Right now, though, that's the least of our problems. It looks like the funding for this program is drying up, which means that will be the end of it. We'll know in a few weeks, maybe less. The outlook isn't good."
"Is there another program that can take these kids?"
Sam turned to wave at the children and parents leaving. She shook her head. "No, not in this area. What with rising insurance costs and old equipment that has to be replaced, we're having trouble meeting the program expenses this year. The lease on this private property is almost up and it doesn't look like it will be renewed." With a grimace, Sam threw Tye a glance and asked jokingly, "You look familiar...you're not somebody rich, are you?"
"Sorry, I can't claim that."
The loss of this program will be a blow, it's such good therapy for the kids. We've had to cut down on our lesson size, but at this point I'm happy for any extra help."
"What does it cost to run an operation like this?"
"There's a lot of small costs that add up, but I'm not familiar with all of them. The director could answer that question better. Why, do you know someone who could help?" The note of hope in Sam’s voice was all too clear to Tye. She felt guilty shaking her head and dashing the other woman’s hopes.
"I was just curious. It seems a shame to discontinue a worthwhile program." Tye wasn't really sure why she had asked.
"Well, the biggest thing is the red tape involved. You have to follow certain guidelines if you want to be a certified instructor, and you have to keep up with the CPR training, your certification. It’s getting tougher to find volunteers that will take the training and then show up regularly." Sam waved her arm to indicate the young girls helping the children dismount in the arena. "Annie, Mira and Jen are about the only ones I can count on any more to show up when I need them. I get a break on the insurance, but the program equipment that we use is in need of replacement, not to mention some of the horses are getting too old. We've got nine healthy horses, but with feed bills, routine veterinary and farrier visits, donated money doesn't go very far."
"What about private donations?"
"Some trickles in, but we lack an administrator to get our name out there, which involves another salary. We don't have the funds to hire someone to bring in the money."
"It sounds like a vicious circle."
"You hit the nail on the head. However," Sam said with a smile, "on a brighter note I'm determined to keep going until, and if, they close us down."
Tye stared at the children. The little girl, now in a wheelchair on a ramp beside her horse, was tenderly patting her horse’s neck. Tye swallowed hard, touched by the obvious happiness on the child’s face. "I'd love to help. I don't live that far away, just the other side of High Flats."
"High Flats ― I have a friend who lives there. Jake Miller. Do you know him?"
Tye's throat felt dry. "Yeah, I know Jake. That's a funny coincidence. I rent half of his house."
Sam gave her an interested look. "What did you say your last name was?"
"I didn't, but it's Tye Jenkins."
Sam opened her eyes the slightest fraction, then slowly nodded her head in confirmation. "I thought I recognized you from somewhere. Am I pleased to meet you! Just about everyone around these parts has heard of you. I was sorry to hear about your accident. You must've had a rough time. It's a big waste when rodeo lost you."
&
nbsp; "Well, it hasn't lost me yet. I plan to go back," Tye said lightly. "Right now I'm looking for something to fill in the time while I recuperate. I think this might be just the thing, if you think we can work together."
Sam quickly said, "I don't think we'll have any problem working together. I appreciate anyone who's willing to donate time." She took off her hat and fanned her face and neck. "So tell me, how is Jake these days?"
"Fine, I'll tell him you asked about him. Have you known Jake long?"
"About nine years. I’ve hauled his horses a few times."
Tye felt a hard lump in her throat. "You knew him when he played football?"
"I met him sometime after he quit. It was terrible that he had to give it up. A lot of guys would have turned their back on the family responsibility and taken the scholarship, but not Jake."
Tye hadn't known Jake had finally been offered the scholarship. She had left before that and Jake hadn’t mentioned it. Her heart ached for the young man Jake had been; she hurt for him and all he had lost. She knew she had added to his hurt. How could she ever make it up to him?
The admiration in Sam’s voice made Tye begin to wonder about a lot of things, like about a past relationship she might be stumbling onto. The thought of Jake with another woman speared through her, leaving a burning pain in its wake. It was only natural there would have been other women in the intervening years. Tye knew she should probably leave it alone, but she couldn't.
"Maybe I'm being nosey but I'm going to ask anyway. Jake and I are seeing each other, so before you and I work together I should probably know if you two have any past history."
Sam looked momentarily surprised by Tye's forthrightness, then she laughed. "No, we weren't involved, but not for want of trying on my part. A few months ago Jake needed a horse trucked to the vet and he called me. I hadn't seen Jake in awhile and we got reacquainted, but I gained the impression he was seeing someone else." Sam gave her a wide grin. "It must have been you, Tye. How did you hook up with Jake?"
"Oh, uh, he's a friend of my brother Ben, and we knew each other as kids. Ben set it up so I could rent the apartment in Jake's house."
"That was a lucky break for you, Tye, but anyway, Jake and I have never been more than friends."
Months ago Sam had thought Jake was involved with someone else. That would be right around the time she had had her accident. Tye wondered if Jake had been seeing someone else the night he came to the rodeo.
A nasty thought insinuated itself. Tye wondered if she was just in a convenient time and place. Maybe she had caught Jake in between women. What a terrible thought, but maybe true. Jake knew of her inexperience where men were concerned, but he hadn’t disclosed any of his past.
Tye had made it clear she didn't want or need any commitment from Jake. Even so, Tye realized she had taken it for granted that Jake was heart whole and wanted an exclusive relationship with her, for as long as it lasted. Why hadn’t she thought of that before?
As several cars pulled into the parking lot dust rose in the air. Sam squinted through the whirling cloud. "My next lessons are here," she said. "If you want to stick around, I'll show you the ropes. I guess I won't need to check your credentials," she said with a quick laugh. "Your reputation can stand on its own. If you're serious about helping you can start off leading the horse. I have a feeling this can work for both of us."
"I hope so, I'd like that," Tye said. A feeling of excitement wound through her. For the first time in her life she felt as if there were many possibilities open to her. It was an empowering moment and she couldn't exactly understand why since she had always had the freedom to make her own choices. For the first time, she contemplated doing something for someone else, not for herself. Maybe that was the difference. It made her feel lighter inside.
Pushing back her shoulders, Tye concentrated on Sam’s teaching style. Later, she helped saddle the lesson horses, then watched the routine the children expected to find during each lesson. A new sense of purpose filled her. These children needed this program, and maybe she needed them.
§ Chapter Fifteen §
Several hours later Tye drove quickly up the driveway to the ranch and pulled her vehicle up next to the deck ramp. A sense of excitement gripped her, and it hadn't abated since she had left the riding school. She had spent the entire afternoon there, much longer than she had at first anticipated. Right now she needed to share her news with Jake. Lifting her wrist Tye glanced at her watch. Jake should be home by now, it was well after six.
Without thinking twice about it, Tye hurried toward Jake's side of the house. Gripping the brass knob she swung the door open and burst into his living room, but she found it empty.
"Jake!" She didn't see him, but it didn't deter her from walking through the house. "Jake, Jake! Where are you? Wait until I tell you what's happened!" Tye moved down the short corridor to his office. It was empty, but seeing the pile of boxes in one corner, Tye was reminded of her earlier promise to find another place to live. Jake’s renovation plans. That brought her up short. Jake’s plans had not changed, had they? Those boxes were one more reminder that she lived here for a limited time.
Impatiently, she looked across the hall into the bedroom but he wasn't there either.
"Tye?" She heard Jake call out.
Tye walked back toward the kitchen. "Jake, you'll never guess what I did today."
"Out on the back deck, Tye." Tye rounded the corner of the kitchen and saw him standing in the sliding glass door that led out to the pool deck.
"Hey, Jake!" With an exuberant lunge forward Tye reached him and looped her arms around his neck. Standing on tiptoe she planted a noisy kiss on his whisker-shadowed chin, then ran a string of kisses down his throat. He steadied her when she deliberately leaned her weight against him, her fingers pulling playfully at the buttons on his shirt.
"Ooh, you didn't shave today...didn't you go to work?" she asked with a gay laugh, noticing his worn out jeans. Without waiting for a reply she rushed on. "You'll never guess what I did. First of all Doc Winans gave me a clean bill of health, and then he told me about a program that teaches disabled kids to ride. Remember that idea you had about the same thing? Out of curiosity I drove out there...and one thing led to another. I'm going to help out..." She suddenly noticed he hadn't said a word and his hands held hers still on his shirt. Tye went motionless, then looked past his shoulder and noticed for the first time the man who stood on the pool patio. Hands on his hips, he tipped his cowboy hat back and watched her.
Unlacing her fingers, Tye dropped her arms to her sides almost guiltily. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, running her palms down the sides of her jeans. Unaccountably, she felt a flush mount her cheeks.
"Hello, Tye-girl," Lanny Jenkins said quietly. His graying hair was brushed back as usual, but there seemed to be more lines in his face. He looked tired, and something about her father's voice alerted Tye. There was a certain quietness that she remembered as a child. She braced her shoulders, a strange foreboding filling her. Quickly, she banished the thought. This was her father, he cared about her and she loved him. He had never knowingly hurt her.
"I was in town for a spell so I thought I'd stop by to see my little girl."
He watched her with a questioning look in his eyes. Almost defiantly, Tye placed her hand on Jake's shoulder, feeling the tensing of the muscles beneath his shirt. She glanced into his face, but his expression gave nothing away. She gave him one more quick peck on the cheek and turned. Awkwardly, she took a step forward, for the first time that day feeling as if her artificial limb weighed her down. "I didn't see you standing there, Daddy."
"I figured that, Tye." Her father moved forward to meet her and enclosed her in a one-armed bear hug, then held her away from him as he studied her, his eyes narrowed against the sun.
Tye felt as if her cheeks were on fire. She knew her father would have questions about the way she had greeted Jake. Luckily, she hadn’t done anything to be really embarrassed about! With a toss of her hea
d, she gave him a bright smile. "So what brings you out here? I thought you'd be somewhere down in Texas right about now."
"I was supposed to be, but I wasn't feeling up to par so I thought I'd look you up, seeing as how we haven't seen each other in a long time."
Instantly, Tye became concerned. "Are you feeling okay, Daddy?"
He gave a gruff laugh. "I'm fine, I'm just not as young as I thought I was."
"I'm glad you're here." She wanted to avoid the questions in his eyes. Her relationship with Jake wasn't something she wanted to discuss with anyone, least of all her father. It still felt too new, too full of unanswered questions.
"I'll leave you two alone to catch up," Jake said behind her, speaking for the first time.
Tye turned to him, not wanting him to leave. "You don't have to leave, Jake," she protested, extending her hand to him. She stared hard at him, willing him to stay here with her. Jake hesitated and his glance strayed to her father.
"I just need a couple minutes, Tye," her father said behind them. "We need to do some serious talking."
Tye swallowed, a cold feeling settling in her chest at his almost somber tone. "Daddy, don't be silly. We've got more than a few minutes. I don't have any plans and I expect you to stay awhile."
"I'm going out to feed the horses," Jake said. "You two catch up on the latest with each other." With a reassuring smile at her, he strode across the deck and down the steps.
Tye turned back to her father. "You could have waited until Jake left, Daddy. You made it plain you didn't want him to hear what you had to say."
Her father made a snorting sound. "A little plain talking never hurt anyone. I think that boy's drawn a bead on you, Tye."
Tye released an exasperated sigh. "I'm not a creature to be sighted in and hunted, Daddy. Before you say anything else, what’s between Jake and me is not up for discussion."
"I'm your father, Tye, I have a right to know what's going on. I have a right to know if you’ve taken up with that boy again."
Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character) Page 17