by Deb Kastner
Travis hadn’t made any secret of his feelings for her, and Ellie couldn’t say she was completely surprised that he’d shown up at her door and asked her to the class reunion. She knew he wanted to marry, settle down and start a family. He’d told her as much on several occasions.
So far, she’d managed for the most part to avoid those conversations, though until Buck had arrived back in town, she’d never known quite why she felt that way. She just wasn’t ready for that big of a commitment, she’d told herself repeatedly, though in truth she wasn’t sure she completely believed her own propaganda.
But for all that, Travis wasn’t her greatest concern at the moment. Buck was here now, and she had to deal with him—more precisely, with her latent feelings for him, which she hadn’t even realized she possessed until that moment. The fact was, when Travis first asked her to the reunion, she’d hesitated because she’d hoped Buck would ask her.
And what kind of stupidity was that?
She stood in a huff and shook her head, though there was no one around to see it. So much for her quiet time.
“Get over it,” she muttered crossly to herself as she went back into the ranch house.
If only it were that easy.
Ellie’s morning client arrived at that moment, knocking at the front door. Buck and Tyler were seated in the dining room, eating cold cereal for breakfast, but Ellie dashed across the room before they could rise.
“I’ll get it!” she exclaimed, a good deal more cheerfully than she felt.
Her heart rose the moment she opened the door to little Morgan and her smiling mother. Seven-year-old Morgan was a new client, with the sparkling eyes and joyful smile of a Down syndrome child. Her mother, Marty, a single parent and a new resident of Ferrell, looked hopeful.
“I see you’re wearing your cowboy boots,” Ellie observed, speaking directly to Morgan with a gentle smile.
Morgan returned the grin with natural exuberance. “Going to ride a horsey today.”
Ellie nodded. “That’s right. Are you ready to be a real cowgirl, Morgan?”
Morgan’s mother laughed. “That’s all she’s been talking about all week. Horsey this, horsey that.”
“Then let’s get started,” Ellie suggested, throwing a glance back toward the table where Buck and Tyler were seated. “Tyler, would you mind saddling Pal for me?”
Pal, an aptly named palomino quarter horse with a large white blaze on his muzzle and four white socks, was the gentlest gelding in her stable and the horse she always used with physically impaired youngsters.
“Sure thing, Ellie,” Tyler replied enthusiastically.
Ellie smiled back at him. The rough, surly boy she’d first encountered was long since gone, at least with her. In his place was a happy young man who loved to help out around the ranch, especially with the animals. Ellie had quickly noticed his natural kinship with the animals and let him spend as much time with them as possible.
Good therapy for the boy, she thought with a sense of contentment and a bit of pride.
But, of course, she wouldn’t tell Buck that, not that he would listen to her if she did.
“I’ll help,” Buck growled under his breath, obviously not really wanting to help at all.
Ellie wondered why he’d offered. Probably to get away from her.
Ellie and Morgan arrived at the corral just as Tyler was leading Pal from the stable. Ellie had carried a safety helmet out with her and now placed it on Morgan’s head, fitting the strap securely under her chin.
Morgan made a groaning sound from her chest and started pulling at the helmet. “Bad hat,” she said several times as she tried to dislodge the helmet with her hands.
Morgan’s mother made calm, soothing noises. “You have to have a helmet to ride the horsey,” she explained calmly.
Morgan shook her head and glared at her mother and then at Ellie.
“Bad hat,” she said again.
“Look, your horse is here,” Ellie said, trying to distract the little girl from the worrisome helmet.
“Horsey!” Morgan exclaimed, running straight for Pal. The palomino nickered but didn’t shy away. Ellie had carefully trained him not to spook at quick movements.
Morgan slid to a sudden stop, raising up a cloud of dust by her feet. She turned and rushed back into her mother’s arms before Ellie could say a word.
“What’s wrong?” Ellie asked gently.
“No horsey,” Morgan said, her voice muffled from her mother’s sleeve.
“But, honey, you’ve been waiting all week to ride the horse,” her mother said serenely, coaxing Morgan inch by inch back toward the animal.
“No horsey,” Morgan said again.
“Okay,” Ellie said immediately. “No horsey, Morgan. You don’t have to ride today.”
A disabled child balking at the horse was another problem she often encountered, and once again she knew just what to do about it. With most children, whether physically or mentally impaired—or both, as with little Morgan with her Down syndrome—it simply took a little bit of persuasion and a lot of patience to work through the heart of the problem.
There was no reason Morgan had to ride today. It often took several weeks before a child was acclimated to the large animals. Patience in Ellie’s job was definitely a virtue.
Morgan smiled shyly when she realized she was getting her way.
“You don’t have to ride the horse,” Ellie repeated in her most reassuring tone. “But how about we just go up and pet him? Pal is a very nice horsey, and he especially loves to be petted by little girls like you.”
Morgan didn’t look convinced, but she allowed her mother and Ellie to lead her to Pal. Tyler was still holding the bridle loosely in his grip.
“You want me to tie him off, Ellie?” Tyler asked, giving Morgan an understanding smile.
“You know, I think it would be better if you would stay here and help me out,” Ellie said, shooting the boy a smile. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
Tyler nodded, his grin widening, this time directed at Ellie. “Yes, ma’am. I mean, no, ma’am. I don’t mind at all!”
Ellie brushed one hand across the horse’s withers and the other down the soft blaze on his face, soothing the horse at the same time she showed Morgan what to do. “See? Pal likes it when you pet him. Now it’s your turn.”
Ellie backed up slightly as Morgan stepped in front of her. Ellie kept Morgan close enough for the little girl to feel Ellie’s presence behind her as she hesitantly touched the horse’s chest. When Pal swung his head over to investigate his new friend, Morgan gave a high-pitched scream and scrambled backward, right into Ellie’s waiting arms.
“It’s okay,” Ellie said, smiling at Morgan. “Pal just wants to see you and get to know you better. He won’t hurt you. See?” Ellie rubbed her hand up and down Pal’s muzzle and scratched the area between his nostrils. “Tyler, would you be a dear and hold Pal’s head securely for me?” Ellie asked, keeping her gaze on Morgan. “That might make it easier for Morgan to pet him.”
“Sure thing,” the boy replied, his face reddening from Ellie’s casual endearment. Murmuring softly to Pal, Tyler reached forward to grip the bridle under the horse’s chin. “I’ve got the horsey now, Morgan, nice and tight. Don’t be afraid. Pal won’t move his head anymore,” Tyler said in the high-pitched tone grown men usually reserved for children. It made Ellie smile.
“Does…does he bite?” Morgan asked in the slow drawl typical of a Down child.
“Pal never bites,” Ellie assured her.
“And I’ve got a good hold on him,” Tyler added in a soft, reassuring voice. Ellie wondered if it was emotion causing the young man’s voice to crack a little when he spoke, or if it was just his age.
Either way, Ellie’s heart leapt, especially when Morgan smiled shyly at Tyler and didn’t back away to hide behind her mother, as she tended to do with new people. Tyler was as much a natural with children as he was with animals, and Ellie said a quick, silent prayer,
thanking God for bringing the boy into her life.
Even if it was only temporarily, until Buck kicked her off the ranch.
Even if getting the chance to know Tyler meant having to deal with his impossibly frustrating father.
It took a good minute for Morgan to make up her mind, but eventually she stepped forward and, with Ellie’s help and encouragement, gave Pal a soft pat on the withers. When Tyler carefully allowed the horse to bow his head, Morgan reached up on her own accord to feel Pal’s soft, silky mane.
“Good horsey,” Morgan said, now smiling. “He’s really soft. Especially his hair,” she added, indicating the horse’s long, flowing mane.
Tyler flashed Ellie a bright-eyed, sparkling glance of shared amusement between the two of them. Horses were covered with hair, of course, but sweet, innocent little Morgan saw only Pal’s mane—and maybe his tail—as hair.
“Do you want to get on the horsey?” Morgan’s mother asked, gesturing to the saddle.
Morgan shook her head vigorously.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Miller,” Ellie said, rubbing a hand across Morgan’s shoulder. “We are in no rush here. Often it takes time for the children to get used to the animals. We can take it as slow as you want. Morgan doesn’t have to ride today.”
“Oh, yes, she does,” said Buck from behind her.
Ellie whirled to find Buck smiling down at the little girl, his cowboy hat in his hands. As usual he was dressed head to toe in black. He nodded courteously to Morgan’s mother. “My name is Buck Redmond. I, uh, help out around here. Is it all right with you if I give it a whirl?”
Ellie’s jaw dropped as Buck took the therapy session right out of her hands in a single second. She would have argued with him if it weren’t for her clients being there. What right did he have to butt his nose into her business?
Literally her business.
The big lug.
Marty Miller, clearly taken with Buck’s easy manner and no doubt his rugged good looks, nodded vigorously for him to continue with Morgan.
Buck grinned and winked at Ellie. He wanted to laugh at the expression on her face—half astonishment and half anger. She sure hadn’t expected him to come forward and offer to help. As it happened, he’d surprised himself by the effort.
Now that he was here, however, Buck couldn’t help but tease Ellie a little bit. He knew she must be seething inside that he’d come and busted into her therapy session without so much as tipping his hat in her direction.
Buck wasn’t even sure why he’d come forward at all. He had been watching the whole episode from the shadow of the stable door, completely unnoticed by both Ellie and her clientele. Which was just how he liked it.
He’d been surprised when Tyler stayed around after saddling the horse, as he’d been asked, but then, his son had been spending a lot of time at Ellie’s side this past week.
And it was not jealousy flaring in Buck’s chest.
He turned his mind back to Ellie, the beautiful woman he couldn’t break his gaze from. Buck was amazed at the way Ellie worked with the little girl. She was so patient and kind, and he could tell from the sparkle in her eyes that her heart was in it.
No doubt a part of that faith she was always talking about, as well, though Buck still scoffed at that notion as much as the idea of a therapy ranch itself. But there was no doubt to even the most casual observer that the woman had a real gift with special needs children of all types; Buck had to give her that.
Except in this case, Buck thought he could do one better, and he wasn’t going to stop until he’d given it his best shot. It wasn’t an attempt to outdo Ellie, of course. He wouldn’t stoop to anything as petty as that.
It was just that up until today Buck had been nothing more than an observer in Ellie’s world. He’d watched her with an amazing array of children, from toddlers to teenagers and everything in between. Ellie knew how to make them laugh and play—and forget about their problems for a while.
Even more surprising was the change that had come over Tyler. Buck’s own son was carrying his weight around the ranch, doing chores and helping out with the kids whenever he was asked—and sometimes, Buck thought, even when Ellie didn’t outright ask Tyler for help.
How could Buck do any less?
He hunkered down beside the small girl, knowing his size might intimidate her and wanting to be on the same level with her when he spoke.
“How’s my little cowgirl?” he asked, keeping his voice low and even.
“Horsey!” Morgan replied excitedly.
“That’s right. Horsey. And I’ll bet a true cowgirl like you wants to ride the horsey, don’t you?”
“Buck, if she doesn’t want to—” Ellie began, but Buck cut her off with a wave of his hand.
Morgan stared anxiously at the nickering animal. Buck could easily see it from her point of view. Pal must seem gigantic to the child, and that was when the horse was standing still—never mind when he shifted around and made noise.
Buck remembered the first time he’d ever ridden—the fear he’d felt but not wanted his father to see. He hadn’t backed down from riding despite the claws of fear clinging to his chest, but he remembered how much he’d wanted to. Riding a horse for the first time was scary to a kid—any kid.
What he had to do, he realized, was show Morgan how easy it was, and that she didn’t need to be afraid of being up in the saddle on Pal’s back.
But how was he supposed to do that?
His own father had just tossed him into the saddle and told him to hang on. Buck didn’t know that much about Down syndrome children, but he was certain his own father’s gruff tactic wasn’t going to work for Morgan, and it sure wouldn’t go over well with Ellie and Marty, which for some reason seemed nearly equally important in Buck’s mind.
He thought for a moment before settling on a plan. Rather than force the already frightened child onto a horse she wasn’t ready for, Buck would show the child how it was done. Maybe then she wouldn’t be so afraid.
“All right, cowgirl,” he told Morgan with a smile and a wink. “I’ll tell you what. I am going to hop up on Pal and ride first so you can see what a good horsey he is. After that you can give it a try—if you want,” he said, tacking on the ending for the ladies’ benefit. Buck had every intention of seeing Morgan ride today, even if Ellie and Marty didn’t know it yet.
“Morgan already said she doesn’t want to ride today,” Ellie informed Buck in a tight voice. “Don’t force her.”
Buck leveled Ellie with a gaze just short of a glare. “Nobody’s forcing anyone to do anything,” he said slowly and distinctly, imitating Ellie’s wry tone. “All I’m going to do is show her how a cowboy rides a horse, okay?”
Ellie glowered at him and crossed her arms. “Be my guest, Mr. Know-It-All.”
Buck chuckled under his breath, definitely not loud enough for Ellie to hear. She was in enough of a huff already without him getting into more trouble.
Ellie was so beautiful when she was angry that it made Buck’s heart turn over. How in the world had he ever walked away from this woman, left the town, and Ellie, behind? He shook his head, unable to answer his own question.
Attempting with little success to put Ellie out of his mind, he jammed his fingers through his thick, unruly hair and planted his cowboy hat on his head. Now wasn’t the time to be distracted by thoughts of Ellie.
Approaching the horse, Buck mounted easily and then turned his attention to his son, who was still holding Pal’s head. “I need you to lead Pal around the corral a few times. Slowly, at a walk. Just take it easy, son.”
Tyler nodded, but Buck couldn’t help but notice the smile had gone from his son’s face. What had he done to make Tyler suddenly turn back into the sullen boy he’d known for years?
He hadn’t said anything wrong, he was sure of that. Yet it seemed to Buck that his just being in the same room—the same general vicinity—riled Tyler up, especially next to Ellie’s calming influence.
Buck
didn’t like it, but he sure didn’t know what to do about it, either. Maybe Tyler just responded to Ellie because she was a pretty woman. Who knew what ran through that boy’s head?
As Buck allowed Tyler to lead the horse around the ring, he focused his thoughts on what might make the little girl feel a little safer around the animal. Buck knew he could ride Pal bareback, blindfolded and with his hands tied behind his back, but Morgan saw only a man on a horse.
He needed to show her what she should be doing, not show off his own prowess in the saddle.
It went against every principle he knew as a cowboy, but he slid his hands from his thighs to the saddle horn, holding it lightly but with what he hoped looked, to Morgan, at least, like a firm grip. He knew he wasn’t fooling Ellie, who was as much an expert rider as he was himself.
Buck glanced down at Ellie as he passed by Morgan and the women and was surprised to see her looking up at him with what he thought might be admiration in her eyes. Gone was the glower, replaced by at least a hint of a smile.
So he’d done something right this time, had he?
Maybe Ellie was right. Maybe there was such a thing as a miracle, after all. The thought made him chuckle, and Ellie raised an eyebrow as if to ask him what he thought was so funny. Buck tried to wipe the grin from his face but knew he failed.
After a few turns around the corral, Buck decided his idea had worked. Little Morgan was practically glowing and was dancing around, again eager to be near the horsey.
“Hey, Tyler,” Buck called down, “stop in front of the ladies, now, will you?”
Tyler glanced up at Buck, and Buck was surprised to see the boy was smiling. Well, not smiling, exactly, but there was definitely a smirk on his lips. Probably from seeing the ridiculous way Buck was riding the horse, gripping the saddle horn and all.
Buck supposed he should be offended that his son was secretly laughing at him, but for some reason, he couldn’t muster up any real emotion. At least not that kind of feeling. He grinned back at Tyler, belatedly identifying his true emotion.