by Cate Nolan
“It's scratchy.”
“Here.” Willa grabbed a saddle blanket and placed it on the hay. “Hailey, we need to talk.”
“I don't want to talk. Daddy isn't paying you to talk to me. He's paying you to teach me to ride.”
Willa turned a beseeching gaze on David. If she was going to be tormented by his presence, he might as well be useful.
“Hailey.”
That one word combined with a lethal look silenced Hailey and gave Willa hope.
David walked over and squatted down in front of his daughter. “Willa has a lot to offer you about knowing horses. That's a crucial part of being a champion. Listen and stop being so rude.”
Interesting. So Hailey didn't have David completely wrapped around her finger. That was a relief to Willa on several levels. First, it would make her life easier working with Hailey. The other reasons had to do with seeing David as a strong man and authoritative father. She was probably better off not thinking about that when working.
Hailey subsided into a sullen heap, but as Willa began to speak, she listened without comment.
“Grooming, caring for the horse and tack, those are important ways of bonding with your horse. You have to build a relationship.”
Seeing she was making no headway, Willa tried playing Hailey's game. “When judges are looking at you, they want to see how you and your horse are together. Are you a team? Do you work well together? Showing your horse that you care helps build a rapport, a bond between you and the animal. That bond rates well with judges. It also makes riding more enjoyable for you and the horse if you're a team.”
Hailey appeared to mull that over. She nodded. “Okay. Show me what to do.”
Willa reached out her hand to help Hailey down from the hay. “Come with me. We'll go get the supplies.” She noted that Hailey clung to her hand as they walked. That gesture reached into her heart and stole a little piece. She had to clear her throat before continuing.
“Grooming also gives me a chance to check on the horse and make sure he's healthy.”
“I thought vets did that?”
Willa was relieved to hear Hailey pose this as a genuine question rather than an imperial statement.
“We call a vet if we have a problem, but it's up to us to be responsible for noticing if anything is off.”
Later, Hailey was running the curry comb over Colonel’s coat under Willa’s close observation, when she asked, “Who grooms Wildfire?”
“Sometimes Billy does. Sometimes I do.”
“Can I?”
Willa hesitated too long in answering so Hailey continued. “You said that’s how you build trust with a horse. If Wildfire is going to be my mount, shouldn’t he trust me?”
Willa could see this girl was going to keep her on her toes. “You’re absolutely right. Let’s keep that a goal to work for.” Hailey started to balk, but Willa talked right over her. “You need to be totally confident that you know what you’re doing. If you hesitate at all with Wildfire, you’ll make him nervous and then you’ll lose that trust. Let’s work with the other horses until you’re a pro at this and then we’ll let you work your magic on Wildfire.” Willa winked at Hailey. “I don’t think Wildfire knows it yet, but he’s one very lucky horse to have you to love on him.”
David stood in the doorway watching the scene unfold. He shook his head in bewildered amazement. How did she do that? How did Willa turn the one thing Hailey couldn’t do into motivation to get her to work harder? He should take notes.
Chapter Four
The morning passed quickly and Willa 's mother arrived with lunch. She said she wanted to feed the hard workers, but Willa knew she was curious.
“Hello, David.”
“Mrs. James.” David looked like he didn't know whether to hug her or run. He settled for introducing Hailey. “This is my daughter. Mrs. James, Hailey. Hailey, meet Willa's mom.”
“Ah, so you're the promising equestrian Willa was telling me about. And, David, you can call me Lisa now. We're adults.”
Hailey looked suspicious, but Lisa took her by the hand and brought her into the office to help unpack lunch, leaving Willa and David alone.
Willa wasn't exactly sure what to say now, but David saved her the trouble.
“Thank you.” He came up beside her as she brushed down her horse. “You gave her your whole morning. I don't know when she has ever had that kind of attention in her whole life other than from me.”
Willa was curious. “Susan never took her riding?”
“No.” He shrugged. “She used to promise to, but riding was work for her. Not something she did for fun. Not something to share with her daughter.”
That seemed odd to Willa. Their shared love for horses was a strong bond she had with her own mother. “What did they share?”
David hesitated, and Willa picked up on the awkwardness. “Never mind. It's none of my business.”
“It's not that. I don't know how to say it except that motherhood wasn't part of Susan's grand plan.”
Willa must have looked horrified because David hastened to make excuses. “Hailey wasn't neglected. I changed my business so I could be home more. And we had a wonderful nanny.”
Willa struggled to hide her pain without seeming judgmental. “Ironic isn't it? I wanted children more than anything, but the accident robbed me of that choice.”
“I'm sorry. I didn't know.”
Willa shrugged it off. “I have my horses and I love working with children. It's a good life.”
“Well I hope you can work magic with Hailey because I’m at my wits end. Her teachers are complaining she doesn't care. I tried to take her to a grief counselor but that was a disaster. Her behavior gets worse each week.”
“So I'm your last hope,” Willa chuckled.
David grinned. “Last and best.”
There was a kindness and sincerity in his words that rocked Willa. He really did think she could work miracles with his daughter.
“I'll do what I can, but I meant what I said about her having to follow the rules. I won't endanger the horses to humor her.”
“You'll get no argument from me,” David promised. “She needs discipline.”
*
They fell into a routine after that. David brought Hailey by early each morning and they helped Willa with morning chores. A short lesson followed, then David took her to school. They came back after school ended, and soon Hailey was able to join in the regularly scheduled afternoon classes.
Willa had expected some pushback on that, but Hailey surprised her. She seemed genuinely happy to be with the other horse-loving girls her age. She made amazing progress. Willa had to admit, when the girl set her mind to something, she was very determined. She'd apparently inherited her mother's drive as well as her talent.
Between the daily visits and spending both weekend days with them, Hailey quickly became a fixture at the farm. Willa had taken pity on David, and allowed him to drop his daughter off in the afternoons without staying, so he could finish his daily business.
In the late afternoons, when Willa was training her advanced class, her mother began to bring Hailey back up to the house to help her prepare dinner. The bond that was forming seemed to benefit both of them. Willa hadn't seen her mother so content in years and Hailey was positively thriving.
Too bad she couldn't say the same for her relationship with David.
Chapter Five
Thanksgiving morning on a working horse farm was pretty much like every other day of the year. It began as usual with early morning care for the horses – only today there was no Hailey or David to brighten the morning.
Willa knew she had a lot to be thankful for, but she couldn't help but wish that they were going to spend the day at the farm rather than with Susan's family.
She kicked herself. When had she begun looking forward to their visits? This was not good. She didn't want a bond. She didn't want to allow her feelings for David to turn hopeful. She'd made a good life for herself
and she needed to be content with it. Wishing for more would only bring heartbreak.
Still, she couldn't deny the quickening in her heart when she heard David's car coming down the drive late in the afternoon. Her mother glanced up from a sewing project and cocked her head. Laughing at how their day had brightened at the prospect of the former tyrant and her father, they headed for the door.
Hailey was out of the car and running up the path. “Willa, Mrs. James, we brought pie!”
David followed her up the flagstone path. “Slow down, Hailey or the pie will be mashed like your sweet potatoes were.”
“Oops.” The child came skidding to a halt and the pie teetered precariously in her hands. Lisa reached down and swooped it away to safety.
“Come on in, both of you. What a joyous surprise. Willa and I were just noting how lonely the day was without you.”
What Willa noted was the sudden gleam in David's eye. No, she had to stop this before it got out of hand.
“You go enjoy the pie. I have to check on one of the horses that seemed a little off earlier.”
She grabbed her barn coat and scarf and started off across the back lawn.
“Hold up, Willa. I'll come help you.”
Willa stifled her impulse to run. That would only bring him more satisfaction.
He came up and fell into step beside her. “I never get a chance to speak to you without Hailey around, and I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
David laughed. “How about for turning my tiny terror into a normal little girl. How did you do it?
They arrived at the barn and Willa turned to grin at him. “I don't know if I should admit it.”
He grinned back. “As long as it didn't involve capital punishment, you're good.”
“Nope. No whips. Though at one point I did consider what I would do if I had a horse behaving as badly.”
David swallowed visibly. “I feel like I should apologize.”
“No need. It worked. If I had behavior problems with a horse, the first thing I’d do would be try to figure out what was causing the behavior.”
David laughed. “Is this the point where I ask if you are comparing my daughter to a horse?”
“Um, if the shoe fits?”
They both started laughing. It felt good to laugh together again. They used to do that often when they were young, when David would come hang out with her, work in the stable, help exercise the horses. That reminded her.
“How long has it been since you rode?”
“I don’t even know. Since before I was married for sure.”
Willa knew the question of why he stopped was clearly visible in her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to ask it, but he answered anyway.
“I lost the heart for it, I guess. With Susan horses were work, not fun. For me, I never had any dreams of competing so I guess it seemed there should be one parent with both feet on terra firma.”
There was so much in that statement that Willa couldn't allow herself to think about. Instead she said, “That’s sad. Ride with me.”
He resisted, but she kept urging. Finally he agreed. They saddled their mounts and led them out into the paddock. “We'll take it slow at first.”
It didn't take long for David to feel at home on the horse. He fell back into an easy rhythm. Willa noticed right away. “Either you remember well, or you’ve been paying close attention while I’ve been teaching Hailey.”
Oh he’d been paying attention all right.
They started riding around the paddock, but once Willa was confident in his abilities she leapt one of the low fences and took off down the road.
David wasn't taking any chances. He unlatched the gate rather than jump the fence. By the time he followed after her, she was way down the road. He caught up and they rode side by side for a bit clearly enjoying the camaraderie and the physical exertion.
The sun was low in the sky as they headed back. The moon was rising and the farm looked so peaceful in the distance. In silent accord, they dismounted and walked the horses down to the barn.
David paused at the paddock gate. “Thanks, Willa. I enjoyed that.”
She smiled up at him. “It was nice. Thanks for joining me.”
He reached over and stroked his finger along her cheek. “You're a special lady, Willa. I've missed you these past ten years.”
Without warning, he leaned down and kissed her lightly.
Panic welled in Willa, and she jerked away. “No, I can't do this. The ride was fun, but I can't go back there, David.” She marched her horse into the barn.
David slowly followed behind. An uncomfortable silence descended as they began the familiar ritual of removing the tack and beginning to groom the horses. Finally Willa couldn't take it any more.
“Maybe you should find another farm for Hailey's lessons.”
“But she loves you.” David's voice sounded stunned. “She's made such progress.”
Willa latched onto the excuse. “And that's wrong. I'm not her mother.”
David looked at her strangely. “It's just a figure of speech, Willa. No one is asking you to be her mother. Just be her trainer and her friend.”
Willa felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She'd clearly read way too much into a mistaken kiss. “Fine, but there's no need for you to come anymore. Hailey is doing well enough on her own.”
Chapter Six
David pulled the car into the parking lot by the barn. Hailey barely waited until the wheels stopped before she was unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the door.
“Whoa, Hails.”
She giggled. “You sound like you're talking to one of the horses when you say that.”
A huge smile etched his face. His Hailey had actually giggled at him. The transformation under Willa was amazing. He'd say unbelievable, but the thing was, he knew first hand how Willa could transform lives. She'd done it with him once upon a time.
Hailey leaned over the back of the seat and gave him a kiss on his cheek. “See you at three, Daddy.”
David could see Billy waiting for Hailey at the barn door. Willa was obviously avoiding him. “Hailey, do me a favor would you?” He twisted in his seat so he could look back at her. “Please ask Willa if I can see her when I come to pick you up this afternoon.”
Hailey's face fell. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Nope. Not at all. You've been awesome.” He paused, trying to figure out how to say this without giving himself away. “I just haven't had a chance to chat with Willa about your progress in a while.” He reached over and flicked her braid. “Call me a sappy old dad, but I like to hear her sing your praises.”
A hugely happy grin burst across Hailey's face. “Okay. And I'll be sure to be extra good today.”
She climbed out of the car and David shook himself. It really was amazing to see the transformation in one month. His daughter had morphed into a totally normal, happy, chatty nine year-old. There was no sign of the grieving, lonely, admittedly bratty girl he'd brought here a month ago.
A part of his heart wondered if Willa would be willing to work her special brand of magic on him too. She'd avoided him ever since Thanksgiving evening. A wave from the barn door. A quick text message. Nothing more.
He missed her.
*
Willa watched David drive off. The pang in her heart was no less intense for not having talked to him. Maybe she was being childish.
“Daddy said he'd like to talk to you when he picks me up.”
“Really? Did he say what about?” Willa wanted to bite back the words as soon as she uttered them. She couldn't believe she was reduced to quizzing a child. Time to end this foolishness. She was giving David a power he didn't deserve. She had to treat him the way she would any other parent - beginning tonight.
But now it was time to focus on Hailey.
“How do you feel about beginning jumping today?”
The girl's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Only a little one
, mind you, but you're such a natural at this that I think we can give it a try. Why don't you go find Billy and get Beauty ready.”
Willa watched Hailey walk off down the length of stalls. She waited, watching, and there - Hailey always stopped to have a word with Wildfire. She couldn't hear what the girl whispered, but the horse was clearly responding to her. Two lost souls helping each other. A knot lodged in Willa's throat. There was no accounting for the power of animals to heal and be healed. Hailey was proving that with this horse every day. At the rate she was going, she might even get her wish to ride him some day.
In the meantime, Willa had a jump to improvise. The rest of the class would be here in about an hour, but Hailey had been working so hard that she wanted to give her something special. It was early in her training for jumping, but she did show exceptional skill for a new rider. Her mother's genes perhaps? Susan had a natural affinity for riding. She lacked Hailey's perseverance when she was younger, but as the trophies started multiplying, she'd developed a competitive edge that kept her disciplined.
Willa sighed sadly. That competitive edge had killed their friendship. Little wonder she much preferred Hailey's complete devotion to the horses. That she understood.
By the time Hailey arrived in the ring with Beauty, Willa had set up a trio of small jumps - just a dead log, a tiny fence, and a row of mini-hedges. Truth be told, Beauty could have just stepped over them, but Hailey would be thrilled to know she'd had her first jump. It was a good thing to let her see how her hard work and better attitude were being appreciated.
Willa watched with pride as Hailey led her horse over to the mounting block. She had such beautiful, erect posture, carrying herself with pride, but in a way that looked confident rather than boastful. Billy gave her a hand up and she mounted gracefully. When she turned to Willa, she was beaming. The smile struck right to Willa's heart stirring a painful longing.
She shrugged it away and encouraged Hailey to do a few walking laps while she paced the ring, trying to regain her composure.