The SEAL's Return

by Patricia Potter

  Gordon shook his head, his gaze never meeting hers. “I’m looking for a job.”

  Lisa was startled. “You’re starting school on Monday.”

  He looked at her as if she were clueless. “Part-time,” he said.

  “Where are you looking?”

  He shrugged. “Go by some stores. Ask if anyone is hiring.”

  It sounded good, but something was off. The change was too sudden. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. “That’s great. What about going to the pageant tomorrow?”

  Gordon shrugged again. “Who cares about some dumb pageant?”

  “At least think about it. I hear the music is great and you’ve complained there’s nothing to do here. You might even meet some kids who’ll be at your school on Monday.”

  His gaze didn’t meet hers and she felt a tremor of apprehension. He walked out of the kitchen and she heard his footsteps on the stairs.

  At least it wasn’t a no, she told herself. And a job hunt was definitely progress. Maybe the meeting with the town’s police chief had accomplished what the Chicago police couldn’t.

  Lisa turned back to her sister who was stacking dishes in the sink. “Why don’t we drive to the medical clinic together so you can see it? The vet’s office is just a block away. I’ll meet you there at noon. We can have lunch at Maude’s and drive up to see the falls. Then we can go to the pageant tomorrow.”

  “What about Gordon?” Kerry asked anxiously.

  “I’ll call him when we get ready for lunch. He can join us. Or not.” She had learned not to try to force him. “I’m going to go take a shower and get dressed.”

  “Lisa?” Kerry’s voice was tentative.

  “What?”

  “I think I’m going to like it here.”

  “I’m glad. I’m really glad,” Lisa said, and her heart did a little dance. At the same time, a new worry emerged. What if Kerry wouldn’t want to leave Covenant Falls next year?

  * * *

  JUBAL WOKE AS the first stab of light rose over the horizon. He was surprised to discover it was almost dawn. He’d slept better than usual.

  Maybe it was because he had a goal now. A short-term goal to be sure, but a goal nonetheless. He had something to look forward to.

  He had a job of sorts, even if it was a temporary gig. An opportunity to ride, he reminded himself. Nothing more.

  He did need something. A future that would quiet the restlessness in him, that would challenge both his mind and body. So far, nothing had interested him. Certainly not the security jobs he’d been offered. Protecting some politician or executive wasn’t his idea of a challenging life.

  Maybe Luke’s offer was the answer. He didn’t have to stay, but he could learn something about ranching. Yesterday had awakened the love of horses he’d once had, satisfying a yearning deep inside. But that meant he would stay here longer than he expected, and in a town this size, he and Dr. Redding would meet often, making their palpable connection something he’d have to confront after all.

  To his puzzlement, she’d affected him in a way no woman had before. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since she’d knelt on the floor of his bathroom and tended to his various abrasions with such care and gentleness. Her eyes had widened slightly when she saw the scars on him but she hadn’t seemed repulsed, nor did she ask questions. When she’d so earnestly finished, he’d wanted to pull her into his arms. But he knew she was off-limits. She was a healer with her life in front of her and he was an over-the-hill warrior with little future.

  Of course, Gordon was another reason why he should run like hell. He could continue his quixotic plan for the kid and keep it from Lisa Redding, or he could tell her about her brother’s playing with fire and the kid wouldn’t trust anyone again. He was damned either way.

  Maybe the kid wouldn’t show up today. Maybe the near-accident had scared him off.

  Damn it all. How could he have become so involved in so few days, he who made it a practice never to get involved in anyone’s business other than his own?

  He took a quick swim to cool off, not that it worked, then drove to Luke’s ranch.

  He found the rancher in the barn currying a stocky bay horse with muscular hind quarters.

  Luke nodded in greeting and scrutinized his jeans and running shoes. “You’re gonna need heavier pants and some riding boots,” he said. “What size shoe you wear?”

  “Eleven.”

  “There are several worn pairs of boots in the tack room. Find some that fit. The jeans will do today but you’ll need something heavier for the long run. The general store in town should have what you need.”

  Jubal nodded and went into the tack room. He found a row of boots, sighted a pair that looked big enough and tried them on. They fit. He returned to Luke’s side.

  “I’m starting you with Sara Jane,” Luke said. “She’s a sweet-riding mare with a great disposition. Tracy will look after you and give you some pointers. Okay?”

  A lanky young man dressed in worn jeans and boots emerged from the back of the barn.

  “This is Tim, our stable hand. He looks after the stalls and equipment and generally helps out wherever needed. He’s going to be helping me set up flags in the arena for one of our students.”

  Jubal shook hands with Tim. “Anything I can do to help?”

  “Nope. I’d rather get you riding. Tracy will go through everything with you. She’s expecting you at the ranch house. In addition to teaching, she keeps all the books. And,” he added, “call her Tracy. She’ll be mad as hell if you do the missus bit. Makes her feel old.”

  Jubal walked to the ranch house. The door opened before he got there and Tracy Daniels handed him a cup of coffee. “Hi,” she said. “I had a bet with Luke over whether you’d turn up.”

  “Who won?”

  “Luke. He usually does when it comes to people.”

  “I’ll try not to disappoint, but I told him I haven’t ridden much.”

  “I saw you ride yesterday. You have a good seat. You’ll need a better one to stay on some of our quarter horses. Their movements are instinctive and quick. They have to be for roping and barrel racing and other performance competitions. They can toss some of the best riders. You can’t let your attention wander.”

  He nodded, absorbing everything, grateful she was so frank. He gulped down the coffee in several swallows. He wanted to get started.

  Tracy Daniels seemed in no hurry. “Luke said your father was on the rodeo circuit.”

  It felt like a question more than a comment. “Rode broncs, steer roping. Calf tie-down,” he said. “He didn’t ride bulls. He didn’t like them and said they sure didn’t like him.”

  She just nodded. “I can surely understand that. I’ve been at a lot of rodeos, and that’s one event I don’t like to watch.” She led him out to the barn. “Luke suggested you start exercising the horses we use for teaching and trail rides. They’re well trained, gentle and anxious to please. Most are for sale as pleasure horses. They get less attention and exercise because our emphasis is on breeding and training championship horses in the performance field—rodeos, horse shows, barrel and flag racing.”

  He felt he should warn her that he was temporary. “I told Luke I won’t be here long. I’m just passing through.”

  “He told me that, too, but we rarely have commitments from ranch workers. Most are wanderers. You’ll be a help as long as you’re here.” She led the way to the barn, down the row of stalls and stopped halfway. A bay reached her head over the top of the stall gate. Tracy said, “She’s one of the teaching horses. Steady. Reliable. She has a great trot. We’ve had offers for her, but she’s one Luke won’t give up.”

  She led the mare out and gave the lead to Jubal while she took out another horse. “Luke said you might have a problem cinc
hing the saddle for a few days. I’ll help you there.”

  Jubal liked her. No nonsense. He nodded, determined that next time he would do it.

  “Hate to admit it, huh?” she said.

  “Yep.”

  “Well, don’t. Everyone helps everyone else around here, and injuries are not uncommon. I sure wouldn’t want the cinch to be too loose.”

  She walked the horses to the tack room. Jubal claimed the saddle he’d used the day before and did all but pull the cinch tight.

  Tracy saddled another horse while Jubal talked to Sara Jane, who seemed to dance with eagerness. They both mounted and Tracy led the way to the outside training circle.

  “You ever heard the expression ‘stopping on a dime’?” Tracy asked.

  “Sure.”

  “That’s what a quarter horse does. It’s the most important thing to remember. The quarter horse can be at a full gallop and come to a complete stop without warning. If you don’t know that, you’re going over the saddle to the ground. Their speed and agility make them the perfect cow pony, but it means the rider has to be alert every minute. They’re also versatile, willing and generally good-natured,” she said.

  Dusty came to Jubal’s mind. His father’s horse had been all of that. He never knew what had happened to the horse when his father died, and it had bothered him for years.

  “Okay, we’re going to start with a sitting trot,” Tracy said, interrupting the memory. “I know you did all this with Luke yesterday but I want to see how you handle the reins and your legs. Okay?”

  “Sure.”

  She took him through the different gaits and variations, suggesting changes in the way he held the reins and used his legs.

  Tracy was a good instructor. Minute by minute, Jubal grew more comfortable. More confident. After an hour of basics, they rode out of the circle toward the stream.

  “Luke was right. You do have a natural seat,” she said. “Let’s start with a trot, then a canter.”

  An hour later, they turned back. “You have something that’s hard to teach,” Tracy said. “Sara Jane likes and trusts you. That’s the secret. Earn a horse’s trust and she will do her best for you.

  “I think Luke showed you most of our acreage,” she continued. “In exercising our horses, you can ride them anywhere inside the property, but it’s best to start in the ring if it’s a horse you haven’t ridden yet. Let them get used to you, trust you.”

  They turned back. “We’ll go and see how Luke’s doing, then you’ll be on your own,” she said. “I’ll race you back.”

  They took off. She won. As they reached the barn, Jubal saw an expensive sports car in the driveway.

  They cooled the horses and put them back in the stalls. Tracy led the way through the barn to the back door, then into a large arena.

  A rider was racing a horse around flags, making what looked like impossible turns. Luke had one foot on the railing separating them from the rider. An older man stood next to him watching the rider intently.

  Tracy joined Luke at the fence but Jubal stayed several feet behind. He watched as the young rider knocked down a flag but kept going. The rider, a girl of about fifteen, finished and rode over to Luke. “He did everything I asked,” she said. “I’m the one who messed up.”

  “You still made good time,” Luke replied as he closed his watch. “It takes more than three rides to develop a relationship between rider and horse, but you did just fine.”

  He turned to the older man, who was apparently the girl’s father. “They need some work, but I think Darby might be the horse for her,” Luke said.

  “Will they win?”

  “Probably not at first, but he’s a fine horse. If they work hard together they can go a long way.”

  “Will you continue to train her if I buy him?”

  “Yes. We can also board him for you.”

  “What do you think, April?” the man said.

  April had slipped from the horse and stood stroking his neck. “I love him already.”

  The man nodded to Luke and they shook hands. “Draw up the papers and have Stephanie give us a health certificate.” His daughter gave the horse a big hug, then led Darby out of the arena and into the stable.

  Jubal closed the gap to stand next to Tracy.

  “He’s a handsome horse,” he said.

  “And very even-tempered. We raised him from a colt and I’ve been training him. The sale will take care of the feed bill for a while,” Tracy added. “The girl, April Morris, has been looking for a while. She came here two weeks ago on a referral and tried out several horses. She wanted her father to see her on this one.”

  “The sale is solid?” Jubal asked.

  “I think so. I’ve talked to other horsemen who’ve had dealings with him, and they say his word is good. The frosting is she wants lessons and will board the horse with us. It’s a win, win, win for us.” She looked at his watch. “I remember you said you had to leave at noon. Have time to ride another horse solo?”

  He definitely did.

  An hour later and filled with an exhilaration he hadn’t felt since his last successful mission, Jubal rode into the barn on a bay mare. He unsaddled the horse and cooled her off, then went to the ranch house.

  Luke opened the door. “I can tell from your face it went well.”

  Jubal nodded. “She tried one of those quick turns Tracy warned me about. Thanks to her, I was ready. I have to get back,” he said reluctantly. “When can I come again?”

  “Let’s make it Monday. We have lessons tomorrow and four of the horses will be on a trail ride.”

  “I’ll be here Monday morning.”

  Luke nodded. “I’ll have a list of horses that need riding.”

  “Thanks,” Jubal said.

  “We haven’t talked about salary,” Luke said.

  “I think I should pay you.”

  “It was that much fun?” Luke asked. “Even so, I wouldn’t feel right about it. We’ll talk about it Monday. Are you going to the pageant tomorrow night?”

  “Hadn’t thought much about it.”

  “Sara Jane and Night Shadow have ride-on parts,” Luke said.

  “Then I guess I should go.”

  He said goodbye and walked out to his car. He was a little stiff but overall he felt better than he had in months.

  He reminded himself that Covenant Falls was only a stopover. The cabin wasn’t his, and he was taking the place of someone who might really need it.

  But maybe he would stay one or two weeks, just long enough to learn new skills in an activity he really enjoyed, and finish his business with the kid.

  CHAPTER TEN

  JUBAL STOPPED AT the community center on his way home.

  He parked his car and went inside. An attractive young woman was sitting at a desk in the entry hall, her eyes on a laptop screen. She glanced up and her smile was immediate. “You must be Jubal,” she said.

  “That obvious?”

  “I’m Andy Stuart. I had the cabin before you. I thought about visiting, especially after your heroic bout with the car,” she said with a grin. “But I was assured by Dr. Redding that you were fine and I resisted. I know how overwhelmed I felt when I came here. I just wanted to holler, ‘Leave me alone.’”

  “Ditto,” he replied. “I thought a town called Covenant Falls would be restful. How wrong can a guy get?”

  “Well, unfortunately, it’ll probably get worse. You’re a celebrity hero now. Mrs. Aubry is one of the town’s favorite citizens,” Andy continued. “Her son was killed in the service and she dotes on the veterans. She’s been singing your praises all over town. You’ll probably be showered with all kinds of cookies, brownies and pies.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” was all Jubal could manage.


  “Well, I might’ve exaggerated a little, but not much. I thought I should warn you.”

  “Kind of you.”

  She laughed. “We have to protect each other. Besides I like Clint, and Clint likes you and that means I like you. Even if you are navy.”

  “What’s your role here?” he asked to get the topic off himself.

  “Good question,” she said. “I’m president of the chamber of commerce. Now, before you start wondering what a chamber of commerce does in tiny Covenant Falls, I’m also curator of the museum, chief librarian and, along with Clint, a computer coach and volunteer fireperson.”

  “That’s quite an impressive résumé.”

  “Good to see you have a sense of humor,” she said with a big grin.

  “It kinda depends on whom I’m talking to.”

  “Come to the pageant tomorrow night, and hopefully you’ll be more impressed.”

  He raised an eyebrow in question.

  “I was dumb enough to suggest it and somehow I ended up being in charge, even to the extent of chasing camels down the street. There’s a lesson here. Never volunteer for anything in this town.”

  “Why did you?”

  “I really like the town’s curmudgeon, Al Monroe. He was the former council president, and he was a challenge I needed...

  “And then I fell in love with Nate, a veteran and lifelong resident of Covenant Falls. Nate and Josh hoped the pageant would bring people here. I needed a cause, and Covenant Falls gave me one. It worked. We get a crowd on Saturday nights, and it’s good for the businesses here. We’re getting tourists but we need a lot more. But you didn’t come to hear about that. What can I do for you?”

  “I’m looking for books on quarter horses and ranching if you have any.”

  “I’m pretty sure we do. I’ll show you the section on agriculture. I placed ranching in there, as well. Quarter horses will be among the horse breeds in the animal section.”

  “Sounds logical to me.”

  She led him to the library. Old sofas and stuffed chairs were scattered around. Several children were sitting on the floor reading books.