The Emerald Horseshoes

by Jane Josephs

  Bringing the bud vase of roses to her nose, Alison closed her eyes and breathed deeply of their light scent. Had Nick meant them as a peace offering? We’re done here. The words haunted her now. She hadn’t meant them to mean for good. Finished. Over. She rubbed a rose against her cheek, the smooth, soft petal caressing her skin. Nick hadn’t come to get her at the hospital. Hadn’t texted. Did he still want her to come to the ranch? Maybe he couldn’t get off work? But would he be at dinner tonight?

  “Alison?”

  Ginny’s voice startled her, and she jerked. “Sorry, what did you say?”

  “I just asked if you had any preference about what we have for dinner tonight.”

  “Oh, no, whatever is easiest for you is fine with me. Anything’s better than hospital food. Although I really liked the chocolate pudding.”

  “Well, that’s certainly easy enough to make for dessert. How about vegetarian chili for dinner with cornbread and tossed salad?”

  “That sounds delicious. But please don’t go to a lot of trouble for me.”

  “I’d say your timing is perfect on the menu.” Jeff laughed as he steered the car into the Reid’s driveway. “Let’s see if we have as much success getting Alison settled in her room.

  ~ ~ ~

  An hour later, Ginny tapped on Alison’s bedroom door. “I have some turkey sandwiches ready for lunch.”

  “Come in,” Alison called as Ginny pushed open the door. Propped up in bed against the iron headboard, she sighed. “A sandwich sounds great. Is Jeff still here?”

  “No, he had to leave so I packed him a sandwich. Do you need to use the bathroom before we go out to the kitchen?”

  A blush crept up Alison’s cheeks. Beside her, Rufus stood, stretched and settled again. “Yeah, I do.” She put aside her phone and wiggled her way to the side of the bed. “And thank you for arranging for me to have this potty chair thing. I would hop to it except the nurse said not to jar my shoulder.” She grimaced as Ginny pulled the commode chair beside the bed and helped Alison hold up her dress and sit down. “I should say I could try to hop. I’d probably end up falling over. Don’t be shocked, but I’m skipping wearing underwear until I get my period in a couple of weeks. It’s just easier.”

  Ginny laughed. “Whatever you want to do. That’s probably smart for now. It looks like you have several cover-up type dresses that you can wear, and I think your shorts or Capri pants will fit over a cast. If you have to have one.”

  Alison leaned forward. “Can you just hold this dress out of the way, so I can . . .?”

  Ginny handed a neatly folded pad of toilet tissue to Alison, held the dress out of the way, and helped her complete her business.

  “I’m going to quit drinking water, so I don’t have to pee as much,” Alison huffed as Ginny let go of Alison’s dress and smoothed it back in place. Alison wobbled, blew out a short sigh, and slumped against the bed.

  Not missing a beat, Ginny hustled to close the toilet seat and move the commode chair. “I’ll take care of this after lunch. Stay right there. I’ll get the wheelchair. Oh, and here’s some hand sanitizer.” She opened the bedside cabinet and pulled out a large bottle. “I’ll be right back.”

  Alison finished using the sanitizer just as Ginny returned.

  “Jeff said to tell you how much he enjoyed meeting you today.” She laughed and helped Alison into the wheelchair. “He had a skiing accident several years ago, probably five years now, and I remember his wife telling me she had to hire nurses to come in around the clock, Jeff was such a grouchy, demanding patient. Not to mention big and tall. His wife was a petite little thing.” She laughed again and pushed Alison’s chair out into the living room and up to the kitchen table. “Of course, Jeff tells a different story. I remember, he was in a cast up to his hip on one side and had a broken collarbone, just like you, on the opposite side.”

  Alison shook her head as Ginny pushed her up to the kitchen table. “I don’t mean to pry, but you’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

  “Can’t get away with anything around you, huh?” She cocked her head. “Yes, I love him, but we’re taking it slow. We both want to make sure this is what God wants. And Richie was crazy about his dad, so I’m not sure how he’ll take me being with another man. Although he likes Jeff. Or so he says.” Ginny set half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread in front of Alison. “How about a dish of mixed fruit to go with that?”

  “Your secret’s safe with me. And thanks. Fruit would be perfect.”

  Ginny dished out fruit for each of them, sat down and reached for Alison’s hand. “Shall we pray?”

  “That would be nice.” Alison smiled and bowed her head.

  In a few short sentences Ginny thanked the Lord for the food and for Alison.

  “Amen,” Alison added softly and lifted her head when Ginny finished praying. “Your prayers are so beautiful, Ginny. So . . . well, personal. As if Jesus is sitting right here.”

  Ginny patted her hand. “That’s because it’s been my belief from the time I was a little girl that he is sitting right here with us. That’s the way I was raised, and the way Jed and I raised our boys.”

  “So, Nick’s always believed in God?” Alison picked up her sandwich and took a bite, more curious about Nick and his beliefs than she wanted to admit. Was being a Christian the reason he didn’t want Emma to have an abortion?

  “There were several years when he drifted, trying to figure out his faith, but he came back to the Lord while he was deployed the last time.” Ginny speared a chunk of cantaloupe. “That was a tough deployment, physically and emotionally for him, and then his dad died a month after he got home.” She popped the cantaloupe in her mouth and went back for more.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss, Ginny. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you and Nick and Richie.” Alison forced herself to not ask the questions that were crashing through her head. Ginny probably wouldn’t say more about Nick anyway. But what had she meant by the deployment being ‘emotionally’ tough? Would Nick even tell her if she asked?

  “Is that when Nick moved back home?”

  “Yes. He had been living with Tony and Joe, but the day after Jed died, he moved back here. There was no way we could handle all the horses we had at the time.”

  “Richie told me. I’m glad you didn’t have to sell them all.”

  “It was bad enough to sell five of them. But even before that, when Jed sold his horse Rusty and bought Dotty, I thought he was crazy, and it made me so sad. You get attached to horses, you know, just like people. But now I’m excited about this new little foal that’s soon to come into our lives. Richie always helped Jed with the training so he’s excited to try it on his own. It starts the day they’re born, you know?”

  Ginny glanced at the clock. “Speaking of Richie, he’ll be home in another hour and a half. What do you say we get in the shower before he gets here? I’ll even wash your hair if you want.” She cleared the dishes and slid them into the dishwasher.

  “I would be so grateful. My head is starting to itch. And I’m pretty sure I smell bad, too.”

  “You smell fine, and I have a very good sense of smell, so I’m not just saying that. But having a sponge bath at the hospital isn’t much. Let me get a bag and some duct tape to wrap around your foot and I’ll show you my shower. Jed and I had the bedroom, bath, and garage addition done five years ago. Then my mother got sick and came to live with us, and we didn’t get to use the bed and bath until she died three months later.”

  “That must have been hard.”

  “Yes and no. Jed was wonderful about it, and I wouldn’t trade the time I had with Mom for anything.” She wheeled Alison into her room and went to the closet. “Now, what would you like to wear after your shower?”

  Alison blushed and looked away, not wanting Ginny to se
e how embarrassed she felt at the prospect of getting naked in front of her. Or how much she cared about how she looked for Nick. Her first night in his house. Would he be nice? Ignore her? Act as if nothing had happened last night when she’d seen his tears? Her pulse raced. “Will Nick be home tonight?”

  Ginny chuckled. “Oh yes. But not until later.” She gathered up Alison’s shampoo and conditioner from the dresser. “It’s his Bible study night, so he’ll be late. You don’t have to dress up for him, if that’s what you’re wondering. He usually goes right to his room when he comes in.”

  Alison’s hopes crashed. “No, I guess I might as well put on my pajama pants and a tee shirt. Maybe I’ll work on my blog after the shower.”

  Although what she’d write, she had no idea.

  ~ ~ ~

  In his sock feet, Nick eased down the hall across from Alison’s room. Her door was ajar. Light spilled out into the hallway. Was she still awake? Did he dare knock on her door and say good night? Ask if she needed anything?

  Nick held his breath and listened. No sound came from her room. Turning the knob on his own bedroom door, he went inside and put his Bible and study book on his desk. The room was in shadows, the night sky providing plenty of light. He crossed to his dresser, turned on the lamp, and emptied his pockets. The bag with the emerald horseshoe necklace came out with his phone, and his breath caught. He’d put it in his pocket this morning, a reminder to pray for Alison, to keep her close. Somehow, he knew she’d had a tough day. Who wouldn’t, with her injuries?

  He opened the bag and poured the necklace into his palm. Would he ever give it to her? As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t. Not until . . . He swallowed and clenched the necklace in his fist. Maybe not ever. He dropped his head, tired, depressed. Letting the necklace spill from his hand, he closed his eyes and prayed for strength. Then he stepped back, pivoted, and opened his door. Tonight, with his friends he’d prayed for wisdom and boldness to share the Gospel with Alison. He had six weeks with her under his roof to do it. But it had to be with gentleness and respect . . . starting by saying a simple good night.

  He tapped on her door. “Alison, are you awake?”

  The bed rattled. “Nick? Come in. I must have dozed off.”

  He pushed open the door and stepped inside, his adrenaline pumping hard at the sight of her. She pushed her hair out of her face and laid aside an open book.

  At a glance Nick took in two facts: One, she was wearing one of his navy blue SWCC Instructor tee shirts with a pair of pink plaid pajama pants, and two, even more surprising than the first, the book she’d laid aside looked like a Bible.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed your shirt. Mine are small and hard to get over my arm easily.”

  “No . . .” The word stuck. Nick cleared his throat and tried again. “Not at all. I hope Ma got it out of a drawer and not my laundry basket.”

  Alison laughed. “It smells nice and fresh, like sunshine.”

  “Guess you didn’t notice we have a clothesline. There’s nothing like the real thing.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. So many thoughts spun in his head, he couldn’t sort out what he wanted to say. Lord, help me here, please. Alison licked her lips and it took every ounce of his willpower to keep from staring. “Well, it’s late. Just wanted to say I . . .” He grimaced. “Well, I hope today wasn’t too hard for you.” He cleared his throat. “You look good . . . for, you know, for all the trauma you went through.” Not meaning to offend her, he amended, “What I mean is, I’m sorry about what happened with Mae. I hope you’ll give her another chance once you get well.”

  Me, too.

  Alison looked down for several seconds before she met his gaze, a sadness settling in her eyes. “I’ll think about it,” she said softly. “Right now, I just don’t know.”

  Everything inside him went still. He wanted to go to her, wrap his arms around her and tell her he’d never let anything like that happen to her again. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t promise her that. No one could. But mostly, he couldn’t risk holding her. Because if he did, he’d never let her go.

  “I understand, and I’m sorry.” He stepped back, forcing himself to turn away. “Sleep well, Alison. I’m praying for you. Do you want your door shut?” He took hold of the doorknob.

  “No, your mom said she’d check on me at ten. It’s almost that now, so I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.” She looked away.

  “Good night.” Nick’s breath stuck in his throat, and he turned toward the living room instead of his bedroom. He’d check on Dotty before he went to bed.

  He probably wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.

  Chapter 27

  Alison closed her eyes, enjoying the soothing sound and sensation of her hair being blown dry after her shower. Her first week at the Reid’s home had flown by with doctor appointments, new routines, and learning how to ask for help.

  Ginny shut off the hair dryer and set it aside. She patted Alison’s shoulder. “There, I think your hair’s dry enough for a ponytail. I’ll be right back. I forgot to get a hair band.”

  “They’re in a dish on top of the dresser in my closet.” Alison called as she shook her head. How had it happened that in less than a week she was calling the closet “hers.” Ginny had made it easy for her to feel at home, as if she belonged here. Rufus, too.

  She played with the sash of her terry cloth robe and glanced around the bedroom while she waited for Ginny to return. A sliding door on the wall across from the bed opened onto the veranda. Perpendicular to it, a large picture window framed by tie back curtains looked out on the riding ring. Were Richie and Nick out there exercising the horses?

  “Here you go.” Ginny walked back into the room. She gathered Alison’s hair and secured it loosely at the nape of her neck. “Are you ready to get dressed?”

  “Sure. What time is it, anyway?” Alison shrugged off the robe with Ginny’s help.

  “It’s almost ten.” Ginny reached for a long, flowered sundress on the bed as Alison stood, balancing on one foot. “This dress is just darling. Let me see the best way to help you get it on.” She reached for the hem.

  “Thanks. I got it in Hawaii. Grandma Kate and I went for a couple of weeks when I was a senior in college.”

  “Okay, let’s try . . .” The doorbell rang. “Oh, I wonder who that could be? The boys are in the barn, so, I’ll just be a minute.” Tossing the dress on the bed, she left Alison tottering naked on one foot and hurried out of the room.

  “Well, at least she shut the door.” Alison laughed as she sat down in her wheelchair again, pulled the sundress off the bed, and hugged it to her breasts.

  Several minutes later, Ginny came back in the room, closing the door behind her. “You’ll never guess who’s come to visit you.” She perched on the bed. “Your Aunt Grace! She’s from Sacramento, she said.”

  “You’re kidding? My Aunt Grace?” Alison clapped her hands. “I can’t wait to see her. She’s my Grandma Kate’s sister. So technically, she’s not my aunt. But that’s what I’ve always called her. Mom said she wanted to come visit me.”

  “I told her you’d just gotten out of the shower, so she’s waiting in the living room.” Ginny took the dress from Alison. “Let’s slip this up over your hips instead of over your head.”

  In minutes Ginny had the dress in place. Alison balanced on her good foot while Ginny tied the straps behind her neck, slipped the sling over Alison’s arm, and fastened the strap. “Would you prefer to sit outside? Our outdoor furniture has seen better days, but we still have one chair that’s comfortable.”

  “That sounds perfect.” She sat back down in the chair. “And reminds me that I want to talk to you about some new furniture. If it’s okay with you I’d like to buy some chairs and maybe a sofa for the veranda.”

  “Oh my. That sounds lovely, but let’s
leave that talk for later.” Ginny wheeled her out to the living room.

  “Aunt Grace! I’m so happy to see you!” Alison reached up her uninjured arm as her aunt leaned in and hugged her. “Where’s Uncle Pete? Did you come by yourself?”

  “We drove down yesterday. Pete’s at the hotel. I wanted you all to myself for a bit.” She glanced up at Ginny. “We would love to take you out to dinner this evening. With Alison. You and your family.”

  “You haven’t seen how my boys eat,” Ginny said, laughing. “But we would be delighted, if you’re serious.”

  “We’re serious. I’m just so relieved to know that Alison is in good hands while she heals. Her mother was a little rattled when we talked last week.” Grace smiled. “I told her that I’d been wanting to visit. But from Ash Wednesday to Easter it’s a busy time in the church, so this is the first chance I’ve had.”

  “Aunt Grace is the organist and choir director at her church,” Alison explained as Ginny wheeled her down the ramp to the veranda and positioned her wheelchair near an outdoor lounge chair.

  “Oh, what a wonderful position to have. Music is so important; it ushers me into God’s presence like nothing else.” She placed a small table between Alison and Grace. “Can I get you some coffee or tea while you visit? I have some coffee cake, too, if you’d like.”

  “Coffee would be perfect, black please,” Grace said. “I regret I have to pass on the cake though. Pete and I had breakfast at the hotel and I already had a bagel and a sweet roll.”

  “Just coffee for me, too, Ginny, thanks.” Alison smiled and glanced from one woman to the other. “You look as thin as ever, Aunt Grace, but I’m gaining weight just sitting around like this. Anything Ginny cooks or bakes is amazing. Just delicious.”

  Ginny patted Alison’s uninjured shoulder. “Thanks, honey. I enjoy cooking, and it’s very rewarding to see anything I fix being enjoyed by others.” She stepped back. “I’ll get that coffee for you.”