by Lois Richer
Mac was staying. Adele’s heart felt light and carefree. Why did that matter so much?
“When are we going for a ride together?” Mac demanded.
“As soon as you ask me.” Funny how she couldn’t stop smiling. “Tonight?”
* * *
“Tonight? Mom and Dad are having the pastor for dinner. Can I let you know?” Slightly distracted by Adele’s swift response to his invitation, Mac turned his attention to the children just in time to see them sneak bits of cookie. “Don’t even think about feeding those puppies,” he warned. “Chocolate will make them sick.”
“Oh. C’n we get a puppy, Delly?” Francie asked with a full mouth.
“We already have Spot and Dot at The Haven,” Adele reminded. “Springer spaniels my aunts rescued,” she explained to him.
Mac nodded. “Springers are good pets.”
“I don’t think my aunties want more dogs,” Adele explained to Francie in a cautious tone. Mac figured it was because she knew that if Francie wheedled hard enough, the softhearted aunts would quickly give in.
“You can come and visit the puppies here,” he offered. It would be fun to have kids on the ranch again.
“’Kay,” Franklyn agreed with a firm nod. “When we visit the minis.”
“When will that be?” Mac asked Adele.
“I’m not sure. There’s a big group of kids arriving tomorrow for the weekend, with counselors, so I’m going to be busy.”
“How busy can you be? You’ve been prepping stuff for days. The twins told me,” he admitted when she arched one eyebrow at him. He knew nothing about cooking, but he wanted to spend more time with Adele, to catch up on their friendship. He glanced into the house before whispering, “What’s on the menu tomorrow night?”
“Chuckwagon chili on a bun.” She frowned. “Why are we whispering?”
“Tomorrow night is Mom’s Tofu Tumble night.”
“Oh.” Adele’s smile emphasized the dimples in her cheeks, which in turn emphasized her wholesome loveliness. “What’s that?”
“Lentils and sprouts and a bunch of other stuff I can’t identify wrapped in some kind of brown-veined leaf. Tastes worse than liver.” Mac pretended to gag. He could keep carrying on for ages just to hear her wonderful laugh.
“Liver and onions. Delicious.” Adele giggled when he grabbed his stomach in pretend pain. The twins stared at them.
“Don’t make me eat it. Please, have pity. Invite me over for dinner, I beg you.” Since he wasn’t sure his tactics were working, he changed strategies. “If you don’t, you’ll be sorry when you come to see me in intensive care and the nurse tells you that if only someone had prevented me from partaking of that—”
“Stop it, con artist.” Delly shook her head in reprimand, though her amber eyes still crinkled at the corners. “Your mother is a good cook. A bit adventurous, but that’s not a bad thing.”
“Yeah? Want some more coffee?” Mac shot back, grinning when she wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “She says everything she makes is heart-healthy, but Dad looks even paler now than when I first came home, especially when she calls him for dinner.”
“You’re a terrible tease, Mac,” she reproved.
“Not teasing.” He sighed. “He looked awful this morning but insisted on riding up to the north quarter alone to check a fence because Gabe’s tied up today.” He frowned. “They have to get out of here and on that cruise.”
“Then you can decide whether or not you’re staying permanently.”
Mac didn’t respond. Adele gave him a questioning look before she rose and asked the children to help carry their dishes inside to the sink. That done, she called her thanks to Mac’s mother, who remained in her quilting room in the basement but invited them back to the ranch anytime. Then Mac walked her to her car.
“You fasten Francie in, I’ll help Franklyn,” she said.
He complied, encouraging Francie’s giggles and Franklyn’s outright laughter at his knock-knock jokes.
“You’re nothing but a big kid yourself, Mac McDowell.” Adele fastened her seat belt and started the car.
“I know. It’s always been a problem.” Still acting the clown, Mac thrust his head inside the car window. “That’s why I should come to dinner with the other kids,” he said, blinking rapidly in comic enticement. “Right?”
“You’re always welcome, Mac.” Adele shook her head at his smug smile. “Say thank-you for the ride, children.”
Amid the kids’ loud calls of thank-you, she drove out of the yard and under the wrought-iron arches with the Double M script.
Mac’s world suddenly lost its brilliance. With a sigh he headed for the tack room. Time to saddle a horse and check out his dad.
Work was supposed to be a panacea, right? That thought didn’t help lighten his mood.
But there was dinner with Adele at The Haven to look forward to.
* * *
“Mac’s nice, isn’t he?” Francie said as they drove toward home. “On’y sometimes he gets sad. How come, Delly?”
She was about to respond when Franklyn chimed in.
“Aunt Tillie said it’s ’cause of his accident. She said he got hurted real bad and not just his body.” Franklyn frowned. “What else can you get hurted, Delly?”
“Your heart, honey. Like it hurts inside. Understand?” She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw them nodding. “Maybe Aunt Tillie means Mac’s heart hurts.”
She tucked in a CD and let the kids sing along while she pondered that thought. Hearts usually got hurt because someone else was involved.
Who had been involved with Mac and why did it make his heart hurt?
Though Adele asked herself that question all the way home, she couldn’t come up with a suitable answer as to what, other than his accident, had changed her friend Mac. But she was going to find out.
Chapter Five
“Are you mad, Delly?”
“No. I was just trying to make your social worker understand—why do you ask that, Francie?” Adele set down her cell phone and frowned at the little girl.
“You sounded mad when you were talking on the phone.”
“Watch it, Delly. Little pitchers,” Mac said sotto voce.
“Huh?” Francie shrugged when no one explained. “He said we c’n ride the big horses.”
“Sometime. With me,” Mac emphasized as he stretched his long legs under The Haven’s kitchen table.
“Are you sure?” Adele didn’t want to underestimate him but reining in a horse while controlling a wiggly child seemed a bit—much.
“You mean for a guy who’s only recently returned to the saddle, or for a guy who only has one arm?” Mac’s face tightened. “You doubt me, Adele?”
“No, but—”
“I’ve been riding for a couple of hours every day since the day after I came home.” He looked angry. “I’m competent. I have to be, with Mom and Dad leaving.”
“When’s that?” she asked to change the subject.
“Tomorrow.” Mac was not to be diverted. “The twins will be safe with me, Delly. You can trust me. Was that why you canceled our ride last night?”
“It was ’cause of me. I din’t feel good.” Franklyn rubbed his stomach. “I don’t feel good now.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, honey,” Adele assured him with a meaningful glance at Mac. “Now you two go change into your jeans while I talk to Mac.”
“’Kay.” Francie scooted out of the room. Franklyn followed at a much slower pace.
“He doesn’t want to ride with me?” Mac guessed.
“He’s a bit nervous but I think he’ll be okay once he’s actually on the horse.” She studied him, noting how much more relaxed he’d looked than the day she’d first seen him. “What about the trail rides, Mac?”
“I’m still thin
king about it.” He sipped the coffee she’d poured for him, eyes averted.
“What’s to think about?” she pressed.
“Liability. If a kid got hurt or—”
“Victoria checked into that. We’re fully covered,” she rushed to assure him.
“We’re not. And liability insurance is expensive. The Double M hasn’t been doing that well the last couple of years. I’m not sure we can take on another big bill.” Mac still didn’t look at her. That was how she knew he was worried about more than insurance.
“Tell the truth, Mac. Are you concerned you might not be able to handle a trail ride?” She sat down across from him, wishing now that she hadn’t said anything about his ability to take the twins for a ride.
“Yes. Before, if a kid floundered or a horse stumbled, I’d reach out and grab the reins. Take control.” He lifted his head, his blue-green eyes shadowed. “If that happened now, there’s nothing I could do. The first rule of horsemanship is to retain control of your own animal. I can do that just fine, even with one of the twins aboard. But I don’t have a hand to spare.” He looked at the one he had as if it offended him. “I’d like to do the trail riding, Delly, if only because it would be something new and different and interesting. I’m just not sure I can.”
The twins returned but Adele wanted a few more minutes alone with Mac, so she asked them to walk the dogs on the little path around the house. When they were gone she studied the big cowboy, her heart aching for the loss, not only of his arm, but of his self-assurance.
But she stifled her sympathy, knowing Mac would hate that.
“There must be other ways you could compensate?”
“Some.” She could tell he didn’t like facing his weakness. “Try to corral the animal with my horse, that kind of thing. But I’ve never done it with my hand and half my arm gone and I don’t want to practice on foster kids who’ve never ridden.”
“Then you can practice on me.” She rose and checked the roast in the oven. Then she picked up the phone. “Stella, are you free to give me a hand this afternoon? Good. Here’s what I need.” She laid out the details to the woman who’d been assisting her in the kitchen for the past two days, answered her questions, thanked her and then hung up.
“Adele, you don’t have to do this,” Mac said, frowning. “The idea of me taking the kids this afternoon was to free you up.”
“I am freed up. Stella’s coming. And I’ve decided to go riding today.” She gave him a severe look. “I am going to be your guinea pig, but so help me, Mac, if you let me get thrown—”
His burst of laughter made her smile. Much better when Mac was laughing.
Twenty minutes later they were at the Double M, where Mac was giving Francie a ride on his horse, Nightshade, a big black stallion. Adele had questioned him about that choice, but Mac was clearly going for broke. If he couldn’t manage his favorite horse with the twins and later, on a trail with her, she knew he wouldn’t agree to give the rides.
After Franklyn had his turn, Gabe took the twins to see the puppies, leaving Adele with a brown mare she’d never ridden before.
“Her name is Pesky.” Mac’s face wore an odd look.
“What kind of name is that?” She climbed on with trepidation. “Where’s Star? I know her.”
“That’s exactly the reason I asked Gabe to saddle Pesky. Star is familiar with your riding and probably wouldn’t react the same as would a horse with a new rider. Your group would be totally new to our horses,” he explained. “I want the unexpected, so I can prepare.”
“But—” Seeing the implacable glint in his meltwater eyes, Adele gave up. “Okay, but just remember what I said about me falling off,” she warned.
“Do that stiff pride of yours good, Delly,” Mac teased. Then he got serious. “As much as possible give Pesky her head. We’re trying to emulate untried riders, remember?”
She nodded nervously, aware that her horse was now heading for the rails. Before she could react and rein in Pesky, Mac had ridden between them and was using Nightshade to nudge her away.
“Let’s see how she’ll follow.” Mac leaned over, undid the gate and rode his horse through. Pesky followed, then suddenly veered right. “Don’t rein her in,” he called as he refastened the gate.
Somehow, he managed to arrive at Adele’s side just before Pesky entered a grove of trees. Mac swiftly moved in front. For a few minutes Pesky seemed content to follow Nightshade, until a rabbit raced across the trail. Immediately she lengthened her stride and took off, on a mission to chase that rabbit. Adele tugged on the reins but could not control the disobedient animal. Overhanging branches slapped at her face, and to top it off, a light rain began to fall. Ahead lay the banks of a stream. Heart in her throat, she wondered if she could hang on if Pesky tried to jump it.
She should have known better. Mac raced past to block the way. Now, with dense brush closing in on either side, there was nowhere for Pesky to go. She stopped short, almost throwing Adele.
“Are you okay?” Mac held Pesky’s bridle while he inspected Adele’s scraped face. He winced. “I’m sorry, Delly. I didn’t think she’d go off like that.”
Furious, she gritted her teeth and snapped, “I would not put this horse on any trail ride anywhere at any time.” She brushed her gloved fingers against her stinging cheek. “She’s useless. Why do you keep her?”
“Ah, Delly, you always demand perfection.” Mac sounded amused.
She glared at him, unappeased.
“Pesky isn’t useless, and we don’t keep her because she’s perfect. We keep her because she’s an amazing mother to some of the strongest colts the Double M has ever had. That more than makes up for her lack of riding suitability.” Mac petted the horse’s neck, murmuring soothing things.
“Oh.” Adele studied the animal with new perspective.
“But that little incident adds to my worry,” he added with a frown. “If one horse bolts as she just did, and another follows, we’ll have problems.”
“Which is why Gabe would be there.” Adele adjusted her tired old Stetson to keep the rain out of her eyes. “Anyway, I’m guessing you’d set apart time at the beginning for the kids to get familiar with their horses before they actually ride, right?” She waited for his nod. “So that would give you a chance to assess if an animal or kid was going to be a problem.”
“True.” He watched her, eyes narrowed as she arched her back. “Sore?”
“Wet,” she corrected. “Let’s finish this. What next?”
“See if she’ll follow my lead.” Mac waited for her nod of consent, then began walking Nightshade. He turned several times to observe how her mare followed. After a few minutes he stopped and urged her to precede him.
“Where to?” Adele asked.
“Our spot.” Mac simply looked at her without offering another hint. He didn’t need to. Adele knew exactly where he meant. She just wasn’t sure if she could find it anymore.
“That was ages ago. I’m not sure—”
“Some things you never forget,” he encouraged quietly. “Besides, I want to see if she’ll obey or if something will pop up and draw her off the trail again, and if I can handle it.”
“You’re the boss.” After a quick glance around to get her bearings, Adele directed the horse left at the first fork in the path.
During their ascent to the lookout point, Adele kept her hands loose on the reins, letting Pesky have her head. The horse plodded along as if she knew the exact spot Mac meant. This time she evidenced no distraction when a mother deer and her two fawns appeared.
Ten minutes later Adele pulled to a stop. That same rush of delight at being home filled her as she glanced around. Their lovely private glade at the crest of the hill looked unchanged.
“See? You found it.” Mac slid off Nightshade, threw his reins over a branch, then offered a hand to help her down. He fast
ened Pesky more securely, then fed both horses a carrot. “I knew you wouldn’t forget our spot. How many times did we come here?”
“Hundreds. For every celebration. After you won that first bronc riding competition. And the second, third, fourth...” Adele walked forward to stand under the shelter of a massive spruce tree and stared down across the now-golden meadow, allowing those happy memories to flicker through her mind. “When you took the championship for this area. And when you won a tryout on the mountain climbing team.”
“When you won that bursary at graduation. And after you got accepted to cooking school,” Mac reminded.
Choosing a massive boulder they’d often shared, Adele sat on a corner, where she was mostly sheltered from the gentle rain. She tilted her head and studied Mac.
“Why didn’t you ever pursue the climbing thing?”
“Didn’t think it was an option.” He sat beside her, his face thoughtful. “After Carter died, I figured it was up to me to take his place on the Double M.”
“But you quit college,” she pointed out, admiring his handsome profile as he studied the land around him. “Duty didn’t matter then?”
Mac snorted.
“More a case of being overcome by the flying bug.” He shifted to look at her. “Truth is, Delly, it wasn’t until I was on the base that I really thought about the Double M and my parents and what I’d done. By then it was too late. I was committed.”
“Maybe that’s why you did it,” she offered quietly. His quizzical look made her shrug. “Maybe you were unconsciously searching for an escape route and maybe that day the air show offered it.”
He thought about it, nose wrinkling. “Maybe.” But his tone expressed his doubt.
“So what’s the verdict? Will you do the trail rides?” she prodded, knowing her sister would want a firm no from him before she approached other ranchers. “Did today help?”
“Sort of.” Mac glanced over one shoulder at the grazing horses. “Pesky is the worst of our herd for getting sidetracked. Once she forgot about that rabbit, she was okay, but still, I wouldn’t use her.”
