“Well, sorry doesn’t cut it, buster.” She poked a finger into his chest. “I trusted you and you—”
He took hold of her wrist and stared down at her, an annoying grin tugging at his lips.
“Let me go.” Her nostrils flared as she glared up at him.
“You trust me?” He smiled in earnest now.
“Trusted. Past tense.” She yanked her hand free, tossed the items at him and continued out the stall door before looking back. “I won’t make that mistake again.”
* * *
Noah watched Lily storm up the corridor with determined steps that quickly ate up the distance.
She’d trusted him? And he’d let her down.
He quickly closed the stall door and took off after her. Somehow, he had to make this right.
You should have held on to that halter.
“Lily!”
She didn’t even slow down. Instead, she made a left at the arena, probably headed for the door then her vehicle and back to town.
He picked up pace, dirt pounding beneath each booted step. He’d just reached the arena when Jordan Stokes, one of his hands, met him.
“Hey, boss.”
“Not now, Jordan.” He continued past the lanky college-aged kid.
“Williams hasn’t shown up, and his student is waiting.”
Reluctantly, Noah slowed as Lily ducked into the front office. Probably to grab Piper.
He turned slightly. “Has anyone heard from him?”
“He called Amber to say he had a flat tire. We’re just wondering what to do with his student in the meantime.”
“Can you cover until he gets here?”
The kid shook his head. “I’ve got some folks saddled up and waiting to go out on the trail.”
Noah heard the door open then. He twisted to see Lily and her daughter disappear behind it.
“Tell the student I’ll be right there. I have to take care of something first.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Noah jogged toward the door and threw it open. Just in time to see Lily driving away.
His heart sank. Any other time he would have gotten in his truck and gone after her, but unfortunately, that wasn’t an option now. He let the door close and started back toward the arena.
The riding lesson was almost over when his absentee instructor finally arrived, meeting him in the arena.
“Sorry about that, boss.” The remorse in Seth Williams’ eyes was hard to miss.
Noah gave him a nod. “It’s all right, Seth. Life happens.” And although the timing of his flat tire couldn’t have come at a worse moment, it wasn’t the kid he was upset with, just the circumstances.
He eyed the student, then his employee. “I’ll let you take over.” With that, he left them and headed back to check on Honey. Best he could hope for now was to catch Lily when she came to pick up Colton from work later. And then pray she’d at least hear Noah out.
Approaching the stall, he noticed the door sitting open. Strange, he thought for sure he’d closed it. He peered through the bars.
“I’m sorry I ran out on you like that.” Lily stood inside the stall, gently stroking the horse’s muzzle.
He took a step backward, his mind racing. She’d come back. When? And why hadn’t he seen her?
He leaned forward just enough to continue to watch.
“After all, I said I’d take care of you.” She looked into the animal’s eyes. “Of course, you probably didn’t think I was doing a very good job when I hurt you. I wasn’t trying to. But sometimes we have to endure a little pain before we can heal.”
Pulling back again, he wondered what he should say. He could apologize profusely or act like nothing ever happened. Or settle somewhere in the middle. Though he wasn’t quite sure where that was.
Whatever he decided, at least Lily was here.
He took a deep breath and continued into the stall, as though he didn’t know she’d returned. As if the sweet lilac aroma of her perfume wouldn’t have tipped him off.
She turned at the sound of his footsteps. “Noah.” She didn’t appear to be upset anymore. Though she didn’t seem to want to look him in the eye, either.
“You’re back.”
Her nod was subtle as she stepped away from the horse, wrapping her arms around her middle as she moved toward the back of the stall.
He followed her. “Lily, I’m sorry for what happened earlier. I don’t know why I didn’t hold on to Honey’s halter. All I know is that I didn’t, and for that I am truly sorry. I never meant for you to be frightened.”
She still refused to look at him. She just kept nodding, staring at the dirt-covered floor. How was he supposed to interpret that?
After a long silence, her green eyes finally met his. “I accept your apology. But I owe you one, too.”
Okay, now he was confused. “For...?”
“Overreacting.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I mean, given what happened to you when you were younger, it’s understandable.”
“That doesn’t give me the right to blame you. I mean, what if you hadn’t been here? She—” Lily gestured toward the animal “—would have reacted the same way.”
“True. But as you pointed out earlier, I could have warned you.”
Falling quiet again, she leaned against the wooden wall. “I’m madder at myself than anything.” She lifted her gaze. “I really do want to help this horse. After what she’s been through, I have no doubt that she’s every bit as afraid and distrusting of humans as I am of horses. So in reality, her reaction to me treating her wound was the same thing as me startling when she reared her head back.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way...”
Pushing away from the wall, she moved to Honey’s side and ran a hand over the horse’s neck. “I don’t want her to be afraid of me. So from now on, at least where Honey’s concerned, I’m going to have to check my fear at the door.”
“You want me to put a bucket out there?” He pointed outside the stall, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “For your fear. Wheelbarrow, maybe? Eighteen-wheeler?”
“Stop.” She smiled then. Exactly what he’d hoped to achieve.
Joining her beside the horse, he said, “You know I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“I appreciate that.” She sucked in a breath. “For now, though, I think Honey and I need to get to know each other a little more. Start building that trust.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” And as he absently rubbed the horse, he found himself wondering if he shouldn’t do the same. Get to know Lily more and start rebuilding that trust.
Chapter Twelve
Lily had never been so eager for a worship service to end. Though it had nothing to do with the pastor’s sermon and everything to do with the oppressive heat that seemed to have overtaken Ouray the last two days.
Since most places in the town were not air-conditioned, including Restoration Fellowship, they relied on ceiling fans, open windows and the cross flow of air to keep things cool. But the air coming through those windows today felt more like a furnace.
Standing in the shade of the large fir tree in front of the church, Lily fanned herself with this morning’s bulletin while she waited for the kids. They had yet to join her because they were too busy enjoying their conversation with Clint. She had to find a way to escape this heat. At least until sundown.
Maybe there was movie theater nearby.
No, that would be too much like their life in Denver. She wanted something out of the ordinary. Something they couldn’t do in the city.
She fanned harder. There was always the hot springs. Not that she or any one of the hundreds of other people there would want to indulge in the actual hot portions of the pool. Perhaps they should consider the reservoir over in Ridgway. Th
at was bound to be cooler. And on a day like today, probably every bit as crowded as the pool.
Maybe a trek into the mountains. Someplace nice and secluded, just her and the kids, where she wouldn’t be distracted by a certain good-looking cowboy.
She let go a sigh. No matter what she decided, she’d still need to stop and check on Honey. She was pleased with the way the rescue horse was coming along. Something she supposed she could say about herself, too.
Never had she been more ashamed than when she walked out of the stable on Wednesday. Yet, since then, things had been different. She’d been different. She felt stronger, more confident. As though she might really be able to overcome her fear.
The small congregation continued to file out of the sweltering building until she finally spotted Colton and Piper with Clint. Seeing the three of them together, the enormous smiles on their faces, always warmed her heart.
The patriarch of the Stephens family was like the grandfather her children never had. With her parents and Wade’s father gone and his mother’s aversion to children, Lily often felt bad that Colton and Piper weren’t able to experience that special grandparent-grandchild bond like the one she’d had with her grandma Yates.
When Lily was growing up, there were times when she’d spent more time with her than her own parents. Her grandmother was the one who’d told her about Jesus and how He died for her sins. She’d taught Lily to cook, to crochet and even how to do laundry. Something Lily’s mother never would have done because, as far as she was concerned, laundry was the maid’s job.
Lily shook her head. Lois Yates had had money, too, yet she knew and appreciated the value of a dollar. Having grown up poor, she always said, Why would I waste perfectly good money paying someone for something I can do myself?
Only one of the reasons she’d loved her grandmother so much. She was in high school when the woman passed away, and she still remembered feeling as though she’d lost her best friend.
Watching her children now, she suspected that their bond with Clint was something they’d miss when they returned to Denver. Perhaps even more than the horses.
Just then she saw Noah leave the building with Jude and Daniel. All three of them were grinning from ear to ear. The trio sneaked up behind their father and the kids before Noah continued toward her.
“We have an idea,” said Noah.
The smiles on their faces had her lifting a brow. Because whatever they were contemplating had them pretty excited. “What’s that?”
He waited as the kids drew closer. “What would you guys think about spending the afternoon by the river out at the ranch?” His gaze bounced between Colton and Piper. “My brothers and I could show you how we used to cool off when we were kids.”
“You mean, like, swim in the river?” Colton’s eyes were wide, his face red from the heat.
“More like splash and play, but yes.”
Lily paused her fanning and leaned toward him. “That river water moves pretty fast. Are you sure it’s safe?”
“Absolutely. The snowpack is gone, so things have calmed considerably since that day we were there. Besides, we’re not going to be in the main part of the river.”
She eyed a couple with a toddler as they passed. “Then...where will we be?”
“There’s a little fork that breaks off at the bend. It’s deep enough to sit in, cool off and play around, but without the current.”
“When we were younger—” Jude gestured toward Noah and Daniel “—and the weather was like this, we practically lived there.”
Noah turned his head slightly so only she could hear him. “The water’s still mighty cold, though.”
“Ah. Thanks for the warning,” she whispered.
Addressing the group again, Noah continued, “If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, we could make a day of it. Build a fire to roast some hot dogs, maybe make some s’mores later...”
“I’m in,” said Colton.
“Me, too.” Piper bounced up and down.
“Don’t forget about me.” Clint raised his hand.
“Where’s Hillary?” Lily was used to seeing her and Clint together.
“She’s working today, but I’ll see if she can join us later.”
Everyone looked at Lily then.
Cooling off in the river on a sweltering day like this did sound enticing. So why did it bother her so much? Given all the time she’d been spending at the ranch, one would think she’d be used to it by now.
Perhaps that was the problem. She was getting too used to being around a certain cowboy. Making her heart long for things that, until recently, she’d considered off-limits. Things like a second chance at love. Which was foolish, given that she and her children had to be back in Denver in a month. Because wherever her kids were, she’d be there, too.
Unfortunately, Noah’s idea was the best she’d heard all day. And since she was planning to go check on Honey, anyway...
She tucked the bulletin inside her Bible. “You had me at s’mores.”
“Good.” Noah rubbed his hands together. “Why don’t you and the kids go change and grab whatever you think you might need, and we’ll meet at the ranch.”
“Okay, but do you think we could take Honey with us? You know, give her a chance to get some fresh air and exercise. That is, unless you don’t think she’s up to the walk or that the heat would be too much for her.”
“No, I think that’s a great idea. There’s plenty of shade where we’ll be. And now that the farrier’s seen to her hooves, yeah, we can give it a try.”
“Good. I think she’ll appreciate the change of scenery.” And so would Lily. But she’d best keep her mind on her children and Honey. Otherwise, there was no telling where her heart might lead her.
* * *
Seeing Colton and Piper’s flushed faces in church this morning, Noah knew he had to do something to help make the heat more tolerable for all of them. Once he mentioned it to Jude and Daniel, it didn’t take long to come up with a solution.
Now as he stood in the shade of a large cottonwood tree, clad in swim trunks, listening to the sound of children’s laughter, he knew he’d made the right decision. For them as well as him. And he hoped to make this day memorable for all of them.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent a day on the river, just having fun. But being out here today, playing and goofing around with his brothers and Lily’s kids had him feeling like a younger man, instead of a forty-year-old ex–rodeo champ. Perhaps it was the freezing-cold water that had renewed him. Or the pretty blonde feeding Honey a few feet away.
He shook his head in disbelief. Lily might not know much about horses, but she knew how to love. And that rescue horse needed love.
In only five days under Lily’s care, Honey was eating regularly. Her eyes flashed with life, and she was always on the lookout for Lily.
But the biggest change of all was that Lily actually seemed comfortable around the horse. Even in the stable. And whether it was working with Honey or sheer determination that had brought about the transformation, Lily and the horse had formed a special bond. Understanding each other in a way no one else could.
He sucked in a breath as a blast of freezing-cold water hammered into his back. Turning, he spotted a grinning, swimsuit-clad Piper holding one of the water soakers he’d grabbed from the house. A move he was now regretting.
Retrieving another soaker from the bucket, he followed her into the water. “Oh, so you think that’s funny, huh?”
Even as he dipped the tip into the water and pulled back the plunger to fill it, she continued to laugh.
“Let’s see how you like it.” Afraid of hurting her, he took aim at her legs and fired.
She squealed and tried to run away, but to no avail. The water hit his target.
Without missing a beat, the little stinker
shot right back at him, this time hitting him smack-dab in the middle of the forehead.
He dropped his soaker and clutched his pretend wound before stumbling to the bank and collapsing on the ground. He stayed there, unmoving, until he heard footsteps approaching. Small footsteps.
With a roar, he sat up, scooped the little girl into his arms and tickled her.
She wriggled. “Stop.” And giggled. “Stop.”
He quit then, allowing both of them to catch their breath. Yet, as he watched the water drip from her two blond ponytails, he wondered if this was what it was like to be a father. The joy, the playfulness, making memories... How he wished he’d had the opportunity to find out.
Colton approached then. “Can we go exploring?”
“Sure.” He set Piper on the ground and stood. “We used to do that all the time.”
“Cool.” The kid eyed his mother. “Hey, Mom?”
She stroked the horse one last time before heading their way. “What’s up?”
“Want to go exploring with us?”
Shoving her hands into the pockets of her denim shorts, she said, “Sounds like fun.”
Dad, Jude and Daniel emerged from the water, and Noah suddenly felt as though he’d gone back in time.
“You guys want to come with us?”
Jude shook his head. “Wish I could, but I need to get ready for work.”
“And I need to run up to the office to check on some equipment.” Daniel draped a towel around his neck. “I’m taking a group for an all-day rafting trip on the Gunnison River tomorrow.”
“That sounds exciting.” Lily looked more than a little fascinated.
Noah’s baby brother was the adventurer in the family. He traveled all over the world white-water rafting, snowboarding and who knew what else. For some reason, though, he’d decided to stay home this summer. And Noah kind of enjoyed having him around again.
“It can be.” Daniel looked from Lily to her children. “You should check out our tours sometime.”
She smiled. “I just might have to do that.”
“I reckon I’ll head on out with these two.” Dad waggled a thumb between his two youngest sons. “We’ll leave you all one of the utility vehicles so you can haul everything back to the house.” His gaze moved to Lily. “Mind if I take Honey back with me? One less thing you’ll have to worry about later.”
Her Colorado Cowboy Page 12
