A New Pair of Steel Shoes
By Kassandra Lea
Published by JMS Books LLC
Visit jms-books.com for more information.
Copyright 2018 Kassandra Lea
ISBN 9781634865487
Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com
Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.
All rights reserved.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Published in the United States of America.
* * * *
A New Pair of Steel Shoes
By Kassandra Lea
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 1
Nathan Pratchett caught sight of the glowing numbers on the bedside clock and cursed under his breath. He was definitely running late now, but the shower had been a necessity. Though the smell of hay and horses didn’t bother him it seemed like the wrong sort of cologne to wear on his dinner date, especially since he’d made reservations at one of the fancier places in town. The indicator light flashed on his cell phone, alerting him to what no doubt would be a less than happy text from his girlfriend. Nathan ignored it for the time being, tossing aside the damp towel and reaching for his clothes. Quickly, and in an effort to save more time, he pulled on his boxers and a pair of black slacks at the same time, hastily adding a belt. Then he donned a light blue dress shirt, doing up the buttons as he made his way down the stairs.
All the while, feeling immensely guilty, he tried to think of a decent, heartfelt apology.
It probably wouldn’t matter in the long run, he knew, slipping on his shoes, as he’d been late to their last three dates. For some reason lately he found it hard to drag himself away from the barn, even with the pressing knowledge that he had somewhere more important to be. Then again, the stray thought danced across his mind, maybe that was the problem.
Nathan snatched up his car keys, shoved his phone into his back pocket, and dashed out the front door. Slipping into the driver’s seat he realized the scent of the barn lingered, not surprising considering his helmet and boots were in the backseat. He powered down the windows, turned up the radio, and backed out of the driveway. Finally on his way to the restaurant, he let his mind wander back to the stray thought, the one suggesting that the barn might be more important than seeking to quench the thirst for human contact.
He’d grown up around horses and in his teenage years found no trouble in balancing his love of horses with the chasing of spirited young women. Of course, to be fair, most of them spent as much time haunting the dusty rows of stalls as he did and their common passion for the beautiful equine spirit gave them something to work with. His latest girlfriend, and currently his longest running relationship, came from a different world, in a manner of speaking. Sure, he managed to get her down to the barn a few times, but not once did she ever seem to enjoy being around the horses, not hiding her disgust as well as she might like to think.
That, however, did not stop her from loving the way he looked in his riding breeches, often stopping him before he left to have a little quickie.
Stopped by a red light, his gaze was drawn to the cell phone he dropped into the empty cup holder, the indicator light still blinking. He hadn’t even bothered to read her text or to send a reply acknowledging his less than stellar ability to be on time. Perhaps his reluctance to answer was something to ponder considering it wasn’t usual on his part, especially not when it came to those he truly cared about. Maybe he should send a reply, at least let her know he was on the way.
The light switched and he resumed his drive.
By the time he reached the restaurant he was officially twenty minutes late. A variety of apologies ran through his mind, but he knew without speaking a single word that none of them would do. His girlfriend would pick up on any lie he tried to seed, thus making the situation worse.
Inside, the hostess pointed him toward their table. He fidgeted with the cuffs of his shirt, nervous energy building. Would she be the kind to explode, to make a big scene in front of everyone else? Or was he in for the slow simmer of anger that made dinner conversation awkward? He wasn’t entirely sure which was worse.
The voice of doubt, the one awakened by the unanswered text began to whisper. Why are you dating her? Do you even want to anymore?
And then Nathan saw her, the beautiful Marsh Dayton. Between her stylized hair, dazzling smile, designer clothes, and fit frame, she looked like she stepped right out of Hollywood. Tonight she’d curled her hair and looked absolutely breathtaking in her red gown, the top cut just right to draw the eye to her cleavage. Knockout, the perfect word to describe her. Every man in the jointed wanted her, all the women envied her, and for some bizarre reason she had picked him, something he figured he would never understand. Suddenly, Nathan wished he’d brought a gift to help ease the blow of being late.
Again.
The apology was on his lips when he reached the table, but he quickly choked them back when Marsha slowly shook her head.
“Don’t,” she said, keeping her voice low. “I don’t want to hear your excuse.”
Nathan sank into his chair. “Marsha—”
“Stop,” she put up a hand to silence him. “You got caught up at the barn again with that horse of yours. For some reason you seem happier to spend time with a muddy, smelly animal instead of making sure you get to our dates on time. I’m sorry I am not nearly as much fun as that…beast,” she said with disdain, placing her napkin on the table and pushing her chair back. “I have given you enough chances. I’m done. No more. We’re over.”
“Marsha—”
“Goodbye, Nathan,” she said before walking off, her hips swaying hypnotically. More than one man turned to watch as she went by.
Nathan was speechless. He expected her to be upset, maybe even a little angry, but to dump him? And to make matters even worse he wasn’t entirely clear how he felt about the ending of their relationship. Shock, he had to be in shock, it hadn’t yet sunk in that she was no longer going to call him in the middle of the day just to see how he was doing, no more cuddling up on the couch while they watched movies. When the waiter came by to see if he wanted anything Nathan asked if there was a bill and had it brought around. As though on automatic he paid for her glass of wine, left a tip, and got up. His appetite had gone up in a puff of smoke.
On the ride back home his mind was still numb, still trying to figure out what just happened.
It wasn’t until he pulled into the driveway of his little rental property, shutting off the engine, that the first tear slipped free. As soon as the first one made a break the rest followed and in a matter of seconds, he dissolved into a broken hearted mess, forehead resting against the steering wheel.
Chapter
2
“So she dumped you just like that?” Eleanor Haynes said, dropping a hoof pick into her grooming bucket and retrieving a curry comb. Her black and white Paint gelding stood placidly tethered to a ring in his stall, tail swishing. He appeared to be dozing as an autumn breeze swept through the barn, bringing the smell of recently cut hay. Eleanor began to work the dirt from his coat. “She didn’t even give you a chance to explain or anything, just up and decided it was over?”
“Yeah,” replied Nathan, doing his best to keep the hurt from his voice.
After a less than peaceful night, he’d headed out to the barn bright and early, thankful not to be needed at work. All the time he spent with his mare may have been a deciding factor in the abrupt end of his relationship, but it was the one place at the top of his list for seeking comfort. Ever since he’d learned to ride, following in his mother’s footsteps from a very early age, he’d found the barn to be his refuge, his escape when the world became too much to deal with, time with the horses proving to be the best therapy. And with a quick phone call he managed to divert Eleanor’s plans to run errands and instead join him for an impromptu trail ride.
She must have heard something in his voice because as soon as Eleanor saw him she drew him into her embrace. Then she was handing him a sweet treat from his favorite bakery and wanting to know whose booty she needed to kick.
With the offer of a sympathetic ear Nathan let it all out, not even bothering to paint himself in a good light. He’d messed up, plain and simple. He should have been more giving of his time, finding a suitable way to divide his time between his passion for horses and his love for Marsha. As the “L” word crossed his mind he could feel his mental conductor throwing on the brakes. Love was a major word, a big commitment, and one he wasn’t entirely sure fit the situation. Nathan slipped the saddle pad on his mare. Did he love Marsha? It seemed like an odd answer given his inability to make time for her.
Maybe…
When he reached for his saddle, he noticed Eleanor standing in the doorway of her gelding’s stall; which was right across the aisle. She seemed to be staring at him like he’d forgotten to do up the zipper on his pants.
“What?”
“Just trying to get a read on you,” she said, shrugging. “You have the oddest expression on your face.”
“Oh?” He swung the saddle gently onto his mare. Birch, her coat a deep rich shade of mahogany, munched contentedly on a mouthful of hay
“What were you just thinking?”
He did up the girth, making sure it was tight enough to keep the saddle from slipping. “I was wondering if…I don’t know if I loved Marsha, is that horrible of me to say?”
“Not in the least, hun,” Eleanor quickly came back with, mirroring his actions. “Quite the contrary, actually, I think it makes you a better person for admitting it. Too many people nowadays are unwilling or just plain afraid to speak their minds. Own your feelings, Nate,” she told him. “Maybe you need to ask yourself one big important question?”
“And that would be?”
“If you loved Marsha, why was it so hard for you to make time for her? To include her, make her a part of your life?”
As he slipped the bit into Birch’s mouth, he gave her words some consideration, knowing that what she said was true, and something that had been bouncing around in the furthest recesses of his mind. If his heart had really been in it, he would have been spending less time with Birch and more with Marsha, not that it made his heart ache any less. Affixing the straps of the bridle, he glanced over at Eleanor and felt a pang of envy. Here was this wonderful woman five years his senior with a trim frame, brown hair worn in a shag cut, and the most enchanting smile he’d ever come across. And she had been fortunate to meet the perfect man from the get-go, getting married right out of high school. It was plain as day to see the two were still very much in love.
Why couldn’t he find the same utter devotion? Someone who encouraged and supported him, someone with which he could return the favor? Why did he keep finding the duds, the ones who never stuck around but spoke sweet enough lies to make him think they might just be it? Nathan sighed, placing his helmet on his head. Maybe one of these days, preferably before he was an old man, he might get lucky. Then again, with the way his streak was going he found that highly unlikely.
“Ready?”
“Sure,” he said, snapping out of it.
Side by side they left the barn, Eleanor in her jeans and T-shirt, him in his typical riding breeches and polo. She wore cowboy boots. He wore paddock boots. They were like polar opposites and yet the best of friends. He could think of no other person he wanted to share his grief with, feeling blessed that she’d made time for him. Nathan waited patiently for her to mount up, then followed suit.
Eleanor pointed her gelding toward the trailhead. “Let’s chase those blues away!”
“I wish finding the perfect lover was as easy as going for a trail ride.”
“You’ll find the right person,” Eleanor said. “I just know it.”
* * * *
Sometime later, the foursome trekked back toward the barn, neither Nathan nor Eleanor in the saddle, the two of them definitely messier than when they left earlier in the day. The trail ride had been going fine, the topic transitioning from Marsha and relationship woes to an upcoming horse show Eleanor procured tickets to, did Nathan want to join her? In the midst of discussing dinner plans neither of them noticed the gathering of turkeys along the forest’s edge, not until a rather impressive looking male decided to demonstrate his courage and make a run at the horses.
Birch spooked, nearly dislodging Nathan in the process. She spun so fast and bolted across the field before he even had time to fully comprehend what just happened. A shout of surprise from Eleanor was enough to let him know her gelding, Whisper, had taken cue from Birch and joined in the hasty retreat. Nathan did everything he could to regain control of his mare, but not before she went plunging into the muddy banks of the farm’s pond, the gooey dark brown mess more than enough to slow her progress and in fact bring her to a dead halt.
Eleanor and Whisper weren’t too far behind.
After assuring each other they were fine, sharing a bit of a laugh over the whole situation, it became a task to free the horses of the mud’s hold. Heavy rains from the week before had sent the pond overflowing and in its wake remained boot-sucking muck.
Or in the case of Birch, horseshoe loosening.
By the time Nathan managed to lead her out, his own boots sporting an unpleasant coat of grime, she’d completely lost one front shoe somewhere in the icky depths and the other was hanging on by a nail. Nathan pulled it for peace of mind.
“Well, that certainly was an adventure,” Nathan said, the barn within range.
Eleanor chuckled. “Definitely one worth retelling over dinner someday. I bet it got your mind off your troubles.”
“Easily, though now I need to schedule a visit with the farrier.”
Nathan wondered how long it would be before his farrier could make it out, deliberating whether or not he should just wait until their next scheduled session. Of course, that meant not riding Birch for at least another two and a half weeks; which would be perfectly fine with her. Maybe he could use those days to repair the damage done with Marsha, if she bothered to even consider giving him a second chance. He could take her to the movies or to that restaurant downtown along the lakeshore that she always wanted to try, the one that required reservations and came with a hefty price tag. Maybe a little special attention would fix the cracks, set them on the proper path again.
Or…he frowned, gaze cast down toward the ground. Did he want to get back together with Marsha? The question kept bouncing around in his skull and he seriously needed to give it consideration. Though he supposed if he was even bothering to think it he already knew the answer. But…why did love have to be such a mess? Glancing at Eleanor, the gold band on her left ring finger shimmering in the afternoon sunlight, Nathan wishe
d for a love as easy and deep as the one she shared with her husband. Every time Eleanor mentioned the man her face lit up, a soft smile on her lips, and the way he made her feel was evident.
Nathan wanted that.
And he was beginning to think he wouldn’t find it with Marsha.
He heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping. In that moment he wanted nothing more than to be back home with a bowl of chocolate sauce drizzled ice cream and a good movie, preferably nothing to do with love.
“It’ll sort itself out,” Eleanor piped up having heard the forlorn tone. “Trust me, Nathan, sweetheart, you will find the one you’re meant to be with when the moment is right.”
“What if the moment is never right?”
She turned to him, fingering the pendant she always wore, an encircled star with a lavender gem in the middle. “A lot of people say that love happens in its own time, which it does, and that it will come into your life when you least expect it. You need to stop fooling yourself, hon,” she soothed, her fingers working over the pendant. “Marsha never owned the key to your heart and personally, I think the magical locksmith is closer than you think. Besides,” she released the pendant, “your luck is already looking up.” Eleanor nodded in the direction of a dark blue pickup truck parked behind the barn. It bore the name of a farrier service on the side.
What were the odds?
Back in the coolness of the barn, Nathan ditched Birch in her stall, quick to remove her tack. He’d see to washing the mud off her legs after having a talk with the farrier. The odds of the professional having the time to squeeze him in probably weren’t all that great, but what did it hurt to at least ask? Just to the side of two wash stalls were two empty all-purpose stalls meant for vet visits, farriers, and just about everything from tacking up to clipping winter coats. A short yet attractively plump woman clad in chap-covered jeans worked on the front hoof of a spotted pony.
“Excuse me,” Nathan cleared his throat, hoping he managed to adopt a friendly tone.
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