Tyler took off the hat and ran his fingers through his dark blond hair. “Mine isn’t really white, it’s more of a light beige. That makes me a not-so-good guy.” He lifted the black hat off Bryce’s head and put his hat in its place. The hat was so big it hit below his nose.
Was Tyler a good guy? Could she trust him with her son’s safety? He had her so confused, and she hated that feeling.
“I can’t see!” When Bryce shook his head, the hat almost spun.
Tyler laughed and put the hat back on his own head. “Well, a cowboy needs to be able to see if he’s going riding.”
Adrian joined them, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. “So you’re actually doing this?” He took a sip and looked at Tyler over the rim.
Bryce jumped up. “Yes.”
“Are you sure it’s safe?” She had to ask Adrian. He understood the fears of a parent.
Tyler clicked his tongue. “You really don’t trust me?”
She kept her eyes on Adrian, ignoring Tyler. She couldn’t afford to worry about his hurt feelings.
“Yeah, we have a couple of horses that won’t do anything but walk behind or beside the mare Tyler is taking.” His gaze cut to Tyler. “You’re riding your mare, Lena, right?”
Tyler crossed his arms, and his jaw tightened and released before he spoke. “She’s not mine anymore. Nope, I hadn’t planned on it.”
“She loves going over the ranch, and she’s missed you. The others will follow her.”
Tyler frowned. “What about her knees? The damage was bad.”
“Yeah. But as long as you don’t ride her hard or fast, she’s fine. Taking her on the trails will be good for her.”
Tyler nodded, but he didn’t look happy.
“What horse do I get to ride?” Bryce looked down the long corridor. “Can I ride the white one?”
“Lancelot would be a good choice for you. He’s a dapple gray. I was thinking your mom could ride him, but he would love giving you a ride. This big guy likes kids.” As if the horse knew they were talking about him, the gelding stretched his neck over the door and gave a low nicker.
For a moment Karly couldn’t breathe. “He is...he’s huge.”
Adrian headed toward the horse. “He’s a gentle giant.” He rubbed his muzzle with one hand as he grabbed the halter on a nearby hook with the other. The large animal lowered his head and let Adrian slip the halter over the soft ears. “The smaller horses sometimes have the biggest attitudes. So we got a horse for Cowboy. Now one for you.”
She didn’t want to do this, but no way was she going to let her son go riding across the ranch without her. “Maybe we could ride in the arena. That would be fun, right?”
“Momma.” Bryce’s eyes couldn’t look any bigger.
Tyler moved farther down the stalls. “We’re going to start there. Make sure you can sit without falling off.” He turned and walked backward. “Karly, if it looks as if y’all can’t sit on the moving horse, we’ll stay in the arena.” He stopped in front of a stall. No friendly head popped out to greet him. “What about Tank? Will he do for Karly?”
“Tank?” Karly asked. “That sounds a little, um...violent.”
Adrian laughed. “He’s the perfect trail horse—slow, steady and strong. Running or even trotting is not in his vocabulary.”
Tyler had disappeared into the stall. She stepped closer, surprised at her own excitement at seeing a horse she would be riding. Adrian walked past her with the massive gray horse, Bryce right next to him. “Stay close to me. Never jump or run around a horse. And make sure they see you. Never sneak up on them.” As they headed down the alley way he kept instructing her son on horse safety.
“Here ya go.” Tyler led the most beautiful, unique horse toward her. He was white with red spots covering from head to, well, hoof. The dots on his rump were the biggest.
“What kind of horse is he?”
Tyler slipped a halter over the horse’s ears. “An Appaloosa and quarter horse mix.” He led the gelding into the wide corridor and stopped in front of her. “He’s one of my sister’s rescue horses. Tank, this is Karly. Hold your hand out flat. Like this.” He held his hand flat, palm up. The horse flared his large nostrils and pushed at Tyler’s hand. Reaching up, Tyler patted his neck. The horse wasn’t tall like the white horse, but his chest was wider.
Karly held her hand out. “Hi, Tank.” When she started to pat his thick neck she saw the scar, broad and long at the base of his neck. “What happened?” She touched the old wound, deep and painful looking.
Tyler ran his hand along the long back. “Our local 4-H horse club, which Carol was president of, helped local authorities with animal abuse cases. Tank was found on a five-acre lot on the edge of the county line with a chain embedded in his neck.” The horse nudged him, and Tyler chuckled. “He wasn’t even a year old. Out of five of the horses found, two couldn’t be saved. Tank needed surgeries to remove the chain that had basically grown into his neck, it had been on him for so long. My sister adopted him and Dad paid for the surgeries, of course. She tried to run barrels with him.” He scratched the gelding under his jaw. “He would do anything for her, but he hated running, so he became one of our trail horses that guests could safely ride. And he has a great calming effect on our more high-strung horses. No matter how long he has gone without being ridden, he is always ready to go—no drama, just a slow, steady pace.”
She had never felt such a connection to an animal before now. She wanted to hug him and promise that everything would be fine from now on. No one would ever hurt him again. He had found a safe home here at the Childress Ranch.
“How can people be so cruel?” she whispered as she moved even closer to the gentle eyes that looked at her with such acceptance and trust. She swallowed and blinked. Tyler would laugh at her if she started crying. She laid her cheek against the horse’s jaw and stroked his neck.
“Selfishness...greed or just plain ignorance. We need more people like my sister to do good...be good.” Heavy emotion clouded his voice. He coughed. “Come on, let’s get him saddled up.”
Nodding, she stepped back so they could move forward. “You seem to do some of your own good works. Not many people spend their free time with kids at a hospital or making sure the dreams of little boys come true, despite their mothers’ concerns.”
“Hey, us little boys gotta stick together against mothers that want to tape us up in Bubble Wrap.”
At the end of the passageway, she saw Adrian’s ten-year-old daughter, Mia, stood with Bryce next to the big horse with a saddle. Bryce was intently listening to everything Adrian told him.
“Momma, Adrian said he would take me to the arena when you got here. Mia’s going with me. Can we go now?” He spoke soft and low, but the eagerness in his eyes gave his excitement away.
Looking at Adrian for reassurance, she bit the inside of her cheek. Her little man looked so small standing next to that giant of a horse. Maybe this was a bad idea. Even if the horse had perfect manners, he could trip, or Bryce could just lose his balance and fall.
Adrian nodded. “Mia, will you take him to the tack room to get a helmet that fits? Get yours, too, so you can ride alongside of him in the arena.”
Tyler frowned. “A helmet. I’ve never worn one.”
Bryce turned back to them, the same expression as Tyler’s on his face. “I’m a cowboy. I don’t want a helmet.”
She turned to Tyler, ready to have it out with him when she noticed Adrian looking at him with one raised eyebrow. Tyler rolled his eyes and sighed.
“And that was stupid of me.” He flipped the lead over a post. “Come on, Cowboy, we all get to wear helmets today.” He smiled down at Bryce and took his hand. “I’ve got to get Tank’s saddle anyway, so you can help pick out a helmet for me, and we can get one for your mom, too.”
“Oka
y.” Bryce kicked at the gravel just as Tyler had done.
She groaned. Just when she thought she was safe from creating a Prince Charming fantasy about him, Tyler had to go and be all noble again. It was not her job to redeem the prince. She had gone down that path too many time and gotten lost. Redemption was God’s job.
Warm air brushed her arm. Tank nudged her with his soft velvet muzzle. She scratched him under the jaw like she had seen Tyler do earlier. The big brown eyes closed in total bliss. Karly smiled.
Tank had found a happy ending and a forever home here on the Childress Ranch, so maybe she could, too. Looking back toward the tack room, she knew she had to keep any wild ideas about Dub’s son firmly locked down.
She could do this. She could give her son the safe home and normal upbringing she’d never had as a child. With God’s help, she could do this for Bryce and for herself.
Running her hand down Tank’s neck to his thick scar, she realized she was about to ride a horse for the first time, something she’d never dreamed of doing in real life. It was just like Pastor John told her—leaning on God made her stronger.
She was no longer the scared little girl who needed someone to take care of her. She was strong, and she was going to ride a strong horse that had survived horrible people.
She smiled at Tank. She was a new person in God.
Chapter Ten
Tyler rode alongside Karly while she grew comfortable sitting on a moving horse. “Remember to keep your heels down. It feels awkward at first, but it helps with balance and keeps your weight distributed. Makes it easier on the horse, too.”
The serious look never left her face as she concentrated on everything he told her. He knew she heard when she gave him a quick nod, and he watched as she shifted her weight.
“A horse can feel your tension. Tank loves taking it slow on the trail, so relax and you’ll both enjoy the ride.” Tank kept his head down and moved carefully, with an easy pace, as if he knew he had a first-timer on his back. His sister, Carol, would be so proud of her rescue horse. She loved all the horses. Noble bloodlines and big wins hadn’t impressed her.
His sister had given him a hard time about staying away from the barns, especially his mare, Lena. Maybe she would be a little proud of him today, too. “Doing great, girl.” Her ears flicked back and forth, listening to him and all the other noises around them. This beautiful animal hadn’t deserved the career-ending injuries she had endured because of his recklessness. “I’m so sorry, Lena, girl.” He gave her two strong pats on her neck.
“Did you just apologize to your horse?” Karly pulled up closer to him.
Embarrassed, he nodded. She looked at him as if he was crazy. “When I was dating Gwyn, I let her talk me into something stupid, something I knew was wrong and dangerous. I took my father’s plane out at night without permission and buzzed the pastures. The horse spooked and ran into a barbwire fence and off a bluff. Her front knees were a bloody mess, and without sound legs a cutting horse is finished. I ended a brilliant career.” He stroked her withers. The mare twisted her neck and nudged his boot.
Karly laughed. “I think she’s forgiven you.”
“It appears that way.” He patted her again.
“A few weeks ago Pastor John said sometimes the hardest part of forgiveness is accepting what we have already been given. I struggle with that, too.” Karly’s face relaxed in a genuine smile, and he loved the light in her eyes. It reminded him of Christmas Eve when the world was perfect.
“This is incredible.” She leaned forward and ran her hand along Tank’s neck “Do you remember the first time you rode? How old were you?”
“I must have been...” He concentrated, trying to remember. “I don’t know. There are pictures of me with my dad when I was less than a year old, and I’ve seen pictures of me riding solo when I was about three or four.”
She gave a short laugh, as if she was mocking him. “You had a childhood every kid dreams of having.” She shook her head and grinned. “You’re such a brat and you don’t even know it, do you?”
“Momma! Look!” Bryce yelled.
Adrian was jogging at a slow pace in the deep sand, Bryce’s big gray trotting alongside with Mia and her horse on the other side.
Slowing down, Adrian walked his horse toward them. “Bryce is a natural. His balance is great. I think we should let him go around the arena with Mia.” He looked at his daughter. “No trotting, just a nice easy walk around the railing.”
Mia nodded and guided her horse to the rail. Bryce and the big Lancelot followed. Karly’s son looked over his shoulder, reins in one hand, just like Mia, and smiled so big Tyler thought his skin would rip.
“Look, Momma! I’m riding all by myself.”
Humbled by the look of joy in Karly’s eyes, Tyler’s heart twisted. He had always taken the horses and this way of life for granted. He watched the muscles in her slender throat work a bit before she answered.
“You look great. Pay attention to where you’re going.” Her gaze went to Adrian. “So you think it will be safe to go on the trail?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s good, and that horse won’t let anything separate them.” He patted Tank. “Y’all have fun. I’m grabbing Mia and heading over to the other barn. We have some two-year-olds we’re prepping for show.”
Tyler looked at Karly. Oh, no, her eyes looked suspiciously moist.
“Thank you, Adrian,” she said. “You’ve helped a dream come true, that I didn’t even know could happen.”
“Not a problem.” He gave Tyler a quick nod and started off toward the kids.
Tyler wanted to point out that he was the one that set up the riding date and got the horses. He was the one taking them over the ranch, but that might make him appear to be the brat she had already accused him of being.
Adrian was a good guy and helpful, too, so he just needed to get over himself. It wasn’t as if he wanted to impress her anyway. He would leave that for Adrian.
Adrian and Karly would make a great couple.
He swallowed down the burning acid the thought brought up and planted a smile on his face. “Y’all ready to see the ranch you can only see on horseback?” He pulled on the unfamiliar feel of the strap to the riding helmet.
“Yes!” Bryce practically bounced out of his saddle. “Where are we going first?”
“Follow me.” Guiding the horses out of the arena, Tyler headed to the north end of the ranch, to the highest point.
Half an hour into the ride, Bryce’s questions had slowed to about one for every three minutes. Tyler constantly did little checks on Lena’s gait. Adrian had reassured him the ride up the hill would be fine for her, even good exercise. In his mind he could still hear her screams as the fence snapped and she tumbled to the dry creek bed below the small cliff. Closing his eyes for a minute, he tried to erase the image of her lying on the rocks, tangled in the fencing, bloody and broken. Riding her was like meeting up with a good friend after years of separation. He glanced over at Karly, who was leaning forward slightly, whispering something to Tank. The soft morning sun along with the cool breeze playing with the loose strands of her hair created an image of the perfect woman. The picture hit him hard in the gut. The most amazing part was she didn’t even know how beautiful she was.
“Mr. Tyler, why are the trees up here fat and wide, but the trees along the cliff below were all superskinny and tall?”
Tyler chuckled. Three minutes must be up. “The tall trees are fighting for sun, but the trees up here need water, so they cover the ground by being low and wide.”
“How do you know all this?” Karly paused and looked around her. Sweeping valleys nestled in the majestic rocky hills. Spots of yellow and orange stood out among the surrounding evergreen. Tyler had forgotten that fall was his favorite time of year on the ranch.
He shrugged.
“Doesn’t everyone learn this stuff in school?”
She turned a bit red and looked down at the ground.
Way to make her feel stupid, Tyler. “Actually, I take that back. I learned almost everything I know about this place from my father and grandfather. Granddad was not only a rancher, but he was also a teacher at the local junior college. He taught botany and taxonomy. He said he wanted me to know everything about the land I was born to.” Man, he missed his granddad.
“What’s a taxes-money?” Bryce stumbled over the new word. “Tax-on-tomy.”
“Taxonomy.” Karly helped with the new word.
“Taxonomy.” Bryce smiled and repeated the word several times.
Karly turned to him, her nose crinkled up. “Is it where they stuff animals?”
Biting down so he wouldn’t laugh, Tyler kept his face impassive. She would take his humor as an insult, and he didn’t want her to feel any worse. He shook his head. “That’s taxidermy. They sound kind of the same. It’s the classification and cataloging of plants. We would spend hours out here when I was little, gathering samples and pressing them so he could track any new species that invaded.”
“Oh, look!” Bryce’s excited yelp caused Karly to jump. Tyler turned his attention from her to the area Bryce was pointing to. They were reaching the top of the ridge.
He’d forgotten about the Childress Christmas-tree lot. Well, maybe not forgotten, but locked away. Had he come this way on purpose?
“Christmas trees! Just like in the books.” Bryce turned to Tyler. “I didn’t know Christmas trees grew on your ranch.”
“They’re piñon pines...they’re normally a little farther north, but my great-grandfather didn’t want a cedar in his house, so he transplanted these. Growing up, we would come pick trees for the houses.”
“So we can pick a tree? Mom, we get to have a tree this year. A real, live tree we can decorate and everything, like in the stories with tinsel and lights and stuff.”
“Bryce, this isn’t our house or our trees.” Karly looked at Tyler.
A Texas Christmas Wish Page 10
