Second Chance Ranch

by Leann Harris

  “I do. And a chocolate-chip cookie. I didn’t bake it, but Andy’s mother brought me some the other day.” She handed Ollie the sack with the bologna. Turning to Zach, she asked, “Which one?”

  “Give me the peanut butter.”

  Once they all started eating their sandwiches, Sophie looked from one man to the other. “What were you guys talking about?”

  Ollie’s request shook Zach to his core, and yet it resonated with him as nothing else had since he woke in the hospital. He was needed here. He wasn’t up to the mark, but he could help and direct the other volunteers. “I was just talking to Ollie, asking him if he thought I might start coming every day to help around here.”

  Sophie put her sandwich on the brown paper sack. “Why would you want to do that, Zach?”

  He caught Ollie’s eye and the old man silently questioned him.

  “I thought that I might gain strength quicker if I was here every day, helping a little here and there. Also, I know the owner is in the hospital. I thought you might need another hand who’s spent his fair share of time with horses.

  “Besides, I’m going stir crazy in my place, looking at the walls. Being outside can only help me build up my strength. And we can work on your plan for soldiers.”

  Sophie’s eyes widened and she sat back in her chair. The longer she remained quiet the more nervous Zach became.

  “You sure you want to do this?” she asked.

  He released the pent-up breath. “Yeah. I’m sure.”

  Her eyes twinkled and a smile curved her mouth that Zach felt all the way to his toes. She held out her hand. “Welcome to the New Hope Ranch, Zachary McClure.”

  He shook her hand.

  Ollie held out his hand. “Welcome, son.”

  As they walked out of the office after lunch, Ollie stopped Zach.

  “Thanks for keeping my secret.”

  “I think you should tell her about your situation.”

  “Maybe, in time.”

  Before Zach could question him further, Ethan showed up. “You ready to ride, little brother?”

  “I’m ready,” Zach replied. And he knew he was ready for this challenge.

  Sophie walked into room 320 of All Saints Hospital, expecting to see Margaret Stillwell. However, the room stood empty. Panic seized her. Sophie hurried to the nurses’ desk.

  “Where’s Margaret Stillwell? Her room’s empty.”

  The nurse looked up from her charts. “They moved her this afternoon to a rehab hospital.”

  Sophie took a deep breath. Thank You, Lord. “What hospital?”

  The nurse gave her the address of the rehab hospital. It took Sophie ten minutes to get to the older hospital on the western edge of Albuquerque. Once inside the building, she found Margaret’s room after stopping at the front desk.

  Margaret lay in the bed, watching TV. The stroke had affected her speech and the left side of her body.

  Sophie smiled down at her dear friend. Margaret had become a surrogate mother to her. And Sophie had been like the daughter who was close to her mother, talking daily about the running of the ranch. Margaret’s other children didn’t fit that bill.

  Sophie laced her fingers with Margaret’s and sat. “How are you feeling today?”

  Margaret turned her head toward Sophie.

  “I’ll tell you I had quite a scare when I walked into All Saints and found your room empty.” A tear slid down Sophie’s cheek. “Are you comfortable here, Margaret?”

  With her free hand, Sophie finger-combed the gray hair from her friend’s face. “I want to tell you of an old friend who’s working at the ranch. My ex-roommate’s brother lost his right foot when he was in Baghdad. He was a championship rodeo rider, and you know what? He’s going to be a great rider again when he builds himself back up. He’s had a bad time, Margaret, but you know about that.

  “Well, Zach’s going to help me with our plans to start the therapy for the wounded vets. He’s riding Prince Charming and helping around the ranch.” Sophie thought she saw approval in her friend’s eyes.

  “I’ll admit I’m grateful for his help. And—” Sophie wanted to tell someone of her feelings. “First time I saw him, he was wet, dripping from being caught in a rainstorm, and he was madder than a wet hen. But he took my breath away.

  “Of course, he ignored me. I was his little sister’s college roommate and off limits.” Sophie shrugged. “He’s still a hunk.” A bark of laughter burst from her lips. “A hunk with an attitude.

  “Well, I fell head over heels for him. I felt like a thirteen-year-old with her first crush. He yanked all the right chains.” She stroked Margaret’s hand. Margaret squeezed back, letting Sophie know she was listening. “Of course, Zach had no interest in me. I could’ve been part of the wallpaper. But I had all sorts of dreams about him.”

  A smile settled on Margaret’s face.

  “I’ll tell you all the guys in my unit and the guys I treated would laugh themselves silly if they knew about my crush. I was known as the best medic they had, but don’t mess with the lady. She ain’t buying.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  Sophie turned and came face-to-face with Austin Stillwell, Margaret’s oldest son. “I’m visiting with your mother.”

  His eyes narrowed. “It’s late for you to be visiting.”

  Looking at the wall clock, Sophie noted the time as seven fifty-five.

  “I would’ve been here earlier, but I went to All Saints and discovered your mother had been moved here. I thought she might enjoy some conversation.”

  Austin didn’t look any more pleased with her explanation than he did with her presence.

  “How does the doctor say she is doing? When do they think she’ll be able to come home?”

  “The doctor doesn’t see her coming home. Her therapy is going to be long and cos—complicated.”

  He almost said costly and Sophie knew that Austin’s bottom line was money.

  “Surely, she could be at her home and recuperate there?”

  Austin straightened his spine as if he was lecturing a child. “We don’t know how quickly she’ll respond. But I know this—she will be in no condition to continue running the ranch.”

  “Between Ollie and myself, we have that covered so don’t worry about it.”

  “I think you misunderstood what I said, Miss Powell. The horse-therapy thing needs to come to an end. Mother will not be able to participate in it.”

  She hadn’t misunderstood. Sophie knew exactly what Austin was doing. He never liked having the ranch used for equine therapy. She’d heard him complain several times to his mother about “those kinds of people” using the ranch. Sophie also knew that Austin refused to have anything to do with his nephew who had Down’s.

  Sophie let go of Margaret’s hand and stood. “I don’t think Margaret would want the therapy program shut down.”

  “That’s your interpretation of my mother’s wishes. Mine is to shut it down.”

  This couldn’t be happening. The kids who came to New Hope were making great strides. And more came daily. And what about her plans for the vets?

  Tamping down the panic, her mind raced to think of a way to stop Austin.

  “Well, I must warn you, if you shut things down, you will have to repay several of the parents for the therapy.”

  The little bombshell she tossed rocked Austin back on his heels.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m saying that nearly half the parents of kids we having coming have paid for lessons through the end of May.” Eight weeks. That’s how long the ranch was obligated to run sessions.

  She could see Austin calculating how much money he’d have to pay back.

  “I’ll talk it over with the lawyers and the others. I’ll get back to you. But in the meantime, don’t take on any more clients.”

  “We’ve just had three new inquiries about riding lessons. And you know your mother and I wanted the army to use the ranch for therapy for woun
ded soldiers.”

  His mouth tightened.

  There was a noise from the bed. Sophie and Austin looked down at Margaret. She blinked and her mouth twitched.

  “What is it, Margaret?” Sophie asked.

  The older woman’s gaze settled on her son.

  “What, Mom? You want this army thing to go through?”

  Margaret blinked twice.

  “I think she’s answering you, Austin.”

  “You’re just hoping, Ms. Powell.”

  “No.” Sophie turned to Margaret. “Blink once for no and twice for yes. This is your son, Austin.”

  Margaret blinked twice.

  “Could be a twitch.”

  “And I’m Sophia Loren.”

  Margaret gave a single blink.

  “Don’t I wish,” Sophie said under her breath. “I’m Sophie Powell, one of your workers at the ranch.”

  Margaret acknowledged her.

  “You see there. Your mom wants me to continue.”

  “Finish out the contracts.”

  Sophie knew that she’d pushed Austin into a corner. She only prayed that she could get that army contract, then Austin might change his tune.

  Leaning down, Sophie kissed Margaret’s cheek. “Get well, friend. Things are going well. Don’t worry. And I’ll be praying for you.”

  As Sophie left the room, she stopped by Austin’s side. “I think your mother will recover quicker if she knows her dream is well and helping kids. She also wanted the contract with the army. And if you don’t believe me, check her office. Our proposal is there.”

  If looks could kill, Austin would’ve ended her life there in the hospital room.

  As she drove home, Sophie sent up a silent prayer of thanks that they put their plans for the ranch in writing. They’d also put into writing that if at any time Margaret wanted to sell the ranch, Sophie had the first right to buy. When Margaret first suggested it, Sophie thought Margaret was ridiculous. Now, she knew Margaret had been following her heart, guided by a Higher Power.

  Chapter Six

  Sophie paused as she entered the last figure into the spreadsheet for payments received for lessons. Their balance sheet looked good, and Austin couldn’t complain about the bottom line.

  But he would. She hadn’t heard from him since that night at the hospital two weeks ago, but she’d felt the pressure.

  She rubbed the back of her neck to ease the tension. I know, Lord, I need to trust in Your plans. I’m trying, but—

  Her world had been turned on its head.

  Zach had shown up every day and worked around the ranch, keeping her off balance and fighting her feelings. Zach helped with caring for the horses and by acting as a sidewalker. He slowly built up his strength during his time at the ranch.

  Sophie immediately felt the difference that Zach’s presence made. She didn’t have to cover everything or worry that the volunteers might not know what to do. Oddly enough, Ollie had called in sick and had been gone half a week. Zach filled that gap. Both Beth and Ethan also showed up and helped, filling in and doing Ollie’s chores. And since they’d grown up with horses, they were a blessing.

  When Ollie returned the next Monday, he moved slowly and Sophie worried about her friend’s health. Zach took up the slack.

  Zach smiled often and Sophie felt her heart opening up to him. But when she caught herself hoping for more, she remembered one of the shrinks at Walter Reed had warned her not to become personally involved with patients because too many people misread gratitude for love. She’d watched doomed relationships with therapists and patients. And she’d made that mistake, too, misinterpreting gratitude for something deeper.

  So here she was again, her heart leading her. Could she trust it? And what of Zach? When he smiled and gave her that killer grin of his, was there more to it than just pleasure that he was now gaining his life back? Or gratitude for someone helping him?

  Added to the mix, she’d had four more parents call, asking to bring their children to the ranch for therapy.

  “You look puzzled.” Zach’s voice broke into her thoughts.

  She looked up from the desk in the office and saw him in the doorway. He looked more and more like his old self. He smiled more readily these days.

  “I was thinking about Ollie. I’m worried about him. He doesn’t seem up to speed. There are days he looks fine and other days—” She shook her head. Last week, she’d rounded the stables and caught him throwing up.

  Zach settled in the chair by the side of the desk.

  “Ollie’s not a young man.”

  A small laugh erupted from her throat. “That man can run me into the ground most days. But lately—do you think I’m looking for problems where there are none?”

  “You’ve got a lot of things on your plate. Margaret, Ollie, me.”

  “Yeah, it seems that if I don’t hold on to it, then it’s going to change.” Fear and uncertainty clawed at her. She hadn’t said anything to anyone about her confrontation with Austin.

  “You can’t do that. Ask someone who’s tried.”

  He’d hit the problem square on. “I hate it when people throw my words back in my face.”

  He grinned. “Stop worrying. It’s my time to ride.”

  His upbeat words touched her, bringing a ray of hope to her heart.

  “Let me close out this file and I’ll be there.”

  Sophie quickly got out of her program and followed Zach out of the office. Who would’ve thought Zach would repeat her words back to her? Was she only seeing the problems and not the solution? She needed to trust God.

  Lord, I’m confused and adrift here. Please be with me and give me wisdom, she prayed as she walked out of the office.

  Sophie smiled at Zach as he sat in the saddle atop Prince Charming. He’d ridden Prince Charming around the ring several times. She saw glimpses of the old Zach in his eyes. His improvement had astounded her with its speed. But there was still more for him to do.

  “You’re looking good,” Ethan called.

  “Like an older brother who is a pain.” Beth’s smile radiated her pride.

  Sophie stepped up to the ring’s wooden rail. “You up for a new challenge?”

  Zach stopped Prince Charming and rested his forearm on the saddle horn. “What do you have in mind?”

  “How about saber practice? I hear you old-time cavalry guys love to practice charges.”

  Zach’s spine straightened and his chest came up. “Yes, those of us who were in the mounted corp did that.” His eyes narrowed, waiting.

  She nodded. “You want to try doing that?”

  He glanced around, looking for any target. “Sure, why not?”

  “Okay, let me set it up.” Moving toward Beth and Ethan, Sophie started issuing orders. “Ethan, I’ll need you to put up all the horses in the back corral in their stalls. Ollie will help. Beth, in the tack room there’s a hula hoop in the back corner behind the saddle blankets. Get that and bring it to that back corral.”

  Everyone started moving. It took ten minutes for them to rig up the arm and suspend the hula hoop on a rope from the arm of the inverted L-shaped pole at the entrance to the paddock beside the stables.

  Zach rode out to the corral.

  Sophie ran into the office and grabbed a plastic light saber in the corner that she’d picked up at the local warehouse club store. She handed it to Zach. It was orange and black.

  “What do you want me to use this for?”

  She heard Ethan sort behind her.

  “Work with me here, Zach. I didn’t have a real live saber, so I thought you could use this.”

  He frowned as he evaluated the toy. “You want me to use this?”

  She thought this would be a great idea but he sounded like she wanted him to do backflips off the horse. “It’s the best I could come up with at a moment’s notice. I have the broken handle off a pitchfork if you want to use that, but I warn you the end is jagged.”

  Beth and Ethan stood to the side, waiting
for Zach’s answer. Ethan’s mouth kept moving as he tried to bite back his grin. Ollie stood beside Sophie.

  Zach studied his siblings, then stared down at the toy. He remained silent, fighting some sort of inner battle. Finally he said, “This will do.”

  The breath she’d been holding swished out.

  “He’s a smart man,” Ollie said, his voice pitched low so only Sophie could hear.

  She’d questioned herself on whether this would work, but Zach needed to be challenged. “When you want to bring a real saber, you’re welcome, but I’d thought we’d start with this. Besides, the weight is better for your first try.” She’d talked to the therapist, Captain Perry, at Brook Army Medical yesterday and asked for ideas to help Zach. The therapist told her about this setup for his patients to help with balance. The patient would have to balance himself on his legs and this would tell her if he had the strength.

  Ethan grinned. “It looks good.”

  Zach ignored him and Beth elbowed Ethan.

  “What?” Ethan complained.

  Sophie disregarded Ethan’s antics and focused on Zach. “They use this exercise at Brook Army as part of their soldiers’ therapy.”

  “They use that?” Ethan asked.

  Sophie turned and glared at Ethan. His grin disappeared.

  “I don’t know what sort of sword the army uses, but for now that will work,” she said.

  Zach studied the child’s toy. “Starting small is probably a good idea.”

  Relief rushed through Sophie. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Beth and Ethan smiling.

  “The therapist was very high on this exercise. It helps with balance, control and having all your muscles work together.”

  “That’s genius.” Ethan turned to his brother. “Let’s see if you can do it.”

  Zach couldn’t resist the challenge from his brother. “Are you daring me, big brother?”

  Ethan laughed. “You got it.”

  Zach turned Prince Charming around and rode him around the enclosure. Once, twice.

  Sophie pushed fear out of her mind, just as she had when going out to get a wounded soldier in Iraq. Instead she focused on the goal and prayed that Zach was up to this challenge. The fear that maybe she should’ve waited for another week to allow Zach to build up his muscles tried to creep into her head, but she ruthlessly pushed it aside. He was a soldier. He’d faced the enemy before.