On my way to the exit, I stop in front of Lucifer’s stall and wait for him to come closer. When his muzzle is pressed against the bars once again, I slowly reach through and scratch him on the bridge of his nose, aware of any movement just in case he decides he doesn’t like what I’m doing.
I only stay for a couple minutes before I move toward the door. I step into the snowy winter landscape and make my way to face what feels like my executioner.
Chapter Six
The minute I step into the foyer my body shivers violently, the warmth assaulting my senses and making me realize just how cold I’ve grown from being outside for longer than I anticipated. I also just now realize I didn’t put on my jacket before I left. On the bright side, it helps keeping the fatigue and dizziness from the pills at bay.
I take off my boots and pause, unsure of what to do next. Should I go hole up in my room for the rest of my stay until my shoulder is healed? Or am I going to make an effort to be myself and hope they’ll see me for who I really am?
I decide to stop being a coward and follow Kota’s advice.
I walk through the house in search of them. I can hear noise, a TV blaring, something clattering, from the other side of the house. I walk toward it until I step into the living room with its high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that make up the wall to show the most spectacular view of the valley and snow-covered mountains.
Looking around the room, I notice my father sitting in front of the TV showing the Weather Channel, but his eyes are trained on me, a small smile playing around the corners of his mouth.
“Hey, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” The impulse to shrug is strong, but I stop myself, remembering the pain of the last time I did it unconsciously.
His gaze lingers on my face, and his forehead creases, like he’s trying to figure me out. “You sure?”
I nod, diverting my own gaze to the TV and notice a big storm heading straight for us. I still catch the sadness entering his gaze from the corner of my eyes, but I ignore it along with the sigh pass his lips.
“That looks like a nasty storm,” I comment, changing the subject and diverting the attention away from myself. “Do you think it’ll hit us?”
“Probably. But it shouldn’t be too bad. We renovated the barn two summers ago, and the herd is on the north pasture which gives them plenty of places to hide in the trees.”
“Oh,” I say, unsure of how to continue this awkward small talk. Trying to come up with a subject to dissipate the tension rising, I fall back to the only topic we never had an issue to talk about. “So what are you going to do with Lucifer?”
“I’m not sure yet. He won’t let anyone near him. Kade doesn’t think he’s having any physical issues but can’t be sure. Something must have happened to him to make him this wary.”
“Has another woman tried to go near him?”
“What?” he asks in confusion.
“Well, he doesn’t have a problem with letting me close to scratch him. Not that I’ll test it with my shoulder, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t freak with me in his stall. If he was abused by a man, he might have issues with you and Kade because of that. I’ve seen it before.” I avoid looking straight at him, instead I shift my gaze toward the landscape.
He doesn’t say anything for a minute. “No, I don’t think I’ve seen another woman interact with him. I didn’t let Lizzie near him after the way he behaved when we picked him up, that’s for sure. And Karen wasn’t around when we were at her place.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if whoever abused him at that farm was a man,” I note absentmindedly, imagining all the horrible things that could have happened to Lucifer to make him so skittish around everyone but me.
“Montana,” he calls, causing my attention to go back to him. “Maybe once you feel up to it you can work with him?” His eyes shine with what I think might be hope. I’m confused why me staying longer than I need to would give him hope. “I mean, you could stay here until you and Whisky are fully healed. If you want, stay away from your—” He stops himself and doesn’t finish whatever he was about to say. “From the city life for a bit and do some work with Lucifer. Really, you’d help me if you could work with him, more than anything. If you’re right—and I think you are—you’re the best person to get him calm enough for me, or one of my guys, to take over.”
“I—” I’m rendered speechless by the unmistakable hope in his voice. I don’t understand why he’d want me to stay and interrupt his peaceful life. “Why?” I blurt without giving my mouth permission to do so.
“Because you’re one of the best I know when it comes to horses. Your relationship with Whisky proves that.”
Disappointment curses through me as the knowledge he only wants me to stay for my ability to work with Lucifer. “I see,” I say, trying hard to keep my face from conveying my thoughts.
“You’re also my daughter, Montana. And I want you here. I’ve missed you.”
His words, some I’ve wanted to hear for years, shock my system, and I’m again unable to say anything. Tears are threatening to form from the powerful emotions battling for the upper hand inside of me.
Does
