“Can I pet him?” Angie felt silly but she wanted to prove that she wasn’t afraid of horses.
“Ben won’t mind,” Jace offered, stepping aside and pulling the horse forward to stand before Angie. The tan and black horse lowered his head huffing softly as he breathed in the smell of the young woman and her wheelchair.
“The chair doesn’t bother him does it?” Angie asked reaching up and rubbing the small white spot on the horse’s forehead.
“Not much bothers Ben, seems he’s seen it all.”
Angie was quiet for a long time as she rubbed the horse’s head then she grinned when the animal leaned his head into her chest. She rested her cheek against his head taking Jace’s breath away with the pure joy that seemed to fill her face.
“He likes you.”
“I like him too.” Angie lifted her eyes meeting Jace’s gaze. “I’m not afraid of horses.” Her words were direct, her gaze never wavering. “It’s not the animal I’m worried about, at least not for the most part.” The young woman’s grin zipped straight to his heart and he stepped closer.
“What is it then?”
Angie was quiet for so long that he was sure she wouldn’t answer. He had overstepped the inkling of friendship that had sparked between them.
“I think it was Franklin Roosevelt that said, ‘the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,’ it’s something like that. I have been studying to become a trauma therapist. My job would be both physically and mentally demanding. I’ll have to help people try to rebuild their lives after something bad happens. I need to know I can do it, but I’m afraid I’ll fail.”
Even as the words spilled out of Angie’s mouth, she didn’t know why she was telling this virtual stranger what was holding her back. His horse huffed softly into her lap, seemingly content to stand there letting her stroke his silky neck forever. For some reason she wanted Jace to understand why she hadn’t been able to get on a horse.
“I’d like to help,” Jace spoke before his mind could begin to catch up with his mouth, but the words felt right. He wanted to help. He had never seemed to know where his place in the world was, but at this moment, it seemed he was right where he belonged.
“I’d appreciate that,” Angie smiled and Ben nudged her with his head when her hand stopped the soothing motion along his neck. “Thanks.”
“Would you like to start now?” Jace peered out under the brim of his hat studying her face. “We can use the big corral at the back of the barn so no one will see.”
A smile tugged at Angie’s lips. It would be nice not to embarrass herself in front of the other guests. “I’m willing to try,” she said. “I can’t promise I’ll be able to go through with it though.”
“Old Ben seems to like you pretty well so how about if we use him. He’s steady, dependable, and just about bomb-proof all around.”
Angie ran her hand over the horse’s neck one more time feeling the warmth of it easing through her hand. “I think I’d like that.”
Jace pulled Ben’s reins into his hands and turned toward the barn, Angie falling into step with him. “I’ll switch gear on Ben here,” he offered, stopping by the big corral and gesturing into the barn. “That way you’ll be able to sit up in the saddle. Once I have him tacked up we’ll cut through the barn and head to the corral.”
“Are you sure this is all right with Chase and Phil, you won’t get in trouble for taking time to help me will you?”
“No, I also talked things over with Red, and he thinks if it makes a guest happier and more comfortable, it’s well worth my time.”
Angie’s smile lit up the day. She felt so much better about her decision to come to the Broken J. She just knew she needed to do this to prove to herself that she was able to accomplish her dreams. Now if only she could prove it was true.
Angie followed Jace into the barn breathing in the smell of horse and hay. The building was quiet at this time of day, and since guests weren’t allowed in the barn, she felt like something special was happening.
Several horses leaned over their stall doors nickering softly as they moved toward the tack room at one corner of the barn.
Jace stripped the everyday saddle from his buckskin then stepped into the solid wooden structure that held the gear for all of the mounts. A moment later, he returned with a different saddle in hand.
“Would you mind explaining how the saddle works?” Angie asked looking at the western style saddle with a high back and padded strap. “Maybe it will help if I understand what I’m getting myself into.”
Jace nodded setting the saddle on Ben’s back. “This saddle was designed to support someone in an upright position. You can see the high cantle or back is very much like the back support on your wheelchair. The strap goes around your middle to hold you in place and these extra straps leading down to the stirrups will position your legs for balance. If you have any strength in your legs you can use them to stay straight but if not there’s a strap that keeps them in line as well.”
Angie tilted her head examining each part of the saddle. The system was clever and not overly complicated. “What if I start to fall?”
“Odds are you won’t, but if you do, you’re kept in place with the straps and the wide step like stirrups. If your horse were to stumble I’d be right beside you the whole time and the quick releases on the buckles mean you can get out in a second.”
Angie looked up into Jace’s soft blue eyes and grinned. She already
