***
“Mom, seriously it isn’t like that. Yes, he is a handsome cowboy. No, he didn’t fall in love with me at first sight. Yes, we are just friends.” Angie giggled at her mother’s excitement.
“Angie you’re a beautiful young woman don’t count yourself out. You never know this might be Mr. Right.”
Angie rolled her eyes but grinned. “She knew that her life was headed in a different direction than Jace. Just that morning he had gone on about how much he liked working on the Broken J, she didn’t see him giving that up for something that might never happen.
“Mom he’s just a nice guy,” Angie insisted again. “He’s easy to hang out with and helped me so much. I rode a horse, twice, and I don’t think it would have happened if he hadn’t been there.”
Angie’s mother was quiet on the other end of the line for so long that she checked her phone to see that the call hadn’t dropped. “Are you sure you’re safe?” Mrs. Cortez asked. “I mean you don’t want to fall.”
“Mom I’m safe. I’m even starting to think that I might apply for a job at one of those horse therapy places. I’m not sure, but I think it would be great. Maybe I could get an internship at the one off of Narcoossee Road this summer after graduation.”
“Angie,”
“Mom, don’t start. I know you worry and I appreciate it, but I’m going to push myself until I know exactly what I’m capable of.”
“Hey pumpkin,” Angie’s dad came on the phone. “Don’t worry, your mom and I both know you can do it.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Angie felt her throat tighten with emotion. Her parents had always allowed her to try even while they worried.
“Send more pictures though,” her father added. “I need to see who this guy is that your mother is convinced is so right for you.”
“Dad,” Angie laughed. “He’s just a wrangler, and he’s being nice. You will not be rolling me down the aisle anytime soon. Besides, I need to finish school first, so I’ll be home to pester you both soon.”
“All right sweetheart. Do send pictures. We had a blast at the Broken J when we were there. Maybe I’ll take your mom back to Wyoming for a second honeymoon.”
Angie could hear her father plant a loud smoochy kiss on her mother’s cheek and groaned. “If you two are going to start that I’m hanging up. Goodbye.”
Clicking off the phone, Angie leaned back on the comfortable sofa and let out a deep breath. She had known what the conversation would be like, but it had still been fun. Maybe someday, her parents' dream of her finding a love of her own would come true, and they could know she would have someone to look after her the way they always had. This, however, was not the day.
***
Lunch was a quiet meal on the Broken J and a little lonely. Angie was surprised at how much she missed Jace and his friendly, comfortable presence. She chatted with Mrs. Wade for some time after the other guests had cleared off, but found herself at loose ends until the scheduled ride.
It was surprising how excited she was about getting back on a horse. Of course, she knew she would be riding Ben and that the old horse was dependable, but more than that, she felt safe when she was with Jace.
Shaking her head Angie reminded herself that she couldn’t let herself become dependent on the kind cowboy. Soon she would be headed home but to a life of looking after her own needs. She needed to learn how to mount a horse on her own and the thought made her stomach squirm. This evening she would allow Jace to help her then talk to him about helping her learn to do it herself. She had always insisted on doing everything she could for herself, and though at times it would have been easier to ask for help, she wanted to be able to live on her own, do her job, and not let her handicap hold her back from anything she wanted to do. There were plenty of laws in place to ensure that people like herself didn’t have to worry about discrimination, but that didn’t mean there weren’t still limitations to ability.
“Hey girl,” a chipper voice interrupted Angie’s musings as she rolled down the ramp at the front of the old ranch house. “You look lost in thought.”
“Hi Michelle,” Angie offered her brightest smile willing her worries away as she looked up at Michelle whose unruly dark curls seemed to want to go every direction at once. “I was just thinking about riding again tonight.”
“Kade said you’ve been out riding with Jace, good for you” Michelle offered Angie a high five and a grin. “I’m glad you finally got yourself onto a horse, I know last time it was just too much.”
Angie grinned but shook her head. “That is exactly what I was thinking about. I haven’t done it myself yet, and I want to learn how. So far, Jace has pretty much lifted me into the saddle each time, but that isn’t going to help me in the future. I have to learn to do this on my own.”
Michelle dropped a hand to Angie’s shoulder and looked down into her dark eyes. “You’ll do it. Your dad told me when you were here before that when you set your mind to something you always get it done.”
“Thanks,” Angie sighed, appreciating the vote of confidence. “It was hard just getting up the courage to sit on a horse, but I think I can do this, I just have to figure out how.”
Michelle’s light laugh caught Angie by surprised and she tipped her head inquisitively. “What’s so funny?”
“When I first married Kade, he didn’t realize I was afraid of horses and put me right up on top
