God, I’m not sure what you want from me. I feel like I’ve been drifting for a long time and don’t know where I belong. I don’t have a ranch of my own but I love the life of a wrangler and rancher. I also like helping people like Angie and only want what’s best for me. I pray you’ll let me know what you have for me in this life, and that somehow I’ll be a steadfast witness for you through the years. No matter what you have in store, I’ll do my best to accept it. Amen.
Jace’s silent pray lasted the length of the walk to the showers, but when he turned on the hot water, all he could think about was a pretty face and a warm smile that belonged to a hopeful heart.
***
Angie fell into bed her hand still tingling from where Jace had held it on the ride home. It had taken all of her will power not to kiss him when she’d slipped off Ben’s back and into Jace’s arms, but he had put her into her chair so fast that she hadn’t even had a chance to act on her ridiculous thoughts.
“Angie, you’re losing it,” she called into the dark room. “You know he’s just being nice to you. Don’t go losing your heart to a caring cowboy. You’ll be gone next week and then what.”
Shifting on the comfortable bed, she smiled. Her heart would ache when she left the Broken J, but it was worth it. She would have the memories to take with her and a dream of a handsome cowboy.
Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, she pulled up her contacts and speed-dialed Christina. Maybe talking to her old school friend would make her feel better. She could always gush to her strawberry-blonde bestie about a boy.
“Hey,” Christina’s voice sounded sleepy and Angie cringed remembering the time difference in Florida.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“No, I’m just lazing around on the couch. I’m not ready for bed yet. So tell me how is the ranch? Is it like you remembered? Are the cowboys all drop-dead gorgeous? Have you made them all fall in love with you yet?”
Angie laughed already feeling better at her friend’s rapid-fire questions. “Hey, slow down,” the giggle felt like old times, and she could almost see Christina rolling her eyes. “I’m having a really good time,” Angie admitted. “I’ve even ridden a horse three times now.”
“I knew you could do it!” Christina shouted all traces of sleep gone now. “You are so cool.”
“I don’t know about that,” Angie disagreed. “I also had a lot of help. This wrangler, Jace, he helped me get over being afraid to get on a horse. He’s going to teach me to mount up by myself tomorrow.”
“Jace huh?” Christina’s voice held an edge. “And why don’t I have any pictures of this hunky cowpoke yet? I bet you plan on keeping him all to yourself.
“Christina,” Angie giggled. “You know I’m coming home next week and I’m not going to fall for a cowboy I’ll never see again.”
“Why not? Isn’t that half the fun of a spring break trip? You get to fall in and out of love with all the strangers you meet. Now spill. I want to know all about Jace. I bet he’s dreamy.”
Angie laughed again at her friend’s dreamy tone but found herself telling Christina everything, even admitting she liked Jace as more than the hired help.
“Tell him,” Christina insisted. “You never know what might happen. Besides isn’t it about time you take some risks with your heart? You’ve always been willing to push yourself physically and try to do everything. How is this different?”
Long after the conversation ended, Angie wondered if her old friend was right. If she trusted her well-being to Jace’s arms, why couldn’t she trust him with her heart? The worst that could happen was that she left the Broken J with sweet memories and a bruised heart.
***
Jace was waiting for her at the front of the barn as Angie rolled over the gravel path and smiled. He looked handsome in a blue plaid shirt and fitted jeans. The man looked like he was straight out of a horse and rider magazine, and Angie liked what she saw.
Two horses stood patiently by the corral rail, saddled and ready to go. Ben turned his head at Angie’s approach and nickered. “Hey fella,” Angie said rolling forward and patting the buckskin’s nose. “You’re probably hoping for a coo…” she turned her head to Jace and snapped her lips shut on a smile. “C.O.O.K.I.E,” she spelled instead.
Jace grinned, peeking out from under his hat brim, a twinkle in his eye. “That was a close one,” he laughed. “You wouldn’t want to get the old boy’s hopes up now would you?”
Angie ran her hand down over the horse’s black mussel, shaking her head. “If I had said it, would you have given him one?”
“I’d have to, I never break my promises,” Jace’s smile was bright but there was something more in his eyes. Something unsaid that made Angie’s heart beat a little faster. “Are you ready?”
“Ready to roll,” Angie enthused breathlessly.
Jace untied Ben and handed Angie the reins. “Loop these around the arm of your chair and Ben will follow. I figure you’d better get a handle on how to lead a horse and all if you’re gonna try for a position at a therapy ranch.”
Angie smiled and twisted the reins around her chair as Jace showed her the best kind of slipknot to use.
“It’s strong enough that the horse will feel
