Jace watched as Angela wheeled herself up the ramp into the tiny house and disappeared behind the closed door. It was still early even for ranch hours, and Jace turned toward the quiet of the barn. He didn’t feel like watching TV or playing cards with the other wranglers in the bunkhouse. He couldn’t get the pretty woman he had just walked home out of his mind.
“What you doin’ in here at this hour?” a gruff voice called from over a stall door.
“I could ask you the same thing Jackson,” Jace teased. “I’d have figured you’d be in a hurry to get home to Josie at this time of day.”
“Don’t think I’m not,” the lean cowboy with dark hair opened the stall door making his way into the aisle, his hand-carved cane thumping on the dirt floor. “We’ve got a mare about to foal, and I was just checking on her before I head home.” Jackson Auburn pivoted, closing the stall door and turning to watch the mare shift uncomfortably as she nibbled hay from a rack.
“Is your back hurting tonight?” Jace asked. “I can help out if you need any lifting done.”
“Nah, it’s just a twinge tonight,” Jackson grinned. “When that old bull tromped on my spine, I never expected to walk again, so I don’t fuss on a stiff night. Besides, I’ll go to therapy and massage tomorrow and be right as rain.”
“You ever miss it?” Jace asked. “Bull riding I mean?”
Jackson shook his head. He’d been one of Wyoming’s top bull riders winning more championships than he cared to recall, but nothing had ever brought him the peace and love of his new faith. “No, and I still get my fill of the rodeo with Josie barrel racing in special events and all. My hearts full and I love working with Chase raising these fine quarter horses. I’m content.”
Jace nodded still watching the dark mare as she shifted again. He wished he could find that kind of contentment. He had grown up on a ranch, but as the fourth son in the family, he had less work to do than his brothers and had grown restless. No matter where he went, usually working other ranches or odd jobs, he couldn’t seem to settle. It was like there was something he was supposed to be doing, but he didn’t know what it was.
“That sounds nice,” he said all the longing for understanding and a place of his own in his voice.
“Still don’t know what you want to do when you grow up?” Jackson laughed, slapping Jace on the back. “It will come,” he added more kindly. “I thought I knew what I was doing. Thought I had the proverbial bull by the horns, but turned out I was missing something I never knew I needed.”
Jace nodded. He knew Jackson’s story. How Josie had sacrificed everything to help him when he most needed a friend.
“I met a girl today,” Jace said glaring at Jackson when he laughed. “I don’t mean like that,” Jace grumbled. “She’s in a wheelchair like you were. I think she’s afraid to ride a horse, but that it might be the whole reason she came here.”
Jackson nodded. “I can understand that. I used the old pony cart Kade keeps here for a long time. Turned out that once things started to heal, riding was good therapy for me. I’m just glad Chase has some fine easygoing horses. I can only imagine how angry I would have been if I’d come off a horse after all those years as a bull-riding champ.”
“You think that’s it,” Jace asked. “Do you think she’s afraid of falling?”
“I don’t know,” Jackson said slapping him on the back again and turning away from the stall. “Maybe she’s just afraid of losing control. There’s so much that you can’t do in a wheelchair, and you have to fight for everything. It’s all just that much more difficult. Then you get people who think they should do everything for you.”
Jace nodded as he walked down the long barn with Jackson. “Thanks,” he said as they stepped into a starry night. “I’ll remember that.”
Chapter 5
A good night’s rest had Angie feeling like her usual bubbly self again as she swung her legs out of her bed and began to prepare for the day. The tiny home structure was perfectly suited for her needs, and she found it easy to move around, shower, or get dressed for the day.
This morning she slipped into her favorite jeans, donned a long-sleeved red blouse, and forced her feet into battered boots. Today she was determined to ride a horse for the first time. She knew all about the Broken J, and how they could accommodate handicapped riders. She had even met a woman here who was an amputee and had still been able to ride. It wouldn’t be easy. Nothing good ever was, but if she could do this, perhaps she would be strong enough to provide therapy for those struggling to put themselves back together, after major injuries or trauma, later on.
The short roll to the house for breakfast was cool, as the sun slipped over the horizon whispering promises of a beautiful day ahead. Angie had always been an early riser, and she enjoyed the quiet chill of the morning feeling that ‘God was in heaven and all was right with the world’. She smiled remembering the Anne of Green Gables quote, a favorite of her best English teacher years ago.
Angie made her way in through the back door, her eyes automatically scanning the crowd for a sign of a familiar and friendly cowboy, but she didn’t see Jace anywhere. Instead, she pushed herself to the guest counter and confirmed her name on the list of riders for the morning trek. It was now time for a good breakfast to fortify her body while she tried to fortify her heart.
“God I need to do this,” Angie whispered over
