“I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you, Rachel,” Clay said. “It sounds like focusing her on something else without seeming to be making an intervention was genius.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I believe on one level, at least, the kids—all the kids in Lusty—belong to all of us. Believe me, you’d have gotten a phone call if I thought she needed you.”
“I’m not surprised her first reaction was anger,” Tasha said. “She’s got quite a well-developed social conscience.”
“She really does, and we’re lucky there,” Clay said. “The grief counselor we saw just after Vicky passed said that kids could turn out well-adjusted or really angry, depending.”
“That was our Shaun,” Gord said. “His anger and the behavior he displayed were the main reason you moved here, partner.”
“Yes, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Clay agreed. He looked over at Tasha, and Rachel could feel the love that lived among these three people.
It occurred to Rachel that, other than Gord, who’d been born and raised in Lusty, the other two were relative newcomers to the community. Just like her.
“That’s how I feel, too, about coming here.” Rachel grinned at her friends.
Her next stop was her monthly update with Dr. Charlotta Benedict. Rachel firmly believed that Libby’s participation in Healing Rides was one of the great positives in her daughter’s life.
“She’s becoming quite the horsewoman,” Shar said. They were sitting in the office Shar had inside the large barn that housed the indoor arena. On the hotter days, the riding sessions were held inside. Rachel couldn’t imagine the cost of running the air-conditioning in such a large space in the middle of summer.
“I know it’s the highlight of Libby’s life,” Rachel said. “She loves coming here, and she loves the time she gets to spend with you, as well as with the horses.”
“That’s mutual. She is an amazing young woman. She’s been gaining more confidence, and I can tell you from the conversations we have that she’s voicing her feelings more and getting a good handle on dealing with the traumas she’s endured.”
Rachel had made the decision early on with Shar that the therapist would only tell her generalities with regard to the conversations she had with Libby. If there was something Rachel needed to know, in detail, Shar had promised to tell her. But she believed it was important for Libby to feel that she could be open with Shar, without fear of her words coming back, verbatim, to her mother.
That had been a hard decision until she realized that approach would allow Libby the freedom to heal faster.
“I wanted to discuss an idea I had with you,” Shar said. “Lately, Libby has expressed an interest in learning more about the horses. I can see she wants to linger when her appointment time is over. And I was thinking, we could use a bit of a hand around here on Saturdays.
“Especially now, when we have two new volunteers, one of whom is quite well versed in the equine side of things. He’s someone who has several years’ experience working with horses, and is someone who could supervise her as she steps into the role of employee.”
“Oh? Who are your new volunteers? Are they family cousins or new to the community?”
“Sort of family, but not exactly new to Lusty. Brandon Gillespie is in the Marine Corps and is an instructor at Goodfellow. He’s also the son of Jillian Jessop.”
At the sound of Brandon’s name, her insides quivered. It took her no time at all to understand what that meant. It was only Monday, and so far, she’d had no luck at all pushing those men off the center stage of her thoughts.
So she focused on the last thing Shar said. “Oh! I know Jillian. I had no idea Brandon was her son.” Brandon hadn’t mentioned his mother at all.
Of course, she guessed a man’s mother wasn’t necessarily on his mind when he was getting to know a woman who attracted him.
“He’s been a part of Lusty since his mother got engaged to the Docs.” Shar grinned. “Or so I’ve been told, since that was before I came here. Our other new recruit is a young man who moved with his mom and siblings to Lusty when he was a teen and again, as I’ve been told. His father died in service to our country. His name is Trace Langley. He went off to college studying to be a firefighter and then settled for a time in California. But he’s returned, and he’s a full-time lieutenant with the Lusty Fire Department. He’s the one who knows a lot about the horses, as he worked with Benedict cousins at their ranches before he left for college.”
Rachel had the same reaction to hearing Trace’s name. This can’t be good. They’ve given me till Friday to decide, but I think I’m already there.
“They’re both good, decent men. They’ve passed all the background checks, and they’re both well loved and respected by practically everyone in Lusty.” Shar leaned forward and folded her hands. “I think it would be beneficial for Libby to spend a few hours here on Saturday above and beyond her appointment time. We’d pay her, of course, for helping out with the animals.
“She’d also benefit, I believe, from being exposed to good, decent male role models. But it’s entirely up to you. I haven’t mentioned this to Libby. I wanted to talk to you, first.”
Well, hell. On the one hand she believed that having a part-time job on Saturday would be a valuable experience for Libby. On the other hand, she’d hoped to begin to explore what was between her and those two men just between them. She really hadn’t wanted her daughter involved at all.
