"It's okay, Buck. I'm flattered that you think of her when you look at me."
"Anyway, Car-li," he enunciated, "there are two magic words any husband needs to learn in order to keep his woman happy. ‘Yes, dear’ is the right answer for anything. Remember to tell your future husband that, Little Jean.”
“I don’t know anything about a future husband, Buck. But I’ll remember those words of wisdom for sure.”
They all chuckled.
“So, what’re y’all working on? It seems pretty serious in here. Are y’all planning a party?” Buck smirked and looked at his wife.
“Carli wants to give riding lessons again, like she did in Georgia. She misses working with kids.” Lola looked to Carli and smiled, nodding encouragement. Lola and Buck shared a glance as if they were the only two in the room.
Carli thought it must be nice to have a special someone in your life. Someone who knew everything about you, and loved unconditionally, no matter what. No more tension or questions as to whether you both should be together. You just knew it was the right thing. That it would last forever. Carli wondered if it was even possible. Or just a fairy tale? Sometimes she felt so cheated that she never got to be included in a family with loving parents. Sure, her guardians, the Fitzgeralds, were kind, but they were older, and she often felt like a third wheel. She had no idea how a family functioned together. She chased her riding dreams and horse business, and sure the Fitzgeralds were always there when she came home, but she still felt like something was missing. It suddenly dawned on her as to why she habitually ran from relationships. Just about the time things got serious, she hightailed it out of there. Except for the one guy back home who had torn apart her trust and stomped on her heart on the worst day of her life. She had finally given in, with her whole heart. She thought he was the one. But he made the decision that it was over, and let Carli know by kissing her biggest rival at the horse show. Right in front of her, no less. That image never goes away. Her heart still stings. But now here was how it was supposed to work, right in front of her eyes with Buck and Lola. Trusting someone completely had to be possible. That gave her some hope.
But she couldn’t think about romance right now. Not without ruining the friendship she enjoyed with Nathan. Not by giving in to the attraction she felt for Lank. Or giving any notice to those other good-looking Texas cowboys that crossed her path. She had a ranch to run, a birth father to find, and a troubled young lady to help. Affairs of the heart were way down on her list. For the moment anyway.
Chapter Six
Saturday morning dawned crisp and cold, but the network meteorologist predicted a mild day over forty degrees, almost fifty. Of course, what the weatherman said in relation to the Texas Panhandle hardly carried any weight. Carli noticed the topic was continually of interest to everyone who lived here. After the predictions were discussed, conversation then turned to the dramatic difference between the forecast and the actual conditions on the days, weeks, even years prior. It seemed as though rural people could talk for hours about the weather. It wasn’t just a topic to pass the time, rather more like a detailed recap of their favorite team sport. And they were serious about their sports, too.
Carli’s step was light and hurried as she walked to the corral. She had just answered a text from Lexi’s mother. They were on their way, and she needed to make a few preparations. Before she knew it, she heard tires crunching on the gravel drive.
An older model Ford SUV pulled slowly into headquarters, and the mother from the coffee shop got out of the car. As Carli walked closer, she could see the young girl in the backseat. The mom’s frustrated face said it all. “Lexi doesn’t want to get out. Said she’ll wait in the car. She’s just impossible. I don’t know what to do with her anymore.” The woman’s head shook back and forth, and her hands fluttered like birds’ wings. Luckily, the windows were up; Carli hoped Lexi didn’t hear that.
Lexi’s brother Brandon waved from the front seat and Carli waved back, and then she placed a hand on the mother’s shoulder. “Let me try. I’ll be right back.”
Carli hurried to the pen where she had Sally tied to the fence rail. She took the halter rope and led her out, stopping next to Lexi’s side of the vehicle. She leaned down and tapped on the glass until she got Lexi’s attention, then smiled while making the motion to open the window.
After a few minutes, the window slowly slid down. “What?” Lexi added a scowl.
“Remember me? I’m Carli. This is Sally and she needs exercise. Thought you might like to help us out and ride her today.”
Lexi grunted but couldn’t hide the excitement reflected on her face as she looked at the bay-colored horse with the kind eyes. The car window immediately went back up.
“I completely forgot to introduce myself.” The woman offered her hand to Carli before scratching Sally between the ears. “I’m Emily Brown. And you remember Brandon and Lexi.”
“It’s really nice to see you again. I’m so glad you brought Lexi to visit.”
“I’d like to leave her here while I take Brandon and run some errands. We need to find him some new jeans.” She lowered her voice and turned her back to the car. “Honestly, I’m afraid to leave Lexi at home alone. She seems so out of sorts lately. I can’t figure out what’s going on in her head, and, of course, I’m the last person she’ll ever
