“Horses change lives. They give young people confidence and self-esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls. They give us hope.”
Toni Robinson
Carolyn turned off the two-lane highway and passed under the arched metal sign reading Bright Horse Ranch. Just inside was a second sign advising that the homestead was five miles ahead. All around them the Beartooth Valley reached out in all directions, tall autumn grasses and the vibrant leaves on sporadic trees swaying with the wind. It should have felt empty, especially to someone from a city, but instead she felt abundant life surrounding her. Perhaps it was the wind, which seemed to encourage her onward over the well maintained gravel drive.
Reclined in the seat beside her, her 10-year-old daughter, Tabitha, continued to nap, not even waking as the car passed from the smooth asphalt to the less smooth gravel. It had been a long day for them both, but especially for Tabitha as she wasn't accustomed to traveling any real distance. She had been so excited since learning of the trip, a state vastly different from the depression that had settled over her in the last year and a half, and Carolyn was hopeful that coming here to Wyoming would put the sparkle back into her vivid green eyes.
Their rental car carried them along well maintained fenced pastures until the copse of trees in the distance opened up to reveal a large, one-level log ranch house. Beyond it she could see a barn and a couple of corrals with curious horses watching their approach over the rails. Parked in front of the house was a dually extended cab pickup and a passenger van with the door to a lift gate on its side. Both bore the logo of the Bright Horse Ranch.
She slowed as she approached the house and a tall, well-built man walked out onto the porch, one hand raised in greeting, before he left the porch and walked toward him. Long, shiny dark hair attractively framed a strongly chiseled face. Tabitha stirred as the car braked to a stop.
“Are we there yet?” she asked drowsily.
“Yep, finally,” Carolyn replied with a tired smile as she put the transmission in Park and turned the key to shut down the motor.
Her daughter sat up straighter and reached beside the seat to move the back into an upright position. Looking about her with interest, her eyes widened in excitement.
“Look, Mom! Horses!”
Carolyn's smile broadened, “I see. Aren't they beautiful?”
Climbing from behind the wheel, she turned to meet the man who was approaching with a welcoming smile.
“Ms. Blackstock? I'm Lucas Bright. Welcome to Bright Horse Ranch.”
“Hello, Mr. Bright. Please call me Carolyn.”
“If you'll call me Lucus.”
Carolyn nodded then led the way around the car to the passenger side. Opening the door, she reached in to touch the young girl's shoulder.
“And this is my daughter, Tabitha. Tabby, this is Lucas Bright.”
Tabby twisted her upper body around as far as she was able and smiled shyly up at him.
“Hello, Mr. Bright.”
“Hello, Tabitha, and you can call me Lucas, too.”
Tabby, who had been taught not to address adults by their first names, looked to her mother for permission to do so and was rewarded with an encouraging smile. Looking through the windshield at the corrals, her small body was all but shaking with excitement.
“Will I be riding one of those?”
The horses were all various shades of brown, from chestnut to almost black, with some sporting white markings.
“Actually, I have one picked out just for you. She's not out here right now, though. You'll meet her later.”
Tabby nodded before reaching down to grasp one of her jeans-clad thighs and lift it out of the car.
“Mom, get my wheelchair. I'm ready to get out!”
Carolyn chuckled and turned the key fob toward the trunk. With a heavy thunk it popped open and she started to walk back and withdraw the wheelchair folded up inside. Lucas raised his hand and motioned her to stop.
“I'll get it.”
He raised the lid and swiftly removed the awkward device before unfolding it and pushing it forward to the open door.
“If you'll get her, I'll get your luggage.”
Carolyn nodded, “Thank you.”
The routine having become second nature to them, it didn't take long for her to lift her daughter from the car and set her gently in the chair. Lucas hefted their two large duffel bags from the trunk and shut the lid then smiled as he nodded sideways toward the house.
“If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your room.
The parking area was smoothly paved so the wheelchair rolled easily to the wooden ramp that rose in turns to the porch as he led them into the house. Carolyn found herself standing in a large living room with a stone fireplace at one end and a hallway at the other. The room was furnished with sturdy, comfortable-looking furniture carefully positioned as to give wheelchairs ample room to maneuver. A television roughly half the size of a pool table hung over the mantle and western art graced the log walls.
“What a beautiful room!” she said with a smile.
Lucas smiled in return.
“Thank you.” He stepped toward the hallway. “Your room is just down the hall here, last one on the right.”
Carolyn followed him, carefully pushing Tabby's chair before her, as he led them to a large, airy room containing two queen-size brass beds covered with sunny yellow chenille bedspreads that blended well with the log walls. A small, drawered table between the beds, a mirrored dresser and a tall chest of drawers completed the suite. Gentle breezes wafted through the window, stirring the white and yellow curtains that hung to the polished plank floor. After setting the bags down, Lucas pointed to two wide doors on either side of the dresser.
“In here is the bathroom with a roll in shower. Towels and wash clothes are on the shelves beside the sink. And over there is the closet.” He turned back to them with a smile. “We usually have dinner about six. Right now you're the only guests but the ranch hands eat with us so you won't be dining alone.”
Tabitha smiled delightedly, “Real cowboys?”
Lucas chuckled, “Yep. Real cowboys.”
He moved aside as Carolyn pushed the wheelchair further into the room and turned it so her daughter could watch as he returned to stand in the doorway.
“You basically have the run of the house so make yourself comfortable. If there's anything else we can do to make your stay more comfortable, please let me know.”
Carolyn nodded with a smile, “Thank you, Lucas. We appreciate that.”
He nodded in return then walked out, quietly closing the door behind him.
For a few moments, mother and daughter were quiet as they took in their surroundings, before Carolyn lifted Tabby's bright pink duffel onto the bed closest to the door.
“There's plenty of room on this side so I'll let you have this bed.”
She then lifted the other duffel onto the other bed.
Tabby wheeled her chair closer to her bed and leaned forward to unzip the bag.
“I like it here, Mom.”
“I do, too, honey.”
The young girl smiled impishly up at her mother as she began to remove her clothes from the bag.
“Lucas sure is cute, don't you think?”
Carolyn chuckled as she moved items from the bed to the dresser.
“Yes, I suppose he is.”
“Do you think he's an Indian?”
“I don't know. He sure looks like it, though.”
“That's what I think, too. I wonder what my horse looks like?”
“I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. Do you need help with anything?”
“Just with the things that have to be hung up.”
It didn't take long for them to unpack the rest of their clothes and toiletries. Afterward, they agreed on naps since they'd been up since before dawn, and once Carolyn had set the alarm on her phone, they stretched out on their respective beds and were soon fast asleep.
Dinner that night was served around a table that easily fit up to fourteen people. The ranch hands were a gregarious bunch, entertaining their guests with stories of past adventures and inviting Tabby and Carolyn to share their own. Afterward, Lucas lead them to the stable where he introduced the young girl to her horse, a striking palomino paint named Solitaire.
“Oh, he's beautiful!” Tabby cried upon seeing him. When the horse leaned his head over the stall to gently snuffle her ear, she giggled and reached up to stroke the side of his face. “Look, Mom, he likes me!”
Carolyn smiled and reached forward to scratch above his eyes.
“It would appear so.”
She turned her smile on Lucas.
“Quarter horse?”
He nodded, smiling in return.
“Yep. He was supposed to have been a racer but turned out he wasn't much interested in it, and since he was a gelding the original owners put him up for sale. When I met him I was impressed with his gentle, easy going personality and thought he'd make a fine addition to my stable. Turns out I was right. He loves kids and seems to understand their limitations.” He reached up to pat Solitaire's neck. “He's a real gem.”
They continued the tour of the stable with Lucas introducing them to the other horses and showing them the general layout of the grounds before they returned to the house. The sun had set and the air had grown noticeably cooler as twilight approached.
Once inside they paused in the living room and Lucas invited them once again to make themselves comfortable.
“Tabby, there's satellite TV so just about anything you're interested in watching is available and Mable always leaves snacks on the table if you get to feeling you'd like one.” He turned his dark gaze on Carolyn. “I have some paperwork for you to sign if you'll come with me to the office.”
She nodded and followed him to a large room in the back of the house. Inside she had to smile as she took in what was obviously his personal domain. A scarred, heavy oak desk was haphazardly covered with files, a desktop computer, and other paraphernalia. Behind it was a beat up executive chair that looked as if it had been around for decades. The walls were covered with Native American art and bookshelves were crammed with books on horses, horsemanship, disabilities, and veterinary practices. Two worn wingback chairs sat in front of the desk atop a worn Navajo rug.
“Pardon the mess,” he motioned toward one of the chairs, “I'm afraid the only way I can remember where everything is to just leave it where it lies.”
Carolyn chuckled as she took a seat and watched him take his seat behind the desk, the old chair creaking as he sat.
“That's perfectly okay,” she assured him, “My own system at home isn't much neater.”
He returned her smile as he leaned back comfortably.
“Tell me a little about you and Tabby.”
“Well, I'm widowed. Tabby was paralyzed in the accident that killed my husband about eighteen months ago. As you can imagine, she's had a hard time adjusting, especially as she tends to blame herself for the accident.”
Lucas tipped his head to one side.
“Why?”
“They were arguing about something and David had taken his eyes off the road just as another driver swerved to miss a squirrel and hit them head on. He was killed instantly and Tabby was pinned in the wreckage, still conscious.” Her voice lowered as she looked down at her clasped hands. “She had screamed herself hoarse by the time first responders arrived.”
“I'm sorry.”
She nodded.
“Thank you. Despite that, the doctors said she has made remarkable progress in her physical recovery. It was just emotionally that she has had trouble with, more so because of the accident itself than the paralysis. Some members of our church suggested that maybe getting her away for a while would help and someone had remembered reading about your program.” Her smile was soft with affection. “They teamed together with another organization and paid our way out here.”
They were quiet for a few minutes before Lucas spoke, his voice level and straightforward.
“Then you know my story.”
She nodded.
“That you spent time in prison? Yes. You've been very open about that. I appreciate your honesty.”
“There are those who would take exception so I make it a point to make sure everyone is aware of it.”
Her response was honest and direct.
“I don't believe in holding one's past against them when they've turned themselves around. I was surprised to learn that you were taught to train horses while you were incarcerated.”
“It's called the Wyoming Honor Farm. I had been raised around horses my whole life but I never really took responsibility for their care and could sometimes be less than gentle with my mounts. My uncle owned this ranch and I spent a lot of my growing up years here, but I'm afraid I was a bit of a lost cause. The program at prison taught me to respect the horses I worked with and to take responsibility for their care and training. I decided that I wanted to continue working with them when I got out.”
“How did you come to work with disabled people?”
“While I was in, the daughter of a friend of mine was injured in an accident and as part of her recovery she underwent hippotherapy.”
“What's that?”
“Essentially it's physical therapy with the help of a horse. It was a great help to her. I got interested in the whole concept of the disabled being able to ride and set out to learn as much as I can. With my uncle's blessing, I set up my own program here about ten years ago and have been doing it ever since.”
“Well, you must be doing a great job since you came so highly recommended.”
He smiled, “Thank you, I hope so. Now, I have some forms I need you to complete before we can start...”
Carolyn spent the following days relaxing and enjoying the break from the stress that filled her life at home. Tabby took to riding with a joy that had been absent from her countenance since the accident. Her mother was intrigued by the specialized equipment and techniques that made riding for the disabled possible and approved of the involvement of a physical therapist in the process. In the evening while Tabby watched TV or read, Carolyn and Lucas would spend time over cups of coffee in his office talking about Tabby and other things. Gradually the attraction they'd felt for each other upon their meeting grew as they got to know each other, their mutual respect and genuine liking for one another giving way to a desire for something deeper.
One evening, he invited them to sit with him on the patio behind the house. The coolness of the night was relieved by the heat from a fire pit around which conversation sets had been arranged. When the activity of the day began to catch up with her, Tabby left them with a mumbled good night and wheeled herself back into the house, leaving Carolyn and Lucas to enjoy the night alone.
“I'm so glad we came here,” she confessed quietly, “You've all been so good for her.”
“I'm glad you came.”
A comfortable silence settled over them for a few minutes before Lucas spoke again.
“Would you take a walk with me, Carolyn?”
Anticipation began to fill her as she nodded and they left the patio, walking slowly toward the rail fence that surrounded the pasture. The air was cool and redolent with the scents of wood smoke and horses. A quarter moon hung amongst the stars over the mountains.
When they reached the fence, they stood with arms resting on the upper most rail and took in the night.
“I'm attracted to you, Carolyn.”
His voice was a low rumble beside her as he looked out over the pasture. She glanced up at him then nodded before once again looking up at the stars.
“I feel the same,” she confessed quietly.
“You leave in two days.”
“I know.”
There were a few minutes of silence before he turned to face her.
“I don't want you to go.”
She sighed and nodded.
“No. I don't want to either but...”
With a gentle hand, he touched her shoulder, turned her to face him and cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed gently over her bottom lip as he moved closer until she could feel the heat of his body through her clothes.
“I want to kiss you.”
She smiled warmly, encouragingly.
“Please do.”
Leaning forward, his lips met hers in the most tender of kisses, once, twice, before settling firmly on hers as his arms went around her. When his tongue traced the path his thumb had taken a moment before, she opened to him, running her hands up his chest until they met behind his neck. He pulled her closer until their bodies were melded against each other. Carolyn moaned and laced her fingers through his thick, silken hair as the kiss deepened and his hands dropped to take her bottom in a gentle grip. Finally, he pulled away to lean his forehead against hers as their rapid breaths mingled between them.
“I want to make love to you,” he whispered hoarsely and she nodded as she lightly brushed his lips with hers.
“But we can't,” she replied softly, regretfully.
“I know.” He blew out a breath as he hugged her close for a moment then set her away, his hands once again holding her shoulders. “We better go inside before we get ourselves in trouble.”
Without another word they returned to the house with his arm around her shoulders and hers about his waist.
The following two days passed quickly. Lucas and Carolyn stole every moment they could to be together, including late evenings after Tabby had gone to bed. They shared experiences, hopes and dreams, and words that conveyed the growing feelings between them. Each recognized they were falling hard but neither spoke the words aloud.
Their last morning dawned with the promise of another sunny day. The air was very cool and the sky clear. Tabby paid one last visit to Solitaire's stall before she and her mother made their way to their car, already loaded with their duffels. Lucas left the pitchfork he'd been using to muck a stall leaning against the wall and walked with them. Once at the car, Tabby shared one last hug with Lucas before loading herself into the front seat. He wheeled the empty chair around to the trunk, which Carolyn had already opened, and lifted the ungainly item inside. Once the lid thunked shut, they turned to each other and held one anothers hands.
“Don't forget to call me when you get home,” he reminded her then pulled her close, “Don't let me worry too long.”
She smiled as she slid her hands around his waist.
“I won't.” She squeezed him tightly. “God, I'm going to miss you!”
“Not as much as I will you.”
She pulled away so she could look up into his eyes as she brushed a lock of his hair away from his face.
“Don't forget you promised to keep in touch.”
He smiled reassuringly.
“I won't forget. How can I?”
With a final brief kiss, he released her and walked with her to the driver door. There he watched as she slid behind the wheel.
“Be careful on your way to Rapid City,” he told her and stood back as she shut the door. After turning the key to start the engine, she slid the seat belt around her body before looking back at him.
“You be careful everywhere, Lucas.” She slipped the car into Reverse. “Goodbye.”
“Bye Lucas!” called Tabby as her mother rolled the window up, reversed out of the parking spot, and drove off down the long drive to the highway.
Six Months Later
Carolyn shut her computer down with a sigh and rubbed the back of her neck as she stretched in her chair. Four o'clock seldom came fast enough, but she was grateful that she was able to work at home taking orders for a national women's wear catalog conglomerate. It didn't pay much in the way of extras, but it kept them warm and fed and the bills paid, and allowed her to buy their clothes at a discount.
Glancing at her watch, she reminded herself that it was nearly time to pick Tabby up at the bus stop and made her way from the small bedroom she used as an office to the kitchen. There she put together a couple of chicken salad sandwiches and left them in the refrigerator before slipping on a windbreaker, grabbing her keys and walking out the door.
The complex they lived in was one of the older ones in town, one of the few that offered a wheelchair accessible apartment at a price they could afford. The neighborhood was a bit on the decline but still safe enough. The school buses offloaded at the end of the street rather than try to turn around at the dead end so every weekday afternoon, rain or shine, Carolyn met Tabby's bus and escorted her home. Luckily, today was a bright one, the rain having ended yesterday.
As she walked, her mind drifted to thoughts of Lucas. They had been in almost daily contact since she and Tabby had left the ranch in October. Their conversations had been long and heartfelt, filled with the sharing of days and dreams, and the continued burgeoning of something more than mutual attraction. But that had abruptly stopped three weeks ago. Lucas hadn't called nor had she been able to reach him when she called. There had been no warning, no argument or any other reason for it. At first she had worried that something must be wrong but as time passed she had accepted that, for whatever reason, he must have chosen not to continue their relationship. It had hurt for a while, still did a little, but she had soldiered on as she so often had when life proved disappointing. The hardest part had been trying to explain to Tabby why she and Lucas no longer talked when she didn't know herself.
The bus stopped at the end of the sidewalk just as Carolyn reached the corner. The driver emerged with a wave and walked around to the other side where the lift gate was located. By the time Carolyn arrived, the door was open and Tabby had emerged onto the lift and was setting the brakes on her wheelchair. She was dressed in pink, as it was her current favorite color, carried a pink backpack, and wore a pink jacket. Her mother couldn't help grinning as she glanced at her sneakers. Even they were pink.
“Hi Mom!” Tabby called just before wrapping her arms around her backpack as the lift started down. Within moments she was pushing the chair off the lift onto solid ground and turning toward Carolyn with a brighter than usual smile. “Guess what!”
Carolyn stopped as Tabby approached then took the backpack from her lap. The young girl would only allow her that one courtesy as she was determined to drive the chair herself.
“I don't know. What?”
“I won the class spelling bee! Now I just have to win the school spelling bee before I can go on to the state!”
“That's fantastic, honey!”
Mother hugged daughter in congratulations.
“I didn't miss a single word. Can you believe that?”
“Yes, I can. You've been studying those words for weeks.”
“Myron almost beat me, but then he misspelled 'banana'.”
“How can you misspell 'banana'?”
“He got nervous and said too many n-a's, I guess.”
They made their way back to their apartment at a comfortable walk with Tabby's excitement at her victory lending extra speed to her arms. She had began insisting upon wheeling herself soon after their return from Wyoming, saying that if she could control a horse then she could control her own chair. In that time, the muscles in her slim arms had grown noticeably.
Once inside, Tabby shed her jacket, revealing a white t-shirt with a glittering pink unicorn and the words “I believe” on the front, and followed her mother through the living room to the table beside the kitchen.
“What's to eat?”
Carolyn opened the refrigerator and withdrew the sandwiches.
“Chicken salad sandwiches. Sound good?”
“Sounds good. Can I have some ginger ale to drink?”
“If you insist.”
They grinned at each other as Carolyn placed the sandwiches on the table and returned for the drinks before settling down to have her snack as well. Several minutes passed before Tabby looked at her mom with a suddenly solemn expression.
“Mom?”
“What, honey?”
“I dreamed of Lucas last night.”
Carolyn paused in the act of swallowing some ginger ale.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. It was a bad dream. I dreamed that something bad had happened to him.”
“What happened?”
Tabby sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
“I don't know exactly. It was all dark except for a little bit of light and I, I don't know, it was as if I could feel his feelings. And he was sad. Really sad.”
Carolyn laid her hand gently on Tabby's arm.
“I'm sorry, honey.”
“And Mom?'
“Yes?”
“I think he misses us.”
An odd feeling rolled through Carolyn at her daughter's words.
“He probably does,” she said soothingly.
“No! I mean he really misses us!” Tabby insisted. “I think he wants us to come back.”
“Oh, Tabby.”
“Can you try calling him again? Please?”
“I don't know, Tabby...”
“Please, Mom? Please? Just try, okay?”
Carolyn sighed. What would it hurt?
“Okay. I'll try later tonight.”
Tabby smiled.
“Thanks, Mom.”
That night after Tabby had gone to sleep, Carolyn sat on the couch with her legs curled to one side and her crochet project lying forgotten in her lap. It was a little past nine, seven in Wyoming. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her cell phone, found the number for the Bright Horse Ranch in its memory, and dialed. It rang several times and she was about to hang up when a woman's voice answered.
“Bright Horse Ranch, this is Mable.”
“Mable! Hi! This, um, this is Carolyn Blackstock. My daughter, Tabby, and I were...”
“Carolyn! My dear! How are you?”
“I'm doing well, Mable. And you?”
“Better now that you've called. How is Tabby?”
“She's fine. She misses being there.” She chuckled ruefully. “She still calls Solitaire 'her' horse.” She paused. “How is Lucas?”
There were a few moments of silence. When Mable answered, her tone had turned serious.
“He's better,” she said quietly.
Carolyn's stomach fell.
“Better? What happened?”
“You don't know?”
“Know? Know what? I haven't talked to Lucas in almost a month.”
Mable sighed, “That explains it then.”
“Explains what? Mable, what happened to Lucas?”
“Lightening hit the barn one night and set it on fire. Lucas and the other men rushed inside to get the horses out. One panicked and knocked him down and he hit his head. By the time the men found him, he was unconscious and wasn't breathing.”
Carolyn's hand flew to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes.
“Oh god! Is he alright?”
“Well, they revived him and got him to the hospital. He had received some first and second degree burns, which he's since recovered from, but...”
“But?”
“He wasn't able to see.”
“He's blind?”
“He was. He's getting better but the doctors still don't know if he'll ever be able to see as well again.”
Carolyn remembered Tabby's description of seeing dark with a little bit of light and a chill ran up her spine.
“I didn't know. I hadn't heard.”
“I thought someone would surely have called you. I told them to.”
“No, no one did. When I didn't hear from him, I tried several times to call but never got an answer. I finally gave up. I thought maybe he didn't want to talk to me anymore.”
Mable sighed.
“No, love. That wasn't it at all. He spent some time in the hospital and when he got out he didn't want anything to do with anyone. But he's asked several times since he started seeing again if I'd heard from you. I guess you never left any messages.”
“No, not after the first couple of times. I figured he had received them and chose to ignore them.”
“That must have been while he was in the hospital. Afterward, as I said, he didn't want to talk to anyone.”
“Is he there now?”
“He's on the patio. He spends a lot of time out there in the evenings.”
“Can I talk to him?”
“He'd probably like that. Do you have his cell phone number? He carries it with him.”
“Yes, I think I do. I thought it best to try the ranch number this time.”
“Well, you just hang up now and call him on his cell.”
“I will, thanks!”
Carolyn sat for a few minutes after disconnecting, allowing her thoughts and heart to settle, before scrolling to Lucas' cell phone number and placing the call. When he answered, she closed her eyes in relief as his warm, husky voice filled her ear.
“Lucas?”
“Ye...Carolyn?”
“Hi Lucas.”
“Carolyn! Where are you?”
“At home, in Indianapolis. Oh, Lucas, Mable told me. I didn't know, I swear! How are you? Why didn't you call?”
He could hear her choked sobs.
“I'm alright, sweetheart. I promise. I hadn't heard from you and I guess I was having kind of a pity party and thought you'd given up on us. On me.”
“Oh, no, Lucas, never! I left messages but when you didn't call I thought...”
“The same thing I did. Oh, honey, what a mess.” His voice dropped. “I've missed you.”
“And I've missed you. I wish I could have been there for you.”
“How is Tabby?”
“She's fine.” Carolyn paused. “In fact, she's the reason I called tonight.”
“She is?”
“Um hmm. She dreamed of you last night and was really worried that something bad had happened to you. I promised her I'd try to call you again tonight.”
“I'm glad you did.”
There was a brief silence before Carolyn spoke again.
“So how are you? Really?”
“I guess Mable told you about the fire?”
“Yes. And she told me about the horse panicking.”
“Yeah, he was out of his head by the time I reached him, then I woke up in the hospital not able to see. The doctors said my eyes would heal with time but I was convinced I would be blind for the rest of my life.” He sighed. “We're still not certain if I'll ever be able to see as well again but at least I'm beginning to make things out again so I guess I'm healing.”
“That's such wonderful news.”
“I'm hopeful, anyway.” He paused. “Carolyn, I wish you were here. You and Tabby.”
“I know. I do, too.”
“Can you come here if I send you the tickets?”
“Oh, Lucas!”
“I mean it, Carolyn. I can have the tickets to you tomorrow if you'll say yes.”
“I can't, not right now. Tabby's still in school.”
“Oh, I didn't think of that.”
“But the term is over in a few weeks. We can come then.”
“How soon?”
“The last of May, maybe about Memorial Day?”
“Not soon enough but if I have to wait it will be worth it.”
She smiled into the phone.
“Yes, it will. Oh, Tabby is going to be so happy when I tell her!”
“Will you stay the summer?”
“The summer?”
“Yes.”
She thought for a moment.
“I probably can, if I can move my work out there.”
“I remember. You work from home.”\
“Yes. I'll need my own computer and a phone. But I can probably get by with my cell, if necessary.”
“No problem. Easy fix. Anything I have to do to have you here.”
Five weeks later.
The van with the lift gate slowed and turned onto the drive beneath the Bright Horse Ranch sign. Inside, Carolyn rode shotgun beside Randy, the foreman for the ranch, while Tabby all but bounced in her chair with excitement. The flight and drive from Rapid City had been long and they'd been up since before dawn, but neither were feeling the least tired. After so many months, they were finally almost there.
They could see the ranch house growing closer as they traveled the well maintained driveway. Curious horses watched from the pasture while a small group of people surrounded a young boy on a horse in the corral beside the newly built barn. Several cars parked alongside the house proved that it was a busy time for the ranch.
A tall, well built man with long, flowing dark hair walked out onto the porch and stood waiting, a wide smile gracing his lean face. Shaded glasses hid his eyes but Carolyn knew their dark depths would be sparkling. She felt her own happiness effervescing through her body.
Lucas stepped from the porch before the van had completely stopped and was waiting when Carolyn opened the door. Almost before her feet were on the ground, she was in his arms, laughing as he hugged her close against him. Their lips met in several quick kisses before they hugged again.
“Mom! Let me out, too!”
Chuckling, they stepped aside to allow Randy to open the door and lower the lift. Inside, Tabby was anxiously waiting, her chair already unlocked.
“Lucas!” she cried, waving happily, “Hi, Lucas!”
“Hey there, Tab!”
Randy had to take keep the wheelchair from flying off the lift as Tabby accelerated in her excitement.
“Tabby!”
Momentarily abashed by her mother's cry, she remembered to set the brake and waited impatiently for the lift to bring her to the ground. Once there, she quickly unlocked the wheels and pushed herself forward to meet Lucas' tight hug.
“Oh, I'm so glad to be here!”
Her voice was muffled against his cotton shirt before she pulled away to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.
“And I'm so glad you're here!” he assured her then stepped back. “Come on inside. Mable has dinner waiting.”
He slipped his arm around Carolyn's waist and they followed Tabby up the ramp and into the house where the delicious aromas of roast beef and apple pie awaited them.
By summer's end, Carolyn and Tabby had moved permanently to the ranch. A wedding was being planned for Labor Day with a barbecue reception to be held after. Lucas' eyes were once again nearly perfect and Tabby had become an old hand at helping with the clients who came to the ranch looking for hope and independence.
Carolyn stood at the railed fence and watched the horses grazing in the moonlight. A light breeze caressed her face and she breathed in the fresh scent of night air mingled with that of horses. She heard booted feet crossing the gravel behind her before becoming muffled by grass. Strong arms encircled her waist and pulled her back against a broad, hard chest.
“I missed you,” Lucas whispered against her ear before taking a nibble of the soft lobe, causing her to shiver delightfully.
Another heartwarming love story with the added attraction of a little girl in a wheelchair falls in love with her horse, Solitaire.
Thanks for the new word, hippo therapy. Would think that it would involve hippos rather than horses. There is a therapy program here in Houston for people with disabilities involving riding horses.
My legs were still quite strong after my paralysis and my arms did a good job of still balancing me. However, when I joined my mother on a trail ride, I was placed on an old sway back mare that waddled from side to side with each step. I clamped my legs to her as tight as I could, but I felt like I was going to fall off and break my neck the whole time. I'm not sure how people with paralyzed legs can stay on top of horses.
The Matchmaker:
Angela Calminetti, mother of five, New Age practitioner and gifted psychic and telepath, is proud of her family ties and does everything she can to make sure that all of her younger siblings are as happy in love and marriage
Jodi and Nick’s chance for romance was never realized while they were in high school. Now, five years later, they meet again. Will a class reunion be their first—and last—chance at love?
Reunion of Souls is a sweet, contemporary romance abo
Carolyn turned off the two-lane highway and passed under the arched metal sign reading Bright Horse Ranch. Just inside was a second sign advising that the homestead was five miles ahead. All around them the Beartooth Valley reached out in all directions, tall autumn grasses and the vibrant leaves on sporadic trees swaying with the wind. It should have felt empty, especially to someone from a city, but instead she felt abundant life surrounding her. Perhaps it was the wind, which seemed to encourage her onward over the well maintained gravel drive.
