The Cowboy's Faith. Danica Favorite

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СКАЧАТЬ you and Shane got together, it’s always Shane this, Shane that. I thought we all agreed we didn’t need some man to rescue us. And I certainly don’t need this one.”

      Her words sounded full of pain, and it made him feel worse, knowing that because of Brandon, and because of Fernando’s role in the situation, she directed her anger at all men.

      But this wasn’t about him, or men, but about a horse who needed his help. “I was wrong in not telling you about Adriana and Brandon sooner, but surely you can put our personal differences aside and allow me to help you with this horse.”

      Nicole glared at him. “It’s not just about that. I mean, it is. It seems like everybody thought they knew what was best for me but never once asked my opinion. Just like now. I’ve told you that I don’t want you in my life. But here you are, insisting on helping me. Can’t anyone respect the decisions I make for myself?”

      He hadn’t thought of it that way. But how could he explain his genuine concern? That even though she pretended she was fine, and told everyone she was, he could see the pain in her eyes, hear it in her voice.

      “I’m truly sorry for disrespecting your wishes. But you saw how the horse responded to me. I appreciate your passion for animals and that you want to work with them, so let me teach you what I know. You’ve got a great foundation by watching the videos and reading the books, but nothing can replace the real-life experience of handling a horse with someone who’s been trained to do so and learning from that expertise.”

      She hesitated, then took a step forward. “Do you really think you can help me? How can I be sure you know what you’re doing? The horse’s response could have just been coincidence.”

      Her voice faltered as she spoke, and he knew she wasn’t so much telling him as herself. She wanted his help, but she also wasn’t ready to admit it.

      “At least give me the opportunity to try. I can talk with this Shane person and let him evaluate me.” He looked over at Leah. “From what you say, he knows about horses.”

      Leah smiled at him. “Yes. Shane Jackson is my fiancé and owns the ranch next door. We rely on him for his ranching expertise. He was good friends with Helen, our ex-stepmother, who left my sisters and me the ranch when she died.”

      Nicole groaned, and Leah turned to glare at her. “What’s your problem? Shane was just saying that unless you got Snookie’s tantrums under control and she stopped biting, you’ll have to get rid of her. It’s not safe to have her here with the boys. He’s the horse expert, so I fully trust his judgment where Snookie is concerned.”

      Fernando remembered Leah’s two little boys, Dylan and Ryan, from Nicole’s rehearsal dinner. Cute little fellows, and though saying so would rile up Nicole further, Leah was right. The mare’s jerky movements made her too unpredictable to be around small children. He’d already seen her try to bite Nicole. A horse like that was dangerous.

      “He doesn’t need to be in on our personal business,” Nicole muttered.

      He knew way more personal things about Nicole than Nicole probably wanted him to know—or thought he knew. The matter of their living circumstances paled in comparison.

      But he didn’t think saying so would endear him to Nicole. The mare jerked at the rope, and had it been Nicole holding her, she’d have gotten away. Nicole’s technique was too loose, and she seemed ill prepared to handle these outbursts. As it was, Fernando was going to have some killer rope burns on his hands.

      He tied the horse up at the fence, then turned his attention back to Nicole.

      “I don’t need to be acquainted with your personal business to know this horse needs help,” Fernando said. “I know you’ve always wanted a horse and that letting this one go would break your heart. But I agree with Shane. It’s not safe to have a horse like this around your nephews unless she gets some intensive training.”

      Leah murmured something under her breath and nodded.

      He’d always thought Nicole’s eldest sister was also smart, so maybe she would talk some sense into Nicole.

      And maybe it was overstepping to think so, but he wasn’t sure this beautiful, fragile woman who acted so tough could stand to have her heart broken again.

      * * *

      Nicole fought tears at his words. But she wasn’t going to let Fernando—or anyone else—see her cry. Part of her wanted to scream at him and shake him for being such a thick-headed dolt. So he knew that giving up this horse would break her heart? And he wanted to help? Where was that help when her best friend was messing around with her fiancé?

      Okay, fine. She got it. Fernando had called her time and again, begging for forgiveness and for the chance to make it up to her. So here it was. His chance to make things right.

      But why did helping her horse have to be the means of fixing his guilt? What about her pain? Fernando got absolution, and she was still left alone, minus a best friend and the man she’d thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with.

      People liked to say that she was better off, and she didn’t disagree. But the problem with such deep betrayal was that now she no longer knew who to trust. It wasn’t like when you became friends with someone new, they would answer the question “Are you a man-stealing backstabber?” honestly.

      The only people Nicole could trust were her two sisters, Erin and Leah, and, she supposed, since Leah had fallen in love with him despite her painful past, Shane.

      Which left the animals. They didn’t lie to you, steal your fiancé, sneak behind your back or keep the kind of secrets that would break your heart.

      She walked over to Snookie and gave her a pat. How was she supposed to give up on this horse, a sweet mare who just needed someone to love her? True, she did have her tantrums and liked to bite. She’d broken out of her stall more times than Nicole could count. And she’d even bitten one of the boys. That was the reason Shane had told her to get rid of Snookie.

      But Nicole couldn’t bear it. Something inside her said that she and Snookie belonged together, and even though everyone told her she was crazy, she could feel Snookie speaking to her the day she got her.

      She needed Snookie, and Snookie needed her.

      Fernando came over and took her hand, placing it on Snookie’s flank. “Give her a firm rubbing here. It will help her feel more secure. She senses your emotions, and she needs to perceive that you’re not upset with her.”

      The simple change of motion brought a shift to Snookie’s posture, relaxing her.

      “I’m sorry for upsetting you,” Fernando said. “I know you don’t believe me, but I’ve only ever wished the best for you.”

      Nicole stared at her feet. “I wish I could believe that, but I don’t know how to believe anyone anymore.”

      “I understand,” he said softly. “Maybe it’s too much to ask you to have a little faith, but would you at least give me the chance to prove it to you? I can help your horse.”

      He already had, getting Snookie to respond better in just a few short interactions than she had with weeks of training. But why did it have to be him?

      Just this morning she’d been praying, СКАЧАТЬ