Proposal at the Lazy S Ranch. Patricia Thayer

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      “Can we go get my horse now?” Brody asked.

      Garrett smiled. “Give me a minute.”

      “Okay. I’m going outside to wait.” The boy took off toward the back door.

      Garrett glanced at Della. The Temple men were lucky to have her here to help fill in with Brody. “We should be back from the Lazy S by lunch. If plans change I’ll call you.”

      The middle-aged widow nodded. “You just have a good time today.”

      Garrett knew today Brody would be meeting new people. He’d been so withdrawn since his mother’s death. “You think he’s ready for his own horse?”

      Della smiled. “I’m not an expert, but it seems to me this is the first thing I’d seen the boy get excited about since he’s come here to live. I’d say that’s a good sign, and isn’t horseback riding therapeutic?”

      “Dad!” Brody’s voice rang out.

      “Okay, I’m coming.”

      “You’re doing the right thing by the boy,” Della said. “You’re a good man, Garrett Temple.”

      Garrett felt a sudden rush of emotion, but managed a nod. He caught up with his son and headed toward his truck. They were going to see Vance to get a suitable mount.

      They climbed in the vehicle, and after buckling up, Garrett drove off toward their closest neighbor.

      Since Nolan Temple’s health had deteriorated most of the barn stock had been sold off. One of the jobs Garrett had taken on was to get the operation up and going again. Thanks to the ranch foreman, Charlie Bowers, and neighbor Vance Rivers, they now had a herd that was twice the size as last year’s, along with an alfalfa crop for the spring.

      Even his dad was feeling good enough to want to participate in the operation. Garrett enjoyed it, too, and he hoped the same for his son. He wanted a place where his boy would feel safe and secure again. He wanted that for himself, too.

      He glanced at the boy sitting next to him. “Vance has three horses for you to see, but that doesn’t mean you have to pick one of them. We can keep looking if you don’t find what you want.”

      Brody shrugged, looking down at his hands. “Okay.”

      Garrett was eager to get his son something to distract him from the loss of his mother. There had also been some big changes in his life. He just wanted Brody to know that he was his top priority. Not even work was going to distract him from rebuilding a life with his son.

      Then he’d seen Josie yesterday.

      All these years and she was back here. Seeing her again had been harder than he could imagine. But by her reaction toward him, he didn’t have to worry about her being interested in him. Besides, she was probably headed back to California really soon.

      * * *

      Josie had slept in until eight o’clock. After she’d tested the tenderness of her ankle, she managed to shower and rewrapped it. She dressed and was even able to put on a pair of canvas sneakers. Making her way downstairs, she went to the kitchen and was greeted by Kathleen’s big smile and hug.

      “Where is everyone?”

      “Your father is with his therapist, Jay McNeal.” The fiftysomething housekeeper glanced at the kitchen clock. “It’ll be about another hour. Afterward, Jay helps him shower and get dressed.”

      “How is Colt really doing? I mean, Ana hadn’t given a lot of details.” Maybe Josie just hadn’t been eager to listen. “Only that he’s improving.”

      “He is improving and very quickly. We’re all happy about that.” Kathleen sat down across from her. “But your sister still wants your help. She won’t ask you to, but she needs you to stay as long as you can spare the time.”

      Josie felt bad, knowing how much her older sister had taken on by herself. “I should have come sooner.”

      “Under the circumstances, I can’t blame you all for not wanting to come home,” she told her. “But I’m sure glad you’re here now. Please tell me you’re staying awhile.” The older woman squeezed her hand. “I missed you, Josie.”

      “Ah, Kathleen, I’ve missed you, too.” But two weeks was about all she could handle with Garrett. “I said two weeks. After that...” She hesitated. “Remember, Tori is handling my end of the business while I’m here.”

      “Maybe she’ll decide to come back, too.”

      Josie smiled. “As soon as I get back there, she can come home.”

      “So you still think of the Lazy S as home?”

      Josie shook her head. “Don’t start, Kathleen. Let’s just take this slow. I’ve been away a long time.” She finished her coffee. “Where’s Ana?”

      “She went out to the barn with Vance. They have someone coming to look at some horses this morning.” Kathleen checked the clock. “Then she had to go to work at the high school.”

      Josie nodded, knowing the reason she came home was because of Ana’s job as high school counselor.

      She stood and tested her ankle. “Maybe I’ll walk down to have a look around, then come back to see Colt.” This was all so new to her. She was actually going to see her dad.

      Josie kissed Kathleen’s cheek. Grabbing her coat, she headed out the door and slowly made her way down the same path she used to take as a kid. Not that she’d been invited into the barn much. Colt had pretty much kept his daughters out of any ranch business. Even when they got older, he didn’t want them around. It had been some of the ranch hands who taught them to rope and ride. When Colt learned of it, he made sure they learned to muck out stalls, too.

      She stepped inside the large structure, where the scent of straw and animals hit her. She smiled, thinking a few days here might not be so bad. She looked down the rows of stalls where several horses were housed. She liked this. Walking down the center aisle, she passed the stall that had the name Blondie on the gate. Ana’s buckskin, Josie thought as she walked up and began to stroke the animal. Then she went to another stall with a big chestnut, Rusty.

      “Well, aren’t you a good-looking fella.”

      “That’s Vance’s horse.”

      Josie swung around when she heard a child’s voice. She found a boy who was about eight or nine. He must be the buyer’s son. “And I bet he’s fun to ride, too,” she said.

      The child didn’t make eye contact with her, but he wandered toward her. “Vance says he can chase down calves, too. That’s what he’s best at.”

      “We all have to be good at something.” Who was this child? “I’m Josie, Ana’s sister. And you are?”

      “Brody. Vance said my horse can be like Rusty if I train him.”

      Where was her future brother-in-law? “You have your own horse, Brody?”

      Josie СКАЧАТЬ