Nicole’s vision blurred with tears as she and her father guided Copper out to the paddock and strolled on his favorite circuit, while Cameron and Red leaned against the rail, watching.
Nicole stole a glance at them, her attention fixed on Cameron’s attractive features. But it wasn’t his good looks that had her heart right now. It was the sheer love in his eyes as he watched his sister fulfill her dream. Protective worry, yes, but unabashed joy, too.
Elise lifted her chin, exhilarated. “I feel amazing, Nic,” she whispered. “Like…like nothing’s impossible.”
“Sometimes, nothing is,” she replied.
Copper’s hooves crunched softly on the packed earth and, for a few perfect minutes, the world felt whole and shiny.
When Elise finally asked to stop, Nicole slowed Copper and steadied him back in the stable while Cameron and Jack helped her dismount. Once back in her chair, Elise grabbed Nicole’s hands, eyes glowing.
“Thank you,” she whispered, voice breaking. “This was the best day of my life.”
Nicole knelt beside her, hugging her fiercely. “You can come ride Copper anytime you want. Consider him yours, too, Elise.”
Looking up, Nicole met Cameron’s gaze, his whole expression filled with gratitude and something that made her nearly tumble right down to the hay-covered stable floor.
Elise beamed through her tears. “Next time, maybe we trot.”
Cameron groaned. “She has to push the envelope,” he murmured.
Nicole laughed, hugging Elise again as Copper nuzzled her shoulder, the perfect punctuation to a perfect morning.
A little while later,the air was still humming with the magic of what they’d done. Elise smiled the whole time Nicole tended Copper and the men took the equipment down.
Jack clapped Cameron’s back. “Hey, before you go, could you give me a hand putting all this gear away?”
“Of course,” Cameron said immediately.
“Appreciate it,” Jack said. “And I hear you’re a firefighter. You handy with broken things?”
Cameron threw a look over his shoulder, catching Nicole’s eye with a question in his. “Uh, yeah. What do you need?”
“A hinge outside. Come on. I could use the muscles.”
“I’ll come, too,” Red said. “Even though I’m apparently just a pretty face.” He winked at Elise. “Good job, equestrian.”
She smiled at him as he walked out.
“Your grandfather is certifiably wonderful,” she announced as Nicole threw some fresh feed in Copper’s stall. “And you get your striking dark looks from Daddy, huh?”
Nicole laughed, wiping her hands on her jeans as she came back to the wheelchair. “Well, Mom’s blond, so probably. Come and meet her. You want to go in the lodge and get warm?”
“No. I want to sit in this stable and smell horse for…well, ever.”
“Aww.” She looked around the stable, seeing it through Elise’s eyes. “I get that.”
“But I do want to meet your mom and aunt, and see the inside of this gorgeous lodge.” Elise started to push the wheels.
“I got you,” Nicole said, rushing to the back to grab the chair handles.
“No, please.” She looked up over her shoulder. “I’m quite capable of getting around by myself, despite what Cameron would have you think.”
Chatting happily, they went side by side over the path that her father had so thoughtfully cleared. Nicole took her to the mudroom door, since there were no steps, and helped her in over the threshold.
As soon as she was in the kitchen, Elise inhaled deeply, sighing. “Okay, the stable smelled good, in a horsey kind of way, but this?”
“This is MJ McBride’s kitchen,” Nicole announced. “Heaven on Earth.”
