“She just got spooked overnight, is all,” said Brody. “And I mean the rider, not the horse. Maybe the sky was too big, I don’t know.”
“Dorothy,” said Leland to one of the riders, the lady Jamie’d had his one lesson with. “Jamie is going to clip a lead to your horse’s bridle during your lesson today. Okay? He’ll make sure nothing happens.”
Leland turned, grabbed a canvas lead, and handed it to Jamie.
“It’s Travelle,” he said, pointing to the bay horse with a black mane and tail.
Jamie nodded and walked across the dirt ring. Travelle was a sweet horse, and Jamie should know. He and Leland had ridden double on her. It was stupid to be scared of a horse like that. He didn’t know anything about horses, and he wasn’t scared.
But when he turned at the footfalls in the sand behind him, he saw a woman behind him. It was Dorothy with her sad dark eyes and pale, powdery skin over the bones of her face. Her hair was brown streaked with grey, and she looked like she could be anybody’s aunt. There was such gratitude in her eyes that Jamie’s heart broke for her.
“Thank you,” she said, wringing her hands. “I feel foolish, but I was thinking how dangerous this all was. I’m trying to be brave, but my husband died only a little while ago—anyway, I’m trying something new. But it’s hard.”
“Hey,” Jamie said, soft feelings whirling around inside of him. It was nice to be counted on. Nice to be needed. “Travelle is the sweetest horse. See her eyes? See those long eyelashes? She’s just waiting for the lesson to begin, is all. She’s not going to hurt you.”
With Brody’s help, Dorothy mounted up. Jamie stood at Travelle’s shoulder, making a great display of holding the horse still when, actually, Travelle was standing still all by herself. He patted Travelle’s neck, then got in the line of other horses waiting to go around the ring so their riders could practice their skills. When the lesson began, Leland left, probably to go work in his office.
What was required of Jamie, then, was nothing more complicated than pretending to lead Travelle around the corral, sometimes at a walk, sometimes at a trot, and once at a slow canter. All of this was hot and thirsty work and quite distracting from his own troubles.
When the lesson ended, Dorothy dismounted and, with a warm smile, gave Jamie a big hug and a kiss on his cheek. He felt so glad in his heart at having done her some good, he almost forgot that he’d planned to leave.
Brody came up to him as the guests led their horses out of the corral and into the barn. Even before Brody asked, Jamie knew he’d stay long enough to clean the corral.
“Sure,” he said. “No problem.”
“Yes, thank you,” said Brody, ever polite as he stood there in his long-sleeved shirt, sleeves rolled down, as if the day wasn’t heating up like an oven turned on high. “You did well there,” he said.
Low waves of hurt came at him that Leland wasn’t also standing there with that smile in his grey-blue eyes, giving Jamie that nod of approval, letting him know, all without words, that he was the kind of guy Leland wanted to be with.
“No, I mean it,” said Brody. “I could use you this afternoon. We’re having a short trail ride, and Dorothy’s signed up. If you’re there—”
“I only had the one lesson,” he said, all tangled up inside. Sometimes Leland went on those rides, sometimes.
“You can ride, just fine.” Brody nodded and looked at the corral. “Take care of this. Get some lunch, then clean up, wear a clean shirt, and come back to the barn around by one thirty. You can help groom and saddle, and then we’ll put you on Dusty. He seems to like you. Then you can ride next to Dorothy. The last thing I want is for a guest to walk away feeling terrified of horses.”
“Sure,” said Jamie.
“She’s a widow.” Brody moved his jaw as though something inside him ached at the thought of it. “And we’re going to help her make it through this.”
“I don’t—” Jamie stopped, clamping his mouth shut. It sounded more complicated than he was capable of dealing with, right then, though he didn’t want to tell Brody no, that he was leaving.
His plans were his own. His duffle bag was packed, but nobody knew that except him and Clay, and Clay probably wouldn’t remember to say anything about it. The situation at Farthingdale Ranch had gotten to where all he wanted to do was run, to start somewhere else. Leaving would be easier than sticking around trying to navigate his way through both avoiding Lelandanddoing his job.
But it was a job that he could get anywhere, right? There were other ranches in Wyoming and Colorado and everywhere. He didn’t have to stick around. Not at all. Not even to help Brody, or Dorothy—or anyone. He should also leave behind everything Leland had given him, the new boots, the coat, the clothes, and just get out of there. Just leave.
“I know it’s hard to think about things like that, her husband dying and all,” said Brody. He ducked his head and peered at Jamie from beneath the brim of his cowboy hat. “But it’s a part of life. You’ll get used to it.”
Jamie frowned as Brody pushed feelings on him that weren’t his. He wasn’t bothered by Dorothy being a widow, and when she’d kissed him, he’d been glad he’d been there when she needed him.
“So,” he said, looking at Jamie. “You going to help on that ride this afternoon or what?”
“Sure I will,” Jamie said.
What did it matter? He’d have another day’s pay owed to him, and could head out in the morning, just the same. He told himself he was saying yes to Brody because of the money and not because Leland might be on the ride that afternoon.
Farthingdale Ranch would see the last of him quite soon. And Leland would, too. Which might teach him to mess with people’s feelings, that or he’d forget about Jamie as soon as he disappeared over the first bump in the horizon. Either way, soon Jamie wouldn’t have to look at Leland ever again.
27
