After Kelly brought her a glass of chilled white wine and popped the top off her own beer, she patted her son’s cheek. “I’ll take good care of her.”
Sully moved toward her, and the look in his eyes made the breath bottle in her chest. He leaned in and kissed her lips before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Have fun.”
Heat warmed her cheeks, but she couldn’t deny it felt good to have him openly claiming her. Kelly looped an arm through hers and led her to the sliding glass door off the kitchen. They stepped out onto the deck, lined with potted strawberry and tomato plants and hanging wind chimes.
“You’re good for my son,” Kelly said as they stepped down the deck stairs to a dirt path that wound up to a bright red barn.
“He’s good for me too.” An orange cat leapt off one of the round posts lining the path and joined them as they walked toward the barn.
“I’m glad to hear it. I know I’m biased because he’s my son and I love him dearly, but he is a good man. That cat weaving between your legs is a new mama. Her kittens are in the barn.She was brought to me two weeks ago after being dumped on the side of the freeway.”
Jane stopped and leaned down to stroke the cat’s fur. Cheerful orange wildflowers swayed in the mild breeze amongst patches of thistles and brambles as they continued to walk. She took a sip of the wine she was holding, letting the crisp, light taste relax her. Horses began to whinny as they approached the open barn doors. Somewhere, a donkey brayed. A pile of cream-colored kittens wrestled in the hay while an old hound dog kept watch from a worn fleece bed. Kelly placed down her beer and reached into a covered bucket. “Here, take some treats for the horses and donkey.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many farm animals up close.” A white horse tossed its head, and she approached, touching the downy fuzz of its nose. She breathed in the sweet scent of hay and leather that permeated the air.
“Hold your hand flat like this so they can take the treat without grabbing your fingers, too.”
She did as Kelly told her, offering the treat. The horse seemed to lick the length of her palm as it snatched the food, and she laughed. There was a mini donkey, a mule, and at the end of the row, a gray horse that eyed her with suspicion.
“That’s Storm. Not a very original name I’m afraid. She hasn’t warmed to anyone, but I’m hopeful. Otherwise, I doubt she’ll be adopted.” The horse turned in her stall and she could see for herself why she hadn’t bonded with anyone. Long scars marred the other side of the horse’s face.
She stepped forward, raising her hand slowly to offer the last treat. The mare snorted, and a puff of dust floated through the sun streaming through a crack in the ceiling. She wasn’t offended that the horse didn’t take the treat from her and placed it on the door instead, so the mare could have it when they left.
“So, you’ve never ridden before?”
She turned her back to the horse to face Kelly. “No, never.” She took another sip of the wine and smiled as the kittens tumbled over the floor.
“John always tells me not to drink and ride, but I’d love to take you out, even if it’s just for a few minutes. What do you think?”
“Ah.” She was trying to think of a way to graciously turn Sully’s mother down when there was a puff of warmth against the back of her head.
Kelly’s eyes widened as she glanced past her. “Well, I’ll be damned. Looks like you’ve got a friend.”
She turned to find Storm directly behind her, nibbling her hair. “Could I ride her?”
Kelly chuckled. “You could try.”
Ten minutes later, after Kelly had explained the meaning of the word “tack,” given her some basic pointers and some safety instructions, and showed her where the saddles and bridles were housed, Jane sat precariously atop Storm, who was much larger out of the stall than she’d seemed inside of it. Her body lurched with each step the horse made, as Kelly sat straight and tall on Peanut Butter ahead of her. As she relaxed into the saddle, her muscles loosened, and the two horses wandered on a path behind the barn. When the animals stopped to graze, Kelly shot her a smile. “We should head back. I don’t want Sullivan to think I abducted you.” She lifted the reins and made a gentle clicking sound, which Jane tried to copy.
She jolted in the saddle as Storm began to move again, and a feeling of satisfaction filled her that the horse understood what she was trying to convey. The horse’s silver mane was coarse beneath her fingers and the clop of the animal’s hooves against the packed earth was oddly soothing.
“What did you think of your first ride?” Kelly asked when the house was in view.
“I won’t lie and say I wasn’t scared to death when we first started out, but I really enjoyed it.”
Kelly swung her leg over the saddle in a practiced motion and dropped to the ground. “She’s yours. The horse I mean. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone to ride with and because I’m hopeful you’ll stay in the area, you can continue to board her here. I’m sure Sullivan will call it bribery to get you to visit more often, but I’ve been waiting a long time for Storm to connect with someone.”
“You can’t give me a horse.” Wind whistled through the trees, stirring up loose straw outside of the barn.
“Of course I can.” Kelly moved closer to hold on to Storm’s reins as she attempted to dismount.
“I don’t know what to say.” Jane swung her right leg behind her. “I don’t know the first thing about horses.” She dislodged her foot from the stirrup, dropped to the ground below, and turned to face Sully’s mother. “I never even had a dog growing up.”
“Well, now you have a horse. We can seal the deal with another drink and some of John’s famous cheeseburgers.”
Chapter Sixteen
“They’ve been gonefor a while now.” Sully surveyed the land outside the kitchen window. Jane had met his parents a few times now, but he didn’t want her to feel uneasy at the prospect of being alone with his mom for so long.
