As Gideon and Kevin hauled on the door, Mackenzie climbed into the next empty stall, overturned a feed bucket, planted it in the murky water, and scrambled atop to look over. The mare was indeed panicking, eyes wide and rolling, the lead rope whipping her neck as she thrashed.
“I’ll get an axe from the tack room,” Kevin shouted as he splashed away. “We’ll cut through the door enough for her to get out.”
Gideon remained with Cordelia, shouting as he heaved on the stall door. “It’s starting to give.”
He and Cordelia focused their energies on yanking the weakened board, crashing it back and forth to encourage it to break.
But the mare was growing increasingly manic, and Mackenzie was certain she was going to be gravely injured. She leaned over, talking low and calm.
“Hey, sweet girl,” she started. “Come here, baby.”
Gideon jerked a look at her. “Get out of there, Zee.”
She ignored him, bent farther into the stall, and reached for the lead rope. Her fingers grazed it, but the mare jerked away, front hooves smashing against the wall. When the horse came close a second time, she tried again.
“You’re all right,” she said softly, touching the horse’s neck with delicate pressure. “I’m here, and you’re going to get out of this mess.”
One touch, and then the mare allowed a second. Still stamping in agitation, the horse accepted a small stroke of her back before huddling close to the wall, where Mackenzie kept talking to her.
Continued touches, a calming voice—her tricks were beginning to work. When the horse quieted enough, Mackenzie grabbed the lead rope and eased her near enough to caress her trembling side. She kept her as close as she could. Without the thrashing mare working against them, Gideon and Cordelia heaved once more, and the fallen board gave way with a mighty crack.
Cordelia leapt immediately into the stall while Gideon ripped away more of the board and wrenched back the damaged sliding door. Cordelia took the lead rope from Mackenzie.
Her dark eyes roamed Mackenzie’s face. “Thanks.” She looked back at Gideon. “Both of you.”
Mackenzie nodded.
“I’m Cordelia.”
“That’s Gideon and I’m Zee,” she said.
“You two have good timing.” Cordelia guided the shivering creature out of the stall, crooning softly to her.
Kevin returned then. “I’m too slow, huh? Well, let me help you get her into the trailer and hook it up to your vehicle.” He followed Cordelia and the mare.
Gideon panted and wiped his sweating brow, and Mackenzie climbed down from the bucket and joined him. They sat for a while in silence. The whole adventure completely delayed her plan, but the horse was safe and Gideon hadn’t been clobbered. Maybe they were even now.
A clump of hay stuck in his hair. “Have I mentioned I don’t trust horses?”
She reached up and brushed away the hay. His hair was full and thick, coiling with moisture. “That’s because you have the horsemanship skills of a city slicker.”
His grin was so boyish it took her back to the days when she’d pined for him, hung on every syllable, followed him around like a duckling. He laughed, and she found herself joining in.
This man would do everything in his power to stop her from getting justice for Aaron, yet she couldn’t deny that something about him felt like peach ice cream on a blazing summer day.
He massaged his shoulder. “You know, back there at Kevin’s car, I had this crazy idea that you were going to take off when you had the chance.”
“I was.”
“But you came in anyway. Why?”
She shrugged. “The horse needed help.”
The corner of his mouth lifted, and it was as if he sensed her confused feelings about him.
That wouldn’t do.
“Anyway, I’m—”
