Luke’s “You’ll see” disturbed him.
* * *
“You’re sure? The last thing I want to do is push you,” Eleanor worried. “We use the thin pad so the horse can feel you, and you can feel the heat from the horse against your calves. They hurt like hell?”
“You don’t miss much, do you?” Troy asked.
“Not when it comes to stuff like this.” One of the hands walked Louis to the mounting ramp. A therapy assistant stood on the horse’s other side. “I’m right here. What you’re going to do is grab that bar and swing your leg over Louis. He’s a big boy, so no worries about our weight.” She watched Troy do as she instructed.
Eleanor adjusted the stirrups for Troy. “Okay, I’m going to climb up behind you.” She slid easily into the rear part of the pad. “Tell me if you hurt or feel too tired to keep your posture.”
“Okay,” he sounded tentative.
“Louis, Troy is a little worried. We’re going to take care of him.” Eleanor placed her palm on Troy’s waist. “We’re going for a little walk. Breathe and absorb the warmth from Louis. If you feel like it, say what pops into your head. Nothing you say will be repeated. Well, only if Louis repeats it.”
Troy chuckled as Eleanor led him to the corral. “We’re going to take a lap around the corral, and then we will head north on the pasture.”
Eleanor felt a change in the horse. The animal seemed to respond to Troy. His walk, unlike with her, was slow and determined. “How are you, Troy?”
He sighed. “You were right about the warmth. It’s like a moving heating pad.”
“Good, you’re doing great.” Delight modulated her tone.
“Thank you, Ellie.”
“We haven’t even finished our lap yet,” she said.
“This. It’s the first time no one wants me to do something or isn’t hovering over me. The first time the wind is in my face in a long time.”
“Don’t take your helmet off. I promised Luke,” she giggled. “Up to trying the pasture?”
* * *
Wes watched the hand walk the horse carrying Ellie and Troy into the corral. “What is she doing? She has a concussion. And Troy, the big idiot,” Wes growled.
Luke blew out a breath. “Mr. Crockett, she spent the last forty minutes riding. And she wanted to put the horse through its paces with a real client. Mr. Bremen volunteered. Look at his face. And look at hers.”
Wes gulped a deep breath. Troy looked completely relaxed, and Eleanor glowed. He could see them talking and, more importantly, laughing. “I apologize, Luke.”
“We all get fussy over people we care about,” Luke said. “If you like, I can saddle Alamo’s Pal. You can catch up?”
Wes shook his head. “Let them be. Call me when they get back. And, Luke, thanks.”
* * *
Eleanor hopped down, and she and Luke helped Troy dismount. “My legs feel like rubber,” he said.
“Give it a few minutes.” Eleanor grabbed his arm for support.
“No, a good rubbery. They are relaxed, no spasm,” he cheered.
Eleanor rubbed her brow. “That’s great. But now you need to go take a warm shower and relax,” she insisted, smiling. Her eyes brightened at the sight of Wes walking toward her.
* * *
The bell on the door tinkled as Wes walked Eleanor into a small luncheonette in downtown Leesburg. A waitress sat them in one of the few empty booths. He took up a position where he could see the front door. “That was beautiful today,” he said.
“You saw us?” Eleanor seemed surprised.
