Chapter Six
They were halfway homebefore Jordon spoke.
“Do you do that often?”she asked, watching Daddy.
“What?”he shot her a frown before turning his attention back to the road.
“Play cheerleader or devil on their shoulder.Tell them to call or text anytime.All of it.”
He turned and looked at her, longer this time, glancing at the road but keeping the majority of his attention on her.She wanted to say something.To ask what she’d said wrong.To tell him to pay attention to the road, anything.But she also wanted an answer, so she kept her mouth shut and waited.
“Usually, yes.”He turned back to the road but sent her a questioning look as if he was trying to figure out what she was thinking.“Why?”
She turned and looked out the windshield.
“Just curious,” she said.She thought back, trying to remember if he’d frequently gotten calls or been called away, but couldn’t think of anything.Had it happened and just not been important enough for her to remember?
She watched the landscape zip past them as she thought about it.How would she feel if she was the one making the calls?Would it be the no big deal that her father’s calls had always been to her, or would it be life changing?She couldn’t imagine needing help, either physical, mental, or emotional, enough to reach out for it and not be important enough to be life-changing for her.
They’d almost reached the house when she turned back to her father.
“How long have you been doing this?”She had to raise her voice to be heard over the noise of driving down the dirt and gravel road.
“Doing what?”
“Visiting amputees.Mentoring them.”
Daddy’s brows shot up as he glanced at her again.
“Since you were about nine.Someone did it for me.And while it took me a while to come to terms with everything, once I got there, it seemed the least I could do was pay it forward.”
And somehow she hadn’t noticed.Sure, she’d known he was going to see people sometimes but since he’d never made a big deal about it, it hadn’t seemed like a big thing.But now she knew differently.
“How many?”she asked.
He didn’t look away from the road but she saw his brows drop.
“How many what?”
“How many have you gone to see?How many have you helped like this?”
“I don’t know.I’ve gone to see probably thirty or thirty-five at least once.Out of those, I think maybe ten have called.Some don’t need someone like me, whether they have support elsewhere or not.Others don’t want help.”He shrugged.“I can’t force anyone to take help, and I’m not trying to.I just want to be there for those who want or need it.”
She didn’t say anything more as he pulled into the yard and parked.Daddy headed into the house while Jordon headed for the barn.She wanted to check on the horses one more time, since she hadn’t mentioned to Lane that she was going out with Daddy, and she wasn’t sure if he’d done the evening chores.Plus, they had a mare getting ready to foal and Jordon wanted to check on her.
As she made her way across the yard, she couldn’t help but think of Spider.He seemed like a good guy, but who could tell about people these days.She couldn’t help but think about the way he’d gone out of his way to include her in the conversation, even if it had been a bit awkward when she’d had to admit she wasn’t seeing anyone.Or maybe that was what he was trying to do?Find out if she was seeing someone?But why?He’d said he wouldn’t have time for much because of his recovery.
Still, she had to wonder.
She reached the barn, let herself inside and checked on each of the horses.Several came to the stall doors, and she would reward them with pets or nose scratches depending on what each one liked.When she got to Wildfire’s stall, she let herself in, then ran her hands along the mare’s sides, smiling as she felt the foal kick and move.
“How you doing, sweetheart?”she asked the horse, even though she knew there would be no answer.“I know you’re uncomfortable.But it’s almost over.This little one will be here soon and then you’ll feel better.”Jordon made sure she had plenty of water, then checked on the other horses as well before heading inside, thoughts of the biker in the hospital never far from her mind.
