A Mother's Gift (Love Inspired) (15 page)

T
he warm breeze stirring the kitchen curtains promised a beautiful day, and as Julia poured herself a cup of coffee she caught a glimpse of Nick and Beth coming up the driveway. Beth was practically skipping while her father followed at a more leisurely pace. Judging from the slouch of his broad shoulders and the tousled hair, Julia guessed that Beth had prodded him out of bed earlier than he would have liked on a Saturday morning.

Near the barn, Star nibbled spears of grass while waiting for her official breakfast—a flake from one of the bales of hay stacked in a corner of the barn—to be served.

Julia was relieved that the mare seemed to have a calm, friendly disposition in spite of the way she’d been treated. Most people would have dismissed the neglected mare outright. The fact that Nick hadn’t made her respect him even more.

But it still didn’t mean she wanted the horse living in her barn.

Don’t get involved,
Julia warned herself as she stepped away from the window before they spotted her.
The only thing you agreed to provide was temporary housing.

She knew Nick hadn’t understood her reaction when she’d seen Star in the barn. Julia hadn’t quite understood it herself. The only thing she did know was that her heart hadn’t been prepared for the avalanche of memories that crashed over her. Or what to do with them now that she could no longer shut them out.

After Nick and Beth had gone home, she’d picked up the phone to call Nick and tell him that she couldn’t come over for Beth’s birthday celebration.

But when it came down to dialing the number, she couldn’t do it.

On the way over to the Delaneys’, Julia had told herself that all she had to do was drop off the gift, but Beth’s shining eyes when she’d opened the door had derailed her plan. She’d stayed.

She and Nick had maintained a polite distance throughout the evening but there’d been times she’d felt his searching gaze on her. Knowing he had an uncanny way of reading her thoughts, Julia hadn’t been able to scrape up the courage to look at him.

She’d seen him raise a questioning eyebrow in her direction when Beth had opened her gift. Julia had mentioned that she worked out of her home but hadn’t told Nick what she did. That was why she’d hoped Beth wouldn’t notice the words
Wind River Farm Designs
embroidered on the label of her new riding jacket. But she had. And it had only added to the questions brewing in Nick’s eyes.

Questions Julia didn’t have answers for.

Fortunately, when it had come time for her to leave, Nick hadn’t offered to walk her home.

Julia had been relieved…and disappointed.

It was those conflicted emotions that kept her inside now. Away from the man who caused them. She tackled several household projects instead. Her sink and shower were spotless. The floor mopped. She even organized her desk drawer.

Her curiosity finally got the better of her and she peeked out the window. She was surprised to see Nick and Beth standing on the opposite side of the fence from Star, watching the horse daintily finishing off her breakfast.

Something about the morose slump of Beth’s shoulders set off warning bells in Julia’s head. Without thinking, she pushed the door open and stepped outside to find out what was wrong.

“Good morning.”

Nick turned around. In spite of the tension between them the day before, he didn’t bother to hide his relief at her approach. “Good morning. Beautiful day, isn’t it?” He didn’t sound very convincing.

“Yes, it is.” Julia’s gaze moved from Nick to his daughter. “Hello, Beth. You’re up bright and early this morning.”

“Yeah.” The girl managed a smile but Julia didn’t miss the diamond-bright sheen of tears in her eyes before she looked away.

What had happened?

Julia propped her arms on the fence and did a brief but thorough assessment of the animal on the other side. Nothing appeared to be amiss.

“How is Star this morning?”

“Good.” Beth’s lackluster response didn’t do anything to ease Julia’s concern. Was it possible she wasn’t happy with her new horse? In spite of the earlier vow she’d made not to get involved, Julia had to find out why Beth seemed so dejected.

She glanced at Nick, a question in her eyes, and his helpless shrug brought her to a decision. “I came out to tell you that I put on a fresh pot of coffee and there’s a pitcher of lemonade in the fridge. It’s getting warm out here so I thought maybe the two of you would like something to drink.”

“That would be great.” Nick didn’t hesitate to take Julia up on the offer. “I’ll give you a hand.”

“Beth? What about you?” Julia asked.

In response to her question, she received a halfhearted shrug.

Julia waited until she and Nick were out of earshot. “What’s the matter?”

Nick shook his head. “I’m not sure. Beth could hardly sleep last night, she was so excited. She woke me up at six-thirty raring to go, but when we got here, it was almost like she…shut down or something. She talked to Star and gave her a treat but that was it. I can’t even convince Beth to brush her.” Frustration leaked into Nick’s voice but Julia sensed it was aimed at himself rather than his daughter.

“Is it possible that Beth is afraid of her?” she ventured.

“Afraid?” Nick repeated the word as if it hadn’t crossed his mind. “No. She has an entire library of books about horses. How to groom them. How to take care of them. How to saddle and bridle them. Braid their manes and tails. Everything.”

“But has she ever actually
done
those things?” Julia asked patiently.

Nick stepped ahead of her and held the door open. “Sure. The day camp she attended last summer offered trail rides for the girls.”

Julia could guess what that experience had been like. To save time, the counselors would have had the animals all saddled and ready to go. Then the seasoned trail horses would fall in line, single file, down a path so familiar it would be like sleepwalking.

“No matter how much Beth loves horses, their size can still be intimidating to someone her age,” Julia said carefully. “She doesn’t know Star well enough to trust her yet. And vice versa. When it comes to horses, trust is a two-way street.”

Nick blew out a sigh. “Any suggestions?”

Julia hesitated. She had plenty of suggestions—she just wasn’t sure she could share them. Not without breaking her rule.

Are you trying to tell me something, God?

She silently raised the question with an equal blend of frustration and humor. She’d opened her heart to His leading the day before and already He was taking her to places she wasn’t sure she was ready to go.

“Why don’t you take a glass of lemonade to Beth? I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Concern, and a touch of disappointment, skimmed through Nick’s eyes but he nodded.

Julia sagged against the counter as the door shut softly behind him.

“I’m not sure I can do this, Lord,” she whispered.

It was the second time her thoughts had instinctively turned toward God. The moment she whispered the words, Julia felt an immediate peace as a quiet voice seemed to echo through her soul.

I’ll help you.

“Do you want to put Star’s halter on and walk her around the yard?” Nick handed Beth a glass of lemonade and propped one booted foot against the fence rail.

“I don’t know.” The tears welled up again.

Nick was at a loss. “It’s going to be difficult for you and Star to get acquainted with a fence between you,” he pointed out gently.

“I know.” Beth’s miserable gaze strayed to Star, who lifted inquisitive ears in their direction.

“Is Star ready for her day at the spa?” A voice sang out. Familiar and yet…not.

Nick turned and saw Julia. It was, he decided, a good thing one of his feet was hooked over the fence rail or he might have fallen over.

The Julia striding up to them had traded in her pristine khaki slacks and cashmere sweater for a pair of figure-hugging jeans and a faded cotton T-shirt. Scuffed, knee-high riding boots replaced the expensive shoes she usually wore and a ball cap covered her tawny hair.

She looked…beautiful.

Beth’s eyes widened at the transformation but she recovered more quickly than Nick. “Spa treatment?”

“Sure.” Julia’s engaging smile surfaced. “We’ll give Star the Wind River Farm special. Bath. Shampoo. Pedicure. The whole works.”

“Cool!” Beth dashed toward the barn but Nick caught up to Julia and snagged her elbow.

“You don’t have to do this,” he murmured. “I know that you’re…you know.”

Her expression closed. “I’m what?”

She was going to make him say it. “Afraid of horses.”

“Afraid of horses.”

“I saw your face yesterday. You looked like you were about to pass out. It may take a few days but I can make some phone calls and get someone to come out and show Beth what to do.”

“I appreciate your concern, Nick, but I’ll be fine.”

Unconvinced, Nick searched her face, looking for the signs of fear he’d seen the day before. Instead he saw something that looked a lot like…laughter.

“W
hat is this called?” Julia held up a metal tool for Beth’s inspection.

“A hoof pick,” she responded instantly.

“Right.” Julia smiled in approval. Nick had been right. Beth did know a lot about caring for horses. All she needed was the confidence to apply that knowledge.

It helped that Star patiently accepted their efforts. As Julia suspected she would, the mare soaked up all the attention like a tilled garden during a summer shower. The espresso-brown eyes drifted shut in a state of absolute bliss as Julia took a shedding blade and scraped away what remained of the horse’s shaggy winter coat. And she stood perfectly still while they undertook the painstaking process of removing the burrs from her mane and tail.

As the morning progressed, Beth turned out to be a willing pupil, eager to learn how to care for the horse herself.

“And what do you need to do when you’re cleaning out the hooves?” Julia asked.

“Be careful not to hurt the frog.”

“She has a frog in her foot?”

Julia started at the sound of Nick’s voice. Not that she’d forgotten he was there. That proved to be impossible considering he hadn’t been more than two or three feet away from her for most of the morning. Not surprisingly, he was as gentle and patient with Star as he was with his daughter.

Several times, Julia had felt his gaze settle on her but she’d been careful not to make eye contact. Too dangerous. She’d seen the questions in his eyes when she’d retrieved her old grooming bucket from the tack room, but fortunately they’d been so busy that he hadn’t had the chance to voice any of them.

She still couldn’t believe he’d thought she was afraid of horses.

Tell him.

Julia shook the thought away. She couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Beth giggled. “The frog is part of the hoof, Dad.”

“I think you’ll have to lend me some of those books you have.” Their eyes met over Beth’s head and Nick winked at her. Julia felt the impact clear down to her toes.

Flustered, she knelt down, talking to Star in a reassuring voice as she ran her hand down one fetlock. The horse obediently picked up her foot.

“Good girl.”

In response to Julia’s praise, Star swung her head around and gently lipped Julia’s hair.

“Hey, none of that now,” she admonished.

Nick chuckled. “She must like the smell of jasmine.”

He recognized the scent she wore? Julia’s heart skipped a few beats. She flinched and Star’s ears flattened at the sudden movement. Giving the horse’s flank a quick, reassuring pat, she rose to her feet, praying that the muscles in her leg would cooperate. She didn’t want to end up falling into Nick’s arms.

Or did she?

“Beth—” Julia pushed the word out. “I’ve got some clean rags in the tack room. Could you get them? I think we’re almost finished here.” At least
she
was.

“Sure.” Beth obeyed in a flash.

Julia immediately realized her mistake. Now she was alone with Nick.

Before he could ask the questions she’d seen lingering in his eyes all morning, Julia took hold of Star’s halter and led her toward the stable door. “I’ll turn her out for a while. She’ll dry off faster in the sunlight.”

Don’t follow me.

Nick followed her.

“Here you go, girl. Enjoy the sunshine.” Julia found it much easier to talk to the horse than to Nick. Apparently she hadn’t changed as much as she’d thought! Why that surprised her, she didn’t know. Her equine companions had always seemed more accepting than her human ones.

“Julia.” The husky scrape of Nick’s voice sent a shiver up her arms, put all the nerve endings in her body on red alert. “Thank you. I seem to be saying that a lot lately, don’t I? But—”

Julia didn’t wait for him to finish the sentence. She ducked past him and heard his huff of frustration. It made her move faster. “Beth must be having trouble finding the rags. I better help her.”

There was no sign of the girl in the tack room but a knot formed in Julia’s stomach when she saw another door standing wide open.

“I’m in here!”

There was no mistaking the excitement in Beth’s voice. Which caused a second knot to form in Julia’s stomach. She swallowed hard and entered the room, knowing exactly what she’d see inside.

Nick, who’d followed her—again—stopped short in the doorway.

“Who won all these trophies?” Beth pointed to the glass cases lining the walls.

Out of the corner of her eye, Julia saw the expression of disbelief on Nick’s face. Somehow, that made it even more difficult to tell the truth. Not that she had a choice now.

“I did.”

I did.

The words barely registered over the rushing sound in Nick’s head. His emotions shifting to autopilot, he walked into the spacious room. With its leather furniture and paneled walls, it looked more like the kind of comfortable, well-appointed office a person would find in a home rather than a barn.

Beth pointed to a framed photograph above the sofa. “Is this your horse, Julia?”

Instead of denying it, as Nick expected her to, Julia gave a curt nod.

“What’s her name?”

For a moment, Nick didn’t think she would answer. And then, “Her registered name was A Midsummer Night’s Dream but her barn name was Summer.”

“Where is she now?”

“Beth?” Nick jumped into the conversation when he saw Julia pale. “It’s time to clean up, remember?”

Beth took one look at Julia’s stricken expression and realized her mistake. “Okay.”

“How about giving Star a treat for being so patient during her bath?” Nick fished a carrot stick out of his pocket. “We’ll be right there.”

Beth slanted a worried look at Julia before she picked up the grain bucket and headed for the door.

Nick knew he should follow Beth and let Julia shut the door on her past, but he stepped closer to get a better view of the photograph instead.

Wearing a stylish tuxedo jacket, tan riding breeches and knee-high boots, Julia looked perfectly at ease astride an ebony horse. Her honey-blond hair framed features that were slightly younger. Softer. But it was the expression on Julia’s face that Nick couldn’t tear his gaze away from.

She looked happy. As if there wasn’t anywhere she’d rather be.

All morning he’d been quietly amazed at the ease with which Julia handled both Star and his daughter. She’d known exactly what to do…as if she’d done it a thousand times. Now he knew why.

He shook his head. “No wonder you laughed at me for thinking you were afraid of horses.”

“I didn’t laugh.”

Nick gave her a skeptical glance. “Maybe not on the outside.”

A ghost of a smile touched her lips. “Like I told Beth—it was a long time ago.” She shrugged. “A lifetime ago.”

“But—”

“I used to ride. I don’t anymore. End of story.” Without a backward glance—at him or the reminders of her past—Julia slipped from the room.

Nick knew it wasn’t the end of the story. But would she ever trust him enough to tell it?