Lauraine Snelling (21 page)

“Eddie!” Maria failed to trap the giggle that lent truth to Eddie’s burst of information.

Maggie changed the subject. “What verbal commands do you use with the horse you were riding, Eddie?”

Maria shot her a glance chock-full of gratitude. Maggie nodded. This would be between them, after all there was no one for her to tell anyway. Surely Mr. Winters already knew about it.

“I tell him to walk, to back, to trot, stop, and over. Since I can use the reins—some of the riders can’t you know—I don’t have to use left and right and not really halt either, unless he is backing up.”

“When you first started riding . . .”

“The aides had to hold me on.” He shook his head. “But not anymore. Carly says I am one of her best riders.”

“You have good posture and balance.”

“Sometimes my balance isn’t so good. I almost fell off not long ago. I was careless.”

Maggie admired the way he didn’t try to blame anyone else or the horse for his near accident. This was an unusual boy for sure. Would Charlie have been this brave? She pushed the thought away, knowing that one of these days she was going to have to take out all these buried thoughts and memories and deal with them.

“Can Bonnie come with us to the barn?” Eddie asked as they parked in the driveway.

“Let me check on dinner. Then we go down.” Maria smiled at Maggie. “We not be long.”

Maggie strolled to the barn, hands in her pockets, enjoying the air that hinted at the crisp feel of autumn. While September clung to summer, the nights welcomed the coming change.

After greeting Breaking Free, she set the wheelbarrow in front of the stall and forked out the manure, then emptied the wheelbarrow, talking with the horse all the time. She leaned the wheelbarrow against the stall wall and turned to Breaking Free, who was watching the trio, Eddie in his chair, his father and dog, with forward pricked ears. “Easy, fella, they are friends.” She stroked his bloodred neck and patted his shoulder.

Gil and Bonnie stopped when the horse snorted.

“Just give him time. He had a hard time with some men, and sometimes he still overreacts. Next time bring him treats. He loves carrots, apples, and hard peppermint candies.”

“Peppermint candies?”

“I know, but he likes the sweetness and the crunch.”

“I told you, Dad.” Eddie dug in his dog treat bag and palmed a candy for Breaking Free, who took it without taking his gaze from the dog.

“Something like you, eh Bonnie.” Gil leaned down and petted the dog who sat right beside him. Bonnie and the horse stared at each other, both extending their noses and sniffing the air.

Both horse and dog leaned forward, Breaking Free taking first one step and then another. Bonnie looked up at Gil and whined, her tail swishing the hard-packed dirt aisle.

“Bring her closer, let’s see how they do.” Maggie clamped a hand on the halter snapped to the cross ties.

Bonnie kept her attention on the horse as she moved closer, her black nose quivering as she sorted through all the scents in the barn.

“Bonnie, sit.” Eddie spoke gently and Bonnie planted her butt on the ground, her tail sweeping away bits of hay and shavings.

Maggie watched the horse. “He must have had a dog friend before. Look at the way he’s acting.” She patted Breaking Free’s neck. “Will she come if I tell her to?”

“I don’t know, ask her.”

“Bonnie, come.” Maggie said.

Bonnie looked over her shoulder to Gil, and when he told her to go, she walked up to Maggie and stopped right in front of the horse. Breaking Free lowered his head and sniffed the dog. Nose to nose, the two sniffed. When the horse raised his head, Bonnie sat up on her haunches, her nose still reaching toward the horse.

“She can sit up? I didn’t know bassets could sit up.”

“She’s a member of the sitter-upper club. Taught herself just because she is so curious. Like right now.” Eddie’s laugh made Bonnie give him a quick look, then her head turned back to the horse.

Breaking Free lowered his head again, and Bonnie gave his nose a quick lick. The horse snorted, and the dog shook her head.

“See, Dad, I told you they’d be friends.”

“He had to have known a dog, that’s all.” Maggie leaned down and patted Bonnie. “You two are something else.” She unsnapped the lead shanks and led Breaking Free back into his clean stall and slid the hasp in place. “That was amazing.”

TWENTY-ONE

A
rerun of the pacing and discussion with the attorney over Sandra and Maggie had continued through his dreams right on into his waking. Instead of dissipating, the anger had dug in, taking up residence.

“Dad?”

He whirled around at the sound of his son’s voice. “Hey, sport, good morning.”

“Is something wrong?”

He sighed. He needed to work off his frustration away from the house. “Nothing that you need to be concerned about. Is breakfast ready?”

“Yeah, Maria said to call you.”

Gil crossed the room and ruffled his son’s hair. “Let’s go eat then.” At least Eddie seemed to be over his bad temper. One out of two was a good start.

As soon as he’d eaten, Eddie headed for the door.

Gil laid his paper down. “Where are you going?”

“To the barn to see Breaking Free.”

“Wait until I finish.”

“But then we have to leave for school.”

Tell him
. Sometimes his thoughts got in the way. He heaved a sigh. “Eddie, remember I said I don’t want you going to the barn alone.”

“But Maggie is there.”

That’s the whole point. How to explain this without sounding like a total ogre. “I know. But until she’s been here longer, I want either Maria or me to be with you.”

Eddie narrowed his eyes and glared at his father. “This is more of that last night stuff, isn’t it?”

“Give me a break, Eddie. I’ve got a lot of stuff I have to work out.” What he meant to sound like a plea came out as a growl.

Eddie glared again. “Do you mind if I take Bonnie out?”

Gil rubbed his forehead. “No, go right ahead.”

“Does she have to stay away from the barn too?”

“Yes.” His tone snapped, and Eddie spun his wheelchair and out the door he went, Bonnie right at his wheels.

Sensing Maria’s displeasure, he looked up to catch a frown. “You know the rules.”

“I know. Eddie not to be alone with Maggie. But you tell him why?”

“No, and right now I don’t plan to.”
Like I don’t plan to tell him about his mother and both these things are likely to come back and bite me on the behind, but I don’t know what else to do at the moment
. He shoved his chair back and grabbed his car keys from the counter. “I’ll get the car out.” He figured he should probably turn on the heater for the drive to school since the temperature in the van was definitely frigid.

When they reached the school parking lot and Eddie had lowered himself to the sidewalk, Gil handed him his backpack. “Have a good day, Eddie.”
And please cut your dad some slack.

“Yeah, you too.” But the glare said Eddie wished him anything but.

That afternoon Gil watched Maggie working with Breaking Free and Eddie, teaching him how to groom his horse from his wheelchair, not that Eddie could reach very high. But she made Breaking Free lower his head so Eddie could brush his face and forelock. Seeing his son laughing and happy brought such joy to his heart that it felt like bursting, especially after the grumpy morning. While Eddie loved riding at Rescue Ranch, he was right here, in his own home, with his own horse. And a woman who seemed to bring out the best in both of them. When Maggie handed out carrots, she gave one to Bonnie too.

“Dad, did you know Maria is going on a date with Enrico?” Eddie asked during dinner, which was served inside the kitchen instead of on the patio since the evening had chilled off when the sun went down.

“No, I knew she was going out.” Gil turned to smile at Maria as she brought her famous enchiladas to the table. “So, you have a date?”

“No, no, just two friends going to a movie.” She motioned for Eddie to pass his plate, but she didn’t look him in the eye and the blush showed even in her dusky skin.

“Two
old
friends?” Gil and Eddie swapped teasing grins.

“You no want me to go?” A few words in Spanish followed.

“Now, did I say that? Maria, of course I want you to go, but I think I should give you some advice. As your employer, you know?” He had to bite back a laugh at the consternation on her face.

He glanced at his watch. “First, you should be home by ten.”

Maria arched an eyebrow. With the dimple showing in her right cheek, he knew she was on to his game. “You want me to take along a duenna?”

“Well, perhaps that—”

A spate of Spanish too fast for him to translate made Eddie laugh. “What did she say?”

Eddie had learned Spanish along with his breakfast cereal. “She said she is forty-one years old and has never been on a date so if you want to go along, she will find a sitter for me.”

Gil looked up at Maria as she laid his plate in front of him. “Very good, Maria. It is hard to get one on you.”

“No more advice?”

Guard your heart
? “You want me to run a background check on him, make sure he is honorable in his dealings?”

Maria shook her head, rolled her eyes, and sat down with her plate. “Please pass the guacamole.”

After Maria left, he and Eddie played a game on the Xbox where Eddie beat him soundly. While helping his son get ready for bed, he ran his new rules through his head. How to say them without sounding like a jerk was the problem.

With Eddie in bed, he sat on the edge. “Eddie, I’m having trouble figuring out how to say some things, so please be patient with me, all right?”

“About Maggie?”

Gil nodded. “I know I’m repeating myself, but I don’t want you at the barn without Maria or me along. Not for forever but until we see how this whole situation is going to work out.” He watched his son’s face tighten. “Please.”

“Maggie wouldn’t hurt me.”

I hope you’re right, but I’m not taking any chances
. Gil sighed. “And secondly, please don’t answer the phone until I tell you it is all right.” He held up his hands. “It is not that you’ve not done a good job with the phone. But I’ve gotten some strange calls lately and . . .”

“Obscene?”

“No. But two rules aren’t a lot, you know.”
And please don’t ask me for more information.

“All right. But you said . . .”

“I know what I’ve said, and I know what I’m saying. Promise?”

“I promise, but I don’t like it.” Eddie clamped both arms across his chest.

“That’s good enough.” Gil leaned forward and kissed his son’s forehead. “Good night.”

“We didn’t say prayers.”

“Oh, sorry.” He listened while Eddie thanked God for Breaking Free and blessed his family.

“And please take care of Maria, amen.”

Lord, yes, please take care of Maria and all the rest of this mess
. “Night.”

Later that night he was about to leave his office and head for an hour of reading in bed when the phone rang.

“Gil Winters.”

“Whatever happened to hello?”

He recognized the voice immediately, sucked in a deep and calming breath, and forced himself to answer politely. “Hello, Sandra.”

“I hoped we could chat a bit about our son.”

“Our son? You signed away all rights to my son years ago, or perhaps you’ve forgotten.”

“No, Gil, I’ve never forgotten. I’ve lived to regret that decision every day of my life.”

Was that true regret he heard in her voice? Sorrow? “You’ve never regretted cashing the checks I send every month.”

“Please, please don’t be nasty. I know I’ve not been a good mother, but I would like to make amends. You lecture on the value of making amends and I—I was hoping you could extend that graciousness to me.”

“How do you know what I lecture on?”

“A friend of mine gave me one of your tape sets. Hearing you speak like that, about making changes in one’s life, gave me the courage to call you.”

He leaned back and stared at the ceiling. What could he say?

“All I want to do is see Eddie, get to know him, and let him get to know me. Surely you can afford to allow me that little privilege.” Her voice sounded so sincere. Was he wrong in prohibiting contact with her? “Haven’t I paid enough for my youthful mistakes?”

Gil sighed. “Let me think on this, and I’ll get back to you in a couple of days.”

“Oh, Gil, you’ll never regret it. Thank you.”

After he hung up the phone he stared at the framed picture of Eddie on the wall. They’d taken it shortly after Bonnie came to live with them. She had her front paws on the seat of the wheelchair and was kissing Eddie’s chin. You could hear his laughter just by looking at the picture. What would be the best for his son? That was all that mattered.

TWENTY-TWO

T
he next morning Maggie started her training at Rescue Ranch. After a tour of the two arenas, the round pen, the horse barn, and viewing the corrals and pastures, Carly showed her the specialized tack, mounting blocks, and other aids developed for the benefit of disabled people of all ages who rode to gain or regain far more than just physical agility.

“The very action of the walking horse works muscle groups that are not used by most sedentary people,” Carly explained. “And the more the body improves, the more the mental and emotional facets of our riders improve. They learn that they can do something physical but even beyond that, there is a gentleness and caring from the horses themselves that brings out the best in both our riders and our volunteers. Horses have a healing quality about them.”

“I realized that at Los Lomas when the women started working with the Thoroughbreds. The horses came to us for care, and through it we received healing. I saw one hard-core woman sobbing on the neck of her horse. She’d never ever felt as accepted as she did with him, and when he followed her around the round pen after the joining up exercise, she lit up like a torch. I felt the same way when Breaking Free came to me.”

Carly nodded and smiled. “Horses break down barriers that people don’t even realize they’ve put up.” She walked toward the closest arena where two horses were being walked, one person leading, one riding, and two on either side. “All of our volunteers take classroom training to be able to recognize when a person who can’t talk is in distress and how to help the rider mount, get firmly seated, and dismount. They get to know the personalities of each horse. They learn about order, a routine, all those things that people with handicaps need to succeed.”