Jill Kemerer - Reunited With The Bull Rider

All the brightly colored fabrics, the work tables, sewing machines and art supplies were sure to please the girl. She’d plan a few simple crafts for them to do.

“You don’t have to work at three?” He frowned.

“No, I hired a high school girl to work afternoons.”

“Tuesday and Thursday then. Listen, Ruby is shy around...well, everyone. She might have a hard time being in a strange place without me.”

“You could go to The Beanery after you drop her off. If she gets upset, we’ll join you and get a hot cocoa or something.”

“That might work.” His face cleared, and his shoulders relaxed. “Does this mean you’ll make a final decision next week?”

“Do you really want me to spend time with Ruby? Or do you feel cornered into it?”

“I want Ruby to trust other people. I mean, she’ll be going to school soon, and I don’t want her scared of her teachers. Would it be easier on me if someone else was her mentor? Yeah. But I’m grateful you’re willing to try. She needs more than I alone can give her.”

So having a different mentor would be easier on him, huh? She bit back a nasty retort. The insecurity in his eyes pacified her irritation. Her decision wasn’t about Nash anyway. It was about trusting God even when the circumstances didn’t make sense. She’d always wondered if she would step up and take care of an enemy if put into the position of being a Good Samaritan.

She’d regret it if she didn’t at least try to help Ruby.

“Then, yes, let’s see how the visits go, and I’ll give you a firm answer next week.”

* * *

“Wade’s delivering my horses soon.” Nash sat in a white rocking chair on his front porch Tuesday afternoon. Clint Romine, one of his best friends, sat next to him in an identical chair. Ruby was picking pasqueflowers from the yard. He still had a little time before he had to take her to Amy’s place. He had no idea how their meeting would go, but he feared the worst. Those early visits with her at the foster home had been terrible. But maybe Ruby was in a better mental place now. He hoped so.

“How long has it been since you’ve ridden Crank?”

“Four months. I’m itching to saddle up. Could ride for days, I think, and I’d still feel as restless as a mountain lion.”

“You’ve been traveling the circuit since we graduated high school. Of course you’re restless.” Clint lived outside of Sweet Dreams with his pretty new bride, Lexi, who happened to be Amy’s best friend. Another complication Nash didn’t know how to handle. Would his move back to Sweet Dreams be awkward for Clint and Lexi, given how he’d treated Amy years ago? He’d worry about it another day.

Nash sighed. “I’ve got to figure out what I’m going to do now that I’m here.”

Clint stared ahead, slowly rocking. How could he sit there so calmly? Nash was about to bust out of his rocker. He didn’t care if the decorator claimed the chairs cozied up the porch; they made him feel like a grandpa. A sprint up the drive would go a long way to helping him let off some steam. But the sad truth was he couldn’t sprint if he tried. His body had been so beaten up and battered that he had trouble even jogging.

“Thinking about ranching?” Clint asked.

“No.”

“Breeding horses? Wade could help with that.”

“Maybe.” He stood and paced the porch, his movements choppy. “I’ve been thinking about something different. I’m not sure it would work.”

“What’s that?”

He stopped at the column nearest Clint and leaned against the railing. “I might open a training facility. For young bull riders.”

Clint considered it a moment. “I could see it.”

“But I don’t have the experience to teach kids.”

“What are you talking about?” Clint laughed. “You have more experience in your pinky finger than anyone I know.”

“Yeah, but that’s riding bulls. Not teaching kids to ride them.”

“You’d be great. What would you need?”

“Steers. Bulls. A practice arena. Chutes. Equipment. Insurance—a lot of insurance.”

“There you go.”

“But knowing what I’ve been through, do I want to encourage kids to follow in my footsteps? You know the injuries I’ve sustained. And I was fortunate.”

“It’s a dilemma, that’s for sure. I guess you’ll have to pray on it.”

Last year, Clint’s response about praying on it would have annoyed Nash. But after he’d had a string of bad rides and broken his ankle and ribs for the umpteenth time, he’d spent a few months at Wade’s secluded ranch—a thirty-minute drive from Sweet Dreams—and gotten right with his Maker. He prayed about everything now.

“Will you pray about it, too, brother?” Nash asked.

“Of course.” Clint rose, nodding toward Ruby. “How’s she doing?”

“Better than I expected. When I first met her, she was so skinny her bones pushed against her skin. She was terrified. Skittish.” He shivered thinking about her back then. “I’m really sorry I missed your wedding, man. I never would have—”

“Don’t say a word, Nash.” Clint shook his head. “I understand. I would have been furious if you’d have come to the wedding when you found out about Ruby. She needed you.”

Ruby approached, eyeing Clint with distrust and avoiding him. She thrust a bouquet of purple blooms in Nash’s hands.

“For me? Well, RuRu, these are the purdiest flowers I’ve ever seen. Thank you kindly.” He winked at her. “And don’t worry about Clint here. He’s one of my best buds. We lived together when we were teens. You’ll meet my other friends, Wade and Marshall, soon enough.”

Ruby hid behind his leg. He knew her well enough to assume her gaze was fixed on Clint.

“I’ve got to be going.” Clint tipped his Stetson to Ruby. “Good to meet you. Maybe your dad will bring you out to the ranch sometime. We have lots of horses and cows and dogs. You like dogs?”

No answer. Thankfully, Clint didn’t seem to need one.

“Thanks for coming.” Nash clapped him on the back. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“Bye.” Clint waved and ambled to his truck.

“Well, what do you say we get these in some water before we head over to Miss Amy’s?” Her eyes had questions—a lot of questions—but he couldn’t read her mind. “What’s wrong? You’re worried about something. I can tell.”

He opened the door for her, and they went to the kitchen, putting the flowers in a mason jar with water.

“You a little scared of her?” He boosted her to sit on the counter.

“No.”

“What is it? You can tell me anything.”

“How long do I have to stay?”

He smiled at her lisp whenever she said her s ’s.

“You don’t have to stay at all. But if you want to, you’ll be there for one hour. And I’ll be three stores down, slurping coffee. You and Amy can join me if you want, but I’d like for you to give her place a try without me first.”

She gulped, her eyes wide and fearful. “One hour? How much is that?”

He almost laughed. He’d forgotten that little kids didn’t have a strong sense of time. He pointed to his watch. “When this small hand goes all the way around once, an hour has passed. Maybe you need a watch of your own. We can order one for you. But right now, we’ve got to skedaddle if we want to be on time.”

He picked her up, grabbed his keys and carried her to the garage. After strapping her into her car seat, he backed out and drove toward town. Despite the assurances he’d given Ruby, he had a bad feeling about this visit. Ruby already seemed fearful. What if she made a scene at Amy’s? If she did, he wouldn’t be able to leave her there, and then Amy would back out.