Read Online Love Inspired August 2014 – Bundle 1 of 2 by Allie Pleiter and Jessica Keller Ruth Logan Herne - Free Book Online
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the Malcolm trailer.
“It’s—”
“He looks like Dillinger.” Jack stared hard at the faded, neglected image of his former
beloved buckskin, Liv’s favorite mount on the ranch.
“He does. Can we—?” She stared up at him, imploring, trying to read the look on his
face. He scrubbed a hand to the back of his neck and faced her direct. “You’re willing
to come work with him? Cater to him? He’ll need lots of time and care, sun and rest,
and we’re in August already.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t sound so sure inside.”
“Well, I am now.” She set her jaw and folded her arms. “Go see Mrs. Malcolm and ask
if she’ll let us take him.”
“We’ll go see her.” He put the emphasis on the plural pronoun. “I can’t jump into
this alone, and if we mess that horse up Joy Malcolm will drive down from Idaho with
a switch to tan my hide. I like my hide just the way it is, thank you. So think hard
before we head over there.”
“I don’t have to think hard, I’ve made my decision.”
“Well, then.” An easy smile spread across Jack’s face, a look that said he’d just
won a battle. He extended a hand her way, a gesture that meant she was on board for
all that helping the horse entailed. “Welcome back to the Double M, little lady.”
She accepted his hand, shook once, hard and firm, but then didn’t squawk when he wrapped
his left hand around her right as they crossed the dusty lot to see Joy Malcolm about
a beat-up horse who needed tender loving care. Her hand felt right and good, melded
with his, and she’d worry about the whys and wherefores later. Because right now,
surrounded by horses, cowboys, trucks, trailers and hot August dust, she felt at peace.
“If we do this,” Jack said, nodding toward the horse tucked in the left fore side
of the Malcolms’ travel rig, “we’ll probably have to eat on the run. We’ll want to
get this guy home and tended without stopping.”
“Front-seat burgers work for me.” She didn’t hesitate as they approached Joy’s rig,
she simply let go of Jack’s hand and moved forward, ready to deal. “Mrs. Malcolm,
your rescue looks a lot like a horse I loved back in the day. Jack and I—” she indicated
Jack with a quick look his way “—would like to take him in, if at all possible. I’m
sure you—”
“Darlin’, if you’re tellin’ me that you and Jack can take this sorry animal and give
him a good home on the Double M, save your breath. I’m sold. I just couldn’t sit back
and ignore him, and I knew Randy was coming to auction. But I’ve got two grandchildren
and six foals on the way, plus cattle to ride herd on. I’m busy enough and maybe this
was just one of those things that was meant to be.”
“You’re sure?” Pleasure rose up within Liv. “You don’t mind us stepping in?”
“Not a bit, and we can load him right now with the fillies you bought. I was tempted
to keep them, such a nice pair, but Randy’s father reminded me that babies take time
and with two daughters due, I needed to pick my battles this year.”
“Thank you!” Liv reached out and hugged the older woman impulsively, wanting to say
so much more, but that would probably seem ridiculous to a staunch ranch wife like
Joy Malcolm.
The older woman surprised her by putting a hand on each side of Liv’s face, then smiling
down at her. “Years ago I found myself by working with a horse like this.” She shrugged
one shoulder toward the faded gelding. “It gave me time to think, time to pray and
time to court Randy’s father.” She smiled and released Liv’s cheeks with a little
pat to her shoulders. “I am often amazed by how God manages to plunk us right in the
middle of where we’re supposed to be when we least expect it, so yes. You take this
horse and love on him all you can before the weather turns sharp. Nothing like healing
together, young lady.”
Her words stirred something
“It’s—”
“He looks like Dillinger.” Jack stared hard at the faded, neglected image of his former
beloved buckskin, Liv’s favorite mount on the ranch.
“He does. Can we—?” She stared up at him, imploring, trying to read the look on his
face. He scrubbed a hand to the back of his neck and faced her direct. “You’re willing
to come work with him? Cater to him? He’ll need lots of time and care, sun and rest,
and we’re in August already.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t sound so sure inside.”
“Well, I am now.” She set her jaw and folded her arms. “Go see Mrs. Malcolm and ask
if she’ll let us take him.”
“We’ll go see her.” He put the emphasis on the plural pronoun. “I can’t jump into
this alone, and if we mess that horse up Joy Malcolm will drive down from Idaho with
a switch to tan my hide. I like my hide just the way it is, thank you. So think hard
before we head over there.”
“I don’t have to think hard, I’ve made my decision.”
“Well, then.” An easy smile spread across Jack’s face, a look that said he’d just
won a battle. He extended a hand her way, a gesture that meant she was on board for
all that helping the horse entailed. “Welcome back to the Double M, little lady.”
She accepted his hand, shook once, hard and firm, but then didn’t squawk when he wrapped
his left hand around her right as they crossed the dusty lot to see Joy Malcolm about
a beat-up horse who needed tender loving care. Her hand felt right and good, melded
with his, and she’d worry about the whys and wherefores later. Because right now,
surrounded by horses, cowboys, trucks, trailers and hot August dust, she felt at peace.
“If we do this,” Jack said, nodding toward the horse tucked in the left fore side
of the Malcolms’ travel rig, “we’ll probably have to eat on the run. We’ll want to
get this guy home and tended without stopping.”
“Front-seat burgers work for me.” She didn’t hesitate as they approached Joy’s rig,
she simply let go of Jack’s hand and moved forward, ready to deal. “Mrs. Malcolm,
your rescue looks a lot like a horse I loved back in the day. Jack and I—” she indicated
Jack with a quick look his way “—would like to take him in, if at all possible. I’m
sure you—”
“Darlin’, if you’re tellin’ me that you and Jack can take this sorry animal and give
him a good home on the Double M, save your breath. I’m sold. I just couldn’t sit back
and ignore him, and I knew Randy was coming to auction. But I’ve got two grandchildren
and six foals on the way, plus cattle to ride herd on. I’m busy enough and maybe this
was just one of those things that was meant to be.”
“You’re sure?” Pleasure rose up within Liv. “You don’t mind us stepping in?”
“Not a bit, and we can load him right now with the fillies you bought. I was tempted
to keep them, such a nice pair, but Randy’s father reminded me that babies take time
and with two daughters due, I needed to pick my battles this year.”
“Thank you!” Liv reached out and hugged the older woman impulsively, wanting to say
so much more, but that would probably seem ridiculous to a staunch ranch wife like
Joy Malcolm.
The older woman surprised her by putting a hand on each side of Liv’s face, then smiling
down at her. “Years ago I found myself by working with a horse like this.” She shrugged
one shoulder toward the faded gelding. “It gave me time to think, time to pray and
time to court Randy’s father.” She smiled and released Liv’s cheeks with a little
pat to her shoulders. “I am often amazed by how God manages to plunk us right in the
middle of where we’re supposed to be when we least expect it, so yes. You take this
horse and love on him all you can before the weather turns sharp. Nothing like healing
together, young lady.”
Her words stirred something
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