Read Online Safely Home by Ruth Logan Herne - Free Book Online Page A

owner decided he wasn’t worth the time or money to rehabilitate.”
    “Moron.” Without glancing at her own leg, Cress’s sympathy for the tall ruddy Standardbred grew . “How old is he?”
    “Six.”
    “So young.”
    “Yup.”
    “And no one wants him?”
    Audra shrugged. “You want a wake-up call, check the online sites for horse rescue. They’re everywhere. Like you said before, horses are expensive and time consuming. You have people who love them and are willing to sacrifice the time and money—”
    “Or have the time and money,” Cress interrupted.
    Audra nodded, one hand trailing the mane of a sorrel mare. “These days you’re either rich and have horses or poor because you have horses. Not much in between.”
    Cress eyed the horse, thinking out loud, “If I came over in the mornings, maybe I could work him for you.”
    Audra looked hopeful but pragmatic. “Gran’s chemo is about to start.”
    Cress nodded. “ Ginny has offered to spell me now and again. Stacey offered too, but she’s not Gran’s favorite person in the world.”
    “ Gran’s too judgmental,” cut in Audra. “I don’t know what would have happened to us if Stacey hadn’t come along and fallen for Dad. He turned things around after he met her in AA.”
    “How nice it would have been if we’d mattered that much.” Gaze out-turned, she wondered if she was the only kid who felt that way.
    “I know.” Audra’s voice softened. Because of the shy horse? Or the topic? Cress wasn’t sure. “But it helped, so that’s what I focus on. We can’t change the past so I grab hold of the future with both hands. As long as it keeps me right here in Watkins Ridge with my own personal petting zoo.”
    “And paying guests.”
    Audra laughed. “That’s the bottom line right there. These days there are lots of folks who just want the simple, sweet goodness of an old-fashioned country setting. Glad to oblige.”
    “I’ll talk to Ginny today. If she can cut me loose now and again, I’ll come over and work the horse.”
    “Sounds good to me. He could use the attention of an experienced, patient rider.”
    “I haven’t had a chance to ride since I left home. I’ve missed it.” She met the gelding’s look across the paddock, reading his emotions. Hurt. Maybe resentful. Kind of sad. Or was she mirroring her feelings onto the animal?
    Audra nodded as a car horn tooted from the front of the house. “That would be great, Cress. I’d sure appreciate it. And it’s good therapy.”
    “For who? Me or the horse?”
    Audra didn’t miss a beat. “Both. Oops, that’s Ashley. Si Grimmer’s wife. She’s watching the quilt-and-candle shop for me this afternoon. I need some time to get dirty out here, and farm labor isn’t always candle-shop-friendly.”
    “Si’s married?”
    “And two kids. Cutest little things I ever did see.”
    The thought that her first boyfriend had grown up, gotten married and sired kids rubbed raw, but it shouldn’t have. Most of her old friends and classmates had done the same while she whiled away her time like Scrooge’s long-suffering girlfriend, waiting for James to announce the time was right and they could move forward.
    In retrospect, that would have been a very bad move, but she took little comfort in the knowledge right now.
    “All right.” Cress turned toward the gate. “I’ll plan on coming by, making friends with my new buddy. Then we’ll play.”
    “Wonderful.” Audra grabbed her in a hug as they drew near Cress’s car. “I’m real glad you’re home, regardless of the reason. And glad that bullet only hit a leg.”
    “I know.” Cress nodded. How many times had Gran sniped that she ought to be counting her blessings? Too many to count. Or maybe she just didn’t want to count that high, for blessings or otherwise. “I’ll try to minimize the pouting.”
    “And whining?”
    Cress smacked her arm. “I don’t whine.”
    Audra maintained a firm vow of silence, earning her another