Read Online Second Chances by Cheyenne Meadows - Free Book Online
Authors: Cheyenne Meadows
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over by a feather when the filly nuzzled
his chest, as if asking for more. Her spirit soared seeing the huge step a
single day made with Miracle and a man who knew horses like he knew his own
body.
“There’s
a long way to go. But, with a bucket of feed, some space and understanding,
she’ll come around.” He carried containers of feed from stall to stall, passing
out dinner to the animals.
“You’re
amazing. I’ll have to email Lois to let her know. She’ll be thrilled. After
all, she sang your praises before.”
Dusty
went about his work, not bothering to comment. Obviously, praise made him
uncomfortable judging by the way he clammed up each time she complimented him
on a deed. The realization bothered her, but she told herself with time, he’d
learn to accept some well earned recognition. She wasn’t going anywhere, nor
were her horses.
“Did
you hear about the fires down in Madison County?”
“Yeah.
It’s a perfect storm. Drought, high winds, and plenty of fuel in the form of
dried out pastures and trees.” He headed toward her horses, two buckets of feed
in hand. Speaking softly, he slid along the front wall, keeping the grain
between him and Miracle. Her ears twitched, but she made no attempt at
aggression. Instead, she lipped a bite, then dove in once he settled her bucket
into place.
“Think
it will head this way?” She rubbed the nose of Tansy, and then held out the
bucket so the little foal could eat without having to compete with her mother.
“No
telling.”
“Have
you ever seen this area burn?”
He
shook his head. “I’ve only been here for three years, so I can’t really say.”
She
blinked. Since everyone she asked knew Dusty, she figured he’d lived there all
his life. “Oh, I thought you were from around here.”
“No.”
He
didn’t elaborate, which meant she’d stumbled into yet another topic he didn’t
care to pursue. Trying to pry information out of this man was like trying to
sneak a giant 747 plane down Main Street. Simply wasn’t happening.
“Where
did you grow up, then?”
He
continued with his chores. “Wyoming.”
“Does
your family still live there?” she persisted, but then bit her lip as she saw
tension envelop the man. His steps became a bit stiffer, his mouth tightened.
She’d definitely stumbled across a taboo subject. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so
nosey.”
He
carried one more bucket and re-emerged from the far stall, not bothering to
look her direction.
Weight
settled on her shoulders. Way to go. He’d
started to act friendly, but her big mouth clammed him right up.
She
quickly changed the subject, hoping to coax him into speaking once more. “Do
you ride your horses much? I’ve seen the saddles, but haven’t seen you ride.”
“Yeah.”
One word answer. Wonderful. Yet,
better than nothing. “I
haven’t seen any other boarders come in. Do they show up very often?”
He
opened a can of dog food and poured the contents out, then mixed in some pieces
of dry food. Ben wagged his tail and dug in. “Now and again. When the weather
is bad, too hot, or too cold, they tend to stay away. Same reason I haven’t
been riding. Way too hot for the horses to do much more than try to find a cool
spot in the shade.”
The
open and airy stable wasn’t bad in temperature, although she imagined the
horses preferred standing under the trees, making use of any breeze that came
their way, while grazing. A score of windows on either side of the building
encouraged a cross wind while several fans had been tacked up near the stalls.
She hadn’t seen them on before, but knew if one of the animals showed signs of
getting way too warm, Dusty wouldn’t hesitate to flick a button and send air
rushing their direction.
The
filly lipped up the last bit of grain and nudged the bucket for more. April
grinned, rubbed the baby’s face, and slipped out of the stall. After placing
both empty buckets back near the feed sacks, she wandered over to a nearby
his chest, as if asking for more. Her spirit soared seeing the huge step a
single day made with Miracle and a man who knew horses like he knew his own
body.
“There’s
a long way to go. But, with a bucket of feed, some space and understanding,
she’ll come around.” He carried containers of feed from stall to stall, passing
out dinner to the animals.
“You’re
amazing. I’ll have to email Lois to let her know. She’ll be thrilled. After
all, she sang your praises before.”
Dusty
went about his work, not bothering to comment. Obviously, praise made him
uncomfortable judging by the way he clammed up each time she complimented him
on a deed. The realization bothered her, but she told herself with time, he’d
learn to accept some well earned recognition. She wasn’t going anywhere, nor
were her horses.
“Did
you hear about the fires down in Madison County?”
“Yeah.
It’s a perfect storm. Drought, high winds, and plenty of fuel in the form of
dried out pastures and trees.” He headed toward her horses, two buckets of feed
in hand. Speaking softly, he slid along the front wall, keeping the grain
between him and Miracle. Her ears twitched, but she made no attempt at
aggression. Instead, she lipped a bite, then dove in once he settled her bucket
into place.
“Think
it will head this way?” She rubbed the nose of Tansy, and then held out the
bucket so the little foal could eat without having to compete with her mother.
“No
telling.”
“Have
you ever seen this area burn?”
He
shook his head. “I’ve only been here for three years, so I can’t really say.”
She
blinked. Since everyone she asked knew Dusty, she figured he’d lived there all
his life. “Oh, I thought you were from around here.”
“No.”
He
didn’t elaborate, which meant she’d stumbled into yet another topic he didn’t
care to pursue. Trying to pry information out of this man was like trying to
sneak a giant 747 plane down Main Street. Simply wasn’t happening.
“Where
did you grow up, then?”
He
continued with his chores. “Wyoming.”
“Does
your family still live there?” she persisted, but then bit her lip as she saw
tension envelop the man. His steps became a bit stiffer, his mouth tightened.
She’d definitely stumbled across a taboo subject. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so
nosey.”
He
carried one more bucket and re-emerged from the far stall, not bothering to
look her direction.
Weight
settled on her shoulders. Way to go. He’d
started to act friendly, but her big mouth clammed him right up.
She
quickly changed the subject, hoping to coax him into speaking once more. “Do
you ride your horses much? I’ve seen the saddles, but haven’t seen you ride.”
“Yeah.”
One word answer. Wonderful. Yet,
better than nothing. “I
haven’t seen any other boarders come in. Do they show up very often?”
He
opened a can of dog food and poured the contents out, then mixed in some pieces
of dry food. Ben wagged his tail and dug in. “Now and again. When the weather
is bad, too hot, or too cold, they tend to stay away. Same reason I haven’t
been riding. Way too hot for the horses to do much more than try to find a cool
spot in the shade.”
The
open and airy stable wasn’t bad in temperature, although she imagined the
horses preferred standing under the trees, making use of any breeze that came
their way, while grazing. A score of windows on either side of the building
encouraged a cross wind while several fans had been tacked up near the stalls.
She hadn’t seen them on before, but knew if one of the animals showed signs of
getting way too warm, Dusty wouldn’t hesitate to flick a button and send air
rushing their direction.
The
filly lipped up the last bit of grain and nudged the bucket for more. April
grinned, rubbed the baby’s face, and slipped out of the stall. After placing
both empty buckets back near the feed sacks, she wandered over to a nearby
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