Read Online The Reluctant Wrangler by Roxann Delaney - Free Book Online
Authors: Roxann Delaney
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look at Nikki, who ducked her head, obviously wishing she hadn’t spoken.
“She’s right,” Tanner agreed. “I had a few glasses of my own when I was his age.” He turned to his nephew. “Okay, Shawn, one glass it is.”
As they were all enjoying the heavy whipped-cream-and-macaroon dessert, the Rocking O ranch foreman arrived. “I heard a rumor that Bridey had fixed Irish Jig,” he explained as he made his way to the last glass.
“You missed the glazed Irish tea cake, Rowdy,” Jules told him with a twinkle in her eye.
He shook his head, his expression serious. “I’m betting Bridey saved me a piece,” he said as a smile spread over his face. “I’ll just take this on out to the barn. There’s a heifer having some digestive trouble, and I don’t want to be gone long.”
Mac set his empty glass on the tray. “I’ll be happy to give you hand, Mr. Thompson.”
A scowl appeared on the older man’s face. “I thought I told you it’s Rowdy, not Mr. Thompson.”
“That you did,” Mac replied, “so in that case, I’ll be happy to give you a hand, Rowdy.”
“No need,” Rowdy said before turning to leave. “I like my quiet time in the barn, and the old girl will be fine by morning. Beth Weston was out earlier and left a tonic.”
Having met the young veterinarian only days after he’d arrived, Mac had found her to be quite knowledgeable about the stock, and he knew the heifer was in good hands with Rowdy. As Bridey returned to the house with the tray of empty glasses, he turned to his hosts. “How can you stand all that great food Bridey feeds you?”
Tanner sat on one of the comfortable lawn chairs, laughing. “I am spoiled. Bridey has been here on theRocking O since I was eight years old. I hardly remember a time she wasn’t cooking up a storm.”
When the others were seated, Jules turned to Nikki. “You’re doing a wonderful job with the boys.”
“Thank you,” Nikki answered with a smile. “I’m enjoying getting to know them. They were hard to get settled down, after the arrival of the new horses and the barbecue tonight. It was so nice of you and Tanner to invite them.”
Jules nodded. “We want them to know that we’re like family here, both at the Bent Tree and the Rocking O.”
“Knowing the boys aren’t accustomed to riding, Dusty and I chose the tamest horses we could find,” Tanner explained. “But riding is only a part of what they do here.”
Nikki replied, but didn’t look directly at him. “I’ve been making sure their schoolwork is done before riding lessons.”
“I may be city bred,” Jules said, “but I know from my own experiences that bonding with an animal, whether it’s a horse, a dog, or whatever, is something everyone should experience, especially these boys. Once they can trust an animal, then they’re more apt to trust humans.”
“And themselves,” Nikki added.
“Of course,” Jules agreed with a knowing nod. “We want the Bent Tree to be a success. Not so much for us, but for the boys who come here. It may take some time for all of us to reach the goals we’ve set, but if we work together, we’ll get there.”
Tanner reached for his wife’s hand and smiled at her. “Jules wants to help as many boys as she can. It’s been a dream of hers for a long time, even before I met her.”
“Which reminds me,” Jules said, turning to Nikki, “there’s a program I’ve heard about that you might find interesting and could benefit the boys. It’s called Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.”
“I’ve heard about it,” Nikki said, nodding.
“It’s only a suggestion,” Jules continued, “but I have some literature you can look through, if you’re interested.”
Nikki nodded. “I’ll be happy to.”
“We’ll talk about it more after you’ve had a chance to look it over,” Jules said. “How did the riding lesson go this morning?”
Nikki smiled. “They can saddle a horse now.”
“A wooden one, at least,” Mac
“She’s right,” Tanner agreed. “I had a few glasses of my own when I was his age.” He turned to his nephew. “Okay, Shawn, one glass it is.”
As they were all enjoying the heavy whipped-cream-and-macaroon dessert, the Rocking O ranch foreman arrived. “I heard a rumor that Bridey had fixed Irish Jig,” he explained as he made his way to the last glass.
“You missed the glazed Irish tea cake, Rowdy,” Jules told him with a twinkle in her eye.
He shook his head, his expression serious. “I’m betting Bridey saved me a piece,” he said as a smile spread over his face. “I’ll just take this on out to the barn. There’s a heifer having some digestive trouble, and I don’t want to be gone long.”
Mac set his empty glass on the tray. “I’ll be happy to give you hand, Mr. Thompson.”
A scowl appeared on the older man’s face. “I thought I told you it’s Rowdy, not Mr. Thompson.”
“That you did,” Mac replied, “so in that case, I’ll be happy to give you a hand, Rowdy.”
“No need,” Rowdy said before turning to leave. “I like my quiet time in the barn, and the old girl will be fine by morning. Beth Weston was out earlier and left a tonic.”
Having met the young veterinarian only days after he’d arrived, Mac had found her to be quite knowledgeable about the stock, and he knew the heifer was in good hands with Rowdy. As Bridey returned to the house with the tray of empty glasses, he turned to his hosts. “How can you stand all that great food Bridey feeds you?”
Tanner sat on one of the comfortable lawn chairs, laughing. “I am spoiled. Bridey has been here on theRocking O since I was eight years old. I hardly remember a time she wasn’t cooking up a storm.”
When the others were seated, Jules turned to Nikki. “You’re doing a wonderful job with the boys.”
“Thank you,” Nikki answered with a smile. “I’m enjoying getting to know them. They were hard to get settled down, after the arrival of the new horses and the barbecue tonight. It was so nice of you and Tanner to invite them.”
Jules nodded. “We want them to know that we’re like family here, both at the Bent Tree and the Rocking O.”
“Knowing the boys aren’t accustomed to riding, Dusty and I chose the tamest horses we could find,” Tanner explained. “But riding is only a part of what they do here.”
Nikki replied, but didn’t look directly at him. “I’ve been making sure their schoolwork is done before riding lessons.”
“I may be city bred,” Jules said, “but I know from my own experiences that bonding with an animal, whether it’s a horse, a dog, or whatever, is something everyone should experience, especially these boys. Once they can trust an animal, then they’re more apt to trust humans.”
“And themselves,” Nikki added.
“Of course,” Jules agreed with a knowing nod. “We want the Bent Tree to be a success. Not so much for us, but for the boys who come here. It may take some time for all of us to reach the goals we’ve set, but if we work together, we’ll get there.”
Tanner reached for his wife’s hand and smiled at her. “Jules wants to help as many boys as she can. It’s been a dream of hers for a long time, even before I met her.”
“Which reminds me,” Jules said, turning to Nikki, “there’s a program I’ve heard about that you might find interesting and could benefit the boys. It’s called Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.”
“I’ve heard about it,” Nikki said, nodding.
“It’s only a suggestion,” Jules continued, “but I have some literature you can look through, if you’re interested.”
Nikki nodded. “I’ll be happy to.”
“We’ll talk about it more after you’ve had a chance to look it over,” Jules said. “How did the riding lesson go this morning?”
Nikki smiled. “They can saddle a horse now.”
“A wooden one, at least,” Mac
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