Despite her fears, Morgan saddled up one of the boarded horses that needed to be exercised and headed for the trails that surrounded the property. The irony wasn’t lost on her that the horse she chose to ride was named Anxious Heart.
She could see a trail that looked like it led in a wide arc around the property with very little brush to obscure her view of the stable and outbuildings. She’d be able to see someone coming toward her from a long way off. She’d have time to get back to relative safety of the stable and other people.
She started Anxious off at a light canter. Sensing that the horse wanted to go faster, she pushed him into a gallop that turned into a hard run. The harder she pushed the horse, the faster he went.
She glanced side to side. She was the only one out here. Gradually, her anxiety subsided.
Out here in the quiet with only the steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves, she could forget herself. She could convince herself that the faster she rode, the further her trouble would be away from her. She could outrun the loss and the fear.
Anxious showed signs of tiring. Morgan let up on the reins and sat up straighter in the saddle. A light rain sprinkled from the sky when she turned onto the trail that led back to the stables. A calm washed over her that made her think she could make it through the rest of the day while she waited to see if the marshals would relocate her.
When she led Anxious Heart through the open door of the stable, she spotted a teenage boy hammering a nail into a loose board on a stall gate.
“You must be Craig.”
“Yup.” The boy didn’t stop working. He was a tall, thin kid with hair that was blond on top and black on the bottom. He looked to be about fourteen.
Morgan walked toward him. “Alex probably told you. I’m Morgan.”
Craig stalked across the floor and picked up a bucket. When he finally looked at her, she saw hostility in his eyes.
The response took her aback. Alex had said that Craig had some issues. She decided not to do anything to feed his bad mood, whatever it was about. “Well, it looks like you know what you’re doing. Alex said you’ve worked here awhile.”
Craig let go of the bucket, causing it to clatter when it hit the dirt floor. “I’ve been doing this job for eight months now.”
His anger toward her was off-putting, but she refused to play into it. Her response was soft. “That’s wonderful. You’ll probably be able to teach me a few things.”
Craig drew his mouth into a tight line and wrinkled his nose. He leaned over, picked up the bucket and stomped off toward the other end of the stable.
Morgan led Anxious Heart into his stall, pulled his saddle off and started his rubdown. In light of everything she was dealing with, she could handle one ornery teenager. A few minutes later, Craig left the stable without explanation. Morgan finished getting Anxious Heart settled in and walked toward the entrance of the stable, taking the time to stroke the noses of the horses who wanted the attention.
A coat that must belong to Craig hung on a hook by the door. Morgan examined the plaid pattern. The same one she seen last night when she’d been knocked over. Through the open door, she saw Craig filling the troughs in the corral with water. The coat was probably a common enough one, but it would have to be a pretty big coincidence if it wasn’t him who’d tried to scare her last night. The discovery eased her fear, but she’d have to find out for sure before she called Josh and Serena.
Alex walked across the grounds toward her. “So you’ve met Craig.”
“Yes, I met him.” Morgan shaded her eyes from the sun. “I think it was Craig who was prowling around last night.”
Alex nodded. “What makes you say that?”
“His coat is the same one the guy who knocked me over was wearing. Craig and his friend wanted to scare me last night.”
Alex shook his head as his expression hardened. “I’m surprised he did that, but I think I know why. Craig mentioned that his dad would like the caretaker’s job. Robert Jones has plenty of experience with horses, but he’s not reliable,” Alex said.
“I guess that explains why he was so hostile toward me just now. He views me as the person who stole his dad’s job.”
Alex seemed incensed. “He has no right to treat you badly.”
She appreciated his defense of her. It was kind of chivalrous, actually. She grabbed his hand at the wrist. “You said yourself he’s a good worker. Maybe he needed to blow off some steam, and that will be the end of it.”
Admiration shone in Alex’s eyes. “It’s your call.”
“‘A soft answer turns away much wrath.’” The verse had come easily enough to her mind, an old habit.
His face brightened. “Proverbs 15:1. I know it well.”
He looked at her at though he was waiting for her to say something more. A spark of connection had passed between them. But even that was a lie. She’d lost everything in Mexico, including her faith. She had wanted to make a difference in the world and instead she had unwittingly aided in children being taken from their mothers. “It’s a really common verse. I don’t know why I even said it.”
He took a step back. Her harsh response may have stunned him. “I’ve got some bags of feed to unload.”
It was better that she not foster even a small connection to him. The marshals had warned her against forming any attachments. “Do you need my help?”
“I’ll get Craig to give me a hand,” Alex said. “Maybe I’ll have a word with him about what he did last night and tell him he needs to drop the attitude going forward.”
“How about I do it?” she said. “Maybe I can build a bridge.” Given Craig’s background and what Alex had said about him, she was willing to give him a second chance.
“Suit yourself. But if he gives you any more trouble, let me know. I can unload the feed myself.” He ambled across the yard.
She stood watching Alex take bags of feed off the back of the truck. Alex was what her dad would have called “a good hand,” a man who wasn’t afraid of physical work.
She walked toward the shed where she had seen Craig go. Alex thought they had something in common when she’d uttered the Bible verse. He had no idea how all of that now rang hollow for her. She longed to get back to the place where faith was as comfortable as a pair of broken-in boots, but she didn’t know if she ever would. Disillusionment had taken up residence in her life.
She stood at the opening of the shed. Craig had his back to her, but she could tell he was holding something. He turned slightly and she saw a kitten cupped in his hands. When Craig looked up and saw Morgan, all the warmth and softness evaporated from his expression.
“What are you looking at?” Craig sneered.
“Are you taking care of those kittens?” She stepped toward him. He had made a bed for a mother and her three babies.
“Alex lets me keep them here. My dad says cats are freeloaders.” His words were harsh and defensive, and he even seemed a little embarrassed.
She reached over and petted the kitten Craig held. “Do you kind of wish your dad would have gotten my job?” She understood Craig’s motivation. His father having a job would probably eliminate some of the shame associated with having a parent who drank too much. The job would have made his father look respectable...or maybe it was more simple, a financial need.
Craig’s features compressed, revealing harsh lines. He pulled the kitten away from her. “What do you care?”
“Was it you who tried to scare me last night?”
“So