Sophie worked for twenty minutes, putting the horses in the corral on the east side of the barn. Each of their stalls needed to be mucked out, and fresh water, feed and hay put in each one. The large metal building had two main halls that ran parallel. Stalls were on either side of the hall and an enclosed tack room stood at the far western end of the building closest to one set of large double doors. At the end of each hall was another set of double doors leading to the outside corrals.
She tried not to think, but went on automatic with the chores. She prayed under her breath, asking the Lord for wisdom and to comfort Zach’s heart.
“Sophie, I’ve finished. So has Marty,” David Somers called out. “You want me to put the horses back in their stalls?”
“No, go on. I’ll see to it.”
He nodded and disappeared.
Each of the horses had earned an extra treat and praise for their performance today. She wished Ollie was still here, but with her encouragement he’d gone to the hospital to see Margaret.
Sophie put new hay in Sam’s stall and walked to the tack room to put up the lead ropes she used. Sitting on a bale of hay was Zach. In his hands he held one of the bridles. Those strong hands worked over the leather, cleaning it.
Sophie stopped and stared at him. “You’re still here?”
“I am.”
Now what? Zachary McClure had a way of rattling her that no other man had. She had no trouble dealing with the soldiers in her unit or her patients. None of them had this effect on her of making her stomach flip-flop. She tried to ignore the feeling.
Zach’s hands stilled. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened this afternoon.”
He hadn’t been the only one. She’d played the scene over and over in her mind, wondering what she could’ve done differently. She knew that Beth had worked weeks to get Zach here, and then to have him trip in the middle of the ring… She wanted to run over to him and help him up, but she knew he wouldn’t appreciate it. He’d been rodeoing since he was in middle school and had been on track for a championship rodeo buckle before he joined the army.
“This afternoon with Andy has been the best afternoon I’ve had in a long time.” He closed his eyes, and a satisfied smile curved his mouth. “I wanted to get up on Sam myself and ride.” His wistful smile nearly brought her to her knees. “It’s a dream for me.”
Sophie held her breath. There was hope here.
He opened his eyes and his gaze met hers. “Beth told me you wanted to start a program for wounded soldiers.”
“That’s true. One of the guys I treated when I was a medic in Baghdad was a double amputee, losing both his arms. But when I saw him riding at the stables near Walter Reed with such joy on his face, I knew what I wanted to do.” There’d been a certainty in her heart she knew God had given her. “I knew Margaret had started a therapy group here. She and I talked about expanding the program to include vets, also. We wanted to approach the army to see if they would use our program for their wounded vets.”
He nodded and went back to working the cloth over the bridle.
There was more she wanted to say to him, she knew, but she didn’t know how to bridge that gap. “Want to help me bring in the horses for the night? Ollie’s off visiting Margaret, the ranch owner who’s in the hospital, and the rest of my help has left.”
His head came up and she read hunger in his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll help.” He hung the bridle on a hook beside the other tack, placed the rag in the bin below and grabbed his cane.
As he walked to the door, Sophie saw flickers of the old Zach she knew. Her nerves danced with excitement and hope.
“Lead the way, Miss Sophie Powell.”
“That’s Lieutenant Powell.”
“I outrank you. I was a captain.”
“A smart officer listens to his subordinates who know more than he does.” The instant the words left her mouth, she wanted to snatch them back.
His mouth curved into a smile. “You’re right. A smart officer listens to his men.”
“And you’re going to listen to me?”
He nodded. “You’re the expert.”
“Smart move.”
“Finally, after months of knocking my head against the wall.” The corner of his mouth tilted up.
She knew about knocking one’s head against the wall. She’d been an expert at that.
The day had cooled and the sweet smell of pine filled the air as they walked in silence to the corral behind the barn. Sophie’s heart soared with hope—the hope Zach wanted to ride.
“How long have you been working here?” Zach asked.
“I mustered out nearly twenty months ago. I started riding here in high school.” She didn’t mention she’d wanted to feel closer to her brother, who died in a riding accident. “In college, I came whenever I was home. I knew Margaret had started working with Down’s children when her first grandbaby was born with Down’s.” She rested her arms on the top rail of the fence. Too bad that daughter had moved to Oregon, leaving her brother and sister here who opposed using the ranch to help children with disabilities. “She and I talked about my dream of seeing if we could help the wounded vets. But just as we were going to present it to the army, she had a stroke.”
Sam trotted to the fence and nudged Sophie’s hand. She laughed and stroked the white blaze on her nose. “Oh, you’re so spoiled.”
The horse turned her head toward Zach, nudging his hand. He obliged Sam and patted her neck. “I felt like a fool out there today, eatin’ dirt.”
Sophie didn’t respond.
“I know Beth’s been after me for a while to start riding again.” He continued to stroke Sam’s neck. “She was right. I miss the horses. I miss the physical activities.” He turned, facing her. “I’m not in good physical condition, which I’ve found out the hard way. But maybe I can be your first test case to show the army what equine therapy can do?”
Not sure she heard correctly, she turned toward him. “Really? You want to be my test case?”
“I do.”
His words floored her.
“I also want to help around the stable, too. Maybe I could be a sidewalker for some of the kids you deal with.”
“I know Andy would love that.”
Zach grinned. “Yeah, you’re right. He’s a persistent little boy.”
Here was the dream she had for the future, of helping vets overcome the physical wounds of war. Zachary McClure, ex–rodeo champ and army veteran, wanted to be her first client.
“You sure this is what you want to do?”
He nodded, a grin creasing his mouth. “I spent the afternoon wrestling with my pride, which took a beating. I also questioned God. He and I talked, and it’s what I want to do.”
“All right. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Two
After they finished putting the horses in their stalls, they walked to the stable’s office.
“When would you like to start?” Sophie asked, collapsing into her chair.
He settled in the chair beside the desk. “Work me around the other therapy sessions.”
“How about tomorrow