Читать книгу Back to Texas - Amanda Renee - Страница 11

Chapter Three

Bridgett was a mess. Sitting with Adam’s hand over hers, she felt at ease one minute and nervous the next. Who knew one person could hold so much power over her emotions, especially someone she’d just met.

A hint of raw vulnerability had emerged in Adam when he’d owned up to letting his family down. Despite his casual tone, his eyes had betrayed him and held a sense of deep regret. An expression Bridgett knew well—it was identical to the one Ruby wore each time they had crossed paths these past few weeks. Her mother had asked the same of her as Adam wanted from his family. A second chance. Her mother’s lies had broken the trust they’d shared. No matter what her mother said, Bridgett had difficulty accepting that she was finally telling the truth. She wanted to forgive her mother, but she hadn’t figured out how. So how could she possibly tell Adam not to give up without coming across as an absolute hypocrite?

“Turn left here.” Bridgett rubbed the back of her neck, rolling her shoulders. She’d always loved coming out to the Bridle Dance Ranch. Not only had she grown up with the Langtry men, their father had taken time out of his busy schedule to teach Bridgett to ride. And it had been no easy feat thanks to her fear of horses back then. Joe had passed away two years ago, but Bridgett would never forget his kindness and ability to turn a scared little girl into an accomplished rider.

“It’s magnificent.” Adam peered over the steering wheel and up at the wrought-iron Bridle Dance lettering balanced between two rearing bronze horses on either side of the dirt road. “I’d love to know what foundry they used for those horses.”

“Foundry?” Bridgett asked.

“The place where they create the mold and cast the bronze.”

“Ah, okay.” Toilet seats, cars stuck in the dirt and now sculptures...the man definitely had a passion for art...if you could call toilet seats and cars art.

“My sister studied sculpting before she got married.”

“She doesn’t sculpt anymore?”

“No, her ex-husband almost killed her and brutally broke both her hands. She’s never been able to return to it.” The words may have flowed freely from Adam’s mouth, but his jaw flexed when he spoke, cautioning Bridgett to leave the painful subject alone. “Are those pecan trees?”

Rows of large trees with weeping branches formed a thick canopy above the entrance road, some limbs still heavy with fruit, others almost bare. Men gently shook the branches with a long padded pole as ripe nuts fell to the ground. An older Ford tractor towed a bright red harvester, sweeping the closely shorn grass and gathering the nuts for transport to the pecan cleaner.

“Yes. The Langtrys may use some modern equipment to gather the nuts, but they shake the trees the old-fashioned way. And if anyone wants to pitch in for an hour or two, they’re given a ten-pound burlap sack filled with fresh pecans to take home.”

“Calling this place a ranch is an understatement.” Adam slowly continued past the white-railed fencing that surrounded the pastures and led to the showcase of the quarter-of-a-million-acre property: the three-story log castle—at least that was how Bridgett had referred to it as a kid. The house even had a log turret on the back.

“Pull off to the right and take the driveway to the main house,” Bridgett directed.

She hopped from the truck and waited for Adam to join her at the gate leading into the side yard. Reaching over the fence, Bridgett petted Kay Langtry’s midnight-black standard poodle.

“This here is Barney.” Bridgett squeezed through the gate, grabbed hold of the dog’s collar and waited for Adam to enter.

“You don’t have to hold him—I’m good with dogs.”

“You sure? Because Barney’s a wild one.”

“Let him go.” Adam began to bend forward at the same time Bridgett released Barney. The dog had the upper hand, er, paw, and knocked Adam into the gate.

“Barney, sit!” Kay demanded as she crossed the lawn. “I’m sorry. My boys thought it was cute to teach him to ‘give people huggies,’ but the dog doesn’t know his own strength. Bridgett, it’s wonderful to see you.” Kay gave her a hearty hug. “And who’s your young man?”

“Adam Steele. He’s staying at the Bed & Biscuit for the weekend.” Bridgett turned to Adam. “And this is Kay Langtry, a second mother to most of Ramblewood.”

“It’s a pleasure, ma’am,” Adam said, nodding. “You have a stunning piece of land.”

“Adam was captivated by the entrance sculpture,” Bridgett said.

“Those were my husband’s favorites.” Kay laid a hand above her heart. “If you’re not in a hurry, I can give you a mini tour.”

The three of them strolled through the main stables, or horse mansion as Joe Langtry used to call it, where Kay introduced Adam to two of her sons, Shane and Cole. While they talked, Bridgett caught sight of Lexi exiting one of the stalls. She excused herself and joined her friend.

“What are you doing here?” Lexi removed her latex gloves and tossed them into a covered trash bin. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m horsey and you look stunning in that outfit. Who’s the guy you walked in with?”

“Geesh, you don’t miss a thing, do you?”

“Usually not, but I do have to confess. Mazie called and told me to check out the eye candy you’re with.”

“Your sister’s a real piece of work.” Bridgett crossed her arms. “Did she tell you what she told Adam before I even introduced them?”

“Yes and she told me you looked pretty annoyed about it, too. He has a sexy rebel vibe going on, doesn’t he? What’s his story?”

“I’m not sure yet.” Bridgett recounted what she knew about Adam, and it wasn’t much. “I’m hoping to find out more this weekend.”

“How long is he in town for?” Lexi slinked along the stable walls for a better look at Adam, which only made her stand out even more. “Do you need Shane and me to give him a little nudge? We can double-date. My husband owes me a night out.”

“Thank you, but—” Bridgett swatted Lexi’s arm to stop her from spying.

“Ouch!” Lexi feigned. “What’s wrong with you?”

“You’re scaring the horses with your prowling. Let’s see what happens this weekend before I call in the reinforcements. I have no idea how long he’s staying.” Or how long she’d remain in town herself.

* * *

“THIS IS OUR Dance of Hope Hippotherapy Facility and the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School.” Kay stopped in front of the massive Craftsman-style building. “That’s my Joe on top of the one sculpture and my granddaughter on the other.”

Adam gazed from the bronzed girl perched on a horse to the twenty-something man atop a bucking bronco. “I take it he was a rodeo man himself.”

“Come inside and I’ll show you the inspiration photos for both pieces.” Kay pushed open the carriage doors leading into a magnificent stone entryway, dividing the two businesses. “This photo was taken during Joe’s last ride—my oldest, Cole, was born the next day. And, this one I took the day Joe met my granddaughter, Ever. She was the inspiration for this place.”

“Forgive me for asking, but what kind of therapy facility did you say this was?”

Kay beamed at his question. “Come with me and I’ll show you.”

Adam followed her down a hallway and outside to four separate corrals. Each of them contained a horse, rider and a few other people leading the horse slowly around the grassy area.

“This is hippotherapy.” Kay waved to one of the passing riders. “Watch the hind end of that horse and notice how his hips rise and fall. Their walk so closely mimics a human’s, by sitting astride a horse, a person with cerebral palsy—like my granddaughter—or a person recovering from a spinal injury, can increase their muscle strength and improve neurological function. It may lead to them walking again. It’s not all physical though. We have an occupational and speech therapy side, too.”

“I had no idea this existed.” Adam rested his arms on the top fence rail and watched the riders. He noted the saddles were different from any saddle he’d seen before. Instead of leather, they were fabric with two large handles on the top for the rider to grip.

Horses’ neighs and hooves clomping against the dirt reminded Adam of his parents’ ranch. Closing his eyes, it almost felt like home. He opened them as a man in military fatigues rode proudly past. With a few exceptions, most of the patients were children. “You said your granddaughter inspired Dance of Hope?”

“See the rambunctious girl in the far corral.” Kay pointed out a tiny brunette with pigtails. “That’s Ever. A friend of ours told Joe about hippotherapy and the concept fascinated my husband. By the end of the day, Joe had researched the nearest facility. It was quite a distance from here. He called them up and we took a trip there the next morning. It’s where he met Ever. At the time, she was wheelchair-bound. She had grit and determination and Joe loved her the moment they met.

“Ever’s adopted?” The girl waved when she spotted her grandmother.

“Since Ever was a foster child, the opportunity for her to continue with this type of therapy wasn’t guaranteed. Joe and I had inquired about adopting her, but we were—how’d they put it—above the ideal age range. My son Cole and his wife adopted Ever. Once they’d met her, they had found it impossible to allow her to stay in the system. She’s a very special child.”

Adam watched the girl dismount next to a platform. “I thought you said she was wheelchair-bound.”

“She was.” Kay touched Adam’s shoulder. “Would you like to meet her?”

“I’d love to.”

Despite the greater part of her legs being encased in braces over her jeans, Ever practically ran to her grandmother. Adam found himself battling tears that threatened to choke off his words.

“She can walk because of a horse?” Adam raked his hands down his face. “How come I haven’t heard of this before?”

“It’s still not widely accepted, but with nonprofits like this one, we’re making progress in the field. I only wish my husband had lived long enough to see his dream come true.”

“Don’t be sad, Grandma.” Ever reached for Kay’s hand. “Grandpa Joe’s watching us from heaven.”

Any chance Adam had of keeping his emotions in check would officially be lost if the kid kept this up. Crouching down, he smiled at her. “How old are you to be this wise?”

“Six, but grandma says I’m going on thirty.” Ever lifted her eyes to Kay for approval. “Right?”

“Understatement of the year.” Kay playfully tugged on Ever’s hair. “I’m so proud of you, kiddo.”

This was the kind of impact, the kind of good, he wanted to make in the world. Sure, his music entertained people, but it didn’t change lives. His money would be much better spent helping others than funding a lifestyle he no longer wanted.

Adam made a mental note to call his accountant later and have a donation sent to Dance of Hope...anonymously.

* * *

“I HEARD YOU enjoyed yourself at Bridle Dance,” Mazie said to Adam across the expansive dining table.

“Adam hasn’t stopped talking since we left.” Bridgett playfully nudged him with her knee under the table.

“What’s Bridle Dance?” Mrs. Phelps, one of the inn’s guests, asked.

“You have to see it,” Adam answered before Bridgett had a chance to open her mouth. He leaned forward, his hands moving animatedly as his words tumbled forth. “It’s a horse ranch, but they have a center where they use this process called hippotherapy to help people walk again. And a state-of-the-art rodeo school and a pecan grove and—”

“Dearest me.” Mrs. Phelps patted Adam’s arm. “I’m getting worn out just listening to you.”

Adam sheepishly glanced around the table, “Sorry. I guess I’m overly enthusiastic, but amazing doesn’t begin to describe it.”

“Do you travel much?” Mr. Phelps asked.

“I’ve been a few places.” Adam said.

Bridgett had originally thought a large communal table was an awkward idea when Mazie had first planned the Bed & Biscuit. Who’d want to sit and eat with strangers? She still wasn’t used to it, but tonight she loved how the other guests asked Adam questions because she had no clue where to begin without it coming across as an inquisition.

“What brings you in our direction?” Mazie asked. “Katy’s not exactly next door.”

Adam set his fork on the side of his plate and wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I had a bit of a falling out with my family, and until we can work through it, I thought I’d drive cross-country and take in the sites. I ended up here when I saw the Harvest Festival sign. I had planned only to stay for the weekend, but I might hang around a little longer. If my sister, Lizzy, can smooth things over for me, I’m close enough to get back within a few hours.

“Lizzy’s your sister.” Bridgett felt her cheeks heat. “I’m sorry. I accidentally overheard your conversation earlier.”

“It’s okay,” Adam shrugged. “Lizzy’s the family mediator and I have no idea which way it will go. Since I’m here, do you think anyone would be willing to hire a stranger?”

Bridgett’s pulse increased. Not only did Adam plan to stay past the weekend, but a job meant longer. That meant she’d have the chance to get to know him better. But what if he decided to stay forever? She could be stuck in this Podunk town if she fell for him. On their way home from the ranch, she’d permitted herself the fantasy of leaving Ramblewood with Adam and visiting the ridiculous tourist attractions he had told her about. Crazy? Absolutely. But for a second, it was a possibility. Tucking her head closer to her chest, Bridgett tried to forget the silly notion and focused on her crepes.

Someone bumped her foot and she immediately looked at Mazie, who was passing a dish to Mrs. Phelps. When it happened once more, her eyes met Adam’s and his smile told Bridgett he’d caught her thinking about him. Heat rose to her cheeks again. Oh, please. She’d rather die than turn into one of those blushing females.

“What kind of work do you do?” Mazie asked, saving Bridgett from further embarrassment.

“My parents own a ranch, and I’m familiar with most aspects of farming and livestock.”

“My sister’s an equine vet,” Mazie said. “I can have her ask around for you.”

“Lexi,” Adam acknowledged. “I met her and her husband at Bridle Dance.”

“They’re usually hiring.” Bridgett added. She knew Mazie couldn’t let Adam remain at the Bed & Biscuit much longer seeing as it was booked for the entire fall season. A job at Bridle Dance meant he’d have a bed in the bunkhouses. “I’ll see what I can find out.”

“That would be great,” Adam enthused. “Thank you.”

Bridgett couldn’t help feeling excited. It wasn’t as if she already had a job waiting for her in another town, after all. She could continue to look while spending time with Adam. It was amazing how much things could change in a day. This morning she’d craved peace and normalcy and by nightfall, she had something much better. Excitement of the sexy male persuasion.