Page 44 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

Honestly, the more time Kelley spent with Asher, the more she was starting to dread that last goodbye. And that was not quite as it should be. Still, that was her worry for later.

Right now, it was about Pride and helping the horse finally settle.

Up ahead, a familiar older cowboy waited at the last pasture fence. A horse with a coat the color of the fallen leaves in autumn and a white star between its ears stopped grazing and lifted its head to peer over the fence at them.

“That stunning boy is Maple Moonlight,” Asher explained. “He’s calm, mild-mannered and patient.”

“That’s good. That’s what Pride needs,” Kelley said, as if the colt was suddenly hers to look after. Her worry dimmed slightly from her words. She scanned the pasture. “What about the others? You mentioned there were three.”

“That would be Wintermint and River Run Rebel,” Asher said. “Both thoroughbreds were retired early last year. According to Joe, Walter and he decided the pair had lost their desire for winning.”

Kelley eyed Asher. “You don’t agree.”

“Not particularly.” He lifted one shoulder and led Pride toward the pasture. “But then again, what do I know?”

Kelley frowned. Her cowboy knew more than he let on. Of that she was certain. He claimed his brothers were better suited to care for the horses. However, there was nothing she had seen that made her think Asher was not suited to be there, too, right alongside his talented brothers. And he certainly had a way around horses and cowgirls. Asher kept Kelley calm right along with Pride and that allowed Kelley to realize how much she missed being around horses.

Big E greeted them and swung open the pasture gate. “Figured you might be headed this way, if you sprung Pride from his stall.” Big E paused and tipped his head toward a trail outside the fence. “Frannie and Owen took Wintermint and River Run for an evening stroll to give Pride some space.”

“That makes Maple Moonlight your welcoming committee, Pride.” Asher reached up, rubbed Pride’s neck and removed the halter. “Ready to see an old friend from the stables?”

Pride shook his head, then trotted toward Maple. They met halfway. There was a nose-to-nose greeting. A shared breath moment. Then Maple returned to his grazing and Pride explored the pasture. Kelley glanced at Asher and Big E then asked, “Is that all?”

“That was exactly what we wanted.” Big E’s shoulders shook from his soft laugh. “No fuss. No drama. A quick hello and a get on with your business type of introduction.”

Why then was she still anxious for Pride? She didn’t want to just leave the colt or her cowboy. Kelley asked, “What now?”

“We wait and watch.” Asher climbed onto the wooden fence, propped himself on the top railing and then reached out to offer assistance to Kelley.

Kelley scrambled up beside Asher and notched her boot heels on the lower post to help balance herself.

“Pride is okay for now, but far from recovered.” Asher smiled at Kelley. “And you are not the only one worried about him.”

“Was it that obvious?” Kelley wrinkled her nose.

“It’s not a bad thing to care about everyone around you, including the animals,” Asher said, understanding in his gaze.

Who do you care about?She said, “My ex often told me I cared too much. That I needed a little more grit when dealing with the staff and such.” If she wanted to be successful.

“Grit has got its place to be sure. But kindness, well, everyone could use a little more of that in their day,” Big E mused and braced his arms on the fence post. His gaze was fixed on the pasture. “And I always tell my family don’t go changing to suit someone else if it doesn’t suit you first.”

“Big E, I could’ve used you before I got married,” Kelley said lightly. Then she and her ex-husband might have realized sooner that they were not suited for each other.

Asher shifted until his knee touched Kelley’s and he asked, “Do you know what suits you now?”

You. Or rather he could, if staying single wasn’t already perfectly suitable for her. Still, Kelley kept her knee against Asher’s as if the contact somehow anchored her even more, and said, “I’m figuring it out.”

“As it happens, we are currently figuring things out for our trio as well,” Big E said, smiling.

“Big E and I have come to the conclusion that the retirees in this pasture have more to offer than lounging about out here.” Asher chuckled and added, “It seems there is more to their story and racing is not the end of their story.”

“This sounds like a second act,” Kelley said.

“Everyone deserves one.” Big E grinned. “Not that there is anything wrong with pasture patrol. But if you’ve got more to give, you should get the chance to do it.”

Kelley agreed. Although, to be clear, she was not confusing a second act for a second chance at love. After all, Kelley already gave up her heart once and it was returned broken. Now it was packed away, too fragile and worn for handling.

“Looks like the rest of the pasture patrol is returning.” Asher hopped gracefully off the fence.