Shaking my head, I decided to finish up the rest of my nightly duties, flipping off the lights as I went. Behind me, a soft whinny echoed in the barn, almost like a whispered goodnight.
The big wooden doors groaned as I pulled them shut, sliding the wooden block across to lock them up.
Working on Cassidy Ranch was where I knew I belonged. Working for the family—and my best friend—couldn’t get any better.
The Cassidys were kind, understanding, and appreciated hard work when they saw it.
I turned, heading toward the training ring outside, where the last light of day bathed the dirt and fencing in a soft hue.
Beyond the paddock, in the smaller round pen used for acclimating horses, I caught a glimpse of blond hair swaying gently in the breeze. She wore fitted jeans, dirt smudged along the seams, and an oversized T-shirt that hung casually from her frame.
Ellie.
The reins were in her hand, the newest horse on the ranch standing a few feet away, ears flicking with every movement. I moved quietly, careful not to startle either of them, and leaned against the cool metal fence, one foot propped up on the lowest rung.
Ellie didn’t notice me yet, and I didn’t call out. I didn’t want to interrupt. There was something sacred about this moment—her, the horse, and the space between them.
She reached out gently, fingertips brushing the horse’s nose. It snorted and pulled back, head turning away from her touch. Ellie’s hand dropped slowly, and I watched her shoulders sag. Just a little. But enough.
It wasn’t going how she’d hoped.
I let out a soft, low whistle, just enough to catch her attention. Her head snapped toward me, eyes wide for a second before recognition bloomed. She gave me a half-smile, the kind that warmed my chest more than it should’ve.
Without a word, she turned back to the horse and tried again. It stepped away, clearly still unsure, and Ellie didn’t push it. She just stood there, waiting, the reins held loosely in her hand.
Resting my chin on my folded arms, I stayed quiet.
This part of the training, the beginning, was delicate. Bonding mattered. You had to earn a horse’s trust before you could ever ask it to carry you, let alone run wild with you. It was the same kind of trust I imagined you needed in love—quiet, patient, unwavering.
And if anyone had the heart for it, it was her.
So I waited until she called me in.
“You can come over,” Ellie spoke softly. “She might as well get used to your voice too.”
With that invitation, I slipped under the rail and into the round pen. My boots sank into the well-worn dirt as I made my way to her side, falling into step beside her like it was second nature.
“How’s she doing?” I asked, keeping my voice low and easy.
Ellie tilted her head side to side in a shrug, her expression thoughtful. “She’s doing fine… but we’re not bonding as fast as I hoped.”
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She was trying to sound nonchalant, but I could hear the disappointment tucked behind her words. This was her first time back in this ring since she’d left over a year ago. I knew how much pride she had in her ability to connect with a horse, and I also knew how unfairly hard she could be on herself too.
Ellie always expected more from herself than anyone else ever would. She didn’t just want to be good. She needed to be exceptional. Especially here. Especially now.
But I also knew better. If there was anyone made for this kind of work, it was Ellie Cassidy.
People all over Faircloud knew it too. If they had a horse that needed breaking or bonding, they brought it straight to Cassidy Ranch, no questions asked.
“It takes time, Ace,” I said, arms crossing loosely over my chest. “You know that.”
“It never used to,” she muttered, reaching out to stroke the horse’s nose again. The mare huffed and turned her head away, disinterested or maybe just unsure.
I let out a low chuckle. “You don’t remember that time you spent months trying to get Louise to like you?”
Ellie looked up at me then, a small smile tugging at her lips. “God, Louise,” she breathed, eyes softening with the memory.
“She fought you every step of the way,” I said, laughing now. “Came out of that trailer like she was gonna burn the whole place down. Your dad just about threw his back out trying to wrangle her.”
