Page 18 of Ethan

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Naomi was up at five, too restless to sleep. She made coffee, checked on Jewel, then came back up to shower and get ready. She was at the barn by five-thirty, a full half hour before she needed to be.

She didn’t care. She was ready.

The barn was already busy when she walked in. Johnny was at the far end, filling water buckets, and he looked up and nodded.

“Morning. You must be Naomi.”

“I am.” She walked toward him and extended her hand. “And you’re Johnny.”

He shook it, grinning. He was younger than she’d expected, mid-thirties maybe, with an easy smile and kind eyes. “Word travels fast on a small ranch. Welcome aboard.”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Serena told me you two hit it off.” He set down the bucket. “She doesn’t warm up to people that fast usually.”

“I feel the same way about her.” Naomi looked down the row of stalls. “Has Ethan been in yet?”

Johnny’s grin edged wider. “He’s always in first. Been here since five, I’d guess.” He nodded toward the far end of the barn. “He’s in the corral.”

Naomi headed that way, smoothing her shirt as she walked, then stopped herself.

She was here to work. That was all.

As she walked along the aisle she smiled when she saw Serena coming toward her, leading a beautiful buckskin mare. The horse pranced alongside her, full of herself, like she was already looking forward to working.

“Good morning,” Serena greeted her with a smile.

“Good morning. How was your weekend?”

“Nice and quiet. I saw your mare this morning when I came in.” Serena glanced back at the buckskin as she sidestepped. “She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. I missed her so much. I’m just glad Ethan was willing to make that drive.”

“That’s Ethan.” Serena gave the mare a look. “Hey, I’ll catch you later. This one’s ready to go whether I am or not.”

Naomi laughed. “Have fun.”

She continued down the aisle and out to the outdoor corral where Ethan stood at the rail, arms folded on top of it, watching a dapple-gray gelding tear around the pen. The horse tossed its head, stopped, pawed at the sawdust, then took off again like he’d forgotten what he was annoyed about.

“Pretty dapple,” Naomi said, stepping up to the rail beside him.

“Pretty stubborn is what he is.”

“Is he going to be a racer?”

Ethan glanced at her and she caught her breath, then he looked back to the horse. “No, this one’s mine. Bought him two weeks ago but the seller couldn’t get him here until yesterday. He needs breaking.”

“Do you do that yourself?”

“Not anymore.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “I don’t particularly want to get bucked off at my age, so I have two men who do it.”

Naomi laughed. “You’re not that old.”

“Forty and some days I feel a lot older.”

“I’m thirty-five, so you’re not that far ahead of me.”