Page 126 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

Long moments pass where he can’t form words, and he doesn’t dare touch it.

“It’s your sun,” I say.

Tears blanket his gaze. “You covered your scar. Baby, this had to have hurt. When? Why?” he stammers.

“Just before you kidnapped me.” I chuckle.

“Izzy went with me to the new shop just out of town. My scar was the last part of me I haven’t healed from on the inside. And nothing makes me feel more accepted than you. I gave the artist a photo of your sun tattoo and this is what they created. Do you like it?” I ask, afraid of his response.

“Like it? I love it. Baby, it’s fucking sexy. You’re such a badass.” He softly kisses around the tattoo, careful not to touch it.

I pull Connor to his feet and take him by the hand, letting my shirt fall back into place. “I’m ready for the grand tour of our new home, husband.”

He makes a show of checking the time before shooting me a devilish grin.

“We best get moving because we’ve got a lot of rooms to christen before our birthday dinner at the main house.”

With that, I scamper away from his wandering hands, laughing from the heart and loving this life of mine.

52

We’ve all gathered at the main house after a long day of work on the ranch. My mentor came out early this morning so we could be finished before the big event today. He let me take the lead on three of Reid’s newly rescued geldings. He only had to step in once, and it was only to point out a tiny imbalance I didn’t catch on that first horseshoe.

Reid’s praise ricochets in my mind. You’re getting it. And while the words are practical and not overly complementary, coming from this gruff old cowboy, who uses his words sparingly, it means the world to me.

Izzy and Reid prepped the guest houses for an upcoming family reunion booked at the ranch. This’ll be the first multi-cabin booking they’ve managed. But the single bookings are such a hit there’s no doubt they’ve created a destination people are going to flock to.

Today was monumental. Hope at Lucky Spurs Ranch held its first workshop. Delilah put her heart and soul into the program and worked tirelessly to make today a success.

Today, twelve women trusted my wife to introduce them to equine assisted learning.

Delilah blossomed with confidence under the afternoon January sun. She outshone even the brightest star in our galaxy as she connected with the women in that pen.

To celebrate my wife’s success, Mrs. Andersen went all out. There’s an extravagant spread of food laid out for the occasion. Mom and Quincy got Dad settled in the den and have been trading off sitting with him while we set up for dinner.

I come by to give them a break. I usually sit in silence with my dad but today is different. Today was special.

Delilah used me as a guinea pig for the equine assisted learning program. Me and Hope would be best friends if Delilah didn’t solidly own that horse’s heart. Through our sessions, I’ve worked through a lot of feelings about my dad, Quincy, and Sam. I’m so fucking proud of my wife. She’s going to help countless people. I should tell Quincy how much it’s helped me. Maybe she’d be willing to give it a try.

“Hi, Dad.”

He’s looking at the TV, not at me, and that’s fine. Mom’s found it helps to ground him in familiarity when she has to take him out of their house. She always puts on one of his old favorite shows like Cheers or M*A*S*H. The episodes are humorous and short, and he seems content watching an episode or two while we’re at events like the dinner tonight.

“This is a good episode.” I chuckle at the screen, but sober when I realize my dad isn’t laughing with me.

“They’re whipping up a great spread for dinner. Mom said Mrs. Andersen made that potato salad you love so much.”

It warms my heart more than I could ever express that the Andersens have accepted my family into theirs with no hesitation. Even after their connection to us, Sam, was gone.

My sister still isn’t herself. I worried she wouldn’t want to be at the ranch because it reminds her too much of Sam, to spend an evening with her deceased husband’s family, but she was excited to come celebrate Delilah today.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been talking to you the way I should’ve been. You’re my dad, I love you, but watching this disease take…” My throat clogs with emotion, rendering me unable to finish my confession.

“I’m sure Mom already told you, but I quit the department of transportation, completed all the training, and became a farrier. I work here at Lucky Spurs Ranch. No more long hours alone on the road wishing I was home. Now my home is the ranch, literally and figuratively. I feel like I belong here, Dad.”

I think my dad would’ve been proud of me for the career change. He was always the one trying to get me and Quincy up in the saddle to appreciate Swiftwater Valley as much as he did. It’s a shame his wishes came true too late for him to see it.

We sit in silence for a scene of his show before I burst out with a guffaw.