Page 43 of Lay Down the Law

“Does that yucky feeling that makes you want to cry ever go away?” Stephanie asked.

“It gets easier,” Erin said carefully. “Pretty soon when you think of your mom, you’ll just smile and think about how much fun she was to be with, and it won’t hurt so much to think about her.”

“She was pretty fun. She used to braid my hair. Once she even braided Bandito’s tail. He looked pretty funny.”

Erin looked away from her driving and grinned “See?” she said. “You’re smiling already.”

They rode in silence for several minutes, then Erin turned the cruiser into the driveway. In the adjacent pasture, the Appaloosa raised his head and watched them. “Hey, there’s Bandito,” she said.

Stephanie waved to the horse and blew him a kiss through the open window. “He’s so pretty. I showed him at the county fair when I was in 4-H. I won first place in western pleasure class. We rode in the trail class, too, but he’s never been good at backing. I could show you my ribbons if you want.”

“I’d love to see them. In fact, I’d love to see Bandito, too.”

The little girl’s face brightened. “Really?”

“Sure.” Erin stopped the cruiser.

“So, you really do like horses? The other day I thought you were just, you know, trying to be nice.”

“I like horses a lot. And I am really nice.” At Stephanie’s smile, she added, “Once you get to know me.”

“Do you really think I could ride him sometime, Erin? I mean, with my legs the way they are? You talked about it the other day, and I’ve sort of been wondering.”

Caution demanded Erin tread carefully when it came to this child. She didn’t want to give her false hopes. The little girl had had too many disappointments in recent years to build her up for another letdown. Nick seemed to be dead set against her taking on any activity that could be even remotely dangerous. On the other hand, Erin knew for a fact Stephanie could at least sit atop her horse; Erin had seen severely handicapped children ride horses with the help of adult spotters in the weeks she’d volunteered at the Quest Foundation. She’d personally spotted one such teenage boy afflicted with syringomyelia. Stephanie wasn’t severely handicapped. Surely Nick wouldn’t deny her that small joy in the name of safety. He had, after all, softened his stance on the basketball. Why would he object to her sitting atop Bandito?

“Do you want to give it a shot?” Erin asked, praying she hadn’t just committed herself to something that would once again put her and Nick at odds.

Stephanie’s grin was all the answer she needed.

* * *

“Oh, honey, I don’t know.” Mrs. Thornsberry worried her pearl necklace with nervous fingers.

“Oh, please, please, please!” said Stephanie, using her arms to rock her wheelchair back and forth on the kitchen floor. “Bandito is so lonely, Mrs. T., and Erin said she’d spot me.”

“Spot you?” the older woman asked. “What’s that?”

“Uh…walk alongside the horse to make sure she doesn’t fall off,” Erin clarified from her place at the kitchen door.

“Oh.” Mrs. Thornsberry shot Erin a stern look. “You’ve done this before?”

“I volunteered at the Quest Foundation in Chicago for a couple of months. They’ve got a renowned equestrian program.”

Recognition flared in the older woman’s eyes. “I know of it. Very reputable organization.”

Erin nodded. “Volunteers go through an intensive training program.”

Mrs. Thornsberry still didn’t look convinced.

“On my first day,” Erin continued, “I watched a fourteen-year-old paraplegic ride for the first time. I’ll never forget the look on his face when they lifted him onto that horse. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life.”

“C’mon, Erin, come see my ribbons,” Stephanie interjected. “I have a trophy, too.”

Mrs. Thornsberry dried her hands on a dish towel and looked down at Stephanie. “Honey, why don’t you go get your boots while Erin and I have a little talk.”

Erin took a deep breath, certain that “talk” was synonymous with lecture. She’d overstepped again. Not the first time since she’d set foot in Logan Falls.

“You’re not going to talk Erin out of spotting me, are you, Mrs. T?” Steph asked.