Page 45 of Lay Down the Law

The older woman smiled wisely. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

“Like he wants to throttle me.” Erin forced a laugh, determined to keep the conversation from going in a direction that would put into words a problem that had become increasingly difficult to deal with.

“You’ve shaken him up, Erin. You’re strong willed and don’t let him bully you. Until you came into his life, I didn’t realize how badly he needed that.”

Despite her efforts to keep the conversation light, Erin’s heart beat hard and fast in her chest. “I’m not the right woman for the job,” she whispered a little desperately.

“That, my dear, remains to be seen.”

“I can’t get my boots on!” Stephanie rolled her wheelchair into the kitchen, her face filled with disappointment, her sneakers on her lap. “My feet are swelled,” she announced.

“Your dad will have to rub them for you tonight.” Mrs. Thornsberry clucked her tongue. “For now, you can wear your sneakers.” Kneeling in front of the little girl, she shot Erin a look over her shoulder. “Put that other sneaker on for her, will you, Erin? Bandito is waiting.”

* * *

“Up and at ’em!” Erin lifted the little girl up onto an ever-patient Bandito’s back.

“I can’t get my leg over,” said Stephanie.

“Yes, you can.” Erin ducked under Bandito’s neck and tugged the child’s leg into place. “Sheesh, how much do you weigh?” she teased. “A ton?”

“No!”

“Feels like it.”

“Hey, I’m on!”

The joy in Stephanie’s voice struck a chord in Erin. The change in the little girl was dramatic. Her cornflower-blue eyes were alight with happiness, her lips pulled into a grin. Erin had never seen her so excited, and felt her own excitement build in her chest like a rainbow in the wake of a spring storm.

Stepping back, she studied girl and horse carefully. “You’re going to have to hold on to the horn,” Erin said. “Don’t let go no matter what.”

Biting her lip in concentration, Stephanie wrapped both hands around the leather horn. “’Kay.”

Five minutes later, Erin led Bandito down the aisle toward the barn door, with Stephanie astride. The little girl’s right foot dangled uselessly, but she gripped the horn with white-knuckled determination. Satisfied, Erin said, “Looks like we’re set. Let’s take Bandito into the round pen.”

“I don’t like not being able to use my legs. Bandito knows leg commands.”

“You two will just have to compensate.” Standing on the left side of the horse, Erin led him toward the pen a dozen yards away. “Horses are smart, Steph. Bandito can be retrained, can learn new ways to receive his commands.”

On reaching the pen, Erin opened the gate. She looked up at Stephanie and found the little girl grinning from ear to ear.

“He remembers me,” she whispered. “I can tell.”

“Of course he does,” Erin said. “Horses don’t forget someone they love just because they haven’t seen them for a while.”

She led the horse around the pen, watching the animal, but barely taking her eyes from Stephanie. The September sun beat down on Erin’s dark blue uniform, and she broke into a sweat. It was warm for fall in the Midwest, but she was so caught up in the magic on Stephanie’s face, she barely noticed the heat. It was the perfect day for a little girl to ride her horse.

“I want to trot,” Steph said.

“No way.”

“I won’t fall off.”

“That’s what people say right before they fall off.”

Stephanie giggled. “Okay, at least walk him a little faster. He needs the exercise.”

“I’m the one who’s getting all the exercise,” Erin grumbled good-naturedly, but she was thinking of Nick. “No trotting, kiddo.”

“Okay, maybe we’ll save that for next time.”

Erin brushed a drop of sweat from her temple, hoping with all her heart there was going to be a next time.

“This is great!”

“Easy for you to say,” she said. “Bandito and I are doing all the work.”

Grinning despite the fact that she was breathing hard, and getting her clean uniform all sweaty, Erin continued around the pen. Dust coated her boots and the bottom of her pants. Her hair slowly unraveled from its knot at her nape, but she didn’t care. She was having too much fun watching Stephanie—and feeling the heady rush of satisfaction that came with the knowledge that she’d made a difference in this sweet child’s life.

At the far end of the ring, Erin finally paused.

“What’s wrong?” asked Stephanie.

“I’m getting a stitch in my side.” She was about to ask Stephanie if she wanted something to drink when movement at the end of the driveway drew her gaze. Erin’s heart plummeted when she spotted Nick’s Suburban speeding down the driveway, a rooster tail of dust in its wake.