AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She made the turn and upped her speed to twenty miles per hour. She looked at John in the rearview mirror. He was definitely at home in the saddle. She shook her head.
“Despite the boots, I never saw that coming.”
She continued down the road and made the two turns necessary to take her to the riding stables. The place was owned by Everett Simms, and he offered guided trail rides to the tourists who came to Schaeffer Mills.
When she drove to the barn, Everett wasleading a saddled horse out the door. He seemed to be favoring his left leg, and when he saw John on the horse, he tied the one he had to a post. Ember got out of the car and John rode up beside it, then dismounted.
Ember smiled at Everett. “Mr. Simms. I don’t suppose this is your horse?”
He smiled. “She sure as hell is. Where’d you find her?” Everett limped to the horse and John handed him the reins. “Thank you.”
John nodded. “She was over by the lake at Scott Madison’s place. She was a bit tangled up, but I don’t think she hurt herself. Are you okay?”
Everett rubbed the horse’s nose. “Sugar here spooked and tossed me off. I don’t bounce as well as I used to.”
“What spooked her?”
“Not sure. She’s not too fond of critters running across the path, leaves blowing, dust devils. She’s a bit high-strung.”
“Well, she’s a good ride. Too good for your tourists.”
He patted Sugar again. “She’s my horse. Can’t have her dumping tourists in the dirt every time the wind blows.”
“Have you had a trainer work with her? Desensitize her to some of those things?”
“Not too many trainers around here. And I don’t have time to take her somewhere.” He looked at John. “Are you a trainer, by chance? You seem to sit a saddle pretty well.”
“Um…I can’t really answer that question.” Ember came up beside him.
“I don’t suppose you could use some help around here, Mr. Simms?”
“I’m always looking for help. I get these young kids who just want to work the summers, and they think it’s all about riding and not about cleaning stalls and feeding.” He looked at John. “Don’t tell me you’re looking for work.”
John glanced at Ember. “Actually, yeah. But there are a couple of things you need to know. I’m ah…recovering from a head injury. My memory is a little foggy.”
“How foggy?”
John smiled. “I have no idea who the hell I am. But I do know the minute I got onto Sugar’s back, I was at home. I can help you take care of your horses, Mr. Simms. And I can work with Sugar. But, as far as Uncle Sam goes, I’m a non-person. No ID. No social security number.”
Everett stuck out his hand and John shook it. “Call me Everett. I can pay you twenty dollars an hour, cash every Friday. We can work out the hours when you come back in the morning.”
“Sounds good, Everett. I’m John. John Sherlock. At least that’s what Ember here calls me.”
“Nice to meet you, John.”
They left the horse ranch with John promising to be there at ten the next morning. He was sitting in the passenger seat and wasvisibly excited.
Ember smiled at him. “I’m glad you’re so happy, John.”
“I feel like I’m starting to live again.”
“Maybe being around the horses will help with your memory. It sure seems they’ve been a part of your life.”
“It just might.”
Ember was of course, happy for him. But she was also a little jealous. Or something. She wasn’t quite sure what she was feeling. Maybe it was like she was setting her little stray puppy free and watching him find his own way.
John seemed to pick up on her mixed feelings. “Ember. Pull the car over.”
