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Lifting a hand almost as if she was waving goodbye, Lily said, “Sleep good.”
With a smile, I replied, “You too.”
“How are you feeling?”
Tanner’s voice caused me to turn away from the horse I’d been working with and smile. “Like a human again. Thank you for everything you, Timberlynn, Nathan, and Lily did for me. It was mighty kind of you.”
Tanner grinned and slapped me lightly on the shoulder. “As much as you refuse to believe it, you’re family, Maverick. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
I wondered if he’d feel that way if he knew how many dirty dreams I’d had of his daughter over the past two weeks since she’d left my house. “I appreciate that, Tanner.”
He turned his attention to the mare in the middle of the fenced-in corral. “How’s it going with her?”
I leaned against the pen. “She has trust issues, but we knew that already. Can’t seem to get her to slow down when she’s eating her feed. Even out to pasture, she eats fast. Most likely she always thinks it’ll be her last meal for days. I’ve gotten close to touching her, but only when I’m putting the halter and lead on. Other than that, she wants no part of physical contact.”
“That’s a pretty lonely life right there.”
Nodding, I said, “Juniper, the gelding that came in last week for you to train? She seems to be curious about him.”
“Is she curious abouthimor the barrels?” Tanner asked.
“She hasn’t seen him on the barrels, so it’s not that. I was going to talk to you about putting them together in the small west pasture with the lake to see what happens. I’d also like for her to watch when you’re training him. Maybe if she sees Juniper allowing people to touch, ride, and love on him, this shy girl might be willing to give it a go.”
Tanner chuckled. “Ahh, the power of love.”
I laughed. “Something like that.”
“Lily’s getting ready to work with him now, if you want to head on over. They’re in the indoor arena. I mean, if you can get this girl over there, that is.”
“Oh, trust me, all I need is a carrot if she knows that Juniper’s out and about. I may just walk her around the outside area where Lily’s training.”
Tanner gave me another tap on the side of my arm. “I’ll head over now and let her know what you’re doing. By the way, she needs a name.”
I glanced back at the mare, who lifted her head and stared at me. “Tesoro.”
“Sounds Italian, if I’m not mistaken. What does it mean?”
I grinned. “Treasure.”
“I like it. What woman doesn’t want to be considered a treasure? Tesoro it is.”
The mare gave a little head bob, and we both laughed.
“I think she likes it.”
With a quick nod, I agreed. “I think she does.”
It only took a few seconds to get the mare to let me put her lead back on and head her over to where Lily was working with Juniper.
When Lily saw me, she waved a hand and took Juniper slowly around the barrels. I walked the mare around the largepen, and she stopped every so often to check out the action going on in the arena.
“You like him, don’t you, girl?” I softly asked as I raised my hand and slowly placed it on her neck. She jumped but stood still while she watched Lily and Juniper working. Whenever Juniper did something Lily wanted, she gave him praise and a treat. Some trainers looked down on treat training, and Lily didn’t do it often, but she did choose to use it on some horses.
“That could be you. You’ve got it in you. I see it. I just needyouto see it as well. No one is going to hurt you, Tesoro. I promise.”
“She’s beautiful,” Lily said as she walked up to the side of the pen and brought Juniper to a stop. “What did you call her?”
Smiling, I watched as the horses stared at one another with curiosity. “Tesoro.”
