Chapter 5 #2
He couldn’t help but hear hesitance in the woman’s voice. “Yes, ma’am. I’d be happy to teach him everything he needs to know.”
“I’m a little reluctant to let him get hooked on riding when I know I won’t be able to afford it after we leave here.”
“He’d be welcome to come back to ride with me any time he’d like to.”
Travis tugged on his mother’s hand. “Please, Mama. Can I?”
Kelsey’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Y’all are so kind. I’ve never encountered so much kindness.”
“We’re here to help in any way we can.”
“Thank you so much.” She squatted to talk directly to her son. “Mr. Brayden is in charge. You do whatever he tells you to do, and you mind your manners. Understand?”
“Yes, Mama.”
She kissed his cheek. “Go ahead, then. Have fun and be careful.”
Over the next half hour, he went through each step of the saddling process with Travis, teaching him the names of the various items and showing him how to use them. The child was a quick learner and asked numerous intelligent questions that impressed Brayden.
He helped Travis into an age-appropriate helmet before giving him a leg up into a child-sized saddle. While Kelsey watched from the fence that surrounded the paddock, Brayden led the horse around in big circles, letting the child get a feel for the mare.
“You’re doing great. Sunday likes you.”
“How can you tell?”
“She’s got her head up, her tail is moving and her steps are lively. She’s enjoying this as much as you are.”
“This is the best day of my whole life.”
That right there was the kind of comment that made this the most rewarding career he ever could’ve chosen to pursue, not that there’d ever been a question in his mind about the right path for him.
After at least fifty circles around the paddock, he showed Travis the steps of removing the saddle and let the little guy carry it to the tack room, where he hung it on the hook below Sunday’s name.
“You did a great job. Next time, I’ll show you how to groom her.
I’m going to take her for a ride before I do that. ”
“What do you say to Mr. Brayden?” Kelsey asked.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Brayden.”
“You’re very welcome. We’ll do it again soon, okay?”
Travis nodded and ran off toward the house.
“Thank you again,” Kelsey said. “I haven’t seen him smile like that in a long time.”
“Hope you got some good pictures.”
“I did.”
“Have a nice evening.”
“You, too.”
As the sun headed for the horizon, he put his saddle on Sunday and headed out for a ride, since they both needed the exercise.
They set out on the path behind the stables and followed it for miles through lush, rolling green hills that made up the Matthews property.
Fields of wildflowers added splashes of color to the vista.
His mother would know the name of every one of those flowers.
Brayden never had been able to remember them, despite her trying to teach him.
And now it was too late. His heart ached from the fresh loss of the woman who’d given him everything she could, who’d stood by him through the worst of times. He was still trying to figure out his place in a world that no longer included her.
As always, he and Sunday were in perfect harmony as they moved together as one being.
She was the best horse he’d ever had, in many ways his soul mate.
They understood each other in a way he’d never achieved with anyone other than his mother.
She had encouraged him to follow his dreams no matter where they led.
Tears filled Brayden’s eyes. How could she be gone just like that with no warning that life as he knew it was going to change in an instant?
The same week he’d lost his job, the police had come to tell him she’d been killed instantly in a car accident.
Even two months later, he still couldn’t believe she was really gone.
He still reached for the phone every day to call or text her and had to remind himself she wasn’t there.
Lost in his thoughts and mired in relentless grief, he rode much farther than he’d intended to.
Darkness was falling by the time he turned Sunday to head back toward the stable.
He slowed their pace in deference to the falling light so there was no chance she could be injured.
That was his greatest fear now that his mom was gone, that something would happen to the other woman in his life. It was him and Sunday against the world. He was nearly back to the house when another horse and rider came around the stable, heading toward him and Sunday.
He brought her to a stop as Maggie came alongside them, riding Thunder.
Brayden noticed the smooth way she handled the large horse and the confidence with which she rode.
Her long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail that was almost as long as Thunder’s tail.
The hairstyle made her look ten years younger.
“Did you have a nice ride?” she asked.
“I did. Beautiful property.”
“It’s gorgeous. I love it here. I wondered if I would, having been raised on the coast.”
“Where?”
“Rhode Island. Newport area.”
“Fancy.”
She shrugged. “It’s home. What about you?”
“Right here in Tennessee.” He glanced at the sun firing the horizon. “You’re heading out late.”
“Just going for a short one so Thunder can stretch his legs. I’d better get to it. Are you all settled in?”
“Yes, thanks. Good to go.”
“There’s dinner in the main house if you’re interested. Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks very much.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” She nudged Thunder forward, and he took off, apparently eager to move.
For a long time after she left, Brayden kept Sunday on the path facing sideways so he could watch her go. He told himself he was watching the horse, but when he was still there ten minutes later, he had to acknowledge that he found the rider every bit as stunning as the horse.