Chapter 27
Josh
I’d wait. I’d waited this long. And now that I knew what I could have, how incredible it could be? I’d never settle for anything less.
Celine could keep me waiting for decades, the memories of our encounters could sustain me for years.
And what she had told me about her ex-husband? Rage flared in my chest every time I thought about it. How could anyone be so cruel?
And while I was glad the asshole was in jail, I would have been much happier if he was in the ground, where he could never hurt Celine or her kids again.
I got out of the truck at Logan’s place, taking it in.
He was chaos personified, and his home-slash-farm-slash-animal-sanctuary followed suit.
He had been saving to buy the place, and with any luck, that would happen.
It fit him perfectly. Cats and dogs running all over, a pen of goats, dozens of chickens, and a potbellied pig who ran and slept with the dogs.
He emerged from the barn wearing rubber boots and a big grin, rubbing his hands together. “The surprise is ready. Wanna see?”
Nervousness coursed through me, but it wasn’t due to the usual fear or stress. No, this felt more like hope. I’d moved mountains for trees, for land, for the family legacy. Yet this felt bigger.
The barn smelled like hay and leather, soft light filtering in through the large door and the windows. Halfway back, we stopped at a stall where a calm quarter horse stood, ears flicking, her tail swishing lazily. “This is Daisy. She’s a bay,” he said. “She’s funny and friendly.”
I surveyed her, noting the white star on her forehead.
“How old?”
“Ten, so she’s past the wild stage, and she’s not hotheaded. Rescued her from a neglect situation in upstate New York.”
The horse had calm, kind eyes, and by the way she shifted her weight and swished her tail again, she was unfazed by our presence.
“And she’s safe?”
“For grooming, snuggles, and walking? Yes. No riding yet.”
I nodded, easing a hand out to stroke her head.
She pushed into me, craving affection.
“She’s perfect,” I said.
“You gonna tell me about the girl?” He stretched, grabbing the rafter above him. The move caused his shirt to ride up, putting his lower abs on display.
I had no clue how he cared for all these animals, kept up his practice, stayed in good shape, and found time to eat.
“Maggie? Sure, she’s nine and obsessed with horses.”
“No.” He let go of the rafter and crossed his arms. “I know Maggie. She asked me five dozen goat questions last weekend. I’m talking about her mom. You know, the woman you’re madly in love with?”
I didn’t deny it. I was a shit liar.
“It’s complicated,” I replied, ducking. “And I’m not rushing anything.”
He shook his head. “That’s the most Josh response I’ve ever heard. But if you’re happy, I’m happy for you, man.”
A sigh escaped me. “Making these kids happy makes me happy.”
“Then I hope she doesn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“I’m in no rush.”
Before he could grill me any further, Celine pulled up in her minivan, the damn thing making noises that probably weren’t good. I needed to get it over to Frankie for a full tune-up sooner rather than later.
Heading toward the commotion, I dug my phone out of my pocket and prepared for the big moment.
“Is this the rescue?” Maggie shouted. “Can we see our friends Calvin and Hobbes?”
“Actually,” I said, giving her a nonchalant wave, “there’s someone we want you to meet.”
She peered up at her mom, pushing her glasses up her nose, and when Celine smiled at her, she ran toward me.
I hadn’t told Celine about Daisy yet. I’d only asked her to meet me here after school. But I was certain she would love the surprise as much as Maggie did.
“Oh my God.” Maggie squealed when she caught sight of Daisy. “Is she real? I’m dying.”
I put a hand on her shaking shoulder and bent at the waist. “Breathe.”
She was silent, but her body remained trembling with excitement, her eyes huge behind the lenses of her glasses.
“This is Daisy,” I said, nodding at the horse. “And Daisy, this is Maggie Whittier.”
Maggie reached out with shaking fingers, and the mare lowered her head, meeting her halfway. They froze like that, the two of them perfectly still, connected.
Shit. My heart squeezed. I looked over at Celine, who was wiping a tear from her cheek.
“She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Maggie breathed. “Mom, do you see this? Get your phone. Take pictures of me with Daisy, my best friend.”
Logan cleared his throat. “Let’s talk a little bit about how we can care for Daisy.”
Maggie, always excited to learn, snapped to attention.
“Would you like to brush her?” he asked
“It would be my great honor.”
My lips twitched, and beside me, Celine let out the tiniest giggle.
“Here.” Logan held the brush in his hand and showed her how to do it. “Long strokes, shoulder to flank.”
Maggie took the brush and mimicked his motion, a look of fierce concentration on her face.
“The most important signal she can give us is with her ears. If they’re facing forward, that means she’s happy. But if they’re pinned back, that lets us know she’s scared or unhappy, and if we don’t pay attention, she could accidentally hurt someone.”
Maggie nodded, blissfully brushing Daisy, who had lowered her head and was sniffing the ground near her feet.
“Ellie? Julian?” Logan said. “Would you take this bag of dried crickets over to the chicken coop and give them some treats while I teach your sister a few more things?”
Julian rushed up to him and snatched the plastic bag from his hand. “Crickets are gross, but Josh’s chickens love them,”
With a small smile, Ellie led him across the barn, where the chickens were already gathering for their snack.
“Getting to know a horse takes time,” Logan said. “They are big feelings trapped in big bodies. We can’t rush them, and you’ve got to do the work to earn their trust.”
I snuck a glance at Celine, who was staring at me, her eyes teary.
“Daisy has some recovery to do before she can be ridden,” he told Maggie. “But would you like to take her for a walk?”
Her face lit up. “Yes. Please, yes.”
He leaned over the stall, and when he straightened, he held out an apple to Maggie. “Offer it with a flat palm. See if she takes it from you.”
I winced, praying this horse wouldn’t bite off her fingers. But Maggie did as she was told, radiating calm energy, and Daisy snapped the apple up, crunching it happily.
“Okay, then. Let’s take you for a walk around the paddock. Always walk on a horse’s left side and keep your hand halfway down the lead.”
He stayed close but gave Maggie freedom to do the work. Daisy plodded along next to her, matching her pace.
“Doing great,” Logan called. “Walk a bit faster and see if she knows to change her pace.”
Maggie was beaming, her shoulders pulled back, her confidence blooming more with each step.
She immediately fell into a one-sided conversation with the horse, telling her about her day at school, her siblings, and how she’d been dreaming of having a horse best friend for years.
Celine followed, giving them a wide berth and snapping photos. She was doing her best to stay composed, but she was failing beautifully.
“You did this,” she said softly, her eyes still on her daughter as I approached.
“Logan did,” I lied.
She huffed. “I don’t believe that.”
I crossed my arms, sidling up close enough to feel her warmth, but without touching.
Celine looked over her shoulder, checking on Julian and Ellie, who were playing with the chickens and filling a wire basket with eggs. “I’ve dreamed of this for so long,” she said. “Giving her a moment of pure joy like this.” She wiped at a rogue tear. “Thank you.”
I squeezed her hand in response.
“Mom,” Maggie said, leading the horse toward us. “Logan says he needs help taking care of Daisy. Can I come by after school and help?”
Lips pressed together, Celine nodded. “We’ll have to speak to Logan and find out his schedule.”
“I can learn so much. It’s educational,” Maggie begged.
Logan raised a brow. He didn’t plan to keep this horse once she’d been fully rehabbed, but he didn’t mention that detail.
“We could find room. We’ve actually got a horse barn. It’s on the piece of adjacent land I bought from my aunt and uncle—”
Maggie shrieked.
Logan gently but quickly moved in, grabbing the horse’s lead. “Don’t spook Daisy.”
Maggie quieted immediately, wincing, then eyed her mom.
“My aunt was actually quite a horsewoman when I was a kid. She could probably give you a few tips.”
Uncle Ed and Aunt Suzie had retired in Florida, although they came for extended visits in the summer, staying at the old farmhouse on the property they’d sold to me a few years back and sticking around to help out with harvests.
But back in the day, they had housed several draft horses, so the barn wouldn’t need much work to be habitable again.
“Mom, can I keep her?”
“Let’s start with visiting and learning how all this works.” She shot me a scolding look, but the joy in her eyes took the sting out of it. “We can see how things go from there.”
Maggie beamed, pulling a sugar cube out of her pocket for Daisy. The two of them wandered off for another lap around the paddock with Logan trailing closely.
Dust hung in the air, glowing in the late afternoon light, making Celine’s features look softer.
She lingered at the fence, watching her daughter, breathing in the moment.
“You don’t have to adopt a damn horse,” she whispered.
“I know,” I said. “But I like seeing her so happy, and Logan can’t keep her here forever.”
With a quiet laugh, she turned to face me.
When her eyes locked with mine, I forgot how to speak. They were bright and full of joy and tears. Like her heart had stretched in a way that both hurt and healed at the same time.
She opened her mouth and then closed it. Like she wanted to say a hundred things but didn’t trust any of them to come out right.
“You made her dream come true.”
I took a step back and stuffed my hands into my pockets, suppressing the urge to pull her into my arms.
“I don’t know how to hold on to all of this,” she admitted, looking away. “The joy. The excitement. The…” She sighed. “The ache of wanting more.”
I understood the sentiment. I felt that ache too. But I had no idea how to reassure her. How to survive the riot of emotions she caused inside me.
“I did this for Maggie,” I told her. “You don’t owe me anything in return, okay?”
Frowning, she dipped her chin.
“Logan told me he was going to see about a horse, and it felt like the perfect opportunity.”
Her gaze softened. “You’re a good man. Too good. So good I don’t deserve you.”
“Hey—”
She held up a hand. “Let me finish. The way I feel? It scares me.”
The space between us was charged, a deep, complex pull making it impossible to stay away from her.
“I can live with scared,” I said.
She sniffled. “You shouldn’t have to.”
“I’m not in a hurry. I’m waiting for you.” That was the truth of it. The real offering. Right out in the open. I would wait forever. And I’d be damn happy to do it.
She stepped closer, making it so damn tempting to reach out and touch her.
“Thank you,” she said, looking at me from beneath wet lashes. “Not just for the horse, but for everything. What you’ve done and who you are.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest as I smiled at her. “Anytime.”
We stood there a moment longer, the barn breathing around us, the unspoken words hanging heavy and tender between us.
It was only interrupted when Julian and Ellie came running, talking over one another and asking for a turn brushing Daisy.
Celine followed them to where Maggie and the horse were bonding.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
Because this wasn’t nothing.
We would get there.