12. Nudged
TWELVE
Nudged
WILLOW
“Yep. She has a foal in there. Do we know who the sire is?” Dusty finished his examination of Juniper and stripped off his gloves.
Daisy shook her head, hands on her hips. “I rescued her from the Carrick’s field of neglected horses that were being given away. The sire could be any of them.”
I stood by Juniper in her stall, petting her and whispering calm things. I could hardly believe it when we first arrived, and with just one call of her name, Juniper came right up to me, sweet as could be, like she hadn’t just thrown a huge fit in the barn.
I never even had a pet growing up, although I wanted one. Dad wouldn’t allow it. He claimed he was allergic to pet hair. It wasn’t really until I had Ro that I learned what it meant to care for someone so deeply. A mother’s love is like no other.
“I think she’ll have the foal late spring, would be my best guess. Now while I’m here…” the vet continued on with Daisy to see about another horse having some wheezing issues.
“You hear that, girl? You’re going to be a mama.” I continued to whisper things to her. Suddenly, she shifted her head over my shoulder as if drawing me in and giving me a hug. I wrapped my arms around her neck. Commiserating or celebrating over motherhood made me a little teary-eyed.
“Yep. You definitely have a way with her.” Ash hung his elbows over the rehung stall door. “You look natural here, Willow. What’s that you’re saying to her?”
“That she’ll be a good mother soon, and not to fear it. No matter what happens, she’s in a loving and caring environment and that we’re all here for her. Which was more than my father ever said to me when I told him I was pregnant with Ro.”
“Ouch. Stab me in the gut and twist the knife, why don’t you?”
I glared at him.“What’s that mean?”
“That if I’d been in California when you got pregnant, I’d have forced that no-good preacher father of yours to wise up and be there for you.”
“Oh. Thanks, I guess.” A little too late now, but I appreciated his sentiment.
He cleared his throat and raked through his gorgeous hair.
“Listen, about your emails? I did read most of them. I even saved a few of the best photos of you and Ro to my phone. As for responding, I didn’t know what to say at first. The longer I let it go, the harder it was to write.
I am truly sorry, Willow. You deserved better.
I should have been there for you and Ro. ”
My eyes caught his, and we held there for a moment too long, until Juniper suddenly nudged me forward, shoving me in front of him. We shared a laugh. The horse turned her attention toward her fresh hay, acting all innocent-like.
I shook my head. “It’s okay, Ash. Things happened. We can put them behind us now, but thanks for apologizing.” Juniper nickered at us, nodding her head. “Do you think she understands what’s going on between us?”
“I do. Daisy says horses are very emotionally perceptive. You’ve got the magic touch with them. Ro, too. Come on. I think she’ll be okay for now.” He opened the door.
“Bye, Juniper.” I waved, then elbowed Ash as I slid out. “You know, anytime you need help with her, just call me.”
“You’re the expert now?”
Juniper whinnied and tossed her head in agreement.
“Guess I’ll have to visit my horse more often,” I said as I got into Ash’s truck.
“Your horse, huh?” He winked. “You could learn to ride her, too, when Daisy thinks she’s ready for you.”
“Better put me on Marshmallow first. The pony can be my training wheels,” I chuckled, and the way he smoldered his gaze at me with a sparkle in his chocolaty eyes caught me off guard.
Everything in my world suddenly came into crystal clear focus, hitting me with a vision—riding together with Ash through life. A partner. A place to belong. A second chance I never thought I’d get.
I was led here for a reason. Uprooted my life, and Ro’s, too, to be here. Took a chance in finding something to hold on to, and it finally seemed like Ash might meet me halfway.
Perhaps we weren’t so broken after all.