Chapter Three #2
“Always.” He glanced at her. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“I named Jewel because she was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen.” Naomi shrugged. “Same idea I suppose.”
He nodded and they stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the gelding pick his way around the pen like he owned it.
“Let me show you which horse you’ll be working with.” Ethan turned and headed back into the barn.
Naomi followed him, enjoying the view of his Wranglers, then caught herself and looked at the ceiling.
He stopped in front of a stall midway down the aisle.
She stepped up beside him and looked in. “Oh, what a beauty.” She put her hand through the bars. “Come here, pretty boy.”
The horse was solid black, not a single other color on him anywhere.
“His name is Vader. Fifteen hands, knows the pattern but hasn’t run it yet.” Ethan watched the horse move toward her hand. “He’s going to be a handful. You sure you’re up to it?”
“I’m positive.” She glanced at Ethan. “I’m good at this. Trust me.”
He held her gaze for a moment. “Alright.”
She tilted her head. “Why didn’t you ever mention you used to race?”
“Never came up. It was a long time ago.”
“Not so long that Ronnie didn’t recognize your name.”
“He works on a ranch that raises racers. He knows the sport.” Ethan shrugged. “How’s he doing with the sale?”
“Not well.” Naomi looked back at Vader. “The new owners aren’t keeping the horses. He’ll be out of a job. Forty-five years old and starting over after twenty-seven years with the same family.” She sighed. “He hates the idea.”
“I can understand that.” Ethan was quiet for a moment. “He seemed like a good man.”
“He is. His wife Irene is the sweetest person.” She shook her head. “I worry about them.”
Ethan moved to the stall, unlatched the gate, and slid it open. He hooked a lead to the halter and led Vader out.
Vader stepped out of the stall with his head high, ears swiveling, taking in everything at once. He was stunning, all muscle and attitude, his coat so black it had a blue sheen under the barn lights.
“He’s something else,” Naomi said softly.
“He knows it too.” Ethan handed her the lead. “Watch his left side. He doesn’t like anything coming up on him fast.”
“Good to know.” She took the lead and let Vader get a look at her, standing still, letting him come to the decision on his own. The horse dropped his nose and blew warm air across her hand.
“Hello, Vader.” She ran a hand up his face. “We’re going to get along just fine, you and me.”
“He doesn’t warm up to people that fast.”
“Horses know.” She stroked the gelding’s neck and he leaned into it. “You want me to take him to the outdoor corral?”
“Arena’s free this morning. Take him in there, let him get used to you first before you put him through the pattern.” He nodded toward the far end of the barn. “Tack room is at the back on the left. His saddle and bridle are in there; his name is on the hook.”
“Perfect.” She glanced at him. “Thank you.”
“I’ll check in later.” He stepped back.
She nodded and turned toward the tack room, Vader following alongside her like they’d been doing this for years.
She heard Ethan’s footsteps moving away down the aisle behind her and smiled to herself.
First day. So far so good.
****
Ethan walked back down the aisle and out into the morning sun. He had work to do. Books to go over, a call with a buyer in Billings he’d been putting off, and he needed to check in with the men working the dapple gelding before noon.
He made it as far as the fence.
He stopped, rested his arms on the top rail, and watched through the open arena doors as Naomi led Vader inside.
She didn’t go straight for the tack. She walked him around the perimeter first, slow, and easy, letting him take in the space.
Vader’s ears were up but his stride was relaxed, following her lead without argument.
She knew what she was doing. He’d known that from the first day, but there was something about watching her work that he couldn’t look away from. She moved around that horse like she’d known it for years, not hours.
He heard boots on the gravel behind him.
“Thought you had a call with Billings,” Johnny said, coming to stand beside him at the fence.
“I do.”
Johnny looked out at the arena, then back at Ethan. He said nothing.
“Don’t say it,” Ethan said.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.” Johnny held up both hands.
Ethan pushed off the fence and walked toward the house.
Behind him he heard Johnny laughing quietly to himself.
Ethan shook his head as he entered the house, removed his hat, and headed for his office.
It would probably be best if he stayed inside for the rest of the day, but he needed to get with Rowdy about the dapple.
Two men worked breaking horses for him. He used to do it himself, but the older he got the less he enjoyed hitting the sawdust floor. It didn’t seem to soften any with age.
He got through the call with Billings, worked through the books, and was back outside by noon.
He did a slow circuit of the barn, checking in with Johnny, then Serena, then found himself at the arena without quite meaning to be there.
Naomi was putting Vader through the pattern at a slow, easy pace, working the turns, letting the horse find his feet without pressure. The gelding moved well under her. Better than Ethan had expected for the first session.