A rush of air was expelled through the phone. “You’re right. That makes sense. See you tonight.”
“See you tonight. I’ll help you clear your head.” I let those words roll off the tongue silkily.
She giggled a little. “I’m sure you will find a way, Colt.”
We hung up, and as I stood at the barn door, I eyed Moonlight.
“Are you ready for me now? Is it time for us?”
Moonlight neighed, her silky black coat shining in the Merced sun. Her head bobbed a few times in response. The equine beauty needed a rider, and that was me. On impulse, I walked to her stall door and stepped inside with the mighty horse. She backed away slightly. I breathed deeply—the dance between horse and man. I reached for her reins hanging on the left side. At this point, anything could happen. She could rear up and stomp on me. She could bite me, or she could surrender.
“Easy, Moonlight. It’s just you and me. I know you like you know me. We are wild, unkempt. Forces of nature.” As I moved in a stalking motion around Moonlight’s side, she shuffled her hooves away from me.
I heard a little voice behind me. “You just have to touch her star, and she will stay still, Daddy.”
“Bella, move back and don’t make sudden movements.” With no fear, Bella walked in between Moonlight and me. Moonlight bowed her head instantly, nuzzling Bella’s shoulder. Bella hugged her and rubbed the middle of her forehead.
I rubbed my eyes. Bella, the horse whisperer. “You know what I want to be when I grow up, Daddy?”
“What’s that, Bella?” While Bella had Moonlight in a vulnerable position, I put her saddle and her reins on.
“I want to ride and look after horses.”
I strapped Moonlight up and walked around the back of her hindquarters, feeling along as I went. The last thing I wanted was to get kicked in the teeth.
“You certainly have a way with her. Where did you learn that?”
Bella shrugged, her little pigtails shining in the daylight. “I don’t know. I just talk to Moonlight, and she listens. Don’t you, Moonlight? I love you. You’re such a good horse.”
“Yeah, think she’ll let me ride for a minute, just to keep her in shape?”
“Yes. She likes you. She was mad because you left her for a while.”
I scoffed. “Is that you or the horse talking, Bella?” I looked at the little brown eyes staring back at me.
“No. I wasn’t mad. I was sad. That’s all.”
Moonlight raised her head, and I walked her out of the barn.
“I’m sorry, Bella. Please forgive me. I made a mistake. Here, take the reins. I trust you with her. Got to get used to her sometime, if you want to train and work with horses.”
“Yay! It’s okay, Daddy. I know you didn’t mean it.”
I stroked the top of Bella’s head as I watched in complete astonishment. This little pint-sized kid had tamed the untamable horse. Moonlight trotted right alongside Bella and followed her every command.
“Un-fucking-believable.”
Sixteen
Amber
The water hit my face as I washed the grit and grime of the day down the drain. Another day of saving children from abandonment, assigning court dates, mental health check-ups for clients, and a plaguing concern for my brother. I toweled off as I thought about the men I was going to see. Colt with his cowboy swagger and huge, loyal heart and my little brother, a little lost but with good intent. I loved them both.
I slipped into an emerald green babydoll dress with leggings, something cute and girly, and put on some cute little boots. Colt inspired that. I pulled up into the driveway an hour later. Colt’s house looked so cozy and inviting. I felt as if I was walking into another part of the earth, not the dry, often dusty California hills of Merced. As soon as it came into my sight, I slipped into relaxation. Something truly sacred and captivating existed at this property. Maybe because of its carved-out trails that led into the back of the mountains or because of all the beautiful sounds of nature that existed. The sound of the brook was something I wouldn’t mind hearing every day.
My brother was standing on the front porch, puffing on a cigarette. I had to fumble around twice to get my car door open. It was hard to contain my excitement. I ran to him, nearly knocking him off his feet. He hugged me back, a little in shock from the barrage.
“You made it! Oh my God, you made it. I was so worried.” I touched his face and reared back to take a closer look at him. He held his cigarette to the side and blew out the smoke.
“I told you that I would be okay. I owe you. Both you and Colt. He’s a hell of a guy.”
“Yes, he is. He’s a very loyal and protective man.”
Colt stood on the porch with a look of amusement on his fine, chiseled face. “Am I?” Colt’s mouth cocked into a quiet smile as he snuck up from behind.
“That you are,” I confirmed.
“Only to the people who are loyal to me,” he clarified with a steely look in his blue eyes.
Hector regarded the conversation and continued puffing on his cigarette. Colt walked past my brother and kissed me solemnly on the mouth, stealing the breath right out of me. My brother cleared his throat conspicuously.
“I see what it is now. You two.” He grinned. “I’m glad you’re good together. Look after my sister, Colt.”
“That’s the only thing I plan to do,” he responded with an affectionate smile.
Colt put his arm around me, kissing my cheek. All of this affection in front of my brother made me a little shy. Colt seemed oblivious to my discomfort.
“When you find a good thing, Hector, don’t let it go.” Colt turned to me. “You look like heaven, baby.”
Even though it was kind of embarrassing, Colt made me feel loved and seen. Despite his harrowing past and the crazy set of circumstances that had brought us together, I loved this man. I just didn’t know quite how to say it.
Hector sucked in more nicotine and exhaled upward. “I’m too busy trying to stay alive to worry about women.”
I squeezed his arm. “You’ll find somebody for you, but I get that you need to stay out of harm’s way.”
Hector had let his hair grow out a little. He had a two o’clock shadow that made him appear more manly. I don’t know what happened in San Francisco, but something about his demeanor had changed. My little brother was growing up fast.
“Meh.” He shrugged his shoulders as we all floated inside.
Cheryl was at the kitchen counter, and the room smelled like spices and meat. I breathed in the heavenly aroma.
“Cheryl, is that casserole?”
“Yes, it is. Got a few more minutes to go, and then I will dish it up.”
I observed as she wiped her brow and stood back from the oven. “Do you want some help?”
She shooed me back into the living room. “No, go sit down. No help needed.”
Hector walked around, studying the pictures on the shelves as I plopped down on the couch. He picked up one of Colt on a horse with a lasso. “You really were a cowboy. This is insane. When did you do this?”
Colt replied, “I used to go to the rodeo every year to compete. I used to do barrel races as well. We had a bigger farm when I was little, more like a ranch, wasn’t it, Mom?”