Promise Canyon

“Come in. Grab a cup. Hungry?”

In honesty, he was. He was going to have to steal a couple of hours later, run into Fortuna and buy a few things for his quarters so he could take care of the majority of his meals without imposing on Nathaniel and Annie. Not only didn’t he want them to feel obliged to watch over him all the time, feeding him at every turn, but they were a relatively new couple with a wedding in the plans. They didn’t need some third wheel in their space all the time. So he said, “No thanks, I’m fine. About the horse—he appears sound, but I think there’s something emotional going on with the guy. Here’s what I recommend. First, I need to talk to the previous owner or trainer. I know he or she wasn’t obligated to give a complete disclosure besides bloodlines to the buyer, but maybe they’ll talk to me. If I know what went on with the horse, I might have some ideas. Second, tell Miss Norton not to visit the horse for at least a week, then we’ll reappraise. I think Streak is developing trust and I want him to focus on me. And, we’re going to need a night-light.”

“A night-light?” Nate echoed. “What went on last night?”

“Night anxiety,” Clay said with a shrug. “I think the horse had an accident of some kind. Obviously, if he’d been physically hurt there would be evidence on the exam or X-rays, but I think he has nightmares.”

A short burst of laughter escaped Nathaniel, but Clay didn’t even crack a smile. “Nightmares?”

“He’s fitful in his sleep.”

“In his awake, too,” Nathaniel joked.

“He’ll need a lot of reassurance, but thankfully the equine practice isn’t overflowing yet and we have time for him.” He lifted a black brow. “If his behavior is accountable to a trauma, once he’s fit, he’ll be an excellent stud candidate. His breeding is excellent. Damn, but that’s a fine-looking horse.” Clay sighed appreciatively, almost reverently. “Get me the owner’s phone number, Nathaniel. Since Miss Norton can’t return him, there’s no reason for the previous owner to keep secrets.”

“Ahhh, how about the lawsuit reason? What if something happened to render the animal unfit and the owner didn’t come clean before the sale?”

“I’m not worried about that,” Clay said. “I have an old tried-and-true Navajo method of getting to the truth.”

“Is that a fact? And what would that be?”

He took a leisurely sip of his coffee. “Listening like a horse,” he said with a sly grin. “Nathaniel,” he said, once again serious, leaning toward his friend, “will you leave the colt to me? It will require patience.”

Nate just smiled and said, “He’s all yours.”

Lilly made it a point to drive to the Jensen clinic before work started at the feed store on the days she wouldn’t be delivering. She liked to check up on Blue; in just days it was clear she was thriving. Before a week was out she’d been integrated with the Jensen horses in the big pasture. No surprise, she fit in. Lilly had known from the first time she touched her, she was an amiable mare who could get along with anyone.

It was a bonus to watch what Clay was doing with the stud colt in the round pen. It looked like the two of them were taking it real, real slow. Clay haltered him and after the colt had time to work off some steam from being pent up in the stallion pen, Clay worked him out on the lead rope, taking turns running him in larger then smaller circles. At intervals, he’d pull the colt in and talk to him a bit, touch him. Sometimes Streak seemed to go along with that idea; sometimes he resisted.

But what was fascinating was the way Clay managed the horse—his focus was amazing. Lilly was sure he had never once noticed she watched.

“How’s it going, girlfriend?”

Lilly turned and found Annie boosted up on a rail beside her, watching Streak with her.

“Never better, Annie. How about you?”

“Busy and happy. I see you know our newest guest ….” Lilly simply nodded, unsure whether Annie meant Streak or Clay. “He’s coming along.You should’ve seen him the first day.”

“The horse or the new assistant?” Lilly asked with a laugh.

“They’re both acclimating well, I think.”

“I noticed you put Blue in the big pasture with your horses. They seem to be getting along.”

“Very well. She’s a good horse.”

“I’ve been meaning to talk to Nate about her ….”

“Talk to me,” Annie said.

“I called some people and put up a notice on Yaz’s bulletin board, but there hasn’t been any response yet. I think if anyone saw her, they’d jump on a chance to adopt her. And if they met her … By the way, what does it cost to board here? “

“Without training, feed, grooming, et cetera? Three hundred a month,” Annie said. “Listen, you’re not kidding me—you like her. A lot.”

Lilly shook her head. “But three hundred is out of my range.”

Annie turned toward her. “Still, the two of you are good together. And I bet owning your own horse would be perfect for you. And this one—you wouldn’t have to buy her—just run some ads saying you found her and if she has an owner, give them a chance to claim her. If no one responds to the ads, she’s yours.”

“I’ve never even imagined I could own a horse,” she said. “When I was a kid I was surrounded by horses, took some instruction from the neighbor—I think Yaz worked out a barter or something. Since moving here, I’ve only ridden a few times. I have a lot going on between my job, my house and my grandpa’s place.”

“I know,” Annie said. “We could put a saddle on her for you,” she offered.

“No, let’s not do that,” Lilly said. “I’m on a tight budget. Not a good time to fall in love.” She smiled at Annie. “I better get to the feed store. Yaz will be looking for me.”

“See you later, then. And if you change your mind …”

“Thanks,” Lilly said, her mind changing even as she walked away.

When Clay went to the clinic office, Annie was at the computer. She looked up, smiled and asked, “How are things going with Streak?”

“Slowly, but he’s doing a little better every day. I noticed I have an audience every day, also. Is that typical of Lilly? Observing the animals?”

“We’ve been seeing a lot of her since she rescued Blue and since you started working with the colt. I think all of the above has caught her interest.”

“Have you known her a long time?” Clay asked.

Annie pushed away from the desk on her roller chair. “Longer than I’ve known Nathaniel,” she said. “In fact, Nathaniel has known Lilly longer than he’s known me. She’s been delivering his feed since he took over the practice from his father. And I cut her hair.”

“Huh?”

Annie laughed. “I grew up on a farm, had horses, had a prize-winning bull, in fact. But when I met Nate I was a hairdresser. I have my own little shop in Fortuna, although it’s being completely run by my manager and I spend all my time here now.”

Clay leaned one hip against the other desk in the office. “No kidding? Hairdresser?”

“Not something you have a need for, I take it?” she asked with a laugh. “I plan to sell the franchise eventually, but I’m kind of waiting for my manager to work up to buying it, and she doesn’t have the cash yet. Tough economy, you know. As for Lilly—I think she has a major crush on a horse.” Annie leaned back in her chair and rocked slightly. “I have a feeling we’re going to keep seeing her as long as Blue is here. I suggested we put a saddle on her, but Lilly declined. She said it wasn’t a good time to fall in love. I take that to mean it’s already too late.”

“Maybe she’ll take Blue,” Clay said.

“She asked what we charge to board and said it was out of her reach.”

“But there’s Grandpa,” Clay said.

“And I think Yaz would move heaven and earth for the girl’s happiness—it’s just the two of them, you know. But as you get to know Lilly better you’ll see—she’s very proud of her independence. She works hard to maintain it. We’ve been friends for years and she won’t even take a free haircut from me.”

That caused Clay to smile. “I recognize the tendency to be proud …”

“Oh?” Annie asked, lifting her eyebrows. “Spoken as a man who won’t accept dinner with his friends more than once a week at most.”