opened the truck door and carefully rested his feet on the ground. He used his cane for balance. Hopefully, he could permanently retire it in a few weeks with hard work and exercise.
He walked down the breezeway to the open rings. The first thing Zach saw was Andy. The boy sat on a bench by the helmets. He stared at the ground. Glancing up, he spotted Zach.
“You came,” Andy yelled, launching himself off the bench.
Zach braced himself for Andy’s hug. The boy stopped and looked up at Zach. He reached out and grasped the boy’s hand. Andy snuggled close to Zach’s side.
“I see your sidewalker is here.”
Zach’s head snapped up. Sophie stood before him, her blue eyes glistened with moisture, and he read approval and something else there. But before he could analyze it, Andy raced toward Sam.
“Hi, Sam.” Andy stroked the horse’s shoulder.
Sam turned her head toward the boy.
Pride for Andy’s actions filled Zach. The boy overcame his fear. It was something Zach needed to do.
“Get your helmet, and I’ll take Sam to the mounting ramp,” Sophie instructed.
Andy dashed off.
A smile curved Sophie’s mouth. “I’m glad you’re here. Andy was disappointed when he didn’t see you.”
“What did you tell him?” He waited, curious for the answer.
“I told him that Sam was glad he was here.”
“Is that all?” He moved toward her and lightly ran his hand over Sam’s withers.
She held his gaze. “When he asked about you, I told him that things would be okay. I prayed. I know Andy is happy you’re here and…”
Zach understood the unspoken part of her sentence. She was glad he was here, too.
“I got my helmet,” Andy yelled, waving it above his head.
“We’re coming,” Sophie replied.
Suddenly Zach knew that his “Jordon” could be divided.
Andy cheerfully waved one last time at Zach as his mother pulled him down the walkway. “I had fun. I’ll see you next time.”
Another child called out Sophie’s name as she rounded the corner. “Miss Sophie. I’m here.” The little girl’s braids bounced as she waved.
“Go put your things in the office.” Each rider had a small cubbyhole on the inside wall of the office for their things. “I need to take Sam back to his stall.” Sophie lightly patted the horse’s withers.
Zach grasped Sam’s leads. “I’ll take care of Sam.”
She hesitated. “You sure? I didn’t expect you to work.”
“I’m sure. I’ve been doing this kind of thing since I could walk.” He paused. “I think before I could walk. I remember my mother talked about taking me out to the barn and something about a pen.” That sounded bad to his ears.
She laughed.
“Take care of your other clients. I’ll take care of Sam.”
Her eyes danced with mirth and the corner of her mouth kicked up. “You’ve got a deal.”
Satisfaction raced through him. As he watched Sophie walk toward her next client, Zach’s heart lightened. He was where he belonged. Sophie somehow touched his heart in a way he didn’t understand.
Sam nudged his arm.
“What? You want a carrot, or are you thinkin’ the same thing I am?” Zach rubbed Sam’s nose. The horse lipped his hand.
“A carrot is what you want?” Zach walked to the barrel where the treats were kept and pulled out a carrot. Sam took the offered treat. Zach glanced at his cane propped in the corner behind the mounting steps and decided he felt strong enough to leave it there.
Over the next hour, Zach plunged into the wonderful pattern of caring for a horse. After removing Sam’s tack, he walked the horse down to the shower stall and hosed him off. Even this early in the spring, the day would be a scorcher and Sam deserved a cooling shower.
Sam also ate up the attention. She was a flirt.
“I see you found the shower,” Ollie said, walking by.
“Sam worked hard and I thought she’d like a little refreshing.”
Ollie pushed the straw hat back on his forehead. “I’m glad to see you here.”
Ollie’s words surprised him. “I couldn’t disappoint Andy.”
“You need a sidewalker, count me in.”
Ollie’s offer touched Zach.
“Thanks.”
“No thanks necessary. It’s my privilege.” He nodded and walked down the row of stalls.
Shock and amazement held Zach motionless. Ollie obviously was a man of few words, but each one held power. Ollie believed in him, which humbled Zach.
Untying Sam’s lead, he said, “C’mon, girl, let’s go.”
Sophie grabbed an apple out of the mini-fridge and walked out of the ranch office. There’d been no time to eat and this would be her lunch. Things had happened so quickly this morning that it reminded her of the mornings in the field hospital in Iraq when she went on autopilot.
Finally, things had settled down and no clients were scheduled for the next hour and she could think. She’d panicked when Andy and his mother had shown up and there was no Zach. Her heart soared when Zach walked out of the breezeway.
Where was he now? She moved down the row of stalls and found him outside, looking at the horses in the corral.
“I was worried that you might have disappeared.”
He turned to her and flashed a wide smile. “No, I haven’t left.”
She noted a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “You were great with Andy.”
He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “I couldn’t have disappointed him, but I’ll admit I was nervous when I got here today.”
He didn’t know how much prayer went into today. “It did go well. Andy didn’t tire as easily as he did last time. You didn’t, either.”
“You’re right. My leg held up nicely. Of course I took my time with Sam. She didn’t mind if I sat down and caught my breath.” He shook his head. “It was a one-sided talk, but Sam didn’t mind.”
“So, you ready to ride a little today?”
He
