be easier.”
“I hadn’t thought about it. I’ll call them.”
“I do have a bone to pick with you, friend.”
“Oh?”
“Why did you tell Zach I had a crush on him in college?” When he’d thrown that out at her, Sophie didn’t know how to answer. Sure she’d been attracted to the handsome cowboy. His loose-hipped walk and cocky grin appealed to anyone with two X chromosomes. And she fell into that category.
“Hmm, I thought it would ease him into the situation. It certainly gave him something to think about besides his discomfort.”
It had done that. “I think we have Andy to thank for our success. And your prayers.”
“Will you let me know how the session goes tomorrow?” Beth asked.
“You’re not coming with Zach?”
“No. I’ll let Ethan do it instead of me. He’ll be more help than I could be.”
“Okay. I’ll give you a call.”
After hanging up, Sophie took her dinner out of the microwave. Settling at the kitchen table, she pulled her Bible toward her and opened it up to the book of Psalms. The twenty-third Psalm was her favorite. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
In high school, her best friend’s family were shepherds. She’d had some wonderful insight as to how the author of the Psalm felt. Her friend explained how they were responsible to move the sheep from one pasture to the next where there was abundant grass. The sheep didn’t move until the shepherd led them to another place.
“Okay, Lord, You’ve led me here. Help tomorrow to meet Zach’s needs.”
At seven the next morning Sophie walked out to the stable, heading for the office.
“Want some coffee?” she called out to Ollie who was inspecting all the horses’ tack.
“Sure. Bring it black, none of that fancy stuff,” Ollie answered.
“Fancy stuff?”
“Cream and sugar.”
“And do you eat your steak still mooing?” she retorted.
“Is there any other way?”
Sophie grinned. She walked into the office and poured two mugs of coffee. Ollie always started a pot of coffee when he arrived at the ranch. She opened the mini-fridge, pulled out her favorite French vanilla creamer and poured it in her mug. When she carried the mugs outside and gave Ollie his coffee, he glanced at the brown coffee in her mug and shook his head.
“Sissy.”
She shrugged her shoulder. Looking out over the rings, and hearing the morning sounds, Sophie knew this was where she belonged.
“You’re going to miss this when you retire, Ollie.” She took a sip of her coffee.
“Nope. I’m going to sleep in until seven and get up and spend hours reading the newspaper.”
“Fibber.”
He simply grinned.
“Will you help me this morning with the rider who’s coming?”
“Sure. Who’s comin’?”
“Zach McClure.”
“Ah, the guy with the fake foot.”
She winced. Ollie didn’t pull any punches, but there was not a mean bone in his body. “He was a wonderful rider. Watching him ride…” She could still remember how awed she’d been watching him practice calf roping. “It’s like he was born on a horse.” She heard the wistfulness in her voice.
Ollie’s mug stopped inches from his mouth.
Sophie realized her feelings colored her comments. “Zach’s sister was my roommate in college,” she hurried to explain. “I went home with her several times. She was with him yesterday.”
Ollie took a swallow of his coffee. “I saw him when he was a teenager. He had a talent.”
“Really?”
“Best I’d seen up ’til that time.”
Then Ollie would understand. “He lost his foot when a roadside bomb caught his patrol in Baghdad.” She looked down into her coffee. “I think that talent awoke yesterday. He’s willing to work to get stronger.”
Ollie nodded. “My son was in the First Gulf War. He needed help when he came home. I’ll do it.”
Those were the most words that Ollie had spoken since she knew him. And she never knew he had a son. Maybe Zach’s rehab would touch more than Zach himself.
She heard a car pull into the parking lot. It was seven-thirty.
“Looks like your client is here,” he murmured, looking down at his watch. “And I think he’s eager.”
She prayed Ollie was right.
Chapter Three
Ethan pulled the key out of the ignition. “You ready to do this?”
Zach had tossed and turned all night and finally gave up trying to sleep at five this morning. He spent the time praying and reading his Bible. For the first time in a long time he felt like himself. “I am.”
They got out of the truck and walked toward the office. Some of the horses were in a corral on the other side of the stable.
“There’s some good-looking horse flesh out there,” Ethan commented.
From what Zach saw he had to agree with his brother. “I’ll have to ask where they get their stock.”
They emerged from the tunnel and saw Sophie and Ollie resting up against the hitching rail. The sun kissed Sophie’s skin and her brown hair danced with red tones in the sunlight. The braided tresses nearly came to her waist. She’d been beautiful at eighteen, but now there was a maturity about this woman. That coltish girl had become a stunning woman.
“Good morning,” Ethan called out, touching the brim of his cowboy hat.
“Good to see you this morning,” Sophie replied, pushing off the rail. She introduced Ollie.
“We’ve met,” Zach said, meeting Ollie’s gaze.
Sophie looked from Zach to Ollie. Apparently the old guy hadn’t told Sophie of their little chat. His opinion of the ranch foreman went up.
“You ready?”
“I am. And Ethan’s up for the session.”
“He couldn’t keep me away,” Ethan added.
Zach
