wanted to go home, and as she didn’t know the way, she was going to have to outwait Nick Hollister.
Some time later, she heard footsteps in the hallway and braced herself. But a few seconds before the man entered, she realized it was Aaron and relaxed.
“Good morning, sunshine,” he called from the doorway. “Are you ready to start your day? Dear God, it’s a good thing you can’t see yourself in the mirror. You’re a lobster, girlfriend, and it’s not pretty.” He made a clucking sound. “You’ll heal, but don’t do that again. Do you need me to spell wrinkles? I don’t think so. Come on. I’m taking you to the barn.”
“No, thanks.”
“Now, Izzy. Don’t be difficult. It’s not unreasonable to do a little work. We all pitch in. It’s not like you can help me on the computer.”
Had it been Nick, she would have told him exactly what she was thinking. But Aaron had been nothing but nice to her.
“My sisters paid Nick to kidnap me. I don’t have to do work to make things even.”
“Fine, but what about your karma? It seems to me you need some good vibrations in your future. Come on. It’s nice out. You can meet Rita and she’ll make you laugh.”
His tone cajoled, which made her feel better enough to get to her feet.
“Look at you,” he crowed. “Walking and everything. Who’s a little trouper?”
She moved toward him. “Don’t make me kill you.”
Aaron laughed. “Now you sound like Nick.”
“I’ll have to watch that.”
“He’s not so bad.”
“He didn’t toss you over his shoulder and drag you away.”
“I know.” Aaron sounded sad. “My luck just isn’t that good. But maybe one day.”
That made her laugh.
They went outside. It was still early enough that the heat wasn’t oppressive.
The barn loomed large. Izzy didn’t want to go inside. All she could see was darkness. It was her nightmare come to life. Then something moved through the darkness and stepped into the morning sun. The something became a person.
“Izzy, this is Rita. Rita, Izzy. She’ll be staying with us for a while.”
“Nice to meet you,” Rita said, sounding pleasant enough. “I’ve heard you’re good with horses.”
“I know which end kicks.”
“Then you’re hired. We have a dozen horses here. For now you can start with giving them a bath and making them pretty.”
“I can’t wash a horse. I can’t see.”
“So what? They’re not expecting a spa treatment,” Rita told her. “Just a nice bath. You’ll do it by feel. Just make sure you rinse ’em good. Otherwise they’ll have skin trouble. Supplies are in this cabinet out here. Your hose is coiled on the left. Faucet where it should be. Bucket and soap below. Hoof pick and file on the top shelf. They’re all good horses. They’ll be patient. So let’s go get your first customer.”
Izzy was too shocked to speak. She was expected to wash horses? She couldn’t see what she was doing and Rita’s perky suggestion that she do it by feel was total crap.
“Are you coming or what?” Rita asked.
Izzy trailed after her. She hesitated before stepping into the barn, then winced at the darkness that swallowed her.
The overhead lights probably provided enough light for everyone else, but not for her. It was like being in a fun house at a carnival, but a scary one, with twists and turns and unknown shapes lurking just out of sight.
“Over here,” Rita called. “This is Jackson. He’s a good guy. How you feeling, handsome?” She pushed a rope into Izzy’s hands. “Here you go.”
Izzy reached toward the large shape and touched the horse’s neck. She stroked it a few times, then turned toward the rectangle of light in the distance. Jackson followed her. They walked outside.
She led him to the post by the cabinet and tied off the rope. Everything for washing him was where Rita had said it would be. But there were at least three different bottles. How was she supposed to know which one was soap and which was something else? She felt around for the brushes and hoof pick. The door swung into her arm and she dropped everything in the dirt. After fumbling around, she found the hoof pick again, but not one of the combs.
Izzy straightened and stared into the distance. Nothing was clear. No matter how she blinked or squinted, nothing came into focus. This was how it was always going to be.
She looked toward the horse, waiting patiently. She couldn’t wash him. She couldn’t do anything. Whatever Nick and her sisters thought, there wasn’t a miracle here. There wasn’t anything but frustration and defeat.
She walked over to a bench by the barn and sat down. Some time later, Rita found her.
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting until I can go home.”
“You’re supposed to be washing the horse.”
“Not today.”
Rita sighed. “I know you’re upset, but you have to trust us. We know what we’re doing.”
“I’m not a project. I’m not looking to be healed. I want to go home.”
Rita left. A few minutes later, the bell rang. Breakfast, Izzy thought, ignoring the grumbling in her stomach. She closed her eyes and imagined herself slipping into the warm water off an island somewhere. She could see the brightly colored fish, feel the whisper of the current on her skin.
Everything was beautiful. Everything was clear and colorful. All she had to do was reach out and touch whatever she wanted. She opened her eyes and stared at her blurry world. Not anymore, she thought grimly.
An hour or two later, Rita reappeared. “I don’t care who you are or what you’ve been through,” the other woman snapped. “But you left Jackson in the sun. Whatever you have going on in your life, we don’t tolerate cruelty to animals here. Get him inside now.”
Izzy hadn’t thought about the horse. Without saying anything, she got up and made her way back to him. “Sorry, Jackson,” she said and led him toward the barn.
It took her a few tries to locate his stall. He went inside. She followed him, using the walls to guide her in the darkness. After making sure he had plenty of water, she patted him in apology and then went back outside. She took her place on the bench and waited.
She had no idea of how much time had passed before Nick showed up. She sensed him before she saw his shape.
“You like to pout?” he asked.
“I want
