Page 45 of Defending Casey

Nora had dutifully repeated the rules back to him with a big toothy grin and he realized that he’d needed that moment with her. Needed to feel like a good dad.

Casey’s smile and the proud tilt of her chin spoke volumes. She didn’t try to remind him that Nora had more than enough experience with riding and caring for horses, but it seemed like she was enjoying the interaction as much as he was.

Holding Nora protectively against his side, he murmured close to her ear. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Gentle touch.”

Nora touched her hand to the long nose of the gelding and spoke softly to him. “Hello, George. You’re a good boy, I can see that. I just want to make sure you like your super odd name. If you don’t, I’ll help my daddy find a new name for you. So, what do you think? Do you like your name?” She nodded slowly up and down. “Or do you want me to get my daddy to change it?” She shook her head side to side slowly.

And George, bless that animal, he nodded up and down.

Hale had to look at Casey who just shrugged at him.

Nora rewarded the horse with a gentle kiss on his nose before Hale set her down.

Before he could say anything, his beautiful and smart daughter caught sight of the horse at the back of the trailer. “Whose horse is that?”

Nora looked at Savannah, and then at George, quickly counting the horses and the people and then, quite like a little rabbit, she bounced up and down in place. “Do I get to ride too?”

Hale laughed at the pure joy he heard in Nora’s voice. “Well, I couldn’t make you walk beside the horses, could I?”

She shook her head and then started bouncing again. “I wanna see… I wanna see!”

Casey stepped forward and took Nora by the shoulders leaning in to whisper. “Let’s not scare the horse, hmm?”

Nora’s lips pressed together even though her body was still vibrating with excitement.

Hale moved into the trailer and brought out the paint horse that he’d bought. There was a nervous kind of energy moving through him as he brought the gelding down the ramp to the ground, holding his halter gently.

“Nora? This is Scout. The same man who trained George has a daughter a little older than you. Scout was her horse but she’s getting a little too tall to ride Scout and he’s assured me that Scout is the perfect horse for a young horsewoman of your size and age.”

His daughter was strangely quiet but given the look on her face he had a feeling that she was lost in the moment.

Nora reached out her hand and touched the wide white stripe down the paint’s nose. The movement was careful and gentle. Even at her young age, Nora understood a great deal of how to interact with horses several times her size.

It wasn’t surprising given the expertise of her mother and grandfather. It was impossible to be around Casey for long and not learn from her example.

Still standing behind Nora, Casey leaned in and smoothed her hand along the neck of the paint. “He’s such a pretty horse.”

“He’s the most beautiful horse that I’ve ever seen.” Nora’s voice was filled with awe. “And you said… you said he’s mine?”

“If you two get along.” Hale leaned closer and touched Nora’s shoulder, turning her head toward him. “We’ll see how you two get along today… how well you handle him on the trail.”

“I can do it. I promise I can do it.”

He brushed the stray wisps of hair from her face. “I know you can, sweetheart. This isn’t an all or nothing situation, but today we’re just going for a nice ride and see how everyone gets along. And I’m sure you and Scout will become fast friends.”

Nora gasped and looked up at her mother. “But we don’t have room at the barn.”

Hale heard the panic in her voice and sought to comfort her quickly.

With a glance at Casey, he saw her nod, so he explained the situation to Nora. “For now, the horses will be boarded where they’ve been living, and I’ve hired builders to come to my home and build a barn.”

“A barn for two horses?” Nora’s voice was trembling with excitement.

Hale couldn’t help but smile, anticipating Nora’s reaction. “More. I hope we’ll have horses there for the whole family. You. Me. Your mother.”

Nora focused on his face for a moment and then she turned to look at her mother. “But mommy’s had Savannah forever! Why would she leave her at your house?”

“I’m hoping that you both might come to live with me at my house once I have everything fixed up and ready for our family.”

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