Page 32 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

Easton helps run the family business, Horse Shoe Ranch, not far from here where they rehabilitate horses and run weekly horse riding lessons and hiking trails. His brother, Gaitley, lives and breathes the place, and barely ever leaves.

I’m not surprised he’s not here. However, I am surprised to see Trudy, Callan’s younger sister, who works as a stable hand for the brothers. She must have been wedged between the two guys in the truck, poor girl.

“We brought Trudy along since Lily seems to favor women,” Easton says, giving me a chin lift as Takoda and Brook pound-hug. I step in to give him a bro handshake.

Takoda’s one serious dude when it comes to rescuing horses. He’s spent his life on the family ranch, much like we all have, back home in Montana. He’s known as the horse whisperer in those parts, and for good reason. We’ve lost count of the amount of horses he’s taken in and rehabilitated after cases of neglect or injury. He also breaks in wild horses and cares for ex-racing horses no longer needed after their winning streaks are over.

“Sounds good.” Brook gives Trudy a high-five.

“Hey, Huds.” Trudy smiles as the guys make their way to the back to open up the float and let the new arrival out.

“Hey, Trudes.”

“Looks like everyone is here.” A voice sounds behind us, I turn and look the same way Trudy does.

It’s then I see Georgia and Eden making their way over. Oh, boy.

“Looks like it,” I mutter.

Trudy walks over to greet them quickly before going to the back of the horse float so she can be there to help Lily into her new home.

“Well, look what we have here,” Georgia singsongs.

I open my mouth to speak as she comes up behind me, but I quickly close it again when she pokes Easton in the ribs and asks him who his friend is. She gives me a curt hello, her eyes don’t linger long and I see a slight flush to her cheeks.

“Meet Takoda, the horse whisperer from Montana,” Easton announces, slapping his very tall, well-built Native American friend on the back.

Takoda, a man of few words, gives her a nod and offers his hand.

Fucking Georgia. I see she’s well and truly over the whole escapade in my truck last night, something I should be happier about. She shakes his hand and I watch as she and Eden stick their heads around to look inside the float.

“Can you two get out of the way?” Brook hollers as Eden comes to stand by me with Blake and Noodle at my other side. Georgia still won’t meet my eyes, and it grates on my nerves just a little.

“Are you okay?” Eden asks me.

“Fine, E. How about you?”

“Never better.”

“Hey, don’t you have some famous chant when you have a new arrival at the ranch?” I hear Georgia asking Takoda. I don’t know how the fuck she knows that, or how ‘famous’ the guy actually is. I just know he’s good at what he does.

“Yes, but it’s not always needed,” he says. “Lily has been at the rescue for a few months now. They’ve done an excellent job getting her weight up and taking the steps to her being able to trust humans again.”

I step forward then to assist Brooklyn as he and Trudy help the beautiful gray speckled donkey back out of the horse float. It’s a slow, careful operation.

Trudy talks in a soothing voice and gently strokes her back as she moves.

Takoda and Easton watch on with Georgia between them. She glances over at me and when I give her a chin lift, she returns a tight smile. Well, that’s something, I suppose. Though, she’s acting a little pissy. I know I kinda dismissed her last night, but her parents were headed up the driveway.

When Lily is safely on the ground, Trudy takes her reins and they lead her slowly down the gravel path toward the gate. It opens up on both sides so a truck could back in through the side if they wanted to. They won’t have any problem with Lily coming through.

“This is so exciting!” Blake gushes. “Sawyer is going to love her new friend!”

“Just hold onto Noodle until we get Lily settled,” Eden tells her.

“Sure, Mom.”

We stop by the gate as Takoda and Easton go back to the horse float to close it back up. Lily comes to a halt by the gate as I open up both sides to give them enough room.

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