Page 24 of Wild Spirit Revival

“Samuel, this is Miss O’Sullivan.”

“I’ve seen her around the ranch. She’s the one with the camera.”

“Right. How about I take care of the colt, and you have a chat with Miss O’Sullivan?”

Samual shrugged, handing the lead rope to Elijah. “I guess so.”

Molly and Samuel talked for several minutes before she found Elijah inside the barn. “Samuel has been through a great deal. We’re going to talk again tomorrow or the next day.”

As they continued their tour, Elijah shared not just the boys’ stories but his own observations and feelings about each of them. Molly listened, her questions thoughtful and perceptive.

By midday, they’d met most of the boys, and Elijah was surprised to find himself feeling lighter, as if sharing the weight of these stories had somehow eased his own burden.

“Thank you, Elijah,” Molly said softly as they paused near the corral. “For taking the time to introduce me to those extraordinary boys.”

Elijah met her gaze, struck by the depth of understanding he saw there. For a moment, he allowed himself to imagine what life might be like if…

Then reality reasserted itself, and he cleared his throat. “You should head back to the house. I’ve got work to finish up.”

As he walked away, Molly knew each boy’s story affected Elijah deeply. He might show the world a tough as leather exterior, but inside, he had a big, warm heart.

Chapter Ten

Molly carefully adjusted her tripod early in the morning two days later. Bending, she looked through the lens of her camera, poised to capture the essence of the boys’ lives.

“All right, Samuel,” Molly called out. “Stand there by the barn door. Yes. That’s good.”

He shifted from foot to foot. “Miss Molly, I’ve never had my picture taken.”

Straightening away from her camera, she offered him a reassuring smile. “There’s nothing to worry about. Tell me, what’s your favorite part of working on the ranch?”

As Samuel’s face lit up, Molly quickly bent down again to look through the lens, capturing the genuine enthusiasm on the boy’s face.

“I guess it’s working with the horses,” he replied, his posture relaxing. “There’s this one mare, Starlight. She’s got a fierce temper, but she’s startin’ to warm up to me.”

Molly quickly exchanged plates and took another image. “That’s wonderful. How did you manage to gain her trust?”

As he launched into his tale, Molly changed plates and took one more photograph, her keen eye catching the subtle shift in his expression. When developed, she knew the image would show the pride in his accomplishments, as well as the lingering uncertainty of a boy forced to grow up too fast.

“You know, Miss Molly, before I came here, I never thought I’d amount to much. My pa, he…” His voice trailed off, eyes clouding with painful memories.

She gave him her full attention. “It’s all right, Samuel. You don’t have to share anything you’re not comfortable with.”

He swallowed hard. “Pa always said I was good for nothing. But here, with the Becketts and the other boys, I’m startin’ to think maybe he was wrong.”

Molly felt a lump form in her throat, touched by the boy’s vulnerability. “I want you to know something. The way you’ve connected with Starlight takes patience and kindness. Those are rare qualities, and they make you very special indeed.”

Over the next few hours, Molly worked her way through the ranch, photographing and interviewing each of the boys. With every story she heard, her admiration for these resilient young souls grew. Each boy had a unique tale, a testament to their strength and the second chance Wild Spirit Ranch had given them.

Later in the afternoon, Molly developed the plates in a room with only one small window, which she covered with a thick blanket. As the images came to life, she felt a tear running down her cheek. She’d captured the heart of each boy.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Molly found herself sitting on the porch steps with Elijah. In her hand, she held images of each boy. One at a time, she handed them to Elijah.

He studied each one. “These are good, Molly.” Going through them again, he handed them back. “You did good by them.”

“I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity.” Her voice was filled with genuine gratitude. “These boys, their stories… they’re incredible.”

He nodded, his expression softened by the fading light. “They’re good boys, all of them. They just needed a chance to prove it.”

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