Page 31 of A Steadfast Heart
He’d found himself watching her more than he should.
Pay attention to the horse, McGraw.
He signaled Phantom to slow, then stop. Drew approached the blue roan’s head and pulled one rein, then the other. Phantom easily followed the directions to curve his nose to his shoulder, a necessary skill before he’d be safe to ride.
“Pa, can I help?”
Phantom flinched and sidestepped.
Drew ran a hand along the horse’s neck, then flicked a quick look to his son, who had his boots on the bottom railing with his arms crossed over the top.
“Not today.”
He needed to get in the saddle if he was going to sell the horse this weekend.
“How come?”
Drew breathed through a pulse of annoyance.Because I don’t have time. Because you’re supposed to be caring for the calves. Because I said so.
“Not today,” he repeated, avoiding the question.
David shuffled off and Drew moved the stirrups around the horse’s sides, letting them brush his flanks. Finally, he gave them a firm yank. Phantom flinched at that, so Drew repeated it a few more times till the colt no longer responded.
When he looked up next, Kaitlyn had taken David’s spot, her arms folded over the top railing and her chin resting on them. Tillie was playing with the dog out in the field past the house.
He attempted to focus on the horse, but prickles of awareness skittered up his spine.
He tipped his chin toward her. “You need something?”
“Just watching.”
Huh.
It shouldn’t bother him. The kids liked to watch him break horses, especially David. This wasn’t any different.
Only it was.
He felt self-conscious knowing she was staring at him as he fed out the lunge line and started Phantom circling. Walk, then trot.
“You’re patient,” Kaitlyn said.
He felt her words like a physical jab against his skin. He hadn’t been patient with David. Hadn’t even taken the time for an explanation.
He chewed on that thought for a few moments, watching the horse go through its paces.
“I was a little short with David. Would you apologize to him for me?” he finally asked.
“I could.” She tilted her head, considering.
He paused the horse, watching Kaitlyn—her wrinkled forehead and downcast eyes.
Finally, she met his gaze. “But I think it would mean more if it came from you.”
He felt the frown as it formed on his mouth. He was the one who’d asked her to meddle in his business. She’d been careful to work on tutoring with the kids, but she left the discipline to him. As she should. She wasn’t their ma.
“He looks up to you. Values your opinion,” she said after a prolonged moment of quiet.
He didn’t know about that. He started Phantom lunging again and then began reeling the colt in slowly.
