Page 32 of Moonlight Over Montana

“It doesn’t need to be said, but I’m glad you stuck around.” Her heart ached for the young man who felt he didn’t have a home.

“It was the best decision I’ve made to date. Now I have friends who are like a real family to me, a job I love, a good roof over my head, and great neighbors, even if they do tend to bang doors occasionally.”

Now it was Maggie’s turn for heat to flush her cheeks. “I’ll see what I can do to curb that.”

“Are you kidding? It makes things a bit livelier around here.” He chuckled, “For the record, my favorite food is your huckleberry crumble, and my all-time favorite meal is a stack of silver dollar pancakes dripping with maple syrup and thick slab bacon.”

“That’s a lot of favorite foods”—she did air quotes around favorite foods—“but don’t stop there. What’s your favorite vacation spot and ice cream?”

“I’ve never taken a real vacation as an adult and for ice cream, it’s vanilla on top of your crumble.”

He gave her a wink and it dawned on her then, he’d often order the pancakes and bacon at the diner and when she reopened she’d have to make sure to have crumble always on the menu. She could do one better and make one for him just as soon as she could put her hands on some berries. After all, it was the least she could do for him when the only favorite foods he mentioned came from her kitchen.

16

A few days later, Jed was hauling bales of hay into each horse stall when he heard his name being called from the paddock area. He placed the bale outside of Bowie’s stall and went out a side entrance. Susie and Maggie were leaning over the fence with apples in their outstretched hands. They were bundled up against the chill that had settled over the valley earlier in the day.

“Hey, cowboy.” Maggie gave him a wide smile. “Busy today?”

“Same as usual.” He stepped up on the lower rung of the fence next to Maggie. “What brings you ladies down to the paddock?”

Susie leaned forward so she could see Jed around her mom. “I was hoping we could go for a ride. I’ve been thinking if I get comfortable enough that I could learn barrel racing.”

He nodded, wondering how this idea had taken root. Could it be tied back to what her father did for a living? Nah. Maybe some of her friends were into it.

“Since we don’t know much about it, we thought you might.” Maggie gave him a wide-eyed look as if she was trying to convey another message to him.

“Anyone can learn to race if they’re patient. You’d need an instructor and a mount that is quiet, well broken in. I think some new tack would be in order and lots of practice. You won’t learn overnight, but with some patience and a slow, steady approach, you could learn.”

Maggie’s facial expression never changed, but Susie beamed. “Any chance I can take Nahla out today?”

He gave her a steady look, one he hoped would slow her race to the barrels. “She’s not suited for that kind of work.”

“Oh, I know, but I should get more confident just riding and galloping, don’t you think?” She glanced at Maggie. “Please, Jed? I can saddle her up and take care of her after, and I’ll just stay in the paddock. Right in plain sight of you and Mom.”

“Suz, I’m sure he has work to finish.”

This was the first time he’d seen Susie this animated since the last time she rode. “Mags, it’s okay. If she really wants to learn taking care of her mount from start to finish, that’s good, but it will be under my supervision and if I tell you to redo something for Nahla, you’ll do it without a complaint, unless you have a question.”

“You bet.” She pushed off from the fence and landed on the scrub grass. “Is she in her stall?”

He nodded in the direction of the barn. “She is and you can get started, but before you get on, I’ll check the saddle and bridle to make sure you did them correctly.”

She held up her hand and slapped him a high five before dashing off to the barn. Maggie watched until she was inside before looking at Jed. “You didn’t need to agree.”

“Riding is good for her. It’s the only time she’s really happy out here. I thought it would help you if she had something positive to focus on.”

Maggie looked off in the direction of the river, even though they couldn’t see it. He understood just the thought of the water slipping over rocks and around bends brought a sense of peace. “I don’t want her to turn into a female version of Cash.”

And there it was. An old fear rearing up like a wild stallion. She had done a good job controlling her thoughts when Susie was around. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle hug. “It’s not the same thing. From what little I know, he had the rodeo bug from the time he pulled on his first pair of boots. Susie’s got a good head on her shoulders. She’s not about to go off half-cocked and run around with the rodeo.”

“A few months ago, I would have agreed. But now, with all that’s happened and our life in an upheaval, she might think it’s the perfect time to throw caution to the wind and lasso her future that doesn’t include college.”

“You’re selling her and you short. That kid has a good head on her shoulders and despite the current circumstances, that won’t change. Giving her some responsibility with a horse will help in the long run.”

“You could be right. But you already brought up a good point about Nahla. I’ll need to buy her a horse, tack, and pay for lessons. That’s a lot of cash outlay.”

He touched her shoulder and lightly placed his finger under her chin and guided her to look at him. “Do you think I would have agreed if I didn’t have some kind of an idea what this all would cost and how it might be achieved without causing a pinch to your finances?”

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