Page 49 of Carly's Heart

He stopped outside the barn and greeted the youth by name. “Jimmy, good to see you. This is my girlfriend, Carly. She’s allowed to go anywhere she wants to. If she needs anything, I’m trusting you to help her out.”

“Yes, sir. Nice to meet you ma’am.”

“That’s my man.” Birch clapped him on the back. “We’re going to pick a couple of mounts. I’ll get you to saddle them for us while I take Carly to change into riding gear.” He turned to her. “You did bring jeans, right?”

“I keep a spare pair in the trunk.”

He led her inside and they met a few horses. Jimmy trailed behind them waiting to learn which he would be saddling. After meeting a dozen horses, she was totally overwhelmed. “Just pick something, Birch. I have no idea how to choose between horses.”

“Jimmy, please saddle Isis and Osiris.”

“Yes, sir.” She banked a smirk at the youth’s eager attitude.

“Now, let’s run you up to the house to change.”

♥ Chapter Twenty-Three ♥

“Mama, look at the playground,” Layla called out, jumping down, and racing to Carly’s side when she got out of the truck. “It has a climbing wall,” she declared with awe. “Watch me.” After the world’s fastest hug, she raced to the eight-foot-tall climbing wall and scrambled up its side.

Carly’s breath caught in her throat. She was nervous for Layla who seemed totally oblivious to the danger of falling. She understood safe play, where there was the potential for slight injury but no true danger, still, she winced as she watched her daughter perched on top of the wall.

“See, Mama, I’m good.” She waved and swayed back and forth.

“Relax, Carly,” Birch’s mom, Helen said. “She’s been up and down there twenty times already. She loves it and the rubber chips are cushioning if she takes a tumble.”

Carly smiled and waved at her daughter who scrambled down and raced to the spiral slide. “I can’t help but worry.” She managed a laugh.

“What do you think of the place? I’m so proud of what Birch has become. He’s quite the name in horse racing. Last year, one of his horses took several titles.” She beamed with pride.

“I had no idea. Nobody said anything. I really thought he just raised horses and sold them for pleasure riders. But this...” she waved toward the stunning buildings he had built, “this is beyond anything I imagined. Tanya always referred to his silly horses. I mean ....” she trailed off, unable to complete the thought coherently.

“I’m still astounded myself.” Helen waved to Layla who was now atop the monkey bars. “The first time he sold a horse for six figures, I nearly had a heart attack. Imagine, my son building an empire from a few horses he inherited from my father. It’s incredible. Don’t let those fancy buildings worry you. Birch hasn’t changed one bit. He’s still the solid, caring man you’ve known for years.”

“Oh, Helen, I don’t know. I’m a simple girl with simple needs. This is all so much.” She waved to encompass the house and all the matching outbuildings.

“My son is a regular guy who happens to have a bit more money than some. Don’t let it make you feel inadequate.”

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