Cody grinned, leading his horse over to the hitching post. “I’ll get Ghost saddled up for you,” he said, heading into the barn. “Be right back.”
Emma took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. It had been years since she’d ridden a horse, not since the last summer she’d spent at the ranch before... Well, before her life had taken a different turn. She’d always loved it, the feeling of freedom and connection with the animal beneath her. But now, the thought of getting back in the saddle made her palms sweat and her heart race.
Cody emerged from the barn a few minutes later, leading Ghost behind him. The chestnut gelding looked as handsome as ever, his coat gleaming in the fading light. Cody had already saddled him up, the worn leather creaking as he walked.
“Here we go,” Cody said, handing Emma the reins. “You ready?”
Emma took a deep breath, then nodded, a determined look on her face. “As I’ll ever be,” she said, putting her foot in the stirrup.
But as she went to swing her leg over the saddle, she felt a moment of panic, her muscles freezing up. She’d forgotten how high up it was. And what if Ghost threw her?
Cody must have sensed her hesitation, because he was at her side in an instant, his hand on her elbow. “It’s okay,” he said softly, his voice low and reassuring. “I won’t let you fall.”
Emma looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something in his eyes, a warmth and a tenderness that made her feel safe, protected. She nodded, taking a deep breath, and he wrapped his hands about her calf, the heat of his gentle touch sending butterflies through her.
“Ready?” he asked, and unable to find words, she simply nodded. He wouldn’t let her fall.
He boosted her up, and she swung her other leg over the saddle easily.
As she settled into place, she felt a rush of memories washing over her. The feel of the leather beneath her hands, the smell of the horse, the way the world looked different from up high. It was like stepping back in time, to a place where everything was simpler, clearer. A place she’d forgotten existed.
Cody swung up onto his own horse, a smile on his face as he watched her. “Looks like you haven’t forgotten after all,” he said, clicking his tongue to get his horse moving.
Emma followed suit, giving Ghost a gentle nudge with her heels. The gelding responded instantly, falling into step beside Cody’s horse as they headed out of the yard and into the open fields.
As they rode, Emma felt herself relaxing into the rhythm of the horse’s gait, her body remembering the movements even after all these years. The sun was setting behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and fresh hay.
They rode in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound the steady thud of the horses’ hooves on the packed earth. Emma let her mind wander, drinking in the beauty of the landscape around her. She had forgotten how much she loved this place, how much it felt like home.
After a while, Cody suggested they stop for a break, pointing to a shady spot beneath a large oak tree. Emma nodded, guiding Ghost over to the tree and sliding down from the saddle.
As she stretched her legs, she noticed Cody rummaging in his saddlebags, a mischievous grin on his face. “I hope you’re hungry,” he said, pulling out a large, wrapped bundle.
Emma’s eyebrows shot up, a smile tugging at her lips. “What’s that?” she asked, walking over to him.
Cody unwrapped the bundle, revealing a spread of sandwiches, fruit, and cookies. “Dinner,” he said, handing her a sandwich. “I figured we might work up an appetite out here.”
Emma shook her head, a laugh bubbling up in her throat. “You really did think of everything, didn’t you?” she said, taking a bite of the sandwich.
Cody just shrugged, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I try,” he said, settling down on the grass beside her.
They ate in silence for a few minutes, savoring the food and the peace of the evening. Emma couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so content, so at ease with herself and the world around her. But as the last of the light faded from the sky, she felt a familiar sense of unease creeping in, a tightness in her chest that she couldn’t quite shake.
Cody must have noticed the change in her demeanor, because he set down his sandwich, turning to face her. “Emma?” he said softly, his voice filled with concern. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Emma sighed, picking at the crust of her bread. “I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just... being back here, it brings up a lot of memories. A lot of regrets.”
Cody nodded, his expression understanding. “I get that,” he said, leaning back on his elbows. “It’s not easy, facing the past. Especially when it’s tied up with so much pain.”
Emma felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back, taking a deep breath. “I just feel like I let him down,” she said, her voice cracking. “My dad, I mean. I was so focused on my own life, my own dreams, that I never really stopped to think about what he wanted. What he needed.”
Cody was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky. “You know your father never once blamed you for leaving, right, Emma?” he said after a moment, searching herface. “He was so proud of you, of everything you accomplished out there in the world.”
“But I should have been here,” she said, her voice thick with tears. “I should have been here for him, Cody. And now it’s too late.”
Cody sat up, turning to face her. “It’s not too late, Emma,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “You’re here now. And you’re doing everything you can to honor his memory, to take care of the things that mattered to him.”
Emma shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “But for how long?” she said, wiping at her eyes. “I’m just here to fix up the ranch, to sell it and move on with my life. What kind of legacy is that?”
