His dark brows dipped in warning. “Ava and Poppy have a therapist back home and still see her virtually once a week.”
“And that’s great, but traditional therapy can be limiting for some patients. Not everyone finds healing in an hour of talking. What if Ava’s one of those exceptions?”
“She’s not.”
“You don’t know that.”
“And you don’t know my niece. She’s been through a lot—they both have. First the loss of their dad, their mom’s deployment and the fears associated with that, then being completely uprooted to live with their overworked but dashingly handsome uncle.”
Oh, Lord. “Still got that charm, don’t you? It must be hard to turn it off.”
“I’ve tried.” Miller stood no more than a foot away, but his arrogance knew no distance. “It’s simply my burden to carry.”
“Losing it would free up some of that precious time you’re needing.”
“Back to how I’m right and you’re wrong—leave Ava alone.”
“I’ve seen horses do miraculous things for a person. I’ve dealt with men and women at their lowest, people who—”
“Ava is not your concern. Currently she’s mine. She’s in my care and, as her caregiver, I’m telling you to back off.”
This man needed a long ride on a fast horse. “Fine.”
“I don’t want to see her doing any of the therapy activities or being treated in any way. Am I clear?”
“Very.”
Miller gave a curt nod, then walked away.
Behind me came the rusty, clanky sound of laughter. “I guess he told you.”
Turning, I found Ernie reclined against the fence as if he’d been enjoying a show. “Don’t you have some stalls to muck out?”
“Not my job, and you know it.” He jerked his chin toward the exit. “You and Miller fight like a pair of spring yearlings.”
My history of sparring with Miller went way back. “We’re old friends. Arguing is how we communicate.”
“Hmph.”
I frowned at my grumpy coworker. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” He grinned. “Just hmph.”
Men. Couldn’t live without them; didn’t have the upper body strength to push them into the nearest creek. “You know I’m right. His niece would benefit from what we do.”
“No doubt about it. But like the horses we work with, you can’t force anyone into it. If it’s right, the opportunities will present themselves.”
Ernie was correct, but I didn’t have to like it. “It’s hard to stay silent when you know you can help.”
“Way I see it, Miller told you to stay out of it. But…” Ernie brushed away the haze of dirt from his jeans.
The man was apparently one for the dramatic pause. “Yes?”
Ernie straightened and gave a nobody-can-tell-me-what-to-do shrug. “He didn’t say anything about the horses.” He gestured to the pasture where a small herd stood. “If a horse wants to make a friend out of someone, she’ll find a way to do it.”
Maybe so.
I could only pray Ernie was right.
