“Who says I didn’t?”
“Did you?”
“I saw all of Colin’s football games when they were in Oklahoma.” Buck picked up his coffee mug and leaned in. “I watched you graduate from high school. One of the proudest days of my life. I nudged the guy next to me and said, ‘That’s my daughter right there.’”
I stared at the man who was both familiar and a stranger. “Oh. Wow.”
“Yeah. I was there more than you think.” Buck took a sip and reached for the sugar. “Hey, does that Hope Farms have any openings?”
The topic change caught me off guard. “No, not that I know of. Most of the work is volunteer.”
“That’s too bad. I’d be good with the cattle and horses.”
“Do you need work?” I instantly thought of ten people I could call for job leads. “I thought you were going to coach new talent at the camp.”
“I don’t know that it’s my thing.” Buck pushed eggs around on his syrupy plate. “Today’s crop of kids are such babies. Helmets, protective gear. Heck, now if riders have an injury, they take time off. In my day, you found ways around the hurt. Sure, you’re banged up, but you adapt and ride as if everything’s fine. The one time I took a day off, I was in the hospital. That’s how theyshoulddo it.”
I couldn’t imagine that grueling life. “What will you do for work then?”
“I want to keep my options open. To be honest, I’ve had lots of offers to train riders. Your dear old dad is pretty well-known on the circuit. Those young cowboys would do anything to recreate the magic I had with the Sunset Boys. Yep, lots of offers. It’s just a matter of settling in and picking one.” Buck plucked the check off the table, then fumbled in his back pockets until he produced a worn leather wallet. Peeking inside, he winced. “I’m afraid I forgot to refill the till. Bet on some riders last night and sadly those boys did not come through. What are ya gonna do, eh?” His grin lifted cheeks that resembled my brother’s. “I can cover the tip, if you can swing for breakfast.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“That’s my girl.” Buck clapped a hand to my shoulder, so certain of his world and his place in it. “I knew I could count on you.”
* * *
You’re stressing my horse out,” Ava said to me late that same afternoon.
My groups had all wrapped up for the day, and it was just the two of us. This was Ava’s fifth visit to see “her horse,” and her confidence with the animal encouraged me just as much as the progress our veterans made.
“I’m sorry.” I yanked off my sunglasses and stuck them on top of my head. “I’ve had a weird day.”
“My partner in science forgot to take his meds and mooned the whole class. Can you top that?”
“I cannot. My day of weirdness bows to yours.” I handed her the lead rope. “Let’s walk Dash to the arena. Rain’s coming, but I think we can beat it.”
“Okay, but you stay a few paces back with your angry vibes.”
“I’m not angry.”
“Come on, Dash. Ignore Hattie.” She cast me a doubtful look as she led her horse out of the barn. “Did you want to talk aboutyourweird day?”
“It’s just stuff with my biological dad,” I said, eyeing the ominous clouds gathering above us. “Nothing I need to burden a kid with.”
“Is your dad a bad man?”
I thought about that for a second or two. “I don’t think so. He just made some bad choices.”
“Right. I can’t relate to that at all.”
A small laugh escaped my lips. Nothing like being totally owned by a twelve-year-old. “The short version is I saw my dad today. I think I hoped he’d be a changed man, and he’s not.”
“I wanted my dad to be different too. It sucks when they won’t change for you.” Ava spoke softly to Dash as she tried to pull him in the direction of the arena. “Come on, Dash. Work with me.”
I shook off my own dark thoughts as the therapist in me reported for duty. “We never force a horse to do anything he doesn’t want to do. We make a request.”
“How come that doesn’t apply to my nightly homework?”
