“It’s not an actual table, but more like an idea, or promise, that you’ll always uphold the code of honor of cowboys and cowgirls all over the land. You must swear to be kind and helpful to every horse you meet because they’ll be loyal to you.”
“Can I swear, Sadie? Can I be a cowgirl?” She practically jumped out of her untied tennis shoes.
“You can be anything you want to be.” Sadie gave her a hug.
“I’m allowed,” Ruby squealed, all signs of the shy girl gone.
“First, we need to fix these. Can you tie your own shoes?” The girl gave a sharp shake of her head. “Watch closely.” He knelt and tied her frayed shoestrings. He stayed on his knees, at her eye level. “Now, place your right hand over your heart and repeat after me. I, Ruby, promise to be kind and helpful to all horses forever and a day.”
She repeated the vow, focusing hard on each word.
“Let’s bump fists on that.” Her fist was so tiny compared to his. “And now I bequeath you an honorary cowgirl.” He took his hat back, pressed it down on his head and stood.
“Can I ride now? Can I?” Ruby squirmed.
Channing looked over at Sadie who had a mysterious moisture in her eyes. “Is that okay? Can I put her on a horse?”
“If you have the time.” There was a breathlessness to her tone.
“I have all the time in the world for an honorary member. Come on, Ruby. Let’s go saddle up a horse.” He took a step toward the barn, and she slipped her hand into his. He felt a hitch in his chest. Obviously, the child had been through something that no kid should ever experience. Not only did she have the visible wound on her face, but she walked with a limp too.
Inside the barn, he asked one of the hands to saddle Nellie, the oldest, tamest horse on the ranch. Channing wasn’t sure if Ruby would be scared at first and Nellie was always aware of who was on her back.
When the horse was brought around, Channing scratched her behind the ears. “Ruby, meet Nellie. She’s been here at Dawson Creek for almost twenty years.”
“Can I pet her?” Ruby asked reverently.
“Sure.”
Hearing a noise behind them, he looked at Sadie and she mouthed, “Thank you.”
After an hour of leading Nellie around with a smiling Ruby in the saddle, he led them into the corral, then helped the girl down.
"Did we have to stop?” Ruby whined.
“For now, yes.” Channing handed the horse off to the waiting stable hand.
As if she let the idea go completely, she raced out of the enclosure and ran to the dogs sprawled out under the shade tree. Channing joined Sadie where she sat on the bench swing, using her toes to rock back and forth.
“I can’t thank you enough,” she said once he sat down.
He hooked his hat on his bent knee. “Something tells me that little girl has been through hell and back.”
“A car accident a little over six months ago.” There was a pause long enough for Sadie to wave at Ruby. “Her mother was driving and a truck T-boned them. Everyone survived, barely.”
Shifting so he could look at Sadie’s profile, he sensed an underlying tension in her. He scratched the whiskers on his jaw. “She’s welcome anytime. She’s a natural in the saddle.”
A silence fell over them until Sadie finally said, “I have something I want to speak to you about. Actually, ask you. It’s a big favor.”
“I already told you I’d help with the committee.”
“I need a husband, Chan, and I need one fast.”
