Worth the Risk(26)

She looped a rope around Hazel’s neck and led her through the back of the barn to a turnout paddock. She did the same with two others so they could clean the stalls, then returned for the last one.

“Mr. Ed, huh. Do you talk?”

She stopped at the sound of Stephen’s deep voice and watched him scratch the old chestnut’s forehead.

“Oh, really? She said that about me?” He flashed her a wicked grin.

So heart-stoppingly gorgeous it was almost painful. But even then she couldn’t stop the sudden smile. And that’s why he was dangerous.

They worked in silence, only the scrape of shovel against concrete and the rustling of fresh hay. She didn’t know how she was supposed to feel when his eyes met hers, when their bodies came within a breath of touching. A man she’d been attracted to, was still attracted to. A man she’d thought was interested in her and then found out he wasn’t.

But one thing she did know was fear, and that was strangely absent when she was with Stephen.

“So does this count as a kid’s physical therapy?”

“For some it does. A person might benefit from riding in general, versus going to a certified physical therapist using horseback riding specifically for therapy. That would be hippotherapy. It’s usually covered by insurance and though it might not replace everything done in PT, it covers most of it.”

He scooped a section of soiled hay. “Which are you?”

“On paper I’m a physical therapist, out here I guess I’m both. I have a blind student. I’m not really doing physical therapy, but feeling the horses, the tack, smelling them…it’s good for her. Just being outside, going places she couldn’t go on her own.”

When she looked up, Stephen was staring. “Sorry. I tend to go on and I probably already told you that.”

He leaned his shovel against the wall. “You didn’t and I wanted to hear it.” He looked at her another beat. “It’s good. What you do here. It’s special.”

Wow. His praise meant more to her than it should. “Thanks.” Uncomfortable with his intense stare, she fumbled with the stall latch like it needed attention until she heard Stephen pick up his tool and start again.

“I have a brother.”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “You have a lot of brothers.” Something they had in common.

“Yeah.” He smiled. “But my youngest brother, J.T….he lost his leg, part of his leg, just over a year ago. Car accident.”

She stopped and studied him, staring at the hay, looking like a giant weight was pressing on his shoulders. Maybe that’s why he was here, seeking help for his brother. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

He went back to work and she took it as a signal he didn’t want to talk about it anymore. A second later, a clap of thunder rumbled and rolled. When she stepped from the stall, the open barn doors revealed a darkened sky, pressing down in an angry gray on the fields and beyond. “I better get the horses.”

Another boom of thunder sounded as she grabbed a lead rope.

“Toss me one.”

Hannah directed him to retrieve Winnie while she went after Roma. She whistled and clucked, approaching him slowly.

“Go on ahead,” she called to Stephen. “Third stall on the right. Her name’s on the door.”

Stephen disappeared and she continued to stalk the horse around the edges of the paddock. “It’s okay, boy. Don’t you want to go inside?” Each time she got close, the weather conspired against her and he shied away. A cool downdraft lifted his jet-black mane and brought pieces of her own hair across her face. A streak of lightning split the heavens just before the earth shook and the first fat raindrops fell.

“Come on, now. Be a good boy.” But Roma was rarely a good boy and bringing him in was never easy. She’d only taken him on as a boarder because she needed the money.

She had him stopped against the fence, but there was no way she could box him in enough that he couldn’t jerk away. She stroked his neck, speaking soft nonsense as she ran the rope across the animal’s quivering shoulders.

Roma’s eyes flashed and she caught the movement behind her. Stephen. He stepped in front of the horse, his tall, wide body giving her the edge she needed.

With a firm grip, she headed for the barn. The rain stung her cheeks and another flash slashed the sky in two. Roma rose in a half rear, ripping the nylon through her wet hand. She spun to make a grab for him and saw Stephen had looped his rope also and still had a solid hold. He jogged, bringing the horse along at a trot, leaving her to follow.

She slid the barn doors closed against the blowing sheets of rain while Stephen led Roma to his stall. With the latch secured he faced her, a smile playing across his lips. “Well, that was fun.”