Love Without End by Robin Lee Hatcher

ranch would come anywhere close to covering his fees. She was certain of that. His generosity touched her, as did his sensitivity toward her situation. He’d managed to let her keep a little of her pride.
    “It would mean she’d have to spend more hours out here. Not just when she’s working with the horse.”
    “What . . . what would she be doing?”
    “It’ll probably change over time. But to start, she’d be helping Anna sort through boxes and such in our old guesthouse. She can help feed the horses and shovel out stalls too.”
    “Mr. Leonard—”
    “How about you call me Chet and I’ll call you Kimberly?”
    “Sure. Okay. Chet, how often would you need Tara to come out to work?” The price of gas flashed in her head, followed immediately by the small balance in her checkbook.
    “Saturdays and a couple other days during the week until school lets out. More often during the summer.”
    She released a soft sigh. “It sounds very generous.” Too generous, perhaps, but an offer she couldn’t refuse.
    “Great. Then let’s plan for her to start next Saturday morning. She can help Ms. McKenna for a few hours, and then Tara and I will do some work with her horse.”
    “All right. Thank you, Mr. L—Chet.”
    He was silent a moment before saying, “You’re welcome, Kimberly.”

Six
    T HANKS TO J ANET , K IMBERLY RECEIVED A CALL shortly after eight o’clock on Monday morning with the offer of a temporary position at an insurance agency. The regular receptionist/secretary/girl Friday had taken a bad fall while hiking over the weekend, breaking several bones in her right leg and ankle, and was awaiting surgery in a Boise hospital. Kimberly would be needed to fill in for at least four to six weeks. Perhaps longer.
    To Kimberly, four to six weeks’ worth of wages sounded wonderful after such a long stretch without any income. She wasn’t the fastest of typists, but she was accurate and organized, and she had a nice—if slightly dated—wardrobe for work attire.
    By ten o’clock that morning, Kimberly was at the office learning the ropes. Her employer, Christopher Russell, was an affable bear of a man. He was at least six feet four and must have tipped the scales at two hundred and seventy-five pounds.He not only dwarfed Kimberly, he made the office space seem too small as well. Nonetheless, she liked him at once.
    She returned home shortly after five that evening, tired but surprisingly satisfied. Another surprise awaited her in the kitchen. Tara was helping Janet with dinner preparations—and she seemed happy about it. Hope blossomed in Kimberly’s heart. Maybe they were over the worst of their trials. Maybe this was the beginning of a new era for the two of them. Maybe Kimberly wouldn’t have to disappoint her daughter again. Or at least not on a daily basis.
    “How was school?” Kimberly asked when they sat down to eat. It was a question she asked of Tara most weekdays.
    Instead of the usual shrug and a grunt, Tara answered, “Pete Leonard’s in my English class. I thought he looked familiar when I saw him yesterday. Anyway, Pete said I can start riding with him and his brother this week if I want. That way you won’t have to drive out there so often.”
    Kimberly had a job now, temporary as it was. She could afford to do a little more driving. But that was no reason to refuse Tara’s request.
    “Please, Mom. I’ll ride my bike if I have to when you’re working or when I can’t catch a lift with Pete and Sam. But riding with them will give me more time with my horse and to do whatever Ms. McKenna or Mr. Leonard need me to do.”
    “All right, honey.” She smiled and nodded. “But you’ll have to confirm with Mr. Leonard that it’s still all right for you to ride with his sons. And you also need to ask what afternoons he wants you to come. Your lessons have to be on his schedule, not yours.”
    “I’ll call him right now.” Tara started to rise.
    “Sit down and finish eating. He’s