of the stalls to get a colt that was due to be
ridden.
She led the
colt to the crosstie in front of the tack room and began the regular ritual of
grooming and saddling. While she worked, she couldn’t help going over the
conversation with Clay Roberts, in her mind, when she called to tell him the
money had been transferred to his bank.
He was happy
to know the filly would belong to her. He felt sure the two of them would
fit each other well and it pleased him to know that the filly would have a
career in the show ring.
“I know there
are people who are in the horse transportation business, but they charge too
much, if you know what I mean,” he told her.
“You’re right
about that, but right now, I don’t see any other option. I have horses in
my barn and commitments to my clients to ride them, so there is no way I can
drive to Idaho to get her.” Jordan was quick to explain.
“Well,” Clay
said, “If you can give me a few days, maybe a week or so, I’ll see what I can
work out. Maybe there is someone around here who is going at least part
of the way that I can send her with. That should save some money.”
Jordan
shrugged her shoulders. “I appreciate that, but that would mean that I
would owe you board in the meantime.”
She heard a
deep laughter that put her at ease, even though it came from so far away.
“Don’t be silly, young lady. If I can’t work something out in a month,
then we’ll get a horse hauler to bring her there. Until she’s at your
barn, she’s mine anyway and that includes the expense of getting her to
you. I’m just….frugal. Are you willing to let me see what I can
do?”
Shocked by his
generosity, Jordan nodded, even though she knew he couldn’t see her, then
spoke. “Well, sure, but I don’t expect you to pay for her
transportation.”
Again his warm
laughter eased her mind. “Just let me see what I can do. I know a
lot of people.”
She pulled the
cinch snug on the bay gelding she was preparing to ride, and then turned her
attention to the bridle. She heard Bhrandii growl softly and looked at
him. He was looking toward the front of the barn so she did too.
A tall,
heavyset figure was silhouetted against the bright light framing the entrance
of the building. She hadn’t heard a motor or a door slam and was
surprised that she had been so engrossed in her own thoughts. Just for a
second her heart lurched in fear, then she recognized the movement of the
individual and smiled a greeting. “Hey, Sheriff John. How are you?”
Leaving the
gelding cross-tied, she walked toward him, giving him a quick hug of affection
as their steps brought them together. “I haven’t seen you in a long time,
except at church.” As she smiled up at him, she realized he was in
uniform. “Is this an official visit?”
He returned her
brief hug then kept one arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the
office where she always met with clients. He had watched this girl grow
up and what she had been through would have destroyed a lot of young
women. He had developed a great deal of respect for her as she had
struggled to overcome the tragic loss, first of her parents, then of her
husband and to rebuild her life, but she had done it. He hated to tell
her what had brought him here.
“Yeah, Jordan,
it’s official business that brings me here.”
A ribbon of
fear curled into a knot in her stomach. They were almost at the office
now and she stepped ahead of him. She led the rest of the way, feeling
that each step was leading her to a place she didn’t want to be. John
Davis had been her father’s best friend and had been one of the strong
shoulders she had leaned on when her parents died and when she returned home a
widow. She knew he didn’t beat around the bush and from the look on his
face, she knew this was serious. Her mind was racing in circles.
He reached
around her to push the door open and waited as the big
ridden.
She led the
colt to the crosstie in front of the tack room and began the regular ritual of
grooming and saddling. While she worked, she couldn’t help going over the
conversation with Clay Roberts, in her mind, when she called to tell him the
money had been transferred to his bank.
He was happy
to know the filly would belong to her. He felt sure the two of them would
fit each other well and it pleased him to know that the filly would have a
career in the show ring.
“I know there
are people who are in the horse transportation business, but they charge too
much, if you know what I mean,” he told her.
“You’re right
about that, but right now, I don’t see any other option. I have horses in
my barn and commitments to my clients to ride them, so there is no way I can
drive to Idaho to get her.” Jordan was quick to explain.
“Well,” Clay
said, “If you can give me a few days, maybe a week or so, I’ll see what I can
work out. Maybe there is someone around here who is going at least part
of the way that I can send her with. That should save some money.”
Jordan
shrugged her shoulders. “I appreciate that, but that would mean that I
would owe you board in the meantime.”
She heard a
deep laughter that put her at ease, even though it came from so far away.
“Don’t be silly, young lady. If I can’t work something out in a month,
then we’ll get a horse hauler to bring her there. Until she’s at your
barn, she’s mine anyway and that includes the expense of getting her to
you. I’m just….frugal. Are you willing to let me see what I can
do?”
Shocked by his
generosity, Jordan nodded, even though she knew he couldn’t see her, then
spoke. “Well, sure, but I don’t expect you to pay for her
transportation.”
Again his warm
laughter eased her mind. “Just let me see what I can do. I know a
lot of people.”
She pulled the
cinch snug on the bay gelding she was preparing to ride, and then turned her
attention to the bridle. She heard Bhrandii growl softly and looked at
him. He was looking toward the front of the barn so she did too.
A tall,
heavyset figure was silhouetted against the bright light framing the entrance
of the building. She hadn’t heard a motor or a door slam and was
surprised that she had been so engrossed in her own thoughts. Just for a
second her heart lurched in fear, then she recognized the movement of the
individual and smiled a greeting. “Hey, Sheriff John. How are you?”
Leaving the
gelding cross-tied, she walked toward him, giving him a quick hug of affection
as their steps brought them together. “I haven’t seen you in a long time,
except at church.” As she smiled up at him, she realized he was in
uniform. “Is this an official visit?”
He returned her
brief hug then kept one arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the
office where she always met with clients. He had watched this girl grow
up and what she had been through would have destroyed a lot of young
women. He had developed a great deal of respect for her as she had
struggled to overcome the tragic loss, first of her parents, then of her
husband and to rebuild her life, but she had done it. He hated to tell
her what had brought him here.
“Yeah, Jordan,
it’s official business that brings me here.”
A ribbon of
fear curled into a knot in her stomach. They were almost at the office
now and she stepped ahead of him. She led the rest of the way, feeling
that each step was leading her to a place she didn’t want to be. John
Davis had been her father’s best friend and had been one of the strong
shoulders she had leaned on when her parents died and when she returned home a
widow. She knew he didn’t beat around the bush and from the look on his
face, she knew this was serious. Her mind was racing in circles.
He reached
around her to push the door open and waited as the big
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