Page 44 of In Full Bloom

Once she’s safely up, I turn back to my work, studying what I’ve already loaded onto the trailer and trying to remember what else we need to take out with us.

As I load more supplies, I think about all the things Katie has told me in the time I’ve known her.

I think about how much she loves Olivia and Violet and Flynn and this farm, how much she loves my daughter, and how good she is at her job. I think about the contentment that radiates from her when she’s out on the land, or rescuing orphaned lambs, or working with terrifiedhorses.

Katie belongs here, with the people she loves, and the ones who love her in return.

I’m going to make it my mission to show her that, whether I get to be one of the people she loves or not.

By the time I’ve finished loading the trailer, I have a vague plan outlined in my head. Sadie is still on the platform, gazing raptly down into the yard, so I assume Katie is still there, working with Aurora.

Sadie spots me when I reach the edge of the platform and reach up to pull myself up. She presses her finger to her lips, eyes wide with awe, then points into the yard.

Katie is beside the horse, whose coat now shines instead of appearing fuzzy and dull, like it did when she arrived. Katie’s wearing a helmet, and has the lead rope looped over the horse’s neck. There’s a wooden box is on the ground next to where they stand.

Katie steps onto the box, all the while talking to Aurora in her usual low tone. She leans across the horse and when she doesn’t skitter, she leans further across.

Soon she’s draped over the horse’s back and all Aurora does is turn her head to sniff at Katie’s legs.

Katie slides back down onto the box, rewarding Aurora with a hearty rub along her neck.

The next time Katie tries, she slips a leg over the horse’s back and in a flash, is sitting astride her.

I suck in a breath, anxiety clawing at my throat. This horse was virtually wild when she arrived here mere weeks ago and now Katie’s sitting on her with no saddle or bridle in sight.

But she’s absolutely beaming, giving the horse more pats and encouragement.

Sadie squeezes my hand. I glance down at her and realise she’s trying so hard to contain her excitement over this huge milestone. “She did it,” Sadie breathes, the awe and admiration in her voice unmissable.

Aurora is totally relaxed, standing in the middle of the yard, Katie on her back.

Until a bird swoops past her head.

The horse tosses its head and skitters sideways. Katie grabs for her mane, trying not to slip off the spooked horse. The rope slides across Aurora’s neck, the trailing end loosely wrapping around her foreleg and that’s all it takes for her to lose any cool she had. She spins violently and Katie doesn’t stand a chance.

“Katie!” Sadie yelps as Katie goes flying through the air.

“Stay here,” I tell Sadie, wrenching my hand free from her terrified grip. I jump the railings and land on the packed dirt of the yard.

Aurora has shot to the far side, the rope already untangled from her leg. She stands against the railing, head down, panting hard, but no longer freaking out.

I turn for Katie, who’s lying in the dirt. Unmoving.

“Katie,” I race towards her, falling to my knees at her side.

She groans. “Mother fucker,” she mutters. “This ground is too hard.” She rolls over so she’s flat on her back, a grimace on her face as she stares up at me. “That’s going to fucking hurt.”

“Are you okay?” I gasp the words out between panicked breaths. “Katie, are you okay?” My hands are hovering in the air over her body. I want to touch her, to feel every inch of her andmake sure she’s okay, but at the same time, I’m too scared to touch her in case I make it worse.

“I’m fine,” she says with a groan.

“Where does it hurt? Is anything broken? Can you get up?”

“Hey, cowboy,” she says, reaching up with one hand to rest it against my cheek. “I’m fine. Nothing’s broken, just a little bruised.”

“Are you sure?” The feel of her palm against my face is calming my breathing, but it’s still coming in short, sharp pants.

She reaches for my hand with her free arm, wincing slightly as she uses it to pull herself to sitting. We end up way too close together, her mouth mere inches from mine and I have to fight everything in me to stop myself eliminating that gap and pressing my lips to hers. I ease back instead and her hand slips from my face.

---