Page 63 of Lost Then Found
Lark scoffs. “Your dad’s exaggerating.”
But there’s color rising to her cheeks, just the faintest flush, and I forgot how much I liked that. How much more I liked it when it was there because of me.
“Not even a little,” I say, watching as her blush deepens. She huffs, crossing her arms, but there’s no real bite behind it, and for a second, it feels like we’re seventeen again—flirting without meaning to, falling without realizing it.
Walker shakes his head, grinning. “Man, you should’ve seen her, kid. Fastest racer I ever saw.”
Hudson’s awe deepens, and he looks back at Lark. “That’s so cool.”
Lark gives Ellie one last pat before turning to Hudson with a smile. “Maybe I’ll show you sometime.”
Hudson lights up, and I feel something settle in my chest, something that feels a lot like home.
I clear my throat. “I was thinking we could take a ride. Give you the proper tour.”
Hudson tilts his head. “Why can’t we just walk?”
I huff a laugh. “Because the ranch is too big to walk. You’d be trekking for miles and miles.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Miles?”
I nod and look out over the land. Pastures stretch out in every direction, all golden light and wind-cut ridgelines. “Wilding Ranch runs deep. We’ve got thousands of acres—cattle pasture, hayfields, trails, creeks, a lake tucked back behind the ridge. You try to walk it, you’ll be praying for a horse before you even hit the halfway point.”
Hudson’s eyes track the horizon, then shift to the horses, then back to me. “I’ve never ridden one before.”
Springsteen shifts in his stall, tossing his head once, and Hudson takes half a step closer to me.
“You know I used to be scared of ’em too?”
His eyebrows lift. “You were?”
“Hell yeah.” I nod at Springsteen. “Big animals. Strong as hell. But they’re smart. If you show ’em you’re calm, they’ll meet you there. You get nervous, they’ll feel it. You trust them? They’ll carry you through anything.”
He glances back at the horse, chewing on his bottom lip. “What if he doesn’t like me?”
I squeeze his shoulder. “He will.”
Still, he looks unsure. That edge of nerves I know too well. “You’re riding with me today,” I tell him. “You won’t be alone.”
He nods once. “Okay.”
I push to my feet and look over at Lark. “You good to ride Ellie?”
She smirks like the answer’s obvious. “Hear that, girl?” she murmurs, running a hand down Ellie’s neck. “Time to get back in the game.”
Walker steps up. “Want me to tack her?”
She waves him off. “I’ve got it.”
I lean on the stall door and watch her move. Shehasn’t done this in years, but she falls right into rhythm. Hands steady. Movements sharp and sure. Like no time’s passed at all.
She brushes Ellie down with long, even strokes, checks her hooves, tosses the saddle blanket over like it weighs nothing, then swings the saddle up and cinches it tight. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little impressed. But then again, I’ve always been impressed by her.
I refocus and turn to Hudson. “Alright. Your turn.”
We start slow. I hand him a brush and show him how to sweep it down Springsteen’s side. He takes it seriously, brow furrowed, nodding like he’s taking mental notes. I show him how to check the hooves, and he grimaces but doesn’t complain. Good sign.
When it’s time to saddle up, I keep it simple. “Pad down first,” I tell him. “Saddle next. Tighten the girth, but don’t rush it. You spook the horse, you spook yourself.”
