Page 4 of The Way Back Home
Teagan paused for a moment to take it all in.
She’d made it. Now all she had to do was convince the owner to give her a chance.
As Teagan neared the paddock, she noticed another horse, a huge stallion, standing off by itself. Unlike the others, he wasn’t grazing. He was watching her, tense and alert.
She moved closer, her steps slow and quiet, until she reached the fence. The horse flicked his ears and pawed the ground but remained where he was.
“You are a big one, aren’t you?” she said softly. “Bigand beautiful. But wary. Trust me, I get it. No judgment here.”
Teagan removed her pack with deliberate, careful movements. Setting it down on the ground, she reached inside and pulled out her last juicy apple, then eased herself onto the top rail of the fence.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just going to sit here and eat my apple. You can come say hi if you want. No pressure.”
The horse went still and huffed softly. Teagan broke direct eye contact and looked at the others, who were now also watching her with mild curiosity. She bit into the apple, the satisfying crunch clearly audible in the near silence.
The stallion lifted his head and flared his nostrils, as if scenting the air. Then he took a small, cautious step forward. Teagan watched him in her peripheral vision, calm and relaxed on the outside, but ready to bolt if necessary.
Eventually, the horse stood right in front of her. When she didn’t acknowledge him, he nudged her shoulder.
“Well, hello, beautiful boy,” she murmured. “Do you like apples?”
Teagan took another bite, then slowly extended her hand, palm flat, fingers straight. She smiled as the stallion’s velvety lips brushed her skin, gently accepting the gift.
He finished off the treat quickly, then nudged her for more.
She laughed. “Sorry, big guy. That’s all I have on meright now. But put in a good word for me, and I promise I’ll buy more with my first paycheck.”
“You have a gift. Onyx doesn’t let anyone near him.”
Teagan’s heart all but stopped at the sound of the female voice, but she remained outwardly calm, unwilling to spook her new friend.
“He doesn’t trust easily.”
“No,” the woman agreed, drawing closer—but not too close. “He’s a work in progress. I picked him up at auction a couple of weeks back. I don’t think his previous owner treated him very well. I’m Mona, by the way.”
Teagan recognized the name. Mona was Mona Baker, owner of Hopewell Ranch, according to Teagan’s research.
“T,” Teagan replied.
“T,” Mona echoed. “The same T who applied for a job through the website?”
Teagan nodded. “Yep, that’s me.”
“Did someone get back to you?”
“No.”
“And yet here you are,” Mona said, not unkindly. “We’re a therapeutic ranch. Do you know anything about hippotherapy?”
“No, I don’t,” Teagan answered honestly. “But Idoknow horses.”
“Got a way with them too, apparently.” Mona’s gaze flicked to Onyx, who remained almost protectively close to Teagan and was watching the exchange with interest.
“Look, I’ll be honest. I need the work,” Teagan saidquietly. “I’ll do anything—feeding, watering, mucking stalls, grooming. Just give me a chance. Please.”
Mona regarded her for so long Teagan was certain the woman was going to send her on her way. Then the older woman nodded. “All right. If Onyx trusts you, then I suppose I can too. We’ll give it a month. I’m shorthanded with the holidays coming up.”
Relief coursed through Teagan. She knew better than anyone how precious a gift trust could be. “Thank you.”
