Missy nudged Liz’s shoulder. “Impatient, are you? Well, we’ll have us a good ride right after we get you all ready, and then we’ll have an apple or a carrot.”

She hung the saddle back on the gate.

“What are you doing?” Raylen asked.

“I ride bareback,” she told him.

He followed her as she led the horse out into the sunshine and rubbed Missy’s ears for a minute before she grabbed a hunk of mane and swung up on the horse’s bare back in one swift movement. She clamped her knees against Missy’s flanks and the mare stepped high.

Maddie came out of the first stall and stared. “Is she one of them horse whisperers?”

Raylen shook his head. “She’s pretty good, isn’t she?”

Liz’s dark hair fluffed out behind her as she led the horse into a soft trot. “Fast enough, little girl. That’s all you’re going to get today. Any more and you’ll work up too much sweat.”

Maddie and Raylen watched until she and Missy disappeared over a hill in the distance and then Maddie picked up the shovel. “She doesn’t need me to advise her on horses. I’m going back to work.”

Raylen brought Danny Boy out for his walk, and kept an eye out for Liz the whole time.

“I’m still in shock at that woman of mine. She’s just full of surprises,” Raylen said.

Danny Boy threw back his head and neighed as if he understood every word.

***

Liz finished the second round and brought Missy back to the front of the barn. She slid off her back, led her inside the barn, and grabbed up the equipment to rub her down before she put her back in the stall that Maddie had just finished mucking out.

“You’re pretty good ridin’ bareback,” Maddie said.

“We got horses out in west Texas. I can saddle up if you want me to, but it’s just extra time. Who’s next?” Liz asked.

“Fire Red.” She pointed to the name above the stall door.

“Her name mean she’s got a temper?” Liz asked.

Maddie leaned on the shovel. “Gentlest mare I’ve got. She’s birthed several of Danny Boy’s colts for me. Got one that’ll be in the sale this next fall. Beautiful boy that we haven’t broken yet.”

Liz itched to meet that horse. “Want me to start workin’ with him?”

“Honey, Dewar would disown me if I let anyone near that horse but him. But there’ll be more colts, and now that I’ve seen what you can do, you’re goin’ to have your hands full. You’ve got a full-time job here when you quit the café business. And I promise you will get to break one eventually,” Maddie said.

Liz and Fire Red had made it halfway around the pasture when her phone rang. She fished it out of her hip pocket and shifted the reins to one hand. Fire Red kept up a steady trot around the perimeter of the pasture.

“We’re out past Wichita Falls,” Marva Jo said.