When she arrived at the ranch, all thoughts of sleep and long hours vanished. The gorgeous land spread out in wide pastures and tree-covered hills. Well tended, all the buildings were white, including the main house. The stable was first-class and huge. The pastures were green and vast, some outlined by white fencing and dotted with beautiful grazing horses.

Luke lived on quite a spread. The main house stood two stories tall, white with dark blue shutters, and a wraparound covered porch. The garden out front was well tended and the plants bloomed profusely in shades of pink, red, and purple. The scent of gardenias from the main house walkway floated down to the barn.

She was so taken by the ranch that she didn’t register the noise coming from inside the barn until she’d gotten the boys out of the car.

“Mama, what’s that noise?” Jack started backing away from the stable and the sound of the distressed animal.

“It’s okay. That horse is just mad and letting everyone know it. Let’s go find Luke. He’s probably helping take care of the horse.”

The barn was massive with at least twelve stalls on each side of the wide center aisle. At the far end of the barn outside an open stall stood a very angry stallion. What surprised Sarah was the manner in which everyone was dealing with the distraught animal. Horses were emotional creatures and needed to be handled with patience and care.

She didn’t see Luke. Two men on each side of the horse held him with lead ropes, obviously trying to keep the animal under control while another man tried to get close to him without getting kicked or bit. Each time the man took a step close to the horse, he went nuts and tried to buck, pull, and otherwise get free and away from the men. Very dangerous.

The frustrated horse could injure himself and the men.

Sarah sat the boys on a bench outside an empty stall, far away from the angry beast. “Do not move.”

She walked down the long aisle toward the angry horse, singing a lullaby. At first, loudly, to get the horse’s attention. As she made her way toward the animal, she softened her singing and stopped five feet from him. He watched her intently. As did the surprised men. The horse’s ears pricked up and listened to her clear, soothing voice. He snorted and stomped, but kept his eyes on her.

One of the men backed up and got right in Sarah’s face. “What the hell are you doing? Can’t you see this animal is out of control?”

Sarah continued singing and sidestepped the man, so the horse could see her.

“Step back, Doc. Let her be.” Luke’s smooth, low voice rumbled like whiskey and the blues rolled together. It washed over her and sent an unfamiliar warmth through her whole body.

She’d felt him come up behind her before she’d heard him. She didn’t have time to think much about that because the angry horse in front of her demanded her full attention.