Read Second Chances for Free Online

with the mare, he
used the soft brush on the three month old filly. Not that the baby really
needed grooming, but he liked to acclimate the foals to all parts of typical
daily care at an early age. The foal snorted, turned her hindquarters his
direction, then ducked her head under her mother for a drink. He grinned and
caressed the filly’s rump, even as her short tail slapped his hand on each
upswing.
    Once
more his gaze found April. Concern etched across her face as she stared at the
stall containing her new pets. He’d bolster her confidence if he could, but
she’d see results all in good time.
    Rule
whinnied, drawing his attention. Dusty considered what type of foals the filly
might throw when mated with his stallion. Images of speedy barrel racing horses
flashed through his mind. “Are you going to breed her?”
    “No.
The humane society has a strict no breeding policy. Considering there’s already
an overpopulation problem, the last thing they want to do is add to the
abundance.”
    “Understandable.”
Come to think of it, if the gray filly couldn’t be sound carrying a rider over
a pasture, the weight of pregnancy could prove just as concerning. He tossed
away the thought as fast as it had come.
    Finished
with the pair, he left the stall, secured the door behind him, and then
gathered up his lead ropes. Without saying a word, he started out of the
stable.
    The
crunch of tennis shoes on gravel alerted him that April followed hot on his
heels. He paused and turned, noted the lead ropes she carried, and waited for
her to catch up. “Don’t you know running shoes aren’t safe around horses? If
you’re going to hang out here, you need a pair of cowboy boots.”
    “I
know. I know. I’ve just never found boots comfortable. So, I decided to make my
feet happy instead. After all, this one pair of feet has to last me the rest of
my nursing career.”
    He
snorted and headed to the far pasture. “You’ll regret that decision first time
you get stepped on.” Typically the horses waited for him, eager to get inside
and to their supper. Not today. They all stood under the huge shade trees,
their tails flicking away flies.
    “Been
there, done that. No biggie.” She followed him through the gate and closed the
barricade behind her.
    City girl. He cringed at the word. He’d
learned long ago there was a canyon sized difference between people raised in
the city versus those raised in the country. With vastly opposing backgrounds
and environments, he rarely came across anyone raised without dust, hayfields,
and a rooster alarm clock that he could tolerate for long periods of time.
    He
surely didn’t know much about his newest boarder, but her choice of footwear
hinted strongly at a suburban lifestyle. Strike one. Dusty snorted to himself.
What did it matter? As long as she paid her monthly boarding fees, she could
come from outer space for all he cared. Just keep her out of his way and off
the potential fuck buddy docket and he could learn to put up with the pretty
blonde.
    Walking
up to a couple of the geldings, he snapped the lead ropes on their halters, and
handed the ends to April. She gave him the other leads, then made smooching
noises to get the horses moving. They followed docilely. He watched her for a
second, realizing she’d done this before. Lots of times, if he didn’t miss his
guess. He re-evaluated his earlier thought, teetered on the fence, before
deciding she knew something about horses. The familiarity and confidence in her
carriage spoke of many things, including hours spent with the large animals.
    By the
time he gathered up the remaining two geldings in the pasture, she’d walked the
first ones through the gate, sidestepped them over with the touch of her hand
on their shoulders, and closed the barrier behind her.
    No
matter where that girl grew up, she stood firmly on the country side of things
today. In her pink and white tennis shoes. With a shake of his head, he
followed in her