"And she spake unto him according to these words," Nick moved his finger under each word as he slowly read them aloud while Angela followed along, frowning as she deciphered the words. She was taking her nightly reading lessons very seriously and looked forward to the day when she would be able to read to her daughter, who was also listening in rapt interest. "...and that which he did, the LORD made to prosper."

Nick closed the bible, carefully marking the place to pick it up again the next night.

"Nick, where's the ranch account book?" Jarrod asked as he strode briskly into the room.
Nick and Heath exchanged glances.

"Same place they always are, bottom drawer." Nick answered. "Why?"

"I just thought I'd get a little more familiar with them. Then if you or Heath need assistance, I can lend a hand."

"Help yourself." Nick stood up abruptly. "Angela, you and Jordan want to go for a walk with me? I have something I want to show you."

Heath sighed and put the cue he had been chalking back on the rack. So much for his game.

***********

"Right in here." Nick led the way into the barn and turned up the lanterns.

"Where we goin', Mr Nick?" Angela stepped cautiously into the barn, uncertain of the unfamiliar surroundings.

"This stall right here." He led them over to the far stall. "What do you think?"
Inside was a smallish Palomino, gentle of eye with a a flashy blaze down her face.

"Oh, she beautiful, Mr Nick. Ah neva seen her befo."

"That's 'cause she just arrived today. She's perfectly saddle broke, has the loveliest gait you'll ever find, and a nature sweeter than honey. Her name's Easy."

"Ms Audra gonna love her." Jordan stretched out her hands to pat the mare's forehead and

Angela envied her daughter's fearlessness.

"Oh Audra's not going to be riding her. You are."

Angela froze.

Nick frowned in puzzlement. "You don't like her?"

"Ah can't be riden' her."

"Sure you can," Nick was slightly exasperated. "That's why I got her."

Angela shook her head. "Mr Nick, Ah don't be knowin' how ta ride."

"I know." Nick explained. "That's why she's the perfect horse to learn on."

"Ah can't. Ah doesn't know nothin' 'bout horses."

"Then I'll teach ya." She looked at him uncertainly and he gave her his most encouraging smile. "Comere." She hesitated. "Come on, come on, come on, come on." He brought her back to the mare, who regarded them both with a friendly eye.

"Now, the first lesson, is that the best way to make friends with a horse, is to feed it. Take these carrots," he handed her several stubs he pulled from a nearby bucket, "And feed them to her."

Angela studied the large equine mouth apprehensively.

"Won' she bite?"

"If she did it would be by accident, and that won't happen because you're going to hold them in your palm. Stretch your hand out," She copied his demonstration. "Lay the carrots in the palm of your hand and offer it to her."

Angela cautiously did so and was delighted at the plush nose that snuffled over the carrots, tickling her fingers.

"So soft." She marveled.

"See the way she's lipping your palm? She likes you, and" Nick handed over several extra carrots. "She wants more."

The whiskers tickled her palm again and she giggled and reached out to stroke the golden cheekbones.

"Now the next thing to learn about horses, " Nick continued, "Is how to take care of them."
He opened the stall door and led the mare over to a grooming area. "Why don't you sit Jordan over here on this bale. Now take this brush right here and start right up here, near her head. You're going to go in the direction of the coat, just as if you were brushing your hair."

Angela gently ran the brush over the fur and Nick shook his head.

"More force, you're not going to hurt her. This is a very soft brush and she'll enjoy it more if you push harder. When you groom her, you're getting rid of dust and loose hair and everything that makes her itchy."

She applied the brush with more vigor and the horse leaned happily into the bristles. Nick took another curry brush and concentrated on the other side of the mare, watching out of the corner of his eye as Angela gained more confidence with every stroke.

"See? I knew she'd be perfect for you. I thought, when Jordan gets old enough, we'll find some gentle old pony to start her out on. When she outgrows that, you can either give Easy to Jordan and we'll get you a new horse, or we'll buy Jordan a horse just like her-what?" Angela had stopped brushing the mare.

"Ah knows how thin's change. Ya may not wanna keep this horse that long."

"Angela, it's not my decision about whether or she's still here, it's yours. She's your horse."

Angela gave him a blank look. "I'm giving her to you." Nick explained gently.

Angela shook her head, distressed. "Mr Nick, she a valuable an'mal, Ah can't take her."

Nick was baffled. "Sure you can."

She lowered the brush. "No, no wouldn' be right. Mr Nick, ya done a lot fo us. Ya been teaching me ta read. Done made Jordan toys an' a crib. We can' be jes takin' thing from ya. It not right."

"Angela-" Nick kicked himself for not realizing beforehand that the gift might alarm her.

"No, Mr Barkley, it jes not right."

"Angela."

She was stopped by the guilt on his face. Nick searched for the words to explain.

"That night in Mayfield; it was my responsibility to protect the citizens of that town; ALL the citizens. And whether you want to blame the mud, or my ignorance of the town streets, or crazy Bobby Bats-or just me- the bottom line is I didn't...I didn't do my job. Not by your mother, not by your brothers. Your whole family died that night. And teaching you to read, or building Jordan some toys, or buying you a horse...is the only thing I can do for your family anymore. It's not enough. But right now, it's the only thing in my life I'm sure of." He dropped his gaze to the brush in his hand. "It's the only thing in my life I enjoy."

The barn was silent except for the stamping of the horses and the sounds of Jordan playing on the hay bale. Then Angela started grooming Easy again with firm, gentle strokes.

"It take fo'ever ta teach me ta ride. Ah be a slow learner."

Nick met her eyes and smiled. "Nah. If you learn to ride as fast as you learn to read, you'll breaking stock in no time. Now," he put down the brush "You finish grooming that side and Jordan?" The little girl looked up at the sound of her name. "You go muck out the stall."

For the first time since she arrived on the ranch, Angela laughed