Family Ties

Chapter 15

We grabbed both packs, and Ranger adjusted the lighter one so that I could wear it without it getting in the way of either of my holsters. Once done, we got in the SUV and drove off.

"So," I started, "are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"Sorry. Tribal police found the jeep and horse trailer. Sonny is meeting us there with the food and horses. We'll have a little time for you to get a riding lesson before Snake and Kap get there."

We drove the rest of the way in silence. I was wondering what would happen when we finally caught up to them. And then I started wondering what would happen when we returned to Trenton. Ranger had been different lately, opening up more, letting me in a little at a time. I don't think I could stand it if things went back to the way they were once we got home.

My sigh got his attention. "Deep thoughts, Babe?"

I shook my head. "Not important."

He took my hand. "Tell me."

I shook my head. "This is not the time or place."

"Later?"

I smiled. "We'll see."

Suddenly he started laughing. "What's so funny?" I asked him.

"Us." He answered, still laughing. I started to smile while waiting for the rest.

He shook his head as his laughter quieted. "Here I am quizzing you while you're being evasive. Quite a role reversal."

I grinned at him. "Frustrating, isn't it?"

"Extremely. Remind me not to do that so much."

"Like you'd listen?" I asked him.

His smile turned into something softer, and warmer. He stroked his hand down my cheek. "You might be surprised."

I didn't have to come up with a reply to that, as Ranger needed to focus on the road we were turning onto. We traveled a short distance until we saw the jeep and trailer. Parked behind them, another, larger trailer that had obviously been pulled by the truck we parked behind.

I looked a question at Ranger. He shrugged. "Sonny said he'd arrange for horses."

I looked around for Sonny. Ranger spotted them first. "Maybe we should give them a minute." He inclined his head in their direction. I looked over, and Sonny had his arms wrapped around a woman, kissing her for all he was worth. From the looks of things, he was doing a good job of it, too. I couldn't actually see what she looked like, except that she had dark hair and fair skin.

Ranger caught my eyes. "Wouldn't have pegged you for a voyeur, Babe."

I blushed and looked away. We waited several minutes, until Ranger finally turned to me. "Babe, I'm going to get out of the SUV and come around to your side. I'm going to slam the door pretty hard when I get out, so don't be startled."

He did as he said he would, and I watched Sonny and the young woman jump apart at the sound of his door slamming. He opened my door, and handed me out. As I took his hand, he asked me quietly. "They have enough time to pull themselves together, do you think?" I nodded as I smiled up at him.

We turned toward them together. She had a faint blush on her cheeks, and when she looked up at us, I saw she had blue eyes. She was absolutely gorgeous, no wonder Sonny didn't hear us! Ranger looked at her, then turned to me. "She looks a lot like you, Babe. The boy's got taste, I'll give him that much."

I snorted a little. "Yeah, she's a younger, thinner, prettier version of me."

He squeezed my hand. "Younger, maybe. Thinner? Not relevant. Prettier? Not possible."

We were close enough for them to hear us, so we stopped discussing them. I pulled Ranger toward me a little. "Thanks." I whispered in his ear. He smiled and put his arm around me.

Sonny called out to us. "Ranger, Steph, you guys made good time. We weren't expecting you just yet." We stopped, and Sonny introduced us. "This is Wendy. Hon, obviously this is Stephanie and Ranger. Wendy has agreed to let you borrow her horses, and she'll give Steph a riding lesson while we wait for the Imaris."

Ranger shook her hand. "We really appreciate this Wendy. We're willing to pay for the use of the horses and tackle."

She was already shaking her head. "Tell you what. You get those people far away from here, and bring the horses and equipment back in as good shape as you got them and we'll call it even."

Ranger nodded. "Done."

She smiled up at him. "Good enough. Let me introduce you to the horses."

We followed her to the horse trailer. She opened the back, and went inside. A short time later, she led a beautiful black and white horse down the ramp. "Ranger, this is Cinder. I'll let you saddle him up and get acquainted. He can be a little skittish, and he hates the color white. He'll kick anyone wearing it. Sonny told me that wasn't going to be a problem."

I laughed. "It isn't." Ranger lifted an eyebrow at me, and I stuck out my tongue.

His smile was decidedly feral. "Careful Babe."

I blushed and looked back to Wendy. Definitely not ready to play with Batman. She giggled and handed Cinder off to Sonny. "I'll get Dancer, Steph. You and she are going to be good friends."

I let out a breath. "I hope so." I muttered under my breath. As she went back into the trailer, Sonny spoke up. "Dancer's a good choice for you, Steph. She's a Paso."

This caught Ranger's interest. "Really?" Sonny nodded.

I looked from one to the other of them, hoping one of them would explain. When neither did, I asked. "Okay, I give up. What's a Paso?"

"Peruvian Paso, Babe. It's a breed that has a specific gait that's easier and smoother on the rider. Sonny's right, this will make things much easier for you, and you won't be as sore tomorrow as you otherwise would be."

Sonny spoke up. "And I know Dancer. She's a gentle soul. She's the one Wendy uses to teach the littlest riders how to ride. My three year old nephew rides her regularly."

Things were looking up. If a three year old could do it, maybe I had a chance. Wendy returned with a pale grey horse, smaller and more slender than Cinder. "Obviously, this is Dancer. Steph, you come with me. Ranger, Sonny will show you where the tackle is. I'd suggest you and Cinder saddle up and ride a short ways, get used to each other a bit. Sonny, can you unload Annie and get her packed up and ready?"

Sonny and Ranger both nodded to her and set off to follow her instructions. I cautiously walked toward Wendy and Dancer. Wendy smiled at me. "C'mon over, Steph. You'll be fine. Sonny tells me you've never ridden?"

I took a deep breath. "Never."

"Well, we're not going to worry about teaching you to saddle and unsaddle her, Ranger will just have to do that for you. We'll focus on the riding. Dancer is a forgiving sort, so if you make a mistake or do something that confuses her, she just stops where she is and waits for a clear direction, okay?"

Wendy quickly and competently saddled her. "Okay, Steph, come over here." I walked closer, until I was about a foot away. "Let me show you how to greet her." she held her hand over Dancer's nose, and I could hear her blowing on Wendy's hand. Wendy blew back in her nose, then reached up and scratched her. "When horses greet each other, they smell each other like that. When she smells you, it's the equivalent of a handshake. If you blow in her nose like that, she'll understand that you want to be friends. When she finishes sniffing you, if you give her a little scratch, especially here...and here, she'll adore you for life." She turned back to Dancer. "Won't you, silly girl?"

Wendy turned back to me, and I approached, holding my hand like I had seen her do. Dancer started sniffing at my hand, so I blew in her nose, feeling silly. She stopped, so I scratched where Wendy had shown me. "Talk to her, Steph. She's learning you by sight and smell, let her learn your voice."

What do you say to a horse? Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter. "Hey Dancer, I'm Steph. I'm counting on you to not make me look like an idiot in front of Ranger, okay? If we can do that, things will be perfect. What do you say, do we have a deal?"

Wendy smiled, and came around closer to me. "Whenever you take a break, for the night or for an hour, check her hooves before you mount up again."

"And how do I do that, exactly?"

She took my hand. "I'll do it with you. Run your hand down her leg, like this. When you get about here, squeeze gently" she squeezed my hand, so I squeezed Dancer's leg. "While you do, tell her 'up'." Good thing the horse knew what she was doing. She immediately lifted her hoof.

"What am I looking for, and what do I do if I find it?" I asked her.

She handed me a tool, it looked a little like a deformed giant can opener. I took it from her and waited. "You see the 'V' in the middle of her foot?" I nodded. Run the edge of the tool along the ridge. I did so. "Good, now let go and move on to the next hoof." Wendy had me do the same to all four hooves.

"Why did I do that?"

She smiled. "That's the softest part of a horse's hoof. It can get mud or rocks stuck in there, causing them pain. You don't actually have to use that unless you see something, but I wanted you to practice."

I shrugged. "Okay."

"Imagine having a rock stuck in your shoe, no way to remove it, and being forced to carry a person around on your back. You'd get cranky. So would she. Now Dancer has had a chance to learn your sight, smell and touch, and she's learned that you've shown willingness to take care of her. Let's get you up on her, shall we?"

I nodded. I had to do this, I know. Ranger thought I could do this. "Okay."

Wendy must have been following my mental pep talk. "Don't worry, this is going to be a piece of cake. I'm just going to hold her steady for you. Okay, put your left foot in the stirrup, and put your hands on the saddlehorn." I followed directions. "Good, now push up with your legs, and pull with your hands, then swing your right leg behind you to the other side. Ready? Go." I did as she said, feeling waaay too high up, but proud of myself that I managed to get up at all. "Good job, Steph. Both feet in the stirrups?" I nodded. "I'm just going to lead her around a little, let you two get used to each other a bit. It'll be easier on you if you just let your body go with her motions. If you hold yourself too stiff, you'll be sore tomorrow."

She led us around at a slow walk. Okay, so far so good. Maybe this won't be a complete disaster. "Doing okay up there Steph?"

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Ready to take control?"

"After you tell me what to do with it."

Wendy stopped, and we stopped with her. "Okay, handing you the reigns." I took them in my hands, clueless about what to do with them. Wendy came around to the side, so I could see her.

"Okay, Steph. That is your steering wheel. The nice thing about steering a living creature is that you only need give her a hint as to what you want. Pull gently on the left to go left, right to go right. Both together while moving is slow, or stop. Both together while stopped is back up. Your knees are your gas peddle. Squeeze to get started, or to go faster. Your ignition sounds like this." She made a clicking noise. "Got all that?"

I said I did. She had me practice, going in tight circles. First at a slow walk, then a little faster. She watched, satisfied I wasn't going to break her horse.

She called me in, and Dancer and I rejoined her. This was going better than I had a right to expect, and I crossed my fingers that the trend would continue, at least until we caught Brennan.

"Okay, last bit of advice. Every so often, stand up in the saddle, give your rear a break. And if you spot who you're looking for and Ranger takes off at a gallop, all you need to focus on is keeping Dancer behind him. Shouldn't be too hard, these two are paired together a lot. Questions?"

"Nope."

"Good. Let's rejoin the boys."