She nodded, coming to a decision. If there was anyone in the world she could trust besides Hedy, Hannah, and her parents, it'd be Kent. She set her gla.s.s on the edge of the pool and turned toward him. He looked strong, solid, and relaxed in the soft light. She felt her heartbeat speed up at the sight of him, just like in the old days.

"Lauren?" he asked in his deep drawl. "Are you okay?"

"I was just thinking how we used to come here."

He gave her a thoughtful look. "Ruby'd run interference so we could s.n.a.t.c.h a few moments alone. I miss those days. I didn't even know how much till you walked back into my life this morning."

"We shared good times, didn't we?"

"We shared a lot more than that."

She nodded as she felt his longing gaze as if he were almost touching her. She understood, maybe too much. She wanted those simple days. And him. But they couldn't go back. They could only go forward. She stiffened her spine. "I talked with Aunt Hedy."

"And?" He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knee while he held his gla.s.s in one hand.

"The good news is that she's basically healthy."

"That's a relief."

"The bad news is that she's dispirited, depressed, whatever you want to call a loss of interest in life."

"How can that be possible? She's always been so upbeat and full of life. And yet, I've thought for some time that she has a secret eating at her. Maybe that's it?"

"I don't know about a secret. I don't see how. Everybody knows everything about Hedy."

Kent shrugged as he looked off into the distance. "I guess so. But as much as we know folks, sometimes we don't know them at all."

Lauren nodded in agreement, well aware that she preferred to keep her true feelings about Jeffrey a secret. "You may be right, but I doubt it. From what Hedy said, I think she's feeling down because she's turning seventy this year. She's getting weaker due to her injury. Age doesn't help her condition. She's looking at being able to do less and less. In particular, she believes she'll never ride a horse again."

"But that's not new. Hedy's known she can't ride for years. Besides, everybody ages. It's natural. And she's got lots of friends and interests that don't require physical strength or riding a horse."

"But what is the great love of her life?" Lauren reached down, cupped water in her palm, then opened her fingers and let the water run out.

"Horses. Rodeo." He exhaled sharply as he nodded in understanding.

"She's losing her core strength. She knows it. And we can see it."

"I hate to think about her being unhappy, or for that matter completely losing her. She's always been there for us." Kent groaned, shaking his head.

"I agree. So, it's our time to be there for her. And I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"I need help putting it into play."

"Tell me what you need and you've got it." He leaned farther toward her, watching her with an intense expression in his hazel eyes.

"Do you know anything about equine-a.s.sisted therapy, or hippotherapy?"

"Not much. I've heard it can help certain people. But Hedy can't ride."

"I'm trained as a physical therapist."

"Can you help her?"

"Not me alone. Aunt Hedy needs more than a strengthened body. She needs a strengthened will, too."

"If you're thinking of getting her up on a horse again-well, that's a tall, d.a.m.n order. And dangerous."

"It's not. At least it's not with the proper equipment, certified horse, and a hippotherapist."

"How the h.e.l.l, excuse my language, will you put that package together?"

"That's where I need your help."

"Oh, Lauren, you're heading down a heartbreaking path."

"Hear me out." She glanced up at him, determined to get him to believe in her vision. "I know equine-a.s.sisted therapy really works wonders-especially for people who've tried everything else and given up hope. Horses are so sensitive that they pick up humans' emotions just like that," she said, snapping her fingers. "They heal folks, body and mind. It's been proven."

"After all this time, do you think you can actually heal Hedy?"

"I can't repair my aunt's old injury, but I can help her develop core muscle strength again. And more important, she'll feel as if she has her legs and mobility back when she rides a horse. It'll be almost like walking for her."

"What I wouldn't give to see her on horseback."

"Me too." Lauren pulled her feet out of the water and twisted around to face him. "I don't need too much equipment, and I can buy it online. I have some training in hippotherapy and I can get certified. Most important is the right horse."

He nodded, as if considering her idea. "If anybody has a trained horse or one that can be trained, it'd be in Sure-Shot."

"Billye Jo would know."

"Listen to me." He groaned. "You've got me believing that Hedy can actually ride a horse again."

Lauren grasped his hand. "I don't know anything for sure, but I'd like to try my best. If we can make this work, think of all the other people we could help with equine-a.s.sisted therapy."

"You'd stay in Wildcat Bluff if we started a hippotherapy center, wouldn't you?"

"Yes! We're right in the middle of horse and cattle country. What could be better?"

"True enough."

She quickly stood up and picked up her gla.s.s. She set it on the table, stalling so she wouldn't have to face the lack of faith she might see in his face or acknowledge the daunting reality of her idea. "But I've got nothing. No trained horses. No barn. No land."

"You've got the will and the knowledge. I've got everything else. And we can get horses." He stood up and set his gla.s.s on the table beside hers. He quietly walked over, put an arm around her shoulders, and turned her to face him. "Besides all that, don't you know that all you have to do is ask and Wildcat Bluff will get behind you?"

"Do you really think this might work?"

He nodded, smiling. "I didn't at first, but it could turn out to be a great idea for the whole county."

She glanced up at his face. She saw nothing but support, and that made her feel even stronger. "I've got a little money saved up, but Hannah's needs still come first."

He tilted her chin up with the tip of one finger. "Do you need or want a partner?"

Oh, how she'd love to have a partner, somebody to share the ups and downs of life, as well as her hippotherapy center. But how could she put her trust in a man again? "I'm not sure. I mean-"

"Please don't turn down my help."

"You've got your own business to run."

"We're talking about Hedy. And we're talking about you." He grasped her shoulders and tugged her toward him. "You know I'd walk to the ends of the Earth for both of you."

She stepped back, forfeiting the comfort of his touch for the practicality of life. "I won't turn down your help, or anybody else's help, but it'll need to be all business."

"Oh, Lauren, you're not making this easy."

"In or out?"

"I'm in, but I'm not agreeing to anything else." He gave her his dimpled grin. "We take this one step at a time."

She smiled back, having never been able to resist his dimples. "You're just holding out for your reward, aren't you?"

"Maybe you deserve one, too."

She felt her breath catch in her throat. Maybe he wasn't far off the mark. She'd been good for a very long time. She'd been practical. Responsible. Could she safely throw caution to the wind and let her heart and dreams fly free?

Chapter 16.

Kent felt a surge of relief at the news regarding Hedy, even if he wasn't so sure about Lauren's plan. He didn't say that because he wanted to believe her and he'd a.s.sist her in any way possible to make her dream happen, but he couldn't help but feel a little skeptical about the results. For the life of him, he didn't see how Hedy could ride again, but he hoped it was the truth.

He also wondered if his skepticism about Hedy's health was a subst.i.tute for his own renewed feelings for Lauren. He didn't know how he could believe in a loving relationship after Charlene. Bottom line, he was a practical man. A fast track to health and love were simply not within the realm of believability for him. And yet, Lauren had swept back into his life, and she was making impossibilities seem possible. That alone should scare the h.e.l.l out of him, because it meant major changes in his life.

And yet, this was Lauren. They'd picked up right where they'd left off in high school. That alone amazed him. They'd both been through major changes in their lives, but maybe at their core they were still the same two people who'd once shared love. And as far as wanting Lauren-physically and in every other way-he realized now that she was his ultimate dream turned reality.

Maybe he should deep-six his doubts. She'd always been sharp as a tack, quick on her feet, and generous with others. If anybody could light the way for Hedy, it'd be Lauren. And if anybody could heal his wounded heart, it'd be Lauren, too. And yet, life had taught him to be cautious, so he'd go forward with both eyes wide open.

Mind made up, he grasped Lauren's hand, entwined their fingers, and tugged her toward the table. "Come on. Let's sit down and talk."

"My head is reeling. I haven't even been in town twenty-four hours and my life has turned upside down."

"What do you think has happened to me?" He stopped, raised their hands, and placed them over his heart. Maybe she had doubts, too, but she was going forward anyway. Could he do any less?

She glanced into the distance at the pine trees, then back up at him. "Am I biting off more than I can chew?"

"You can chew on me any time you like." He chuckled, intentionally twisting her words to suit him.

"You always did know how to lighten my mood."

He tugged her over to the table and pulled out a chair.

She sat down and then poured more tea into each gla.s.s. She stroked the side of the pitcher. "I've always loved this pottery."

"Ruby swears by it."

"That's partly because it has family meaning for her."

"For all of us."

"True." Lauren smiled at him. "Kent, I want you to know how much I appreciate your kindness and patience with Hannah. I knew she missed her father, but I had no idea she was in that much need of a male figure in her life. I hope she didn't put you on the spot and-"

"Stop right there." He felt as if she'd punched him in the gut. "Are you telling me that just any man would do as a father figure, so she had no real interest in me? If not that, maybe you're trying to say that I'm mean to kids and completely insensitive to their emotions. If neither of those, perhaps you think I couldn't feel anything for an adorable little girl who reached out to me with a big, open heart?"

"Oh." Lauren sounded subdued with that one word. "You know the last thing I'd do is insult you, particularly about my daughter."

"That's what you just did."

"I'm sorry. Please believe me that was my last intention."

He felt some of his anger dissipate in light of her stricken look. "I believe you, but still-"

"Forgive me?"

"No forgiveness needed since that wasn't your intent."

"I was actually trying to compliment you."

"You have a funny way of going about it."

She sighed as she shook her head. "I guess so. Maybe I'm out of practice."

"Hannah's a doll." Kent leaned toward Lauren to emphasize his point. "She reminds me so much of you. And I'm honored she'd feel comfortable enough with me to start bossing me about."

Lauren laughed, cradling her head in her hands. "Sometimes kids can so embarra.s.s their parents."

"Not a word of it. I'd much prefer to see her bold instead of shy."

"But that's just it." She raised her head to look at him. "Hannah has been shy, just not herself, since she lost her father."

"But not tonight?"

"You saw her. She took to you like a duck on a June bug."