The Cowboys Fire

Chapter 13

Lilly POV

It’s been one heck of a day.

I couldn’t believe it when all these beautiful horses arrived, the ranch went into a flurry of activity get them all out of the truck and into settled. First into a paddock and then into prepared stables. It reminded me of when I arrived, I couldn’t do much but get in the way so I kept cool lemonade, hot coffee and cookies in easy reach to keep everyone happy.

I had never been around horses in my life but despite seeing so many in one go, I couldn’t help be drawn to one. He reminded me of myself somehow. He wasn’t like the other horses, he was big, lean and appeared to have been well taken care of but you could see it in his eyes, that hadn’t always been the case. He was more cautious around the ranch hands, wasn’t eager to follow them and go into the paddock with the other horses.

I skirted around the chaos, gently approaching where he had been tied up on the other side of the walk. I couldn’t help myself. I had no experience with horses, but I knew pain and I knew what it felt to be scared in a strange place. I sat down on the bottom run of the fence post, around a metre from him, and waited. I knew it had to be his choice to come to me, if we were ever going to be friends. The sun was beginning to set, and another full horse box had was just pulling in, how? Where had they found all this incredible animals?

Watching the other animals arrival and being placed in the paddock, I hadn’t noticed my new friend stepping closer, until I felt his mane tickling my neck. Slowly turning my face, I realise he is right next to me, trying to nuzzle my left hand open. I was wondering if he would be able to smell the oatmeal cookie in my hand. I slowly release my grip and he devours the cookie. Clearly pleased with my baking. I sit there for a moment, not wanting to push him too much. After a while, I ease up from the ground, I run my hand gently up his legs and eventually manage to stroke his mane. He is so beautiful. Looking into his eyes and gently soothing him with my voice I spend a while just being there, supporting him.

A couple of the ranch hands keep watching me from where they are working but I try my best not to notice. I know I’m not a ranch hand but I just felt like he needed me.

It seems strange when I think about it now. I see all of the other horses being individually taken to their own stalls. I see my opportunity and take my chance. I slowly untie the rope around the fence and slowly step towards the stable. One at a time and luckily I feel Shadow taking little steps with me. I don’t know what his name was before but that’s going to be his new name from me anyways. I thought it was fitting considering he likes to hide from the shadows and watch, just like me.

It takes a while but eventually I’m sat inside shadows nice new home, and feeding him carrots from this treat stash to help him settle.

“Thank you Lilly” I hear behind me, I recognise that voice.

“He needed a friend” I replied without turning around.

“He did, and with all the chaos going on I didn’t have time to individually soothe all of them like I truly wanted. Watching him, I realised he was going to be the trickiest of the lot. That’s why I left him alone for a while to get his bearings and watch what his friends were doing. You did an amazing thing Lilly. I had expected you would like the mare in stall 12 for your use whenever you wanted to ride, but I can see now I was wrong. Congratulations Lilly, you just got yourself a horse. His name is..”

“Shadow!” I quickly interject. His old name doesn’t matter. New home, new start.

“..er.. alright, Shadow. Let’s get you settled in” William walked over to the the wipe board on the far wall, seeing all the horses had been allocated a specific space, he rubbed out a name and in its place wrote Lilly’s Shadow. I couldn’t help but smile. I stayed another few minutes before heading back inside and finishing up dinner. I had moved a big table on to the porch this afternoon feeling like after today’s events everyone deserved a bit of a treat.

The guys had all disappeared for showers so I started gathering all the dishes from the multitude of slow cookers and set out about laying everything in the table. Once ready, I got everyone to dig in and kept the bottles of beer filled on the table. Finally satisfied everyone had what they needed to enjoy their meal, I went back inside and sat at the island to have a few bites myself. This is their celebration, not mine and after all, this is why I am here. I had a variety of desserts in the big bridge downstairs so after a few bites I stood to head that way, not realising I had attracted an audience or assistant. Filling the dumb waiter with as much as I could, I set it going up before spinning round and jumping out of my skin. Standing on the staircase watching me was Connor.

“Jesus, what are you doing? Is something wrong with the food?” I hasten to add as my heart rate begins to slow.

“Everything’s great but I wondered, why you weren’t joining us at the table?” Such an innocent question, but after what I heard him say about me, I can’t help but think there’s more to it.

“I’m the cook Connor, it’s my job to feed, not eat. Excuse me, I need to get these desserts dished up before the hungry hoard upstairs begin a mutiny”

I begin to climb the stairs in an effort to skirt around him and this conversation. Connor stepped to the right blocking my path and forcing me to look at him.

“You still need to eat and obviously, the ranch hands are all eating as well. Come and sit down and eat the meal you prepared.” I don’t like his tone, like he did commanding me.

“I have eaten Mr Black, this is my working hours so please allow to do the job that I was forced on you to do” I see an opportunity to sneak past him while he is processing my statement and continue with my tasks. Connor steps back into the kitchen and watches me dish up a multitude of cakes and desserts.

“It’s Connor, Lilly, Mr Black is my old man”

“Actually Mr Black, your father is Andrew to me. He is my.. .. he is my friend. You are my employer, for however long you can put up with me” with that I carry a tray full of puddings out to men, who seem to be happy to see me and get on with my work.

I need to work harder to limit my interactions with that man or he will send me packing any day. Heck he may do that already.