Chapter 105 Part 105
Asher
Emerson was in the main barn with Eden, and he stood on the porch, his phone pressed to his ear.
“You want to do what?”
Asher grinned. “I want to register to become a foster parent. More specifically than that, I want to foster two boys.”
“That’s oddly specific, Asher,” Preston said.
“Preston, if I tell you the story, you’re going to think I’m crazy, and short of driving over there and taking those two boys, I’m doing the only other thing I can think of to help them.”
“I’m your lawyer, Asher, I’ve heard and seen it all.” Preston had once been a criminal attorney in Chicago. He’d returned to Two Bear Meadow to look after his ailing mother, draft wills, and represent clients who drove their tractors too fast on public roads.
“Before the snow melts, the two Crowley boys will come to live with me. I can’t explain it to you, other than it’s what Bear Claw saw in his vision quest. In another life, I adopted them both.”
“Uh…I don’t necessarily think you’re crazy, but please don’t tell that story to anyone else,” Preston said.
Asher chuckled, and sat down on the swing chair. “I didn’t even want to tell you. Can you make it happen? I don’t care what I have to do. I just don’t want any trouble when they move in here.”
“I’ll take it to Judge Hanover. There’s no way to get around the social worker inspection, but the rest can be done over the phone and email.”
“Thanks, Preston, I really appreciate this,” Asher said.
“Anytime, Asher.” He ended the call and leaned back against the seat.
He could remember exactly what their room looked like, and he smiled as he made mental notes to clear out that room. He smiled, and headed to his own barn, and saddled One Star and Betty.
He mounted One Star, and took Betty’s reins, leading the horses to the main barn. He wanted to teach Emerson how to ride a horse, and share the freedom it brought with her.
At the barn, he left the two horses to stand outside, and headed inside. Dylan raised his hand, and Asher nodded. “You want to go mend the northern fence with me?”
“I have plans!”
Asher knocked on Eden’s door, and opened it. Emerson smiled when she looked at him, and Eden made a gagging sound. “Hearts in both your eyes.”
“You make it sound like a bad thing,” Asher said.
“Don’t you have work to do?”
“That’s the beauty of being retired, Eden, I can come and go as I please,” he said.
“So…what do you want?”
“I’m kidnapping Emerson, and teaching her how to ride,” he said.
“On a horse?” Emerson looked like she was going to faint.
“Yeah, a horse. Come on,” he said, and held out his hand.
Outside, Emerson looked the two horses up and down. “How the hell do you expect me to get on that thing?”
Asher chuckled. “I’ll help you. You’re going to put your left foot on my hands, and swing your right leg over the horse’s rump when I lift you. Okay?”
She nodded her head and Asher laced his fingers together. Emerson put her one foot on his hands and Asher nodded. He lifted her, and she swung her leg over, and squealed nervously.
“Now I’m going to put your feet in the stirrups and make adjustments to the length. You just sit quietly and hold on to the horn.”
“What’s the horn?”
“That thing you’re holding right now,” Asher said, and laughed. He made the necessary adjustments to the straps, and put her feet in. “Push down with the heel of your foot, make sure your feet always stay in the stirrups.”
“Okay,” she said nervously, and Betty snorted.
“Relax, Betty’s a very calm and reliable horse. She’ll be gentle with you.”
Asher handed her the reins, and showed her how to hold them. He mounted One Star, and clicked his tongue. Both horses started walking, and Emerson almost shrieked. Asher had to fight not to laugh but in the end, he laughed loudly at her.
One Star led the way across the open field, but Asher led them away from the woods, and toward the meadow. He wanted to check on the fence on that side of the ranch, and it was far enough away for Emerson to get comfortable on Betty.
“Have you ever thought of what you would have done with your life if you didn’t have the ranch?”
Asher turned to the side and looked at her. It was an odd question to ask. “I don’t like big cities much. I’ve never thought of it though. I was born and raised on the ranch, and I really can’t imagine doing anything else. But, if I had to guess, I probably would’ve stayed in the Army.”
“That kind of doesn’t surprise me at all,” she said, and chuckled.
They made small talk as the horses walked, and once they reached the rocky outcrop where the meadow slanted down, Asher stopped his horse, and looked out over the horizon.
“This is beautiful, Asher,” she said.
“Yeah, it is. Why would I want to be anywhere else?”
Emerson smiled, and looked at him. “I can see the appeal.”
He laughed, and they started forward, the horses going down the gentle slope, into the grassy meadow. Once they reached the fence, Asher dismounted, and walked the length of it. One Star followed him, and Betty followed One Star. Every now and then, Asher would bend down and call out a marker number over a radio. Emerson was content just watching him work, and fantasizing about getting him into the shower later.
By the time they got back to the barn, the sun was starting to set, and Emerson’s legs were sore. Asher helped her down from the horse, and she groaned when she straightened her legs.
“How the hell do you do this every day?”
“You get used to it. How about I run you a nice bath so you can relax?”
“Hmm, that sounds good, but only if you join me,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye.