Chapter 19 Part 19
Asher
“Keep the rope steady!” Asher yelled at one of the ranch hands, as he rode closer to him. “The moment you give slack, you tell the horse he’s in charge.”
“He’s a feisty one; if you pull too tight, he starts bucking,” Theo, the hand, replied.
“Blair hasn’t broken him in yet?”
Theo shook his head, and grinned. “He tried a few times to get a saddle on him. That horse bucked so hard, Blair cracked a few ribs. He hasn’t tried again; it’s been about three weeks now.”
Asher looked at the young stallion, breathing hard through his nose. His ears flicked, and he snorted, stomping one hoof on the ground. He got off his own horse slowly, giving the reins to Theo. “Back out slowly, and take One Star back to his stall. Rub him down, and give him an apple.” Asher said all that in a low voice, never taking his eyes off the stallion.
“Easy, boy,” Asher said, as he took a step closer to him. The horse snorted again, and flicked his mane. The horse neighed, and lifted his front legs, standing on his hind legs, and showcasing what a magnificent animal he was.
Asher closed his eyes, and lowered his hands to his sides. He took a deep breath, and started whispering. The horse stomped his hooves again but pricked his ears. After a few moments, the horse grew quiet, and Asher took another step closer. He could feel the slight breeze on his arms, the sun beating down on the back of his neck. The horse moved, and he could feel him, inching closer, and closer. Once the horse stopped in front of him, he opened his eyes.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He lifted his hand, placing it on the horse’s neck, just below his ear. His hand moved slowly downward, and he repeated the action a few times. “I don’t want to break you, boy. I just need your cooperation.”
When the horse lowered his head, Asher smiled. “That’s it.” He rubbed his muzzle, and the space between his eyes. He produced a peppermint candy from his pocket, and held his palm to the horse’s mouth. The horse took the offering, and bumped his head against his chest.
“Let’s take a walk, then maybe, I’ll let you out in the meadow,” Asher said. He took the leading rope, and started to walk. The horse followed him, and when he turned with the horse, he shook his head. Blair, Colt, Dylan, their father, Thomas, and a few hands were standing on the outside of the corral, watching them.
“Told y’all Asher would get him calmed down,” Thomas said, with a smirk.
“I’m naming him Comet,” Asher said, and the horse snorted again. He led the horse out of the corral, and took him to the barn. He stopped on the outside, letting the horse drink, all the while talking to him. The horse rubbed his head against Asher’s head, as everyone watched in rapt fascination, as one of the other hands took the leading rope, and led the horse inside.
“You’ve still got the touch,” Blair said, flicking the stem of grass from his fingers.
“Our very own horse whisperer,” Colt said, slapping Asher on the back.
“He just needed some convincing that wearing a saddle won’t make him any less of a stallion,” Asher said, with a smile.
His smile faltered as Lorelei came sauntering from the barn. She was wearing tight jeans, her riding boots, and a cowboy hat perched on her head. She looked like the Lorelei he had fallen in love with when they were 17.
“I’m sure you boys have work to do,” Thomas said, the expression on his face speaking volumes.
“Hello, Fitzgerald clan,” she said, with a smile.
His brothers all nodded at her as they disappeared in different directions. Thomas tipped his hat, but didn’t say a word. He headed in the direction of Asher’s house.
“What are you doing here, Lorelei?”
“I came to explain. Will you at least give me that?” She tucked her hair behind her ear, and looked up at him.
“Sure.”
They walked over to the big bur oak tree, and sat down at the base of it. The shade was welcome in the late summer heat as Asher rested his back against the trunk. Lorelei took a wrapped parcel from her bag and handed it to him.
“What’s this?”
“Happy birthday, Asher. I know it’s tomorrow, but I wanted to get this conversation out of the way,” she said.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” Asher said, as he started pulling the wrapping paper off.
“It’s one of those old books you were always going on about. I found it online, and it’s been sitting on my desk for about two months now.”
Asher’s eyes widened as he looked at the cover and read the title. ‘History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the American War.’ He opened it and saw that it was a first edition.
“This must have cost you a pretty penny,” he said, closing the cover gently. “Thank you, Lorelei, it’s truly an amazing gift.”
Lorelei smiled, and looked down. “Why didn’t you tell me you were back for good?”
“What difference would it have made?”
“I wouldn’t have given Winchester the time of day if I’d known you were thinking of retiring and coming home, for one,” she said.
“Things always work out like they should.”
“I still love you, Asher, and now, knowing you’re here at the ranch, it changes things.”
Asher gritted his teeth. “It doesn’t change anything. You chose him; I’ve accepted that.”
“Are you really interested in this Maggie woman? She has a child with another man, for crying out loud,” Lorelei said.
“Go home, Lorelei. Marry Winchester, and make your life a good one. We were never meant to be together. We were apart more than we were an item, anyway. He’s not a bad man,” Asher said.
“You don’t mean that.” Lorelei’s gaze was fixed on his, and he shrugged.
“I do mean it. You look good, so he’s obviously doing something right.”