Cowboy Seeks a Horse Whisperer by Marley Michaels
Kendra
“Such a good boy,” I coo as Buster nuzzles into my palm, taking more sunflower seeds straight out of my hand. For a horse who could’ve retreated right back into his shell, he’s definitely showing his strong and resilient spirit right now.
When he doesn’t move away from me, I notice he’s holding his head in a flatline position, telling me he’s relaxed. So I decide to test the waters even more, and with a gentle hand, I reach out and gently brush his muzzle and snout, giving him barely there strokes with the pads of my fingers, watching closely for any signs of distress or annoyance. But the beautiful boy just widens his eyes and stays quiet, almost peaceful. “So strong, Buster. So brave,” I whisper, just in awe of the strength the animal has.
Checking that his muscles and posture are still soft and slack, and that his breathing is showing no sign of distress, I give him one last rub on his neck before very slowly moving my hand away, grabbing some more seeds from my pocket and offering them up to him as a treat.
“I’m just gonna go outside for a spell, then I’ll come back and see you. OK, buddy?” He nickers and huffs out a breath before stepping back and dropping his head down to nibble on some alfalfa we’d put in there for him.
I’m just walking out of the barn doors when I spot Ellie-Mae coming my way, her blonde ponytail swishing from side to side as she walks with a baby carrier strapped to her chest. In her hands are a couple of bottles of water and some sandwiches, and on her face, a bright smile. It makes me grin as well, because it’s obvious she’s the mother hen on the ranch, a natural nurturer who loves taking care of her family but also keeping her cowboys in check while she does it. If anyone can give me some insight into why Jesse seems to be running hot and cold with me, flirty and funny one minute, running for the mountain the next, it’s his sister.
“Hey.” I greet her exuberantly when she stops in front of me.
“Hey there, Kendra. I thought you might be gettin’ a little peckish, so I figured little Whitney and me would come out here and eat lunch with ya since the guys are all workin’ out in the fields. Although bein’ almost a year old makes Whitney a little tired apparently, so she’s just havin’ a little nap.”
I smile as I look over at the baby’s cherubic face, her soft, almost-white hair sticking up in wispy curls from her head. “Thank you. You know, I don’t expect you to feed me every day, but I’m also not going to turn down your hospitality.”
“Good. ‘Cause I’d totally take offense if you did,” she replies with a tinkly giggle as I take the food and drink out of her hands and follow her over to some hay bales resting against the side of the barn, taking a seat next to her.
I smile at the peacefully sleeping baby snuggled close to her mama’s chest. “She’s beautiful.”
Her face softens as she looks down at her daughter and gently strokes her cheek. “She is. She has her daddy’s gentle eyes and my temperament. Means she’s gonna be a live wire when she’s older and will keep everyone on their toes. And if she doesn’t, she’ll probably just dazzle them with her smile till they give in.”
I laugh. “Well, I sense that’s your job here on the ranch. So she’ll learn everything she needs to know from a good role model.”
Ellie’s blue eyes twinkle. “If they didn’t have me, they’d live on sandwiches, beer, and cowboy coffee. At least I make them eat some vegetables now and then.”
“They don’t look like they’re lacking in nutrition,” I murmur.
Ellie tilts her head, her gaze all-knowing. “Now, petal. I know you ain’t talking about the men as a whole. Seems you’ve taken a shinin’ to Jesse.” I quickly grab a sandwich and take a big bite to shut myself up, but all that does is confirm Ellie’s words. She quirks a brow and watches me, as if waiting for confirmation.
I finish my mouthful and can’t help the wry smile curving my lips as I nod. “There’s a lot to take a shining to.”
“Mmm hmm. But you're not sure?”
I sigh, bouncing a shoulder. “He’s hard to get a read on. Sometimes I think he’s flirting with me and just when we start talking and getting closer, he’ll back off and run a mile.”
“Ah yep. I should probably tell you that you’ve got my brother as spooked as young Buster in there,” she says, jerking her head in the direction of the barn.
My mouth drops open, my eyes nearly bugging out of my face and rolling out along the ground. “Spooked? Why?” I don’t think I’ve ever had a guy react that way to me before. Aloof... Disinterested... Now, those are terms I’ve used. But spooked? A guy as gorgeous and outgoing as Jesse? I can’t believe it. I don’t have that kind of power over men.
“You said he’s running hot and cold, right?” I nod. “Well, Jesse may seem like he’s got it all going on—and he usually does—but ever since you came to the ranch, he’s been like a broody teenager, keeping to himself and second-guessing everything he does.”
I frown at her. “But why? He doesn’t strike me as someone lacking in confidence. He’d probably talk a girl out of her panties faster than a rodeo clown can escape a bull.”
Ellie snorts and shakes her head. “I’ve known him my whole life. He’s a forty-two-year-old man who lives and breathes this ranch. The land and the animals are all he’s ever wanted and needed. He’s as level-headed and as reliable as they come—all of my brothers are—but not once have I seen him act as skittish as Buster before. Not until he met you. And that says a whole lot in my books.”
My heart thumps fast in my chest, my blood pumping loudly in my ears as my entire body feels like I've just touched an electric fence without my gloves on. “What does it tell you?” I practically whisper.
“Oh hon, that tells me Jesse Jacob Barnes has a big ol’ crush on you and those curves of yours.”
I open my mouth to say something, to argue, or maybe tell her she’s wrong. But I can’t. Because the warm feeling slowly overtaking my body, and the steady thrum of my heart at her words, has me feeling a sense of calm I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s the same fulfilled feeling I get when I successfully nurse an animal back to health or overcome a mental hurdle that’s holding a horse back—the same as when Buster let me stroke his snout before.
“OK. So you’re gonna have to help me out here, ‘cause I may be good at reading horses and their body language but I have no idea when it comes to—”
“When it comes to a big ol’ cowboy like Jesse?” she says with a small smirk.
“Yeah.”
“Well then, I can tell you from my own limited experience with my handsome cowboy husband, time and reassurance… oh, and be sure to show ‘im what he’s missing out on by draggin' his boots,” she says with a wink.
“Gosh. I don’t even know where to start with that. I’m a jeans and hiking boots kind of girl and that’s as cute as it gets.”
“You’re plenty cute just as you are,” Ellie says, standing before she wraps an arm around a stirring Whitney, stroking her back through the carrier as she locks eyes with mine. “Time to get this little princess back inside and feed her some lunch of her own.”
“Thank you for feeding me. It’s very kind of you.”
“Pfft. Ain’t nothing special.”
“It is to me,” I say softly.
“Well, you’re welcome to come and see me in the ranch house anytime you want, sweets. But before I go, let me tell you one piece of advice.” I arch a brow and she continues. “I may not know much about horse whisperin' or the rest of the awesome things you do, but I know enough to tell you that just like with all the animals you work with, when it comes to a cowboy, you’ve gotta have patience. Maybe stroke his neck a bit and ruffle his rump,” she says with a wink, making my lips twitch. “He’s got a wonderful heart, and when he loves, he does it fiercely and without prejudice. And believe me, if you're lucky enough to love and be loved by a man like that, you’ll never have to worry about anything. He’ll have your front, back and sides and will protect every part of you with everything he’s got.” Her eyes go a little glazed and gentle and I know she’s thinking about her cowboy husband.
“So...patience?”
She smiles. “Exactly.”
“Thanks, Ellie. You’ve definitely given me food for thought.”
“And for your stomach,” she adds with a wink. “See you later, Kendra.” Then with a wave goodbye, I watch her walk away, ruminating over her words as I turn around to go back inside to see the horse.
Walking up to his stall, I smile when I see Buster standing by the door as if waiting for me to come back.
“Hey, buddy. You miss me or something?” I ask. He turns his head and lifts his snout in the air by way of an answer. Slowing my step, I carefully get closer, expecting him to back away into the stall but he doesn’t. Instead, he sniffs and blows his lips out. I reach into my pocket for the last of the sunflower seeds I have there and this time, there’s no delay before he’s brushing his muzzle against my skin and collecting up all the treats.
Feeling validated by the trust he’s placed in me, I reach out to grab a thin leather lead hanging and decide to see how far Buster will let me take this. Holding my breath as I move in closer, I can’t help but grin and do a mental fist pump when I connect the lead onto his head collar and just let it hang loosely. One milestone down and emboldened by his strength and courage, I decide I owe him the same level of trust in return.
Keeping my movements slow and steady, I unlatch the stall door, watching Buster’s muscles for any sign of nerves or tension before swinging it wide and standing next to him. Rubbing soothing circles against his shoulder, stroking him as I tell him how proud I am, how big and beautiful and strong he is, the warm words of encouragement working like a charm as I gently tug at the lead, and astonishingly, Buster steps forward.
God I wish Jesse was here to see just how far our boy has come.
“Such a good boy. Brave. Strong. You’re so good, Buster. Should we try to stretch our legs out in the corral now?” He tenses for a second, making me think I've pushed him too far, but a few more strokes and making sure my breathing stays steady and calm, he must decide I’m not gonna let anything happen to him, and leans his head against my shoulder, bringing tears to my eyes. Not wanting to give him any more time to second-guess the trust he’s placed in me, I lead him out of the barn and into the corral, giving him some slack in the lead while I shut the gate behind us and move to the center of the space.
As I watch him slowly but surely walk around and examine his new surroundings, that curiosity of his coming out to play, I can’t help but think about Jesse and what Ellie-Mae said.
“If you're lucky enough to love and be loved by a man like that, you’ll never have to worry about anything, cause he’ll have your front, back, and sides and will protect every part of you with everything he’s got.”
Something tells me I already know this—my soul feels like it already does anyway—because of how he is with Buster, sleeping in the barn so he’s not alone, worrying about his health and wellbeing enough to call me out here in the first place.
I think I need to approach Jesse with the same patience I have to have with Buster. Slow and steady. Calm and soothing. Then maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll get a glimpse of the bucking bronco within.
One can only hope, anyway.