Julie graduated two weeks later with the other three participants in the program. Lauren watched proudly as the students first showed off their skills. They cantered, trotted, jumped, then each left their riding horse and eagerly led their mustang around the ring.
They didn’t ride them. The mustangs were too newly trained and a sudden noise might startle them. Instead, the kids led their new friend with no mishaps other than an affectionate nip on Heath.
Not only were their parents in attendance but half of the community was there, too. Lauren watched with them as Reese proudly presented certificates and a sculpted horse to each one.
They were invited to return anytime. After they left the ring, all the ranch hands who had worked with them gave them a cowboy hooray.
There were long, sad goodbyes as they left. Jenny was in tears. The boys wore proud grins. Julie hugged each one with promises to keep in touch through text messages and Facebook as one after the other left.
She was limping as she walked over to Lauren and Reese. “I’ll miss them,” she said.
“You’ll make a lot of new friends at school and you’ll keep in contact with the others,” Reese promised as he pulled on her ponytail. “They’re welcome here anytime.” Leo barked his agreement.
Lauren had moved into the cottage previously occupied by Chet and his wife. The ranch had bought the couple a new home in the nearby community of Paw Ridge. His former cottage would be too small with the baby coming, but it was just right as a temporary home for Lauren, who was now officially the business manager. Julie would move in today.
It was getting dark when the last visitor left. Sally retired to her rooms; Betty went to spend some badly needed time with her husband. Julie went with Nathan to feed the mustangs. Mistake tailed behind, braying for attention.
“Want to go to the Roost?” Reese asked Lauren.
It had become their favorite place in the past few days. Julie had accepted their relationship after the talk in the hospital, had even seemed excited about staying at Eagles’ Roost. She and Snowflake had bonded during that afternoon on the path.
And tomorrow Lauren would drive to Otis’s air station. They had explored possibilities, and he had checked with the high school. There was, indeed, a demand now that his faculty was expanded to include a former air force fighter pilot. The interest was higher among girls. She would commute, driving there Friday morning and giving lessons Friday and Saturday. She would stay at the inn Friday night but drive back to Eagles’ Roost Saturday afternoon.
She’d talked to Julie first. She’d told her about her first teacher and how he’d changed her life, and how safe it was. She didn’t say that it was safer than a car.
Julie could even be the first pupil if she wished. To her surprise, her daughter had nodded. “I want to be like you,” she said, and Lauren’s heart swelled.
After Julie and Nathan went into the mustangs’ stable, Lauren saddled Lady while Reese saddled Max.
It was a perfect evening. The sun was just reaching the mountains and the valley was flooded with nearly every shade of gold and scarlet and orange and red.
They rode silently to the Roost where the first Howard rested.
Then Reese dismounted and Lauren slipped down into his arms.
“Does this feel like home yet?” he asked.
“I think it did the day I arrived,” she replied.
“And I think that’s the day I fell in love with you.”
“I was...perturbed.”
“You were angry, and so damned pretty. I wanted to kiss you then.”
“You can do so now.”
He did, and it was long, and incredibly sexy, and they didn’t want to let go of one another.
As frissons of heat ran through her, she wasn’t sure she could wait a year for marriage. But she had promised her daughter when the subject was broached. Reese also wanted to wait. He wanted to be sure Lauren and Julie would be happy here, that the winter wouldn’t dim their love.
She knew it wouldn’t, but she understood.
Until then, they had this private part of the Roost. Now and, she knew, for their lifetime.