Winona sat. “That sounds delicious.”
Itwasdelicious, especially the pancakes. “If I stay here much longer, I’ll have to buy new jeans.”
Jack chuckled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
After breakfast, Winona followed Jack out to the barns, Emily skipping along beside her. “Have you heard anything from Nate?”
Jack nodded. “They picked up the trail and followed it onto Forest Service land. That was about an hour ago.”
An hour ago.
They’ll be fine. They know what they’re doing.
Jack opened the barn door. “Emily, why don’t you give Winona the grand tour?”
Emily led Winona inside, the mingled scents of fresh hay, leather, and horse manure in the air.
“Buckwheat is my horsy. Grandpa Jack and Daddy gave him to me, but you can ride him if you like.”
“That’s very kind of you, Emily. Thank you.”
Then Winona saw them—twelve beautiful palomino mares, their coats ranging from darker chocolate tones to golden to misty silver. “Oh, Jack, they’re beautiful.”
She had always loved horses.
Emily led Winona to the first stall. “These are our mares. Most of them are in foal. This is Baby Doe.”
“Hello, Baby Doe.” She petted the horse’s muzzle. “Aren’t you sweet?”
The mare whickered, nudged at Winona’s hand.
“Sorry, I don’t have any—”
Jack handed her a carrot.
“Thanks.” Winona held out her hand with the carrot resting on her palm.
Baby Doe picked it up with her lips and crunched contentedly, Winona’s gaze moving over her with a professional eye.
“She’s healthy. Nice straight legs. She’s got flawless conformation and balance.”
“You know horses.”
Winona patted Baby Doe’s neck. “I know a little. I considered specializing in equine medicine but decided to focus on wildlife instead. What got you into breeding quarter horses?”
“That was my father’s decision. My grandfather had put real effort into breeding his mares. They’re important to cattle ranchers. He sold some of the foals and made a name for himself. My father just took that a step further and invested in a few prize colts. I learned what I know from him.”
Emily tugged on Winona’s coat sleeve. “Come meet Clara Brown.”
Winona recognized some of the names as honoring important women in Colorado history. In addition to Baby Doe and Clara Brown, there were, among others, Molly Brown, Chipeta, and Isabella Bird. Winona gave each of them a carrot and then followed Emily to another part of the barn to meet Buckwheat and a few other geldings.
Buckwheat was big for a quarter horse and very calm and gentle.
Jack lifted the saddle onto Buckwheat’s back. “We use him for equine therapy. He’s a big, old softie, aren’t you, boy?”
Winona walked with Emily as she led Buckwheat into an enormous riding barn and over to a mounting block. “He trusts you. I can see that.”
“I love Buckwheat.”