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Chapter 33: Riding
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 34: Shopping List
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 36: Like the Easter Bunny Threw Up
Chapter 36: Like the Easter Bunny Threw UpGazing down at the kitchen table strewn with Easter detritus, Cole laughed out loud. "It looks like the Easter Bunny threw up in here."At the kitchen counter, Jenny snickered. She opened the oven and peered in at the cupcakes baking inside. Shaking her head slightly, she closed the oven door and tapped in two more minutes on the timer before she returned to her seat across from Cole.Together, they'd been filling plastic eggs with green iridescent artificial grass and with candies of various kinds. At the store, Cole had avoided chocolate, knowing the eggs would undoubtedly sit out in the sun for some time before the kids gathered them. Besides, there were allergies to consider.Across the table, Jenny smiled at him as she added another filled plastic egg to the large basket they'd use to carry the treats out to the riding ring in the morning. But Cole couldn't shake the notion that something was a little off. Maybe it was in the way s
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 37: Jennifer Stone
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Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 38: Helping
Chapter 38: HelpingEarly morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Cole's bedroom. On the cot, Jenny yawned and stretched, leaning up on an elbow to peek over the edge of Cole's bed. It was empty, his covers hastily pulled up.When she'd come tiptoeing into his room in the middle of the night, the cot was ready and waiting. She wondered if he always kept it that way, or if somehow, he'd known that the dreams would return that night. After her digital stroll down memory lane, she was grateful that it had only been bad dreams and not one of the nightmares that she had trouble waking up from. But she usually noticed those coming on, felt the walls closing in on her, saw the circle of black growing around her field of vision. There was usually some kind of trigger, a noise or a smell that brought on that kind of hell. Quickly she folded up the cot and made Cole's bed before hurrying to her own room to dress for the day. Downstairs, the farmhouse was quiet and a peek out t
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 39: Discovered
Chapter 39: DiscoveredIn the quiet of Cole's office, Jenny leaned back in his leather desk chair and sipped her Dr. Pepper. After returning to the house, she'd seen car after car arriving. One family arrived in a truck pulling a horse trailer, and two more horses joined the ones Cole had parked in the ring.While the adults set up tables with snacks and drinks, the children wandered about, some scampering while others lurched along in an awkward gait. A few of the children ferried themselves around in motorized wheelchairs. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. When the first group finished their riding session and the horses were given a chance to get a drink of water before the second group started. At the same time, adults scurried to hide another bunch of Easter eggs around the riding ring.On the computer screen, Jenny watched as Cole made silly faces at a group of children, reducing them to helpless giggles. She couldn't help but smile. He really was a wonderful ma
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 40: Jenny's Kind of Quiet
Chapter 40: Jenny's Kind of QuietMouth open, Jenny stared at the girl. Her jet-black hair hung in pigtails just over her ears, and she had dark brown eyes that flashed with intelligence. Judging by the way her upper body and arms wavered constantly, Jenny guessed that Brithania had cerebral palsy. Her speech was a bit difficult to understand, but Jenny made out her name."Well, I see two of my favorite people in the world have just met."Jenny looked up to see Cole grinning at her."I wondered where you'd gone off to," he said to the little girl, tugging her hair playfully. "Your group is up next."Cole stepped toward Jenny. "Brithania, I'd like you to meet my friend Jenny. Jenny, this is Brithania."The little girl motored closer. "Hi, Jenny."Heart pounding, Jenny fluttered her fingers in a wave.Cole frowned slightly at Brithania. "Jenny's kind of quiet."Coming even closer, the little girl reached up and took Jenny's hand. "That's okay. You don't have to talk if you don'
Redheads & Ranchers Chapter 41: No Secrets
Chapter 41: No SecretsBy three o'clock that afternoon, Caldwell Ranch had been restored to normal. Jenny helped Cole untack the horses and put everything away in the barn. The canopies and coolers were returned to their proper places as well. As they worked together, Cole was uncomfortably aware of the conversation he needed to have with Jenny. He wondered if he could put it off. It had already been a huge day for her. She'd faced her fear of being seen and he was proud of her, so proud. But this was one of those conversations best had sooner rather than later. He cleared his throat. "You know, I feel kind of sorry for Apollo and Dahlia. Everybody else got a nice workout today. They must be feeling a little left out." Jenny chuckled, hooking a thumb at Jade."Well, Jade, too. But I've been working her hard, so she probably appreciated the day off." He stepped toward Jenny. "Maybe we could take Apollo and Dahlia for a trail ride. There's a ridge toward the back of t
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