Follow a Wild Heart: A Christian Contemporary Western Romance Series by Natalie Bright (top reads .TXT) 📗

Fitzgeralds who started her on horse riding lessons when she was around five years old, before first grade started. They recognized her passion and encouraged her.

Carli remembered one childhood friend in particular, a red-haired girl named Patty. Carli noticed the little girl had a mommy and daddy who brought her for riding lessons. Little Patty wore shiny new riding boots, skinny pants, and an oversized black velvet helmet. Carli came to the barn in faded blue jeans and sneakers, until she earned enough allowance to buy her first pair of real cowboy boots. But she had fallen in love with horses then, it didn’t matter what she was wearing.

Carli remembered that Patty’s parents always stayed for the entire lesson, cheering. On the other hand, the Fitzgeralds made a habit of dropping Carli off at the barn, said they had errands to do, or a doctor’s appointment to attend. After all, they were older than most of the parents around. Again, Carli told herself she didn’t care. At least she got to learn as much as she could about horses. And her four-legged friends always returned her love, no questions asked, or judgments made.

When the lesson ended and Patty’s parents took her home, oftentimes the Fitzgeralds were late to pick Carli up. She’d sit on a hay bale and dream about her life. Maybe one day she’d have a horse of her own. Maybe her real mommy and daddy would come back for her and cheer her on in a riding competition. She leaned back on the hay and looked up at the white clouds, thinking of so many things. Sometimes her riding teacher noticed the foster parents were late again, so she’d ask Carli to help with some chores—rolling the cloth bandages used on horses’ legs or folding the white English saddle pads and stacking them neatly.

Eventually, one or both of the Fitzgeralds would pull up to collect her and take her home. Most days they didn’t offer any explanation for being late. Or if they did, it might be something like, “The doctor kept us waiting forever.” Carli never put up a fuss, just figured that’s the way it was, and actually, she found being with the horses and around the barn to be the most fun of her young life. She later realized it was this experience and knowledge that had given her the confidence to begin giving riding lessons in Georgia and open her own business.

As the years ticked by, Carli progressed in her riding ability and became active in horse showing. The Fitzgeralds couldn’t afford to send her to every show so when Carli was a teen, she took on part-time jobs around the barn and then at a feed store so she could earn money to pay for her own show expenses.

Anyone would say she had a good life, a good upbringing, even special perks like riding and showing horses. What child wouldn’t love that? And Carli was grateful to the Fitzgeralds. She told herself, and them, how thankful she was, time and time again. But even though her homelife offered security, the result was that Carli had taken care of herself for as long as she could remember.

It seemed there was always one piece of herself missing. She knew that, now more than ever before, as she looked at Buck slumped in the front seat of Nathan’s truck. His previous gray pallor had changed to red-faced and he was sweating profusely, his speech somewhat mixed up as he kept trying to tell them no “hors-pital”.

She never experienced a heartfelt connection with the Fitzgeralds like she had with Lola and Buck. She missed having a father who cared for her deeply, loved her unconditionally. Right now, Buck was the closest thing to a real father for her. And it would devastate her if anything ever happened to him.

Someone had thought to call ahead, probably Lank, because when they pulled up to the hospital a team was waiting on them with a wheelchair. With looks of concern on their faces, several of the nurses called Lola by name and asked Buck where he hurt. Everything happened in a blur after that, as Buck was whisked inside and the rest of them collapsed into well-worn, straight-back waiting room chairs. Within minutes, Lank joined them.

Nathan found the vending machines and brought everyone a hot cup of coffee. Carli couldn’t help but grimace at the bitter taste, and then hoped Nathan hadn’t seen the look on her face. They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, Lola occasionally wiping tears from her face.

Lola suddenly stood. “Prayer circle, now.” Without a word they grouped around Lola and joined hands. She looked at Lank and nodded.

Lank prayed.

Carli’s eyes blurred and she couldn’t quote a word he said, but when they all ended with "Amen," she thought it was the most beautiful prayer she’d ever heard, and her heart was comforted. She stared at the ranch hand. That cowboy was certainly full of surprises.

Nathan’s phone buzzed and he answered. “At the hospital with Buck. Yep. I understand.” His face turned dark red and Carli could see a jaw muscle flex as he gritted his teeth. “My dad. He needs my help. I hate to leave y’all, but I’ve got to go.” He turned to Carli. “Call me later and let me know how he is.”

“Sure.” She gave him a small smile.

“Thanks, Nathan. I really appreciate all you did today.” Lola stood and gave him a hug.

“See ya, man.” Lank nodded.

Carli watched their exchange with interest. Apparently, all the fist punching had been resolved, whatever that had been. She should just forget it. No matter how much time she spent going over that situation in her mind, she’d probably never understand it. Men.

The antiseptic smell of the hospital was soon replaced with the pleasant aroma of buttered popcorn as a volunteer emerged from an office to operate the machine. Carli studied the lobby. They had driven to the next larger town