Blind Fury Read Free Page B

Her voice sounded like fingernails on a blackboard. She swallowed hard and tried again. “I’ll warm up. Want the window seat?”
    Colin shook his head. “Nah. The aisle’s fine.” He eased into the seat next to her with a soft moan. “I’m sorry, Wakara. I know I haven’t been much company tonight. Guess I haven’t healed as well as I thought.”
    His face was pale and his eyes, when she looked into them, were bright with pain.

O N S ATURDAY MORNING , D AD TOOK one look at Colin and ordered him to bed in Ryan’s room. “You’re down for the weekend, young man. Greg and I leave Monday morning for Eagle Lodge. I need you well enough to ride. If we’re going to get those cows down out of the high country before winter hits, it’s got to be soon, and I’m counting on you to get it done.”
    He sounded stern, but Kara saw the worry on his face. Colin didn’t argue, and she felt even guiltier about last night.
    â€œHe wouldn’t have gone if it wasn’t for me,” she e-mailed Tia. “The least I can do is handle the barn chores. Sorry, I know you wanted to show me your research stuff. Maybe tomorrow afternoon after church, okay?”
    Kara groomed Dakota first. Lily was content to wait, but Ryan’s pony, Star, nickered for attention. He was eighteen years old and gentle as a lamb, but she knew Ryan would soon outgrow him. Eighteen was too old to be kept outside with the working string, but they would probably still take him up to the lodge in the summer for the little kids to ride.
    She finished picking Dakota’s huge feet, then put a halter on Star. “Your turn.” She scratched behind his ears, then picked up a clean, soft brush. “Ryan should be doing this, you know.” The pony tossed his head. He knew Ryan’s name, all right. When Dad had bought him two years ago for Ryan’s birthday, it had been love at first sight for both of them.
    But her little brother had gone to his friend Timmy’s today. Timmy’s family had been a godsend since Mom had died, keeping Ryan busy, even taking him on outings with their family. Lately, Ryan spent part of every weekend at their house.
    She patted Star’s rump, and he trotted out of the barn to join Dakota in the paddock. Ryan would be seven years old in November. Dad had always told them, “If you’re old enough to ride, you’re old enough to take care of your horse.” But with all the work of opening Eagle Lodge this summer, the grief over Mom’s death, and then the forest fire, they had let Ryan’s responsibilities slide. Next Saturday , she decided, Ryan will start learning to take care of his own horse .
    She had just started to brush out Lily’s mane, when the mare shied and danced off the mat. Kara took hold of the bridle to quiet her as an ancient Ford pickup rattled into the yard. The truck bed was full of plywood and bundles of insulation.
    â€œSorry, Wakara,” Bud Davis called over the din of the idling engine, “didn’t mean to spook your horse, but your dad said he needed this stuff pronto. Know where he’s at?”
    Kara steadied Lily with one hand and pointed up the hill. “In the bunkhouse. He and Greg are trying to get it into shape for winter.”
    â€œWhere’s Colin?”
    She felt her face go red. “In bed. He’s still in too much pain to work.”
    Bud frowned. “Well, maybe I’ll just go on up there and see what I can do to help.”
    He would, too. Bud Davis was a longtime family friend. He had helped with more than one mess—including Greg. Greg’s life was headed for the garbage can until Bud counseled him. After that, Kara’s older brother had finally dealt with his grief and let God work in his life. Things weren’t perfect. Greg was eighteen and could still be a pain, but he’d quit drinking and had stayed away from T.J. Magic and his