“That part of the hoof is called the frog.”
“The frog?” They all reacted as if it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.
“I don’t know why it’s called a frog, but that’s what it is. That’s the soft part of the hoof, and you run a pick along that triangle to scoop out any dirt. Don’t worry,” he added when he saw them wince. “It doesn’t hurt. Then you brush off the debris. Here. You try.”
He handed the pick to the second boy, almost jerking back when he realized the boy’s fingers were curled into his hand in a tight spasm. But the kid managed to grasp the pick anyway and he brushed away the dirt that Walker had loosened.
“All right, then,” Walker said. “Now check the shoe to be sure it’s good and tight.”
Minutes later, he looked up as Marlene laughed at something. For a moment, the sun blinded him, but then he saw her standing there with Charlie and another woman and they were all watching him.
Walker sprang to his feet so quickly that the horse shied. “Mr. Walker!” one of the kids scolded.
“Sorry.”
Even before Charlie spoke a word, he saw her smile and knew this
had been a setup all along, and he’d been sucked in as if he’d jumped willingly into a black hole.
“Don’t you think he’d be amazing at this?” Charlie was saying to Marlene, speaking loud enough for Walker to hear.
“He’s a natural.”
Charlie nodded. “I know.”
Walker patted one of the kids’ helmets. “Keep up what you’re doing,” he murmured. “And don’t move behind the horse.” Then he walked over to break up this little meeting.
“Charlie, are you done here?”
“I am, but I was just talking to Miss Marlene about you. She says they’re always looking for more instructors here at the ranch.”
“Thanks,” he said past lips that felt so tight they’d gone numb. “But I already have a job.”
“Well, sure, but wouldn’t it be more fun to work here?”
He looked at Marlene and forced himself to smile before he lost his temper. “Oh, I’m no teacher, I’m sorry to say.”
“But, Walker,” Charlie gushed, “you don’t have to have a degree or anything. You just need a high school diploma and a certificate from a safety course that they do right here! Isn’t that amazing? You can take classes right here for a few weeks and you’d be ready!”
She was practically bouncing on her toes. Walker wanted to walk away and never see her again. Ever. His heart beat so hard that it was difficult to hear his own voice. “Thanks, but I’m pretty busy.”
Marlene smiled, so he was almost sure she couldn’t see the rage on his face. “I understand, but you really are good with the kids. If you’re interested, you can get the certificate and do some volunteer work. No pressure. But, Walker...not everyone falls into this as easily as you do, and you know everything there is to know about riding. So think about applying for a position. I mean it. You’d be doing a great service. The kids love you.”
“Sure,” he said. “I’ll check into it.”
“Promise?” Marlene pressed.
He lied without any guilt at all. “Absolutely.”
He spun and walked away, leaving Charlie to catch up, though he couldn’t stop himself from holding the arena gate open for her. Still, he strode off as soon as she was through. Her footsteps pattered behind him through the stable.
“Oh, my God, Walker,” she called breathlessly. “I told you it would be perfect. Look at this place! It’s so beautiful, and you looked so happy with those kids. I thought they were going to climb right up on top of you and make you take them for a gallop around the yard.”
He walked faster and hit the unlock button the moment he spotted his truck in the lot.
“Walker,” she said breathlessly, jogging up behind him.
“You had no right to do that,” he growled.