Chapter 3

            Mackenzie watched out the window as Jeremy loaded the feed in the bed of the old pickup.  She smiled slightly, remembering riding with her father like this to get all the feed for their boarding stable.  Maybe one day she would tell Jeremy and Cassidy about her family.

            Jeremy soon paid for the feed and returned to the truck.  Mackenzie turned back around in her seat and smiled.  Jeremy had talked the whole way in, filling Mackenzie in on his past and how he had met Cassidy down at a clinic in Texas.  They had been married a short eight months later and had been happily married for the past ten years.  The retreat they had started had been a dream of theirs since they had first gotten married and had just now been able to start.  She noticed that Jeremy didn’t say much about Cassidy’s past though.  She wondered why, but didn’t feel right asking.

            “So?  Ready for lunch?” he asked, looking over at the teen.  The girl nodded, her light brown hair falling into her face.  “How about the Steak and Shake?” he suggested.

            Mackenzie nodded enthusiastically.  “Could I have milkshake too?” she asked meekly.

            “Of course you can.  Can’t go to the Steak and Shake and not get a shake,” he said, starting the truck.

            Mackenzie smiled.  She knew it was only her second day with the Timmons’, but they were the only ones who had ever reminded her of her parents.  She settled back in her seat as Jeremy turned out of the parking lot.  The teen watched all the traffic go by as she tapped her fingers on her satchel.  She was glad that the Timmons lived in the country instead of the busy city.  She had had her fill of the city.

            Within ten minutes, Jeremy had wove his way through the traffic and pulled into the left lane.  As soon as the light turned green Jeremy turned into the parking lot.  They were soon sitting at a table, looking at the menus.  Once they had placed their orders Jeremy folded his hands on the table.

            “So, tell me about yourself, Mackenzie.  What do you like to do?”  Mackenzie nibbled on her bottom lip, not sure how much she wanted to reveal.  Jeremy smiled.  “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”

            Mackenzie gave him a gratefully smile.  “My parents died when I was ten,” she said softly.  “But you probably already knew that.  I’m sure it was in my file.”  She saw him raise a brow.  “I’ve seen my file,” she whispered.  The teen took a deep breath.  “I like to read,” she said, finally revealing something about herself.

            “Really?  Cass will love that.  She has a whole room filled with books and she’s always trying to get me to go to the book store with her.”  Mackenzie giggled.  “I bet she’ll love having someone to go with her.”

            “I would like that,” she said, brightening up a bit.  She hesitated briefly, trying to make up her mind.  She finally came to a decision.  “I like to draw,” she whispered, glancing up at Jeremy.

            The young man smiled.  “Someday when you’re ready I would love to see your drawings.”

            She smiled, thankful that he didn’t push.  With time maybe she would show them her drawings.  She hadn’t shown anyone else except the other children at the orphanage.  They both looked up when the waitress returned with their burgers and shakes.  They quietly ate their lunch, just enjoying the companionable quiet.

*~*~*

            By one they were headed back toward the ranch.  Mackenzie grinned as they drove back into the countryside.  A split rail fence passed by them on their right.  The teen looked over quickly when she heard Jeremy click the turn signal on.  She knew this wasn’t home.  She flushed when she realized she already considered the Rolling Hills Retreat her home.

            “I hope you don’t mind one more stop,” he apologized.  “This is our vet’s place.  I thought since we were driving by I’d stop in and see if I could set up an appointment for the horses.”

            She shrugged a thin shoulder under her beat up Chicago Bears T-shirt.  Even her jeans were a bit frayed around the edges along with the knees.  “I don’t mind.  Besides, it’s your truck.”

            Jeremy shook his head.  “We’re a family, Mackenzie.  Or at least I hope we can be if you would like that.”

            Mackenzie got choked up and couldn’t say anything.  Was he serious?  They really wanted her as part of their family?  Silent tears slid down her cheeks as Jeremy drove up the gravel driveway.  She was afraid to hope.

            “We’ll talk more when we get home,” Jeremy said gently.

            Mackenzie nodded and wiped her eyes.  Jeremy stopped the truck beside a wood A-frame house.  He slid out of the truck with Mackenzie a few seconds behind him.  She looked up quickly when she heard a door bang shut.  A man who looked to be in his early forties walked out of the house.  He had thick, wavy, dark brown hair and wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses.  His arms and face were tanned and he looked like he worked outside quite a bit.

            “Well, if it isn’t my good friend Jeremy Timmons.  And you must be Mackenzie Dawson.  It’s a pleasure to meet you my dear.  So, what brings you here, Jeremy?”

            Mackenzie’s eyes were wide as she stood next to Jeremy.  Jeremy laughed. “Mackenzie, this is our vet Grady Andrews.  Don’t worry, he’s a big pushover.”

            Grady narrowed his eyes, but then laughed.  A deep, belly laugh.  “Nah, I’m harmless,” he promised.  “Why don’t you head down to the barn, Mackenzie?  My son’s down there taking care of the horses.  I’m sure the horses will be more interesting then us old fogies.”

            “Hey!” Jeremy laughed.  Mackenzie looked up at Jeremy uncertainly.  “It’s okay, Mackenzie.  Go on down.  He has a gorgeous paint down there that I’m sure you’ll want to meet.  I’ll be down after we talk.”

            Mackenzie nodded and turned toward the barn.  She smiled when she heard Grady say she was a good kid.  She was too far away to hear Jeremy’s reply.

*~*~*

            Mackenzie stepped into the barn and smiled a bit at the familiar sounds and smells of horses.  She heard a soft snort and turned that way.  The teen quietly crept toward the stall where the soft sounds were coming from.  She didn’t want to scare the horse, especially since she didn’t know the horse and the horse didn’t know her.  She put her hands on the stall and peeked inside.  She gasped in horror.

            A blue roan mare stood in the middle of the stall with her head hung low.  Her ribs were showing and scares were visible along her flanks.  Her eyes were dull and her mane and tail hung limply.  Someone had definitely beaten this horse.

            “You poor baby,” she whispered, letting herself into the stall.

            The filly barely even reacted to Mackenzie’s soft voice.  The teen continued to talk softly as she approached the blue roan.  The Quarter Horse’s ears barely flicked as she lifted dull eyes.  Mackenzie’s heart broke as she stepped up to the horse.  She gently ran her hand down the horse’s neck, feeling her coarse fur.  The poor horse needed a good grooming and someone to take care of her and love her.

            “Her name is Bailey.  She’s only four.”

            Mackenzie spun around at the unexpected voice, causing Bailey to jump a bit, but she was too weak to go far.  The teen’s eyes widened slightly as she came face to face with a 6’0” tall young man.  She shrank back against Bailey, thinking she had done something wrong.  But she wasn’t blind to the fact that the young man was quite cute.  He had wavy, dark brown hair under his ball cap and soft hazel eyes.  He also filled out his T-shirt quite nicely.  Mackenzie’s face reddened more.

            “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered.  “I-I was just leaving.”

            “No, no,” he said quickly.  “You don’t have to leave.  Bailey seemed to be enjoying the company.”  Mackenzie tangled her fingers in Bailey’s mane.  “I’m Caleb by the way.”

            “Mackenzie,” she answered softly.

            Caleb smiled, showing perfect white teeth against his tanned skin.  He opened the door and let himself into the stall.  Mackenzie continued to quietly watch him as she pet Bailey.  The filly snorted softly, seeming to be enjoying the attention.

            “What happened to Bailey?” Mackenzie asked softly, hoping the Caleb hadn’t hurt the filly.  Of course Bailey didn’t seem afraid of him.

            Caleb sighed softly as he gently rubbed Bailey’s neck.  “My father and I found her at a horse auction.  She was going to be sold for slaughter.  She looked even worse when we brought her home last week.  Although I’m not sure how much longer we can keep her.”

            “What?” Mackenzie gasped, looking at the sorry looking filly.  “Surely you’re not going to sell her or…”  She trailed off, not even wanting to think that.

            The young man shook his head.  “I’ve grown fond of this little filly, but we just don’t have the room for her.”

            Mackenzie nibbled on her bottom lip a she watched Bailey.  The blue roan looked up at the teen, love and a cry for help evident in her trusting eyes.  Mackenzie’s heart went out to the filly.  She just wanted love and a home too.  Just like Mackenzie.

            The teen looked up at Caleb.  He was watching her with a half smile on his handsome face.  Mackenzie rubbed her hand down Bailey’s neck.

            “I-I’ll take her,” she whispered.

            “Take who?” Jeremy asked, stepping into the barn in time to catch the end of the conversation.  “Hey Caleb.”

            “Sir,” Caleb said, touching his hat.

            Mackenzie looked up at her foster father in embarrassment.  “Um,” she whispered.  “Could we give Bailey a home?”

            “Of course we can,” Jeremy said, surprising Mackenzie and Caleb both.  Jeremy chuckled.  “Grady and I were just talking about her.  And I see she’s already taken a liking to you, Mackenzie,” he smiled as Bailey nuzzled Mackenzie’s arm.

            The teen smiled brightly and hugged the filly’s neck.  “You hear that, Bailey?  You’re going to live with us.”

            Bailey nickered softly and nuzzled Mackenzie.  The teen giggled and buried her face in the filly’s mane.  She hadn’t even thought about the possibilities that she might not be with the Timmons’ long.

            “I could bring her over tomorrow, sir,” Caleb offered.

            “I would appreciate that, Caleb.  Thank you.  You ready to head home, Mackenzie?  Cassidy will be waiting for us.”

            Mackenzie nodded and hugged Bailey once more.  “Bye girl,” she whispered.  “It was a pleasure meeting you, Caleb.”

            “See you around,” he said.

            Mackenzie let herself out of the stall and walked over with Jeremy.  He gave her shoulders a light squeeze before heading out to the truck.

*~*~*

            Later that evening, Mackenzie sat curled on the couch with her sketchpad.  She switched pencils as she studied the picture that was starting to appear on the page.  She smiled to herself as she drew in a couple darker spots to help enhance a couple areas.

            She looked up when she heard the stairs creaking.  Cassidy and Jeremy had been upstairs for a while, but Mackenzie hadn’t thought much of it.  She closed her sketchpad as she heard them walking toward the living room.  She was shocked when she saw them both carrying boxes.

            They set their burdens down and then sat down cross legged on the floor themselves.  Mackenzie was confused as she watched them.  They both had smiles on their faces, but neither had said anything.  The teen put her sketchpad and pencils down before sliding onto the floor.

            “What’s going on?” she asked curiously.

            Cassidy pushed one of the boxes toward the girl.  “I know we haven’t had a chance to take you shopping yet, but we thought these would get you started until we can get into town.”

            Mackenzie looked at them both in confusion before turning her attention to the box in front of her.  She cautiously opened the box, not at all sure what to expect.  Her eyes widened when she got a glimpse of what was inside.  She slowly pulled out a jean jacket with a horse embroidered on the back.  The jacket looked almost new.  She clutched the jacket to her chest as she peeked back into the box.  The rest of the box was full of clothes.

            “Are you sure?” Mackenzie asked, looking up at her foster parents.  “These clothes look almost new.”

            Cassidy smiled and leaned against her husband’s shoulder.  “They were my sister’s clothes,” she explained as Jeremy squeezed her shoulders.  “I know she wouldn’t mind if you got some use out of them.  Abby was always a giver.”

            Mackenzie smiled brightly as she slipped into the jean jacket.  “Thank you both,” she said, hugging her arms to her body.  “I’m going to go try these on,” she said, picking up the first box while Jeremy got the other one for her.