Baby Girl: Dare to Love (2 page)

TWO

“What do you mean how was it?” Jemma asked her sister.  She sat in the middle of her king-sized bed.  Since Jared’s death, this had become a nightly ritual, after she’d put Kassie to bed; a mug of tea, and a phone conversation with her sister. 

“I mean, how was the visit to the ranch?  Did you get her signed up for lessons?  How did Kassie react to everything?”

Jemma took a deep breath.  She had such high hopes for her daughter and the lessons.  “She didn’t say anything.  She liked the dog.”

“What dog?”

“It was manager’s mother’s dog.  He was a chocolate Lab, and was adorable.  She actually patted the dog.  Maybe I should get her a dog.”

“Slow down, Jem.  One thing at a time.  What did the manager say about Kass?”

“For a minute, I didn’t think he was going to take her, but he said it would have to be on a month-to-month basis.  Her lessons start next week.  I think he’s concerned about her and her reaction to the horses.  He was very understanding. He was so gentle with her.”  The man was drop dead handsome with dark blue eyes, athletic build, he definitely wasn’t afraid of work.  “He said he’d be the training her initially.”

“Sounds good, Jem.  Kyle is one of the best trainers in the state.”

“How did you know his name?”  She smelled a rat.  “What are you not telling me?”

Janna laughed.  “You’re so suspicious. I don’t know him, personally.  I used to work with his sister years ago, and we kept in touch.  Kyle is good at what he does.”

“He seemed very knowledgeable. I just hope this is good for Kassie.”

“It will be.  Jemma, don’t forget about you.  You need a break too.”

She needed her own time to grieve, which she hadn’t.  When Jared died, it was so sudden, her main concern was her daughter.  “Sounds good, but not now.  Besides, we have to come to Dallas on Saturday.”

“For what?”

“I have to get Kass a pair of riding boots, and pants, etc.  I looked it up on the Internet and there’s a store not too far from Mom and Dad.  I thought we’d make a day of it.”

“That’s great.  You guys should spend the night so Kass could play with her cousins.”

“I was thinking about it.  I was going to call Mom in the morning after I take her to school.”

“Great.  See you Saturday.”  Her sister ended the call. 

Jemma resumed working on her laptop.  Since she’d become a widow, she’d started a blog relating her experiences since Jared had died. For her it had been a vehicle of therapy.  Putting her thoughts out in the world, lessen the hurt of missing her husband.  In the year, she’d been blogging, she’d had over a hundred thousand followers. That blog netted her a sponsor and a six-figure book deal.

She’d gotten plenty of support when she mentioned Kassie’s non-talking state and was quite surprised when other parents confessed their children had went through some level of it. 

She checked her blog, returned emails and then decided to check on Kassie.  Six months was a long time, she thought.  She hoped her daughter would soon rejoin the talking world.

Friday morning, Kyle woke early.  Earlier than his normal five a.m.  Something about lying in a big lonely bed while the sun rose, seemed so wrong.  Running the office had been the easiest of the ranching jobs, and the most demanding.  Not only was he responsible for scheduling horse lessons, conferences with the on-site vet , scheduling for the office, ordering hay and feed for the horses, the list never seemed to end.  How had his father done it for so long?

He hurriedly slipped on his shorts, t-shirt, and tennis shoes.  He had time for a run before going to his parents’ house for breakfast.  His five-mile run was a solution to his very busy schedule.  He could get rid of some tension and also check out the ranch while he was running.

When he returned to his home, he was drenched in sweat. He quickly took a shower and dressed for the day.  He walked the distance to his parents’ two story home at the back of the property. 

He greeted his mother as he walked into the kitchen.  As usual, she was cooking breakfast for a small army.   There was scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pancakes and toast.  His father was making coffee.   “Hi Mom. Good morning.”  He kissed her on the cheek.  “Hi Dad.  I see I’m just in time.”

“Yes, you better hurry, the boys will be here in about thirty minutes.”  His mother ushered him to a chair at the breakfast table.”  She prepared him a plate and placed it in front of him. 

“Thanks, Mom.”  He picked up his fork and started eating.  “I’ll be finished by the time the stable hands get here.”

His mother sat down across from him.  “Have you talk to Justin yet?”

“I talk to him last night.”  He stared at his mother.  “As if you didn’t know.”

“All right, you got me.  I was concerned about that child.  He reassured me that the situation was temporary.  That was a weight off my mind.” 

Kyle nodded.  “Me too. He said selective mutism is not exactly common among children, but he’s seeing it a little more often these days.  Usually, something traumatic brings it on.”  He took a sip of coffee.

“Well, I’d say losing a parent suddenly fits that bill. You still have a large mountain to climb to get her to talk,” his mother said. 

“Your mother filled me on our newest client.  Monthly billing?” His father sat down with his plate. 

Kyle shrugged.  He should have known his mother would blab.  “Yeah, I told her that I’d bill her monthly.  Her daughter is kind of a test case. I’ll know by the second or third lesson if she’s capable to keep training. That way if it doesn’t work out, I just won’t charge her.  ”

“Sounds sensible.”

Kyle hope so.  “Her first lesson is next Thursday.  I told her I’d train her until I could get a handle on her daughter.”

“Using that Cosgrove charm, again?”  His father teased him. 

“Hardly.  Just doing my job as a ranch manager.  I don’t know how you did it all those years, but I’m learning.”  Kyle wanted to do his parents proud. 

“It took me about twenty years before I really got the swing of things. I wouldn’t change a thing.”  He placed a hand on Kyle’s shoulder.  “You’re doing a good job.  Remember, you need to take time for you.  I don’t want you burned out.  I want you to love this ranch as much as I do.”

“I do love this place, Dad.  I was born here and this is where I want to be.  I admit there was a time when I didn’t think this was where I belonged, but luckily, I realized it was.”  Kyle hoped he reassured his parents. 

“Oh, that was a long ten years,” his mother said.  “Married to that awful woman and living in the city.  It was crushing the life out of you.”

“It did.”  He hated talking about the time he let lust rule his life.  “Now, I’m older and wiser now.” 

THREE

The first lesson.

              Jemma arrived at the ranch a little before five.  She’d wanted Kassie to get a feel for the place before the actual lesson began. Kass looked adorable in her white blouse, beige riding pants, black riding boots, and white plastic helmet. She’d inherited her mother’s curly, unruly hair.  Jemma had worked for quite a while to make it work with the helmet.  “Okay, Kass, we’re going to pay for your lesson then we will walk around a little bit.”

She nodded.  Jemma’s heart raced.  She hardly ever acknowledged anything she said, so this place had to be a good sign.  She hoped with all her heart, it was the beginning of something wonderful.  She eased out of the SUV and helped Kassie out of the backseat.  They walked inside the building; the two young girls were the only ones in the office.   

“Hello, Mrs. Patterson,” she said.  “Hello, Kassadee.  Kyle will be back in a bit.  He went to change clothes for the lesson.”

Jemma thought that was strange.  Why had he needed to change? Okay, I wanted to pay for her lesson.  He said I would be billed monthly.”

The young girl looked thoroughly confused.  “Oh, okay.”  Her fingers flew across the keyboard.  Shocked registered on her young face.  “Kyle will handle that part.  Would you like to take a seat until he comes back?  It shouldn’t be too long.  His house is pretty close.”  She pointed to a house adjacent to the office.  “The ranch manager lives on the property.  His parents live at the back of the property.” She walked from behind the counter and went to straighten the t-shirts for sale.

Jemma nodded.  “We’d like to walk around the place.  I’d like Kassie to get the feel for it before her lesson begins.”

“Sure.  No problem. I’ll tell Kyle.”  

Jemma felt dismissed, so she and Kassie left the small office.  They walked toward the horse stable. She noticed two men walking toward her.  Kassie stepped closer to Jemma.  “Don’t worry, baby.  It’s all right.  They work here.”  She caressed her daughter’s back until she calmed down.  “How about let’s look at the horses?”  She took her daughter’s hand and they walked inside the large stable. 

“Can I help you, ma’am?”  An older man asked. He was dressed in traditional cowboy jeans, shirt, and boots.  He looked about sixty if he was a day, she mused.  “Currently, we don’t have any horses for sale,” he said.

“Thank you, but we were just looking around.  My daughter has a lesson at five.”  She glanced at her watched and noticed the time.  “We’d better be getting back to the office.”

“No need,” Kyle said, walking up behind them.  “I was just coming to look for you,” he said smiling.  He kneeled down in front of Kassie. “Hello, Kassadee.  Ready for your first lesson?”

Kassie looked up at her mother, then back at Kyle.  She shrugged her shoulders. 

He chuckled.  “Okay, at least you’re being honest.  The first thing we’re going to do is look at the horses.  If you see one that you like, let me know.”

Kassie let her mother’s hand go and followed Kyle toward the horse stalls.  Jemma couldn’t help but notice how sexy that man looked in a pair of jeans.  She followed them as well.  It was something about a cowboy.

“This is Cinnamon.  She’s about three years old,” said Kyle about the reddish-brown horse.  “My mother named her.  In fact, this whole row of horses have spice names.  My mother loves to cook. “Right across from Cindy is Nutmeg.”  He walked toward the brown horse and place his hand on the center of the horse’s face.  “This is like saying hi.  Want to give it a try?”

Kassie hesitated.  Jemma didn’t think her daughter was ready for that much conversation with anything.  “You don’t have to, Honey.”

Kassie took a deep breath, walked toward the horse, and held her shaky hand up to the horse’s face.  Nutmeg moved away from her touch. 

“If you’re nervous, Nutmeg can sense it.  Take a deep breath,” Kyle coached Kassie. “Relax.”

Kassie took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  Once she opened them again, she touched Nutmeg and was successful.  She smiled up at her mother. 

Jemma had been waiting months for that smile to reappear on her baby girl’s face.  Her heart swelled with pride and Kassie continued touching the horse.  The horse moved closer to her and stuck her head through the bars on the stall. Kassie rubbed her face against Nutmeg’s, shocking everyone.  Jemma was trying hard to hold back her tears, but a few defiant ones got through.  Kyle handed her a handkerchief discreetly. 

“Okay, Kassadee.  Let’s move to the next one.”

“Kassie,” she said quietly.

Both Kyle and Jemma stared at each other.  Surely, her daughter hadn’t spoke, however softly?  Best not to draw attention to it. 

Kyle cleared his throat.  He had wanted to give Jemma a high five, but that might alert Kassie that she spoke and send her back into the dark world of non-communication.  “Why don’t we continue looking at the horses?”

She nodded, taking Kyle’s hand.  He was surprised, that she had responded so quickly.  Ten years as a psychologist for pediatrics also told him that she could revert at any second for any reason.  He looked back at Jemma as she wiped her face.  She waved them away. 

“I’ll catch up.”

Kyle heard the catch in her voice.  The emotions of one lesson was going to be too much for her, if she continued following them.  He’d probably have to suggest she wait at the arena once the lessons got started.  “All right, meet us at the arena in thirty minutes.”

“Got it.”

Kyle continued introducing the horses to Kassie. They met Thyme, Rosemary, Coriander, Sea Salt, Pepper, Bacon, Chili Pepper, and Cheesey.  She said hello to each horse.  And each time, she smiled. Each time she smiled, Kyle had too. 

“Have you picked a favorite yet?”  He wondered how he was going to figure out which one she liked.

She nodded. 

“That’s great.  Which one?”

***

Jemma darted around a corner of the barn before she broke down.  Kassie spoke!  Okay, it was only one word, but it was a start... Maybe she would be hearing her baby girl’s voice soon.   Tears flowed down her face faster than she could wipe at them with Kyle’s handkerchief.

She knew not to rush her. Today was just the tip of the iceberg.  She only said her name and it was barely a whisper, she reminded herself.  Best not to

get too emotional at this stage.  With a shaky hand, she reached inside her shoulder bag for her cell phone.  She needed reinforcements.  She listened as the phone rang. 

“How’s the lesson going?”  Janna asked.  “Kassie isn’t getting freaked out by the horses, is she?”

“Janna, slow down!  The lesson is going fine.  Kyle called her Kassadee and she corrected him.”  She waited for her sister’s outburst.

“What?  Jem, are you sure?  I know how bad you want her to talk again. Are you sure she actually said it?”

“Yes, I’m sure.  Kyle and I both heard her.  He was introducing her to the horses.  He was teaching her how to say hello to them and she smiled.”

“Wow! That’s amazing.  Where is she now?”

“They were looking at the horses.  He saw me tearing up and he took Kassie to the next row of horses, so she wouldn’t see me crying like a crazy person. She really likes him.  I’ve never seen her react so quickly to someone even before all this happened.”

“That’s good. Right?”

“Yes, Janna, it’s good.  Very good.  I hope a complete recovery is near.”

“I know you do, but give it time.  Just like it took her months to stop talking, it going to take just as long for her to start back talking,” Janna said in her doctor voice. 

Sometimes she loved the idea of having a younger sister for a doctor.  That was one of the reason’s she hadn’t totally freaked out when Kassie had stopped talking.  Janna reassured her that it was temporary, just as Kassie’s pediatrician had. “I know.  Just the mother in me, I guess.”

“I would love nothing more too, but we’re going to have to be very careful not to send her further back.  Do you talk to her about Jared?  I mean lately.  Like, is he in heaven? Is he happy?  That kind of thing.”

“Well not lately.  I was afraid it was going to send her over the edge.  I know how much she misses him.”

“It’s good to talk about it.  She might think you don’t want to talk about him anymore since he’s dead.”

Jemma thought about her sister’s words.  “True.   I’ll see how she’s feeling after the lesson and go from there.”

“Speaking of, you better go find them,” Janna suggested. 

“You’re right.  Talk later.”  She ended the call and slid the phone back in her purse.  She started walking toward the arena.  Definitely not the place to wear stilettos, she thought as she took off her shoes.  What was she thinking? 

She noticed them walking in the distance.  Kassie was leading the horse!  Kyle was walking next to her, but Kassie held the reins in her hand and actually leading the horse.  Jemma was so proud.  The rocks on the path hadn’t even bothered her.

She reached the arena as Kyle was teaching Kassie how to get up on the horse.  Jemma took a seat in the metal stands and watched in amazement. Her baby girl was going to be all right.

Kyle had known the minute Jemma had rejoined them.  What was it about this woman?  He was jumping some pretty high hurdles and he couldn’t figure out why.

He looked down at Kassie.  She was staring at him with those big brown eyes, waiting for direction.  They were standing on the left side of Nutmeg, the horse she’d chosen for the lessons.  Nutmeg was one of the best horses on the property.  “Okay, your first lesson will be how to mount Nutmeg.”  He notice the step stool nearby and retrieved it.  “Here, this may help a little.  Step up on this.”

She did as he said.

“Now put your left foot in the stirrup and bring your other leg over Nutmeg.  Don’t worry, if you don’t get it the first time,” he said in his most gentle voice. 

Kassie looked in the direction of her mother, then back at Kyle.  She caressed the horse back and took a deep breath.  She put her foot in the left just like he’d directed and was properly seated in the saddle. 

“Wow, Kassie!  That was wonderful.  Very few people get it right the first time. You’re amazing.”

She smiled wide and leaned down and rubbed Nutmeg again.   Then she sat back up and clapped her hands.  She didn’t say a word, but Kyle didn’t need words.  He knew she was happy.