Free Jesse by C H Admirand Page A

again.
    Leading the horse out of the barn, he had his foot in the stirrup when Tyler called his name.
    â€œWhat?” He had a list a mile long of things he had to tackle before he showed up at the diner. He needed to get going.
    â€œDid you forget about the hay delivery this morning?”
    Hell… He had. “Yeah.” He dismounted and led Dodge over to the corral. Once his horse was inside, he walked back into the barn and grabbed a bridle off the wall. Whickers of interest and impatient stomps greeted him. “Yeah, I know you guys are ready to get a move on.” Stopping by the first stall, he greeted Wildfire. “I know Dylan already fed you, so let’s get goin’.”
    As he led each of the horses out to the corral, he wondered if the hay delivery would be on time or late like the last one. Depending on who was delivering the hay, the Circle G was either first on the list, if it was coming from the west, or last on the list if coming from the east. Either way, his morning was already kicking into high gear. He’d have to keep moving if he was going to keep his promise and teach a little cowgirl how to ride.
    ***
    Danielle loved the quiet of early summer mornings. Her friends back home thought she was odd, getting up with the birds, but since Lacy had inherited the same gene, it worked out well for them. Lacy usually started waking up when the first bird called at around four thirty in the morning. If Danielle was lucky, Lacy wouldn’t come looking for her until at least five.
    Smiling, she scooped grounds into the old fashioned percolator her uncle favored. Checking the clock on the stove top, she lit the burner and figured she had about twenty minutes left of quiet time before her little Texas tornado came downstairs.
    Uncle Jimmy had been firm about not wanting to see them at the diner until after eight. They’d talked about it last night, and just as she’d remembered, there was no budging her uncle once his mind was made up.
    Moving around his kitchen was like living a memory. Glass-fronted cabinets and heavy earthenware mugs and plates were still mixed in with the largest collection of mason jars she’d ever seen. Danielle was comfortable here, just as she’d been as a child.
    Finding what she needed, she set the table for the two of them and started making breakfast. Hers was simple. She needed protein to keep moving until lunch so scrambling a couple of eggs and toast would work for her, but before she started melting butter in the frying pan, she rummaged through the canvas shopping bags they’d brought with them and found Lacy’s favorite marshmallow and oat cereal. Setting it by the pretty red bowl and mason jar, she was suddenly starving.
    The coffee was ready by the time she’d finished cooking. “Perfect timing.” Fingers crossed, she hoped Lacy would sleep for another fifteen minutes, giving her time to sit on the back porch and enjoy the new day.
    Having grown up watching birds, she recognized the calls of a chickadee and house finches. Sipping her coffee, she watched a blue jay swoop low to check out the feeder. Her uncle had filled the feeder the night before, and the bird’s scratchy call as he flew off to spread the good news that breakfast was served had her wondering if the smaller birds would have a chance to get any of the seed.
    Putting her feet up on the railing, she let her mind wander while the backyard birds kept her company. A certain tall, dark, and handsome cowboy filled her mind and she wondered if he’d keep his word to Lacy, or if he’d be just another sweet talker like her ex. “I hope for Lacy’s sake he doesn’t forget.”
    Cup empty, she placed it on the floor beside her. Closing her eyes, she let the warmth of the day and the background music of the birds soothe her frayed and tired nerves. If she could start each day out here, she just might be able to tackle every new problem that