‘It was going pretty well, actually,’ Ivy said, rocking gently, ‘until the Duckling Incident.’
Brendan chuckled. ‘You must be pretty determined to connect to your mom if you got up on a horse.’
‘That’s exactly the problem,’ Ivy replied. ‘Even my dad can handle a horse. I’m clearly the black sheep of the family.’
‘Nothing wrong with that,’ Brendan said. ‘You look good in black.’
‘Yeah, but, what if …’ Ivy had been thinking about it all morning. ‘What if she was alive? What if she wouldn’t get me?’
Brendan stopped her in mid-swing. ‘Don’t be silly, Ivy. You would be her daughter and she would love you. Besides, she obviously liked black because she loved your dad. Now, I want to see these terrifying ducklings.’ Brendan pulled Ivy to her feet and grinned. ‘Feel free to lean on me, if you need support.’
Ivy led him slowly over to the pond. The three fluffy yellow ducklings were quacking along behind their mother – a happy family in an orderly line.
Ivy sighed. That was just never going to be her family.
She heard a horse whicker from inside the barn.
‘I thought all the horses were on a cattle drive,’ Brendan said.
‘All but Lucky,’ Ivy replied. ‘And it was a trail ride.’
‘Isn’t Lucky your mom’s horse?’ Brendan asked.
Ivy nodded.
Brendan looked at her. ‘Do you want to go in?’
Ivy thought about it for a moment. Lucky hadn’t shied away from her when they first met, and Rebecca insisted that the reason Topic was upset was the ducklings. Maybe she could go and talk to Lucky. With Brendan by her side, she felt safe. ‘Let’s do it.’
They stepped into the cool barn, the smell of hay filling her nostrils as they clomped across the wooden floorboards. Lucky neighed from the back stall.
Very, very carefully, Ivy approached the stable door. Lucky poked his head out to see who it was and tossed his head.
‘He’s saying hello,’ said Brendan.
Ivy remembered Olivia whispering to the horses and decided to try it herself.
‘Hi Lucky,’ she said quietly. ‘I won’t be afraid of you if you won’t be afraid of me.’
Brendan stayed next to her as she reached her hand out to touch his muzzle.
Lucky stood still, his tail swishing. He seemed to be waiting for something.
Ivy glanced at the photos of her mom on the wall. In one, her mom had her arm around Lucky, in a hug. ‘If I hug Lucky,’ Ivy whispered to Brendan, ‘then it’s almost like I’m hugging my mom.’
Ivy took a deep breath. She was going to get closer. She grabbed a rope off a nearby peg and pulled open the stable door. She walked down Lucky’s left side, running her hand down his beautiful white neck. He didn’t seem to mind at all. She clipped the lead rope on to his halter and took hold on his left, just like she had with Topic.
Lucky took a step out into the aisle, then another.
‘He’s beautiful,’ said Brendan.
Ivy nodded, relaxing her grip on the rope a little, as Lucky walked out of his stable on his own.
‘Wait, wait,’ Ivy said to the horse. ‘Don’t go. We’re not leaving.’
But Lucky seemed to think it was his turn for a walk. Ivy knew she couldn’t handle him outside the stable.
‘Uh oh,’ Ivy whispered. ‘I probably shouldn’t have opened the door.’
Ivy fought back the panic. How was she going to get Lucky back in his stall? She pulled on the rope, trying to get Lucky to turn around. ‘Lucky,’ she sing-songed. ‘Come back this way.’
She tried to hold on to his lead, but as she reached out, he backed up into the wall. Ivy shuffled one way and Brendan shuffled the other, trying to keep the horse contained. But Lucky didn’t like it.
He whinnied and reared up, eyes rolling in his head as he pulled the rope right out of Ivy’s hand.
She scrambled to get it back and Brendan did, too, but that only made things worse. Lucky shook his head and reared up, just inches away from Ivy.
She staggered back and tripped, only just managing to roll out of the path of his trampling hooves as he bolted. Her hair got in her face and she shouted, ‘Lucky, wait!’ as he galloped towards the stable door.
She scrambled to her feet, pain shooting through her ankle, only to see Lucky streaking across the ranch, towards the trees. This time there wasn’t anyone to bring him back.
‘Oh no, what have I done?’ Ivy said, starting to cry.
Chapter Eight
Olivia was leading the group of visitors, while Rebecca pointed out the features of the trail and helped anyone who needed encouragement. Olivia loved riding Honey and the crisp, sunny day was perfect for the tour along the river and through the pine trees.
Rebecca had told her just to follow the green arrows, which was easy enough, and after a good two-hour ride, past a beautiful mini-waterfall, they were back at the ranch. Olivia had had plenty of time to think about Operation Smooch being a total failure so far. She couldn’t believe Jackson hadn’t kissed her yet! Ivy thought he was waiting for the right moment, but it had better come along soon! Or I’ll have to kiss Garrick first! thought Olivia with a shudder.
As she turned Honey towards the stable, she saw Ivy and Brendan waving frantically at her. She urged Honey into a trot and pulled her short when they got close.
Ivy’s face was streaked with tears and Brendan looked more grave than usual.
Olivia dismounted right away. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Lucky,’ Ivy gasped out. ‘Lucky escaped!’