Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong

girl who’d take on anything that came her way.”
    â€œWell, horses have never come my way, okay?” Lainie slid out of the truck, keeping the open door between her and the horses. “Those saddles don’t have anything to do with your surprise, I hope.”
    â€œGood grief, woman. I can’t believe that anyone who’d bring Chet Babcock to his knees is hiding in a truck from old Belle here. Two-year-olds ride her.”
    A whip-thin, white-haired man, slightly stooped and bowlegged, ambled out of the barn. Ray raised a hand in greeting. “Hey, Billy. Thanks for saddling up for us.”
    Billy returned the wave. “No problem. Everything all right?”
    Ray shook his head and laughed. “We’ve got a little tenderfoot fever going on. Lainie’s never been this close to a horse. Not sure she likes it.”
    Billy shifted his direction and ambled toward the truck. He placed his hand lightly between her shoulders and steered her toward the corral. “Come on, sister. Nothing to be scared of. Grab hold’a the horn, left foot in the stirrup there, and up and over. There ya go.” He handed her the reins and adjusted the stirrups. “You can let go of the horn now. It’s not gonna fall off.”
    Lainie wasn’t quite sure how it had happened, but she was on horseback, and the ground looked a long way off.
    â€œReady?” Ray mounted in one smooth move. “Hold the reins in one hand and nudge Belle with your heels. Lean the reins against her neck to the left or right to turn her, and gently pull back to stop. She doesn’t need more than a light hand. We’ll take it easy.” He clicked his tongue and his horse moved out at a slow walk. Belle tossed her head and followed. Lainie grabbed the reins and the horn in both hands and hung on.
    A light breeze blew the hair from her face, and somewhere nearby a bird whistled from a low branch. Belle’s gait was slow and rocking,and Lainie felt the tightness between her shoulders ease. Ray looked over his shoulder and grinned.
    â€œHow you doing?”
    â€œSo far, so good. Don’t go any faster, though, okay?”
    â€œWe’re not in any hurry. But you can let go of the saddle. Hold the reins in your left hand, and rest your right hand on your leg. You’ll be fine.”
    â€œEasy for you to say. I want a steering wheel—and some brakes.” Lainie loosened her grip on the saddle horn and lowered her right hand to her side, keeping her left hand with the reins close to the horn, just in case.
    The trail was narrow, and Belle seemed content to plod along behind Ray’s horse. The sun was warm on Lainie’s shoulders, and to her surprise, she found herself enjoying the ride. She leaned forward and patted Belle’s neck. “You are a sweet baby, aren’t you? You wouldn’t buck me off, would you?”
    Ray laughed. “Belle’s too fat and lazy to buck. She’s the horse the kids learn to ride on.”
    â€œDid you hear that, Belle? He called you fat and lazy. When I get off, you can go kick him if you want to.”
    Ray laughed again. “Come up here, I want to show you something.”
    Lainie came to a stop beside him on a wide ledge. The valley fell away before them. A single black ribbon of highway wound through it, and dirt roads like scars in the earth wandered from the main road through the sage. Towering clouds billowed on the horizon and floated across the sky, casting moving shadows on the valley floor. Far to the west, a blue veil of rain reached for the dry earth.
    â€œThis looks just like the painting in Elizabeth’s house.”
    â€œYeah, that was painted not far from here. You know, I haven’tbeen everywhere on earth, but I sure haven’t seen any place I think is more beautiful than this country right here.”
    Ray turned his horse back to the trail, and without any urging from Lainie, Belle followed. They rode