His Texas Bride. Deb Kastner

sighed. “Now tell me about this ranch. I’ve seen horses, chickens, goats, pigs, and I think I even saw a couple llamas out there in the field.”

      “Alpacas,” she corrected.

      “What I didn’t see was cattle, or a herd of horses. So what kind of a working ranch would that make this? It doesn’t make any sense.”

      “It will if you listen to me.”

      “I’ll listen,” he replied testily. “I’m not going anywhere until I figure this out.”

      Buck had always been impatient, Ellie remembered, wanting to fix the problem rather than think about it. Ellie had complemented him, balanced his practical logic with her naturally emotional responses.

      But that was then. And this wasn’t going to be a quick-fix problem.

      “It’s a therapeutic ranch, Buck,” she said, thinking that should explain a lot.

      “Hmm. So it says on your sign.”

      “You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?”

      “Not a clue,” he admitted, the side of his lip curling up again. It half looked like a grimace, but Ellie knew Buck was trying, in his own way.

      “I work with children who have had some kind of trauma in their young lives, and some who are physically or mentally disabled in some way. Many times the families board here, as well.”

      “And you do what exactly with the children?” He arched an eyebrow, daring her without words to explain her work in a way that wouldn’t make him laugh.

      “Introduce them to the animals. Animals are wonderful therapy, Buck. Didn’t you see what Sophie did with your own son?”

      Buck scoffed. “That will last all of a half hour. Then he’ll be back to his old surly self.”

      “Perhaps,” Ellie agreed. “But over time, kids bond with the animals. The goats and pigs and such help calm the children. Some learn to ride the horses. It helps them open up emotionally, connecting with the animals.”