Penny & The Cowboy

By Sarah Amberson

Penny winced as she took the last step before throwing herself down into the porch chair. She hated walking. She hated doing anything, including living here on the ranch, but what other option did she have?
Since her accident, her friends had abandoned her, and she was incapable of doing pretty much anything that she used to do. Everything was painful in some way or other, whether that be emotionally or physically. 
At this point, it all ran together, and Penny couldn't tell what-was-what. It was just as painful for her to watch her neighbor's daughter ride by on her horse as it was to walk across the porch. She shoved a crutch defiantly with her good foot. 
Life was fragile, something that many people didn't seem to realize. Penny hadn't realized it until hers had come to an end. One moment she had been riding through the prairie enjoying her day and the next her horse had been out of control and her life had come to a screeching halt. 
Doctors from several different towns had all had a chance to look at her foot, they had all tried different methods and different cures to fix it, but it had been to no avail. They had no luck at making it even slightly better. 
If she could only walk normally again, the pain wouldn't be such a burden. She couldn't even take herself to town to help with grocery buying anymore. Even if someone drove her, she couldn't bear the constant staring and whispering of everyone who saw her....Everyone except Rex, the new ranch hand.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201666132

Book preview

PENNY & THE COWBOY

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SARAH AMBERSON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PENNY & THE COWBOY

THE AMISH TREASURE

THE AMISH WEDDING SEASON

THE BEAUTIFUL CHOICE

THE SHY AMISH MAN

PENNY AND THE COWBOY

—*—-

Penny winced as she took the last step before throwing herself down into the porch chair. She hated walking. She hated doing anything, including living here on the ranch, but what other option did she have?

Since her accident, her friends had abandoned her, and she was incapable of doing pretty much anything that she used to do. Everything was painful in some way or other, whether that be emotionally or physically.

At this point, it all ran together, and Penny couldn’t tell what-was-what. It was just as painful for her to watch her neighbor’s daughter ride by on her horse as it was to walk across the porch. She shoved a crutch defiantly with her good foot.

Life was fragile, something that many people didn’t seem to realize. Penny hadn’t realized it until hers had come to an end. One moment she had been riding through the prairie enjoying her day and the next her horse had been out of control and her life had come to a screeching halt.

Doctors from several different towns had all had a chance to look at her foot, they had all tried different methods and different cures to fix it, but it had been to no avail. They had no luck at making it even slightly better.

If she could only walk normally again, the pain wouldn’t be such a burden. She couldn’t even take herself to town to help with grocery buying anymore. Even if someone drove her, she couldn’t bear the constant staring and whispering of everyone who saw her.

She sighed and let her gaze wonder out over her family’s ranch. A young man was fixing the fence of a nearby cow yard.

She couldn’t remember if she’d seen him before, she didn’t exactly keep track of all of her father’s work hands.

Her family had moved out west when she was too young to remember, and since then her father had been very successful in creating a thriving farm.

They had cows, horses, barns and other animals, way too much to care for on their own. The ranch hands made the work possible. Penny smiled a little at the thought of the farm, after all, it had become her sanctuary.

They were the biggest farm in the town of Alstar. Even though she had plenty of places she could be, Penny never really went further than the front yard.

You’re sitting out here all alone again, Miss? A voice pulled Penny from her thoughts. The rancher she’d spotted a few moments ago was now sitting on his horse quite close to the house, looking at her with a quizzical look on his face.

My name is Penny, she said, a little rudely. It had been a while since she had talked to anyone besides her family and she tried not to fidget nervously.

The young man was handsome enough. He had coal black hair that fell in a messy way over his brown eyes. His skin was dark tan from too much time in the sun and his mouth was turned up into a mischievous smile.

What’s funny? she finally said after the silence became excruciatingly uncomfortable.

You are. You have an entire farm at your disposal and yet you spend all your time here on the porch. I’m Rex by the way, he said confidently as he leaned in over the railing and extended his hand in greeting.

After a few moments of hesitation, Penny accepted the handshake.

If you haven’t heard, Rex, I can’t walk right, so I can’t exactly go traipsing all over the farm like other people, she answered in a somewhat petulant tone. For a moment, Penny felt ashamed at the bitter note in her voice. She didn’t like to be a bitter or rude person, but she couldn’t help it. After all, how else was she supposed to feel about not being normal or being able to do normal things.

That’s what horses are for, you know, to take people around different places. Rex spoke with a little drawl, as if he were explaining something important to a child.

I don’t ride horses anymore, Penny said looking away, yet another thing to be bitter about.

Riding had been the reason she woke up in the morning for such a long time and now she hadn’t been on a horse for more than six months. She wasn’t sure if she was afraid or she was just unable to ride one. She hadn’t tried since the accident, and she didn’t plan to anytime soon.

"I’m actually going for a ride right now, why don’t you join me? Rex stood there waiting as if he expected her to hop of the porch and follow him. Something that was completely impossible for her to do, even if she had wanted to.

After a few seconds of silence, Rex turned and walked away. Penny tried to smother her disappointment, even if she had been able to keep up, she wouldn’t have gone anyways. She wanted nothing to do with Rex or horses, she could barely handle the way things were right now.

Despite telling herself this, she continued her grumbling in more despair than before.

The sound of a horses snort beside her shoulder made her nearly jump out of her chair.

She whipped her head around to find Rex standing there, grinning from ear to ear with two horses saddled and ready to go.

What- what are those for? she asked incredulously, even though she already had quite a good idea as to their purpose.

So you can come riding with me of course, now come along, before Penny could protest further, Rex was beside her chair, helping her up and down the porch.

Rex, I don’t ride anymore. The accident happened on a horse. I just don’t think I can, she blundered, her voice stuttered out of control.

Stay calm, these are the kindest horses in your father’s stables. Why, they wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head. Rex’s voice was calm and confident and somehow gave Penny a curiosity that she hadn’t felt for months.

Could she really get back up on a horse and ride again? She looked at the horse who appeared to be nearly asleep under his conversational rider and stood with his eyes half-closed. He breathed slowly and only his skin twitching in response to a fly betrayed the fact that he was just resting.

She leaned out over the rail and put her hand against the horse’s soft neck. She closed her eyes for a moment and relaxed herself as she felt the horse’s breath go in and out. There was something peaceful about the whole thing.

Surprisingly, despite Rex’s previous urgency, he waited patiently as she took her time.

You ready to get up now? he asked after several minutes had gone by.

I don’t know, she said timidly. She really wasn’t sure if this was something she wanted to do just yet. Before she could say anything to stop him, Rex slid down from the horse and came onto the porch.

Here, let me help you he said taking her elbow. Before she really had a chance to think about it, he was giving her a leg up, pushing her up into the warm saddle.

It was a little frightening to be in the saddle again, but it also felt so familiar. She couldn’t find it in herself to be as terrified as she thought she might have been.

The warm leather felt nice against her skin and it was exciting to see everything from up high once more. She listened to the creaking of the leather as the horse shifted his weight. Hadn’t riding horses always been her passion? She had never imagined that she would fear it.

Rex placed the reigns in her hands and left her crutch leaning up against the porch. For a moment, Penny thought about asking him to bring it but she had a feeling he would refuse.

Soon he was leading the way and Penny slowly encouraged the horse to follow. They were going at a slow pace, but the feeling was overwhelming and tears came to Penny’s eyes.

Are you okay? Rex’s deep voice made her feel suddenly embarrassed at her weakness.

Yeah, it’s just, I didn’t think I’d ever do this again, and it doesn’t even hurt, Penny said the last part with a hint of a giggle. She wasn’t sure whether to cry or laugh and it seemed that her body was trying to do both without her consent.

It hurts all the time? Rex gave her a surprised look and glanced curiously down at Penny’s bad leg.

Well, mostly when I try to do anything physical. It really can’t take weight anymore. We’re going to see another doctor at the end of the month. Maybe he will have some solutions, but I doubt it. Penny’s words came in a rush. It felt good to talk about this with someone outside of her family.

Well out here in the West, it’s mostly farmers and simple folk. You might have more luck if you’d go to a big city, maybe like Boston, Rex suggested, a hopeful note in his voice.

Penny felt a twinge of gratefulness that he even cared.

We did go to Boston, but they weren’t able to help much, she shrugged.

I guess it is what it is for the rest of my life, she said sadly. She hadn’t meant for things to get so depressing so fast, but it had just happened that way.

You know, just because that happened to you, doesn’t mean that you have to stop your life. You can still do pretty much anything you put your mind to. Rex spoke with such conviction that for a moment, Penny almost believed him.

I can’t do anything by myself anymore. Do you know how that feels? I wouldn’t even be riding this horse if you hadn’t brought him over to the house and nearly forced me to come with you. Penny sighed and looked out towards the woods as the horse’s gentle gait swayed in the sunny afternoon.

You’ll see that you’ll find your confidence again. You can still become anything you want despite your injury. It all has to do with how bad you want it. With that Rex began to run alongside the horse, leading him into a trot and Penny welcomed the change in pace.

After another while of enjoying the ride, they were both surprised when the air cooled and they felt fresh raindrops. It was nearing December and Christmas was right around the corner. It was Texas after all so this kind of whether change was expected but that didn’t make it any less disappointing.

Rex, however, didn’t seem disappointed in the least. He gave a whoop and a holler as he turned the horse around.

There’s nothing like a winter shower to put a little life back in your bones, he said loudly, dancing around and causing the horse to snort. Penny couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe coming out with Rex hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.

—-*—-

Rex had become accustomed to Penny’s laughter in the short time they had been out and about together, and he hated to hear it stop as they arrived back at the farmhouse.

They were both soaking wet despite the rain storm having been a light one. It had pretty much stopped now, and the sun was poking its way through the drizzle bringing back the heat with it. It hadn’t ever really gotten very cold. That was the weird thing about Texas winter weather. Sometimes it was sunny and could rain out of nowhere.

As Rex helped Penny down from the horse, a pang of guilt washed over him as he saw her wince when her foot touched the ground. He hated the idea that she was in constant pain.

Rex had known about the accident and had seen Penny sitting out on the porch for the last six months, but he had never guessed it was because it was uncomfortable to get around, or that she had pretty much given up on herself due to her injury, an injury that he had had a hand in.

He shook his head slowly as he thought of it. This all could have been avoided had he been more careful.

The grey cloud of thoughts was more uncomfortable than the clouds in the sky and Rex felt the sudden urge to get off by himself. He needed some time to clear his thoughts.

Thank you for taking me riding, Penny said, a shy blush coming over her cheeks.

Rex tipped his wet hat politely and gave her a small smile, It was my pleasure. I’ll see you around, Penny, he said as he mounted the horse and turned away.

Once she was safely back on the porch, he led the horse off to the barn. He hadn’t meant to cause the catastrophe that had happened that day. It had been a complete accident and yet he felt responsible.

Penny filled his thoughts as he brushed down the horse and cared for him. Her red hair and blue eyes that had looked as if someone had pushed the light out of them seemed ever present in his mind. She was a