Chapter One The moment Natalie saw him it was love at first sight He gazed back at her with his expressive dark eyes It felt as if she’d been waiting for him all her life He tossed his head and whinnied anxiously Natalie hurried forward and took his lead rope from Liz a volunteer from the Sugarberry Animal Shelter She noticed a gold nameplate gleaming on his leather halter Tango What’s his story Natalie asked Liz reaching up to stroke the horse’s long elegant neck He was big at least sixteen hands with a splashy brown-and-white coat and a thick black-and-white mane and tail That would make him Natalie tried to picture the chart of American Paint Horse coat patterns from her Horse Breeds of the World book A bay tobiano she remembered Paints were a pretty common breed in Texas Lots of kids on the junior barrel-racing circuit rode them The farm even had another Paint Picasso who had been rescued from a neglectful home But unlike many of the animals that came to Second Chance Ranch this horse looked healthy and well cared for In fact he was gorgeous
Liz seemed to sense Natalie’s surprise A college pre-vet student who volunteered at the shelter Liz had delivered animals to the ranch before I know Not your typical rescue right she said But we got a call a few weeks ago from somebody who saw this guy wandering in the woods on the road near Ingotts Natalie shuddered Ingotts Farm was well known for buying up horses and cattle as cheaply as possible and auctioning them for a profit Many of the animals there ended up going to slaughter Second Chance Ranch had saved horses from Ingotts before Natalie only wished they could rescue them all But how did a horse like this end up there Natalie wondered out loud as Tango lowered his head to sniff at Autumn the calico barn cat who thought it was her job to greet every new visitor to the farm Beats me said Liz resting her hand on the gelding’s muscular hindquarters Most of them are in a pretty sad state by the time they get to Ingotts The folks there claimed that this guy belonged to them but they couldn’t come up with any papers or proof So he’s been living at the shelter for the last few weeks But as you know we just don’t have the facilities to keep horses long term Luckily this guy’s got
a clean bill of health from our vet nice manners too she added smiling as she watched Autumn rub her head against the curious horse’s nose Then she glanced down at her watch Shoot I was supposed to pick up a pony in Sassafras Springs half an hour ago You need a hand with this guy first Thanks but I don’t think so said Natalie My sisters are getting his stall ready and my dad’s around somewhere in case there’s any trouble Tango seems pretty calm though Not like that mustang you brought us a few months ago Liz smiled I know he’ll be in great hands here And as always call if you need anything The young woman gave Natalie a quick wave then got into the cab of the Sugarberry Animal Shelter’s pickup truck with its paw-print logo on the door Soon the truck and trailer were rattling down the ranch’s long driveway Hey Natalie Her nine-year-old sister Grace appeared in the doorway of the big oak barn across the yard The stall’s all ready for the new horse I used three wheelbarrows-full of shavings so he’ll have a nice soft bed if he wants to lie down after his trip Looks like you got most of the shavings on yourself said Natalie laughing at the sight of her sister’s jodhpurs and T-shirt covered in a dusting of woodchips Grace combed through her long blond hair and a shower of them rained to the ground Yeah the wind was kind of blowing in my direction between the shed and the barn she admitted Natalie led Tango into the barn where Grace showed her to the
prepared stall The fluffy shavings were piled high and there was a fresh flake of hay in one corner Natalie’s other sister Emily hung a brimming bucket of water from a hook on the wall Emily let out a little gasp of surprise when she saw the new horse Oh he’s so pretty What’s his name Tango At least that’s what his halter says said Natalie Is he friendly she asked hesitating before reaching out to pat him Seems to be said Natalie Emily stroked the horse’s soft nose The big Paint snuffled her
