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But he couldn't.
"Take care of yourself, Janice," Rusty murmured into her hair, breathing in her familiar scent one last time.
"Promise me you'll do the same," she whispered back, her voice muffled against his shirt.
"Promise."
As they pulled away, the distance between them seemed to stretch, like the vast expanse of the ranch itself.
Rusty's gaze caught a glimmer of sunlight reflecting off Janice's red hair as she slowly walked away from him. He couldn't help but turn back and watch her for a moment longer, taking in the sight of her slender shoulders hunched with the burden they both now carried.
He noticed her reach up to rub her neck, massaging away a knot of tension that had likely been building throughout their conversation. A pang of sympathy washed over him as he was reminded of Snickers, the mare they had both worked so hard to rehabilitate. Rusty couldn't help but wonder if Janice would ever heal from the pain he had caused her. He already knew thathewouldn’t.
As Rusty climbed onto Midnight, his thoughts wandered to Angus, Janice's father. That night, he planned to call the man and tell him that he and Janice weren’t together after all. Perhaps it would be enough to convince Angus not to destroy her life any further.
"Let him do whatever he wants to me," Rusty thought grimly as he urged Midnight into a steady trot. "I've got nothing left to lose."
But deep down, he knew that wasn't entirely true. He still had love for Janice, even if they were no longer together. And that love would never fade, regardless of the distance between themor the challenges they faced. With a heavy heart, Rusty rode on, determined to stand strong for Janice, for his ranch, and for himself.
"Alright, Midnight," Rusty murmured, patting the stallion's strong neck. "Let's get back to work. We've got a long day ahead."
And with that, Rusty urged Midnight forward, the sun shining down on them as they rode into the uncertain future.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Janice
The familiar scent ofhorses and hay filled Janice’s lungs as she entered the barn. She drew strength from the gentle faces of the animals that had become her sanctuary. Eagerly, she approached Trent, who was carefully tending to a mare's leg.
"Good morning, Janice," Trent greeted with an easy smile. "Ready for another day of learning?"
"Absolutely," she replied.
Obviously, her break-up with Rusty weighed heavily on her mind, but what could she do? Rusty had made it clear he’d lost interest in her. Gave her some excuse about spreading her wings. Once again, it had felt as though he'd been holding back from her. Not wanting to appear weak, Janice had told him that she wanted to break up with him, too.
And honestly, maybe a bit of her did. Life was simpler without him going hot and cold on her, after all. She had a job to focus on, friends to hang out with, a ranch to enjoy. Her feelings forRusty were so strong, so all-encompassing, that it felt easier to just squash them into a little box and lock them away for the rest of her life. Nothing wrong with that. Especially when Rusty had made it clear that he didn’t want to be with her.
Yeah. It was way easier to just deny her true feelings. Way, way easier.
“Let’s do this,” she told Trent. “I’m gonna give it my all.”
Trent smiled. “That’s great to hear.”
As they worked together, Trent guided Janice through the basics of equine medicine, patiently answering her questions and sharing his expertise. Janice felt a sense of purpose, something that had long eluded her under her father's oppressive rule.
"Now, as you know, the musculoskeletal system of a horse is a complex and finely tuned structure,” said Trent, showing her the mare’s leg. “It consists of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, all working together to allow movement and support the horse's weight."
Janice examined the horse’s leg. “Sunbeam here looks like she doesn’t want to put too much weight on her foot.”
“Correct,” said Trent, impressed. “The legs bear the brunt of the horse's weight and are prone to injuries. The forelimbs are connected to the body by muscles and tendons rather than bones, providing greater flexibility. The hind limbs, on the other hand, are attached to the pelvis and are crucial for propulsion and power. In Sunbeam’s case, she’s had a problem with her deep digital flexor tendon.”
Janice looked closer, her brow furrowed in concentration. “How do you usually treat an injury like this?”
“Rest and controlled exercise are key,” Trent explained. “We also use anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling and pain. In some cases, we might apply supportive bandaging or even use therapeutic ultrasound to promote healing. The goal isto allow the tendon to heal without putting too much stress on it.”
Janice looked thoughtful. “There’s so much to take in. I hope I can remember it all.”
Trent smiled at her. “You’re doing great, Janice. Keep asking questions and stay curious. That’s the best way to learn.”
