Home For a Cowboy Christmas(43)

He walked to the small office near the tack room. It was where his great-grandfather and grandfather had conducted business. His dad had remodeled part of the downstairs to add the addition of the master bedroom. When he did that, he transformed the master into an office so he could have filing cabinets and warmth on those cold winter days. How ever, the space would be perfect for Dwight to talk privately with Carlos.

Dwight had just opened the door to the office when Sam barked. Dwight’s head snapped up, and he turned. He glanced at his watch and realized that the farrier was scheduled to arrive. Dwight strode out of the barn at the same time Sven pulled to a stop.

Sam stood beside Dwight with his tail wagging, waiting for Sven to get out of his truck. Dwight shook his head with a laugh. Sven never came to the ranch without a treat for Sam. Sven unfolded his long, lean frame from the truck and pulled his beanie low over his ears as he smiled in greeting. He was in his mid-fifties, but he looked years younger. Dwight had never figured out his secret. Was it the food, the fact that Sven always seemed to be laughing at something, or was it Sven’s wife? Whatever it was, it sure seemed to be working.

“Hey!”

Dwight nodded. “How was the drive?”

“Not too bad. More snow on the way.”

That caused Dwight to frown. “You want to reschedule? I’d hate to have you on the roads during the storm.”

Sven shook his head as he opened the toolbox in the back of his truck and pulled out a wooden box that had been handed down through the generations of his family, who’d emigrated from Scandinavia in the early 1800s to settle in this part of Montana. Sven’s family contained the best farriers in hundreds of miles.

“I’ll be fine,” Sven said as he shut the lid to the toolbox and walked around the truck, holding out his hand.

After he clasped Dwight’s hand and shook it, he pulled a treat from his pocket for Sam, who eagerly waited for Sven to toss it. Sam jumped up and expertly caught it, as usual.

Sven said, “I don’t want to keep my beauties waiting.”

Dwight looked down at Sam. “Round ’em up, boy.”

Sam took off through the snow, jumping through the wooden slats of the fence to begin rounding up the horses.

“I’ll get them brought in. I forgot you were coming,” Dwight explained.

Sven’s dark eyes watched him with humor. “I can’t remember the last time you forgot an appointment. Who is she?”

“What?” Dwight asked in shock.

Sven laughed. “So, there is a woman.”

“I didn’t say that.”

Sven’s smile widened. “You didn’t have to. Your expression said it all.”

Dwight ran a hand down his chest as he glanced at the house. “There isn’t a woman here.”

Sven’s smile vanished instantly. He stared at Dwight for a moment before nodding. “All right. Everything okay?”

No, everything wasn’t okay, but Dwight couldn’t tell Sven that. He started to open his mouth and give some lie, but that didn’t seem right either. Instead, Dwight turned on his heel and went to bring the horses back to the barn. Sven was busy setting up his area and didn’t say more when Dwight returned with the first horse.

By the time Dwight got them back into their stalls, he felt bad about not answering Sven. He walked over to the farrier as he bent at the waist, holding one of Cloud’s bent legs between his as he started to file down the hoof.

“I’m sorry about not answering you. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now,” Dwight said.

Sven nodded without looking up. “I can see that.”

Dwight rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what to say next. Worry about impending visitors and how he could keep them away from Emmy filled his mind. The ranch had some decent hiding places, but nowhere Emmy could stay for days or weeks. Especially alone. Leaving was an option. Dwight knew that Carlos and the others would keep the ranch going for as long as needed, but he wasn’t sure that was the way to go. If he and Emmy remained at the ranch, they could set up a defense. Whereas if they went on the run, they would be at the mercy of wherever they happened to be.

“There’s a heaviness around you I’ve not seen before,” Sven said.

Dwight’s gaze slid to the farrier, who still had his head down, working. “Oh?”

“Whatever’s going on, you know you have friends who can help.”

“There are some things that it’s better not to involve others.”

Sven released Cloud’s back hoof and straightened. He met Dwight’s gaze. “That’s true when it comes to money and danger.”

Dwight waited for Sven to say more, but the farrier walked around to Cloud’s other side and leaned against her to shift her weight so he could pick up her back fetlock and examine her hoof.

“I’ve found that money and friendship never go well,” Sven said. “I also knew how well your father managed this ranch. You’ve kept to the ideals he taught while also bringing the ranch into modern times. Its success tells me that money isn’t your problem.”

Dwight crossed his arms over his chest and waited for whatever else Sven had to say.

“Danger is another animal, altogether. Some think they’re better doing things on their own.” He straightened and looked at Dwight over Cloud’s back. “That kind of thinking is perilous. It can make a man forget that he has friends. That this community is tight because we rely on each other in times of need.”