“Don’t ask me,” Rita told her. “You’re the one saddling the horse.”

“You can be very frustrating,” Izzy told her, as she made a couple of adjustments. “Okay-that should be good.” She bent over to grab the saddle.

“I would appreciate a little cooperation,” she told the horse. “Just don’t step on me.”

“Jackson is too much a gentleman for that,” Rita said.

“I hope you’re right.”

She raised the saddle to what she hoped was the correct height and lowered it onto his back. When it was in place, she made sure the right stirrup was still hooked out of the way, then walked around him and checked the saddle placement by touch.

“This seems good,” she said quietly, patting Jackson as she went. She secured the saddle in place, grabbed it with both hands to make sure it was tight, then fumbled for the stirrup. “Now for the real test.”

She swung herself up into place. Except for the fact that she felt too far off the ground and dangerously vulnerable in a blurry world, it was good.

“I did it,” she said, oddly proud of herself.

“Yes, you did. Next time you’ll do it faster.”

“Why do I have visions of you holding a stopwatch?”

“I have no idea. I’m not the stopwatch type.”

Izzy removed the saddle and pad, putting both away before returning to Jackson’s side and offering him a piece of apple. “You were very good for me and I appreciate that.”

“Next we’ll get you exercising the horses,” Rita told her.

Izzy wasn’t too sure about that, but she would deal with that fight when it was time. For now she was getting through each day, making progress, albeit slowly. She was learning how to function. Sometimes she was pleased with her progress, other times she still wanted to scream at the heavens, complaining this shouldn’t have happened to her.

At least the nightmares hadn’t returned. Not since that night Nick had shown up and comforted her.

“Tell me about Nick,” she said.

“What do you want to know?”

“Has he been married?”

“Not that I know of. He keeps to himself, which is a shame. Every good man needs a wife.”

Izzy grinned. “So speaks someone who has been married a long time.”

“Why should I be the only one? Besides, my husband would be happy to tell you that I’m the best thing that ever happened to him.”

“I’m sure he would.”

“Nick is…complicated. I don’t know very much about his past and I’m not sure how much he’d tell you if you asked. He has secrets. I know he spent at least a year traveling the world, learning survival training. He’s studied with monks to learn to control his body-his breathing and heart rate. He is a surprising combination of dangerous and spiritual. Why do you ask? Interested?”

“What? No.” Afraid she was blushing, something she never did, Izzy turned away. “He runs this place. I’ve never met anyone who does what he does.”

“Uh-huh. You need a better story. No one’s going to believe that one.”

“I’m not interested. Not romantically or anything.”

“Are you saying you’d tell Nick no if he crawled in your bed?”

Actually he already had, although it hadn’t been for sex. Which now that she thought about it, was kind of sad. “He’s a friend,” she began.

Rita laughed. “Words every man longs to hear. If you decide to turn him away, send him over to me.”

“You’re happily married.”

“I know, but I’m still allowed to have fantasies. I doubt there’s a woman alive who would tell him no.”

Izzy suddenly had a burning need to know what he looked like. She had a sense of his height and shape. She knew he was strong and she could pick out his scent in the dark. But what about the rest of him? Did he smile much? What color were his eyes?

As for telling him no, she thought about their earlier conversation. How close they’d been standing. The way he’d touched her cheek. She’d liked the feel of his fingers on her skin and for a second, she’d thought he might kiss her.

An unexpected sense of loss made her chest hurt. She couldn’t shake the feeling of having missed out on something important. Which was insane. She was here because she had to be here. When she could get along in the real world, she would leave. Nick wasn’t any part of her life.

“Okay, go grab me a dandy brush from the storeroom,” Rita said. “Then it should be time for lunch.”

Izzy turned toward the barn. “I don’t like the storeroom. It’s too dark.”

“So?”

“It scares me.” Even with the lights on, she couldn’t see anything in the storeroom. “Like a creepy cave.”

“Life is full of creepy caves. Take them one at a time.”

Rita’s dismissal annoyed her. Everyone was so free with their advice. “I agree that I have to work through things, but not all in one day. Give me a break. I’m making progress. Isn’t that enough? Let me guess. It’s not. Because everyone here has an opinion about my life. You don’t know what it’s like to be blind.”

“Neither do you. You have thirty percent of your sight.”

“Big whoop.”

“It would be to someone who was totally blind. To them you’d have everything.”

“Right. Because I always have to remember there are people worse off than me.”

“Not worse off. Just dealing with more. And you’re wrong about me. I do know what it’s like to be blind because I am. Completely. Have been since birth.”

She kept talking, but Izzy couldn’t hear the words.

Rita, blind? But she ran the stable. She fed and exercised all the horses, knew where they were, took care of them. She told Izzy what to do, explained how and then corrected her if she was wrong. She moved easily, never stumbling.

“I don’t understand,” Izzy breathed.

“What’s to understand? It’s a pretty straightforward condition. My parents put me on a horse when I was four and I never wanted to get off. I’ve always been around them. They seem to know I can’t see because I’ve never been stepped on or even pushed down. Nick had to pay a lot of money to get me away from my last job. But I was interested in a change and he sweet-talked me the rest of the way.”

Blind. Izzy couldn’t believe it. “I never would have guessed.”

“No offense, but you’re not tough to fool. It’s not like you see 20/20.” Rita patted her on the shoulder. “It’s only the dark, kid. Just because you can’t see what’s there doesn’t mean you should be afraid. It’s only the dark.”

It was a whole lot more than that, but Izzy wasn’t going to argue. Especially not with Rita, who obviously had no trouble getting along in the world. There was a lesson there, Izzy thought. One about courage and determination. One she apparently needed to learn.

TWO DAYS LATER Izzy stood in the shade, grooming Jackson. She and the horse had come to terms with each other. At least that’s what she told herself. One of these days she was going to get on him and ride, just like she used to. The fact that she couldn’t really see where she was going was an issue to be dealt with another time.

She heard footsteps, but didn’t bother turning around. Based on the speed and sound, she knew exactly who it was.

“Hi, Aaron.”

“You’re getting spooky. I won’t ask how you knew it was me. I have a surprise for you.”

She might not have been at Nick’s ranch all that long, but she knew enough to guess not every surprise was one she would enjoy. “A good surprise or a bad surprise?”

“A good one. At least I think so. Your sisters are here. Norma said they could stay to lunch and she won’t do that for just anyone. So she likes you.” He paused. “Should I pause for a dramatic reaction to the news?”

“That Norma likes me?”

“Oh, please. To your sisters being here.”

Izzy patted Jackson’s neck. She didn’t know what to think. When she’d first arrived, she’d been so angry at them for abandoning her. She’d seen their actions as a betrayal. Now…she wasn’t so sure. While she was starting to see their point, she wasn’t ready to completely forgive them. Although if they groveled enough, she was willing to be persuaded.

She unhooked Jackson and led him toward the stable. “Tell them I’ll be in shortly.”

“That’s it?”

“Disappointed?”

“Yes. I thought you might scream or something. I adore drama.”

She grinned. “Then stick around for the reunion. There might be a shriek or two.”

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” He followed her into the barn. “Your sisters are very beautiful, but they don’t look alike.”

“Different mothers,” she said. When Jackson was safely back in his stall, she turned back to the door. “Skye and I share a mother. Lexi’s mom was Jed’s first wife.”

“How very Dallas.” Aaron linked arms with her. “So who’s Dana? She’s here, too.”

“A mutual friend.”

“She so doesn’t do the girly thing. She could be pretty if she put a little effort into it. And what’s with the chip on her shoulder? I swear, she has to work out. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have the strength to walk straight. That chip would make her lean.”

She squeezed his arm. “You’re rapidly becoming one of my favorite people ever.”

“I know. Everyone adores me.”

Izzy laughed. “Dana’s a deputy.”

“I can totally see her in uniform and not in a happy way. She needs a man more than I do and that’s saying a lot.”

They reached the back of the house.

“I put them in the living room,” Aaron said, holding open the door. “Go say hi. I’ll bring in refreshments. That will give you time to do the family greeting thing before they get to know the new light of your life. That would be me, of course.”

“Of course,” she said, chuckling as she walked. It was only when she’d nearly reached the living room that her humor faded. She paused in the hallway. She could hear low murmurs of conversation. Skye sounded nervous, which made Izzy feel better. She stepped into the room.

“Hi,” she said.

There were a couple of gasps, then blurry shapes rushed toward her. Lexi got there first and hugged her.

“How are you? Are you okay? You look good.”

Skye pushed Lexi aside and wrapped her arms around Izzy. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know it was the right thing to do, but I’m sorry.”

“You can’t have it both ways,” Izzy told her. “You can’t tell me it was right to have me kidnapped and apologize at the same time.”

“Of course I can,” Skye told her. “I’m a Titan.”

“She can be so annoying,” a third voice said.

Izzy turned as Dana hugged her, as well.

“You smell like horse,” her friend said. “And I had nothing to do with the kidnapping.”

Izzy laughed. “I know. You’re not the one who’s in trouble.”

“Am I in trouble?” Skye asked, sounding upset.

“Trouble?” Aaron walked into the room. “My favorite. Is someone going to be punished?”

Izzy introduced him to her sisters. He passed out drinks, then got everyone seated. Izzy noticed that Aaron stayed beside her and led her to the sofa, so she wouldn’t have to guess where everything was. Despite the time she’d spent memorizing the room, having four other people around made it impossible to remember what was where.

“So, you probably have a lot of questions for me,” Aaron said when they were seated. “I am the most important person in Izzy’s life. She depends on me for everything.”

Izzy laughed. “You are the air that I breathe.”

Aaron sighed heavily. “It’s a massive responsibility. Oh. Norma’s waving frantically from the kitchen. I think she wants me to leave you girls alone. Normally I would ignore her but she makes these amazing biscuits and I am a slave to my senses. Ladies, it’s been lovely. I’ll see you at lunch.”

Izzy felt him get up and heard him walk out of the room.

“Who’s that?” Dana asked. “He doesn’t seem your type.”

“He’s Nick’s assistant. He pretty much manages everything.”

“You seem to be doing well,” Skye said. “This was a hard decision for us, Izzy. You weren’t leaving your room, let alone the house.”

“I know.”

“Even if you decide not to have the surgery, which we still don’t understand, you have to do something with your life.”

“I know.”

“Losing part of your sight isn’t the worst…What?”

“I said I know. I might not agree with what you did, but I understand why you thought it was important. I don’t mind being here. Which is not the same as forgiving you. Just so we’re clear.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Lexi asked, sounding more relieved and happy than frustrated.

“You shouldn’t be. Okay, enough about me,” Izzy said. “What’s been going on with you two? What have I missed? Erin’s getting ready to start school soon, isn’t she? Third grade. I can’t believe how fast she’s growing up.”

She’d been there when Skye’s daughter had been born. While birth was a lot more messy than she’d expected, it had still been something amazing. Erin was…