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A strong-willed woman with a painful past hires a ranch hand for her
animal therapy facility who, along with his young autistic son, bring
her healing and hope.
SYNOPSIS:
Kate is a strong-willed but emotionally damaged woman who trains therapy
dogs for the deaf and runs an equine therapy ranch for autistic and
disabled children. Her work displays depth and empathy, but her personal
life is a walled-off psyche. A new ranch hand, the single parent of an
autistic son, opens Kate to the possibilities of a rich life beyond the
pain of her past.
Turner is the single parent of an 8-year-old autistic boy who has an
affinity toward animals. Turner, a construction contractor who can no
longer find work in his field because Charlie isn’t able to attend
school or be left with others, shows up at Kate's ranch hoping to secure
a pet therapy dog for Charlie. Turner lands work in a trade-out deal
with Kate, the intractable owner of the ranch.
Both Kate and Turner find themselves in their 30’s buried in complex
emotional layers. Kate has shoved her feelings so deeply as to allow for
complicated Search and Rescue work with her trusted dog Hank. For her
own part, Kate is like Charlie - better with animals than people. Turner
at times is overwhelmed as a single dad, but remains caring and
patient. He hasn’t become bitter by his losses and challenges – just
weary.
Kate is an accomplished business woman who needs this new hired hand.
She begrudgingly takes Turner on at her ranch, who then quickly becomes
an integral part of the daily business of tending to the horses and
training dogs. Many of the dogs, once destined for euthanasia before
being rescued by Kate from a local animal shelter, are trained by
prisoners for their new roles in therapy assistance.
Turner and Kate are each in turn sensitive and prickly. As they butt up
against each other the layers begin to peel away revealing their
back-stories. We learn Turner’s wife left him four years ago because she
was unable to handle the difficulties of Charlie’s emotional, social
and educational needs.
It was eight years ago that Kate lost a son in childbirth when she was
forced to deliver her mare’s foal alone in a storm. Later, Turner finds
out this horrific loss happened the same night Kate's husband was killed
as a soldier in Afghanistan.
These two independent but hurting people find they understand each other
like others cannot who haven’t experienced the deep painful trials of
grief and loss.
A natural with animals, young Charlie blossoms around the horse and dog
therapy work. With understanding and guidance from trusted staff members
Old John and instructor Heather, along with a few helpful nudges
wrapped in Irish charm from Ranch Manager Mica, Kate and Turner’s
tentative relationship also thrives. They each experience some setbacks
along the way, especially considering Charlie’s emotional limitations.
But with patience, hope and perseverance all three begin to heal, open
their hearts, and ultimately form a new blended family.
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