by Kahlen Aymes
“Horsey! Horsey!” he cried harder.
“Listen, let’s go on a short ride around the yard,” Marin suggested, looking at me and sticking her lip out in an exaggerated pout. “Ben, you mount up and take Jace for a little bit, and we’ll come back for the other two. That’s cool with you guys, right?” she asked the kids. “We don’t want Jace to cry.”
“I think you should take him. You’re more familiar with riding.”
She huffed out a laugh. “These horses are gentle. Come on. Mount up on the big Buckskin, and I’ll hand him to you.” She took a few steps and held her arms open for Jace who went willingly into her embrace. “It’s not fair if you don’t get to ride a horsey, is it? Uncle Ben will take you, sweet pea.”
Her eyebrow arched wryly when she turned around with the child in her arms and I was still hesitating.
I offered a half shrug knowing I wasn’t going to win the argument and I gathered up the reins and placed my left foot into the left stirrup of the golden horse with the black mane. I chuckled as I swung my right leg over the saddle of the large gelding.
The horse was so tall I had to bend down to reach for Jace when Marin lifted him up toward me.
“Ben, be careful! He gets wiggly,” Teagan warned.
“Don’t worry, Teags. I’ll keep him safe and sound. Jace, did you hear your mom? You have to sit still, okay?” I bent down to talk just above his little ear. His sandy hair was close to the same color as mine, though we were no relation, but I loved Remi and Jace as much as I did Dylan. I wrapped my left arm firmly, but gently, around his little waist as I settled him in the saddle.
Soon, Marin was clicking her tongue on the top of her mouth and patting the horse on the rump. “Giddy-up, Samson!”
The horse started a slow walk around the paddock. Jace giggled as we made our way around it three times. As we passed the women waved and shouted encouragements.
“Yay, Jacey!” Remi said. She and Dylan were sitting on top of the metal gate, Missy and Teagan both had their arms steadying them on both sides.
“Mom, I’m cool! I won’t fall,” Dylan admonished Missy.
When we pulled up to the gate for the last time and I handed Jace down, he started fussing. “Nope, come on Jace,” Teagan scolded. “The big kids get their turn. Daddy’s coming tonight, remember?” She took her cranky child toward the house but called over her shoulder. “Have fun but be careful! We’re taking a nap so take your time and don’t worry about us.”
“You take Dylan and I’ll take Remi. Missy can ride the grey,” Marin instructed, handing me a filled canteen. “Wrap the strap around the saddle horn. Dylan, come here.” Soon, she had him securely on the saddle in front of me.
Missy was a bit uneasy, but Marin showed her how to mount up, then lifted Remi to sit in the saddle of another Sorrel. Siri couldn’t go on a ride outside of the pasture as long as Dark was so small, so she chose another. “Missy, meet Star. Remi, this is Champ. He’s tall, but he’s very gentle. Don’t be scared. Hold on to the saddle horn until I get us outside of the gate.”
“I don’t want to fall. Maybe I should wait here.” Missy was apprehensive.
“Trust me. Star is one of the gentlest horses we have.”
Missy still seemed reluctant but mounted up.
Marin draped Champ’s reins over the fence then opened the gate and waited for Missy and me to ride through. My sister looked worried, but she repeated the sound Marin had made with her mouth and after a gentle nudge of her heel, the white horse she rode walked through and I followed. Siri was near and trotted closer.
Everyone was dressed in denim shorts and T-shirts, but Marin had a backpack strapped to her back and a rifle tucked into a holster in her saddle. It was just a precaution, and she knew how to wield a rifle, so I had no concerns.
I watched as Marin led Champ through the gate, then closed it behind us. She deftly mounted behind Remi, who didn’t seem one bit scared.
“No, Siri. You can’t come this time. Stay with your baby. I’m sorry, sweetie.”
Siri and Dark lingered at the gate and Siri neighed her displeasure at being left behind as we walked the horses we were riding away. Marin and Remi took the lead as we left the yard.
“Let’s go faster! Like real cowboys!” Dylan’s voice was boisterous and maybe too loud.
“Hey, kiddo, don’t spook the horses,” I reminded.
“We’ll see how we do with trotting after we get out of the yard. I always found trotting harder than an actual gallop. It feels like you can bounce right out of the saddle. Let’s just walk for a while, okay?”
It was a wonderful afternoon. Marin led us through some wooded areas on some well-worn trails. We saw a lot of elk and deer as well as many species of birds, and then stopped for lunch near a section of a creek that was wider and faster moving. Marin produced a choice of roast beef or PB and J sandwiches, potato chips and a five-pound bag of apples from her backpack.
“Too bad we didn’t bring our fishing poles!” Dylan observed.
“Ewww.” Remi rolled her eyes.
“This is really nice, Marin,” Missy commented. I really think you should consider what we talked about before breakfast.”
My curiosity was piqued, but I decided to ask Marin about it later. I was pleased that my sister and my girl were getting along like gangbusters. My heart was full.
The sandwiches were delicious, and we passed around the canteen after we’d finished eating.
“Is this part of roughin’ it?” Remi asked with the wonderful curiosity of her age.
“Yes. I think it’s fabulous,” I answered.
“Me, too!” Remi agreed.
“It’s beautiful country.” Missy was sitting on a large boulder near the edge of the water. “And the air smells so fresh.”
“We oughta move here, Mom,” Dylan reminded again.
“Dylan, you know we can’t,” Missy admonished, gently and her son’s face fell.
“I wish you could, too, buddy,” I said.
“Your family is great,” Marin said softly, leaning her shoulder against mine. I thrilled in the familiarity of it. I glanced down at her beautiful face. It was serene and a far cry from the fear-filled terror that had shadowed it this morning. “I’ve already fallen in love with all three of the kids. I just love them to death.”
“That was the plan,” I grinned, putting the last bit of my second roast beef sandwich in my mouth.
“I should have known,” she answered sardonically, with a huffed laugh.
“You sure brought a lotta apples, Aunt Marin,” Dylan acknowledged.
“Well, the first rule of trail rides is to bring treats for the horses!”
Both of their little faces lit up and they scrambled to their feet.
“Yeah!”
“Yay!”
I moved to sit by my sister as we watched Marin open the bag of apples and show the children how to feed the horses with flat hands. “She’s precious, Ben.”
I nodded, not taking my eyes from Marin. “I know. I’m a goner.”
“Well, I’m glad. You deserve it.”
Missy squeezed my arm then slid her arm around my back. I hugged her back. “I’m happy you’re here.”
It wasn’t long before every one of those apples was downed by the horses.
“Hey! You didn’t save me any?” I teased the kids, holding my hands open in front of me. They both giggled.
“Uncle Ben!” Remi said.
“You didn’t do the work, Uncle Ben.” I could always count on my nephew to make a logical comment.
“Can’t argue with that.”
“Nope!”
We all burst into a chorus of happy laughter.
MARIN
Our party had grown by two.
Chase Forrester, Teagan’s husband, and Jensen Jeffers, Missy’s husband, arrived right after dark to the delight of their wives and kids. They were just as beautiful as their wives and just as gracious. Remi and Dylan couldn’t wait to drag th
em to the stables and pasture to introduce them to the horses while Teagan, Missy and I chopped a variety of vegetables in the kitchen.
Ben and the kids already had the bonfire going when the two others arrived, and I’d asked him to put some embers to one side so we could cook on them. It was pocket stew on the menu, tonight.
“The kids will love this,” I explained as I piled the various veggies, raw hamburger and a big pat of butter into tin foil, salted and peppered everything and then closed the packets. “My uncle used to make this for me a lot as a child. I loved it!”
“It looks so easy.” Teagan was sitting at the table watching me while Missy insisted on washing the few utensils we’d used.
“And so good.” I smiled. “The kids were sure happy to see Chase and Jensen.”
“I’m not sure who was more anxious to see whom. Those men adore those kids. Jace is always with Chase whenever he’s around, and Jensen is great with both of my kids.”
“We have a great little blended family,” Missy commented from her place at the sink. “Dylan has a sort of hero worship of Chase. He loves sports. And Jensen is everything to Dylan.”
“Yeah, Ben told me a little. It’s wonderful the way things worked out. I’m not really sure how it all happened, but I’m not trying to pry.”
“Pfft,” Teagan dismissed. “It’s not prying! You’re probably going to be part of the family if the way Ben stares at you is any indication.” She grinned, her smile going all the way into her blue eyes. “So, you should know.”
I couldn’t help but blush. I felt the heat flood my cheeks so much I wanted to cover them with my hands but resisted. “It’s early, but we do care about each other very much.”
Missy grunted in amusement. “Ben is head over heels. Seriously, the man is gone.”
One of those smiles spread across my face. The kind that you can’t help, the kind that literally hurts the muscles in your cheeks. I tried to hold it in, but simply couldn’t. “I hope he is.”
“He is, trust me!” Missy shut off the water and joined Teagan at the table while I found my largest platter in the cupboard. The men’s portions were twice the size of the others.
All that was left to do for dinner was take the loaf of crusty bread from the drawer, slice it in half and lather it up with the garlic butter I’d made earlier. This would also be wrapped in foil and added to the embers for just a few short minutes before dinner.
“So, in a nutshell,” Teagan began, “Chase and Jensen were best friends in college. I met them both at Clemson, and Chase and I began dating. He had an opportunity to play with Arsenal, in London before we graduated, but I found out I was pregnant just days before he got the offer. I knew he wouldn’t take it, so I didn’t tell him about the baby. Playing professional soccer was all he wanted.”
“Oh, Teagan, I’m sorry.” I could see that even though they were so happy now, there was a residual pain behind her eyes.
“It was years ago, but I still get so emotional over it.” I could hear her voice tighten up and she dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “Anyway, I planned to follow Chase to London at the end of the semester, but when my father found out I was pregnant, he threatened to smear Chase’s name and ruin his career before it even began. My dad was a state senator and knew everyone, so I believed him. I was dumb and terrified. My father basically disowned me. Jensen was my friend, too, and he went to my father and told him that the baby was his. He did it out of loyalty to me, and to Chase.”
“Wow.” I was mesmerized by her story. I felt so sorry for Chase in that moment and in awe of Jensen.
“Remi was born, and Jensen loved her like his own. We were basically just good friends, but we had Remi to worry about. Then when she was three, she got Leukemia and it was awful.”
“Oh, my God! She looks so healthy.”
“She is now, thanks to Chase. We were at the end of two rounds of chemo, but she wasn’t getting better. He donated bone marrow and she recovered.”
I couldn’t help asking; “But wasn’t Chase heartbroken?”
“We all were, I guess. It’s the biggest regret of my life, but it all worked out in the end. Jensen and I got divorced and Chase and I got back together, but we’re all still close.”
“It was a miracle,” Missy added. “In many ways.”
“Well, there is much messier explanation I’ll tell you about sometime, but that’s the gist of it.”
“That’s an incredible story!” I was still a bit stunned. “So now, Chase and Jensen have reconciled.”
“Yes. It wasn’t easy, but they put Remi first. That’s what parents do, I guess.” Teagan was reflective. “Now we have Jace and another one on the way, and Remi spends time with Jensen and Missy, too. My life is so full, I don’t know what to do with myself.” Her eyes were full of tears and I couldn’t help myself; I rose from my chair and went to give her a hug.
“Well, I think your family is special. We have something in common. I lost my parents young and even though it’s not the same circumstances, I know what it’s like to feel abandoned.” Missy and I had abusers in our past, so I felt bonded to both of these women. “I feel like I’ve known both of you forever.”
Missy joined the hug. “And if my brother doesn’t marry you, I swear I’ll kick him in the balls.”
All three of us burst out laughing through our tears.
***
Dinner was roasting on the coals and a cooler filled with bottles of water, soda, and beer was sitting next to Ben.
“What will you have?”
“Soda, please,” Remi request.
“Water,” Teagan said, pointedly. “For me and Jace, too.”
“Awww, please?” Remi lamented. “It’s vacation.”
“You had two sodas already today, Remi.”
Remi sighed and took the bottle of water Ben offered. “Okay.”
Missy followed suit for herself and Dylan.
“Well, I’m having a beer,” Ben said. “Chase? Jensen?”
“Sure, thanks,” Chase responded.
Jensen nodded and walked over to take the two beers from Ben. “Thanks, man.”
The women were all positioned on logs next to their men, and the children were staying close to their dads. It was clear that Remi missed both of them. Jace was positioned firmly on Chase’s knee. The two eight-year-olds chattered on and on about the trail ride. The fire was giving off a golden glow, throwing us all into golden light and purple shadows. The evening was nice, not as cool as the night before.
Ben sat next to me after he’d passed out the drinks and turned the foil packets for the last time on the embers.
“Daddy, isn’t Dark so cute?” Remi rambled. “I just love playing with him and look at Gemmy! Isn’t she nice? Mommy said I can’t have a pony, but can we get a dog?”
The dog was laying between two of the logs on a blanket I’d brought from the house for her. She looked comfy, but tired. The kids wore her out in the past couple of days. I reached down and stroked her silky body.
“You’re having a new little sister soon, Remi,” Chase soothed, sliding and arm around his daughter and pulling her close to his side. “That’s enough for your mom to deal with while I’m on the road.”
Chase was fit as a fiddle, but I wondered how long soccer players stayed in the sport before they retired.
“I’ll never get a dog,” she said sadly.
“We’ll talk about it, baby” Teagan said. “Where would the dog be on our vacation if we had it at home? He’d have to be in a kennel and that’s not very nice, is it?”
“I could bring her. Auntie Marin wouldn’t mind, and she could play with Gemmy.”
“That’s true, Remi, you could bring her if you came to the ranch.”
“See?” Remi exclaimed and ran over to give me an enthusiastic hug which I returned. “I told ya!”
Teagan’s eyes widened as she looked at me. It didn’t occur to me that I was disagreeing with her, but I wanted to make Remi happy.
/> “Whoops,” Ben said under his breath with a short laugh.
“Well, I think we should all move here,” Dylan piped up. “This place is so cool!”
“It would be nice, but you know we can’t, buddy,” Jensen said. “Ben told me about next summer, though, and we’ll work it out.” He winked at his son.
“Awesome!”
“Who’s hungry?” I asked. “I think the food is finished.” I rose to pick up the tongs and placed the foil packets on heavy-duty paper plates. “Missy, can you open the foil around the bread and then everyone can take what they want?”
“Sure. Should I leave it on the rocks? Then it will stay warm.”
“Sounds like a great idea, but just make sure to help the little ones get a piece.”
Missy helped pass out the bread and opened the foil packets for the children, getting them settled before going to sit down beside Jensen. She didn’t take her plate from me but took a seat next to Jensen. “Well, now that we’re all here, I have a little announcement.”
“What is it, honey?” Jensen asked, glancing up at her.
“Yes, what is it? It must be big if you didn’t tell me on the plane?” Teagan interjected. Her husband was sitting close to her with his arm around her. It was clear that these two couples adored each other very much, and their unconventional family dynamic worked wonderfully well. There was no sign of tension between Chase and Jensen, and all four of them were amazing parents.
“Well, I didn’t want to spoil this. I wanted to wait until we were with Ben and Marin, and Jensen, you were away on assignment when I found out.”
Her husband, who was enjoying his meal, stopped and looked at Missy. He put his plate down on the ground between his feet, then slid an arm around her, his brow furrowed a bit. “Did you need me to come home? I could have found someone else to take the job.”
“No, this is perfect.” She leaned her head on his shoulder briefly, then took his other hand in hers.
We were all looking on with bated breath.
“Come on, Mom! Spit it out, already!” Dylan commanded, continuing to shovel food into his mouth.
“Well…” she paused dramatically. “We’re going to have a baby!” Missy’s face was radiant.
