“Meow,” Sierra mocked as she settled Tori in her lap.
“Stop,” Eve warned her.
Ethan nodded to Sierra and she skipped away, leaving them alone.
* * *
“Will I have to apologize each time I sound like I’m taking over or helping too much?” Ethan asked, feeling a little put out by her reaction.
She shook her head. “No, and I’m sorry. I’ll try not to be so touchy.”
“Thank you. Because I’ve noticed that you only get touchy with me. I saddled your horse. If you want to ride. I bought a special saddle that has a belt for your waist and straps for your thighs.”
She bit down on her bottom lip, and he knew she was fighting a retort, something about his taking over, no doubt. Instead she relaxed. “Thank you,” she said. “What about Tori?”
“Kylie is riding on the trailer. She said she’d gladly hold on to Tori because Glory will be there to look after Cara.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She started to move away from him. “My chair. I want it stowed in the back of the truck. When we get to the bonfire, I want to be able to move freely on my own.”
“Of course.”
He hadn’t thought about that, but she was right.
“Evie!” a little girl called out and headed their way, Kylie hurrying after her.
“That’s Maggie. You’ve met, haven’t you?” Eve asked him.
“Yes, briefly.”
“Evie,” Maggie yelled and climbed onto Eve’s lap without hesitation.
“Hey, Maggie sweetest. I haven’t seen you in way too long.”
Maggie giggled. “At church on Sunday.”
“That’s waaay too long. That’s five whole days.”
“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.” Maggie counted the days off on her fingers. “That’s five.”
“Yep.”
Maggie leaned close. “I heard you’re going to ride a horse and we’re going to hold Tori.”
“I know.”
Kylie reached for Tori. “I’ll take these two. You two go get ready.”
Eve drew in a breath and nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Ethan leaned down and her arms went around his neck. He lifted her from her chair and carried her to the waiting horse. He wouldn’t admit it but he’d ridden the horse hard for an hour, just to make sure it was ready for this ride. Her solo ride.
“You’re tense. Worried?” she asked him. “It was your idea.”
“I know.”
She hugged him tighter and put her face close to his. “I’ve got this, Ethan. You don’t have to worry. You’ll be right there with me.”
“I know.”
“So relax.” She kissed his cheek.
“I’m relaxed.” He turned his head just slightly, touching his lips to hers.
“Did that help?” she teased as he pulled back.
“Immensely.” He lifted her, seating her on the gelding. Twister didn’t move a muscle.
This time she slid her booted right foot into the stirrup.
“You’re a pro at this.”
She pushed her left foot into the stirrup. “The internet is a wonderful thing.”
He laughed as he handed her the reins, then showed her how to use the straps for her legs. The higher back on the saddle would give her more support and a belt that went around her waist. Everything had Velcro for quick removal. Once he had her situated, he grabbed her wheelchair and headed for the truck.
“You really think this is a good idea?” Isaac West asked, following him to the truck.
“Of course it is,” Ethan answered. He didn’t mind that the other man was protective.
“What if something happens?”
Ethan set the chair in the back of Jack’s truck. “She’s an experienced rider.”
“Who can’t feel anything from the waist down.”
“And I’m a grown man who will be right there with her. She loves to ride. She should be able to do what she loves.”
Isaac raised a hand and said, “You’re the boss.”
“No, I’m not. But I am the man who...” Loves her? Yeah, he still loved her.
Isaac grinned. “It isn’t as if you’re keeping that a secret.”
“Better get our horses,” Ethan said, ending the discussion. He had picked a horse from the many owned by Mercy Ranch, a big chestnut gelding that fit his taller stature. The horse didn’t seem to like him overly much, rolling his eyes every time Ethan got close.
“What horse are you riding?” Eve asked when he returned to her side.
“The chestnut over there.”
She laughed. “No, you’re not.”
“Yeah, I am. Why?”
“Because you don’t want to ride that horse. No one wants to ride that horse.”
“I like him. He’s big.”
“Suit yourself. Just hold on tight.”
He pushed his hat up and gave her a look. “You doubt me?”
“Nope, I just know what they’re up to.”
She meant Isaac and the others. He turned his gaze to the horse. “Okay, I will.”
“And lead him off away from the rest of us,” she warned.
“I don’t plan on getting thrown,” he told her. “But if you have a few pointers, that would be nice.”
She backed her horse away from him and he was pleased to see how well the Arabian responded to the reins. “Don’t use spurs. Hold the reins tight. Don’t give him an in.
“Got it. I’ll catch up with you.” He tipped his hat and went to get his mount. He led the horse away from the others, all of whom were on their horses and ready to go.
The gelding danced a little as Ethan tried to get his foot in the stirrup. He held the reins tight and ran a hand down the horse’s neck.
“Easy there, big guy. Hold up.” He said the latter in a firm voice.
He was very aware of everyone watching him.
After a minute, the horse calmed. He got his left foot in the stirrup, swung his right leg over the horse’s back and settled into the saddle. The horse immediately began to buck. Great. He took Eve’s advice and held tight, keeping the reins tight but not so tight the horse would fight and rear up on him.
After a few minutes the gelding settled, shook as if he might attempt to shake his rider, then he ambled back to the other horses as if to say, “Nothing to see here, go about your business.”
Eve clapped and a few of the others joined in.
“That was like a Saturday night at the rodeo.” She laughed and he thought about kissing her again.
As if she could read his thoughts, her smile instantly dissolved.
“So I take it he’s the horse they put all of the new guys on?”
“You picked him,” Isaac said as he rode past.
“You could have warned me.”
Isaac pushed his hat back on his head a bit. “Nah, that wouldn’t be any fun. And I never put a guy on there that I think can’t handle him.”
“Oh, so I should take this as a compliment.”
“And a warning,” Isaac spoke quietly, then he gave his horse a nudge and cantered off to catch up with the hayride trailer.
It was an hour ride to the site of the bonfire. Ethan remained close to Eve, making sure the gelding gave her no trouble.
“You can relax,” she told him after a while. “The horse is good. I’m good. I can’t believe how much I missed this. Ethan, I mean it when I say thank you. I don’t know that I ever would have taken this chance if you hadn’t pushed.”
He knew better than to respond.
She laughed a little. “Oh, smart man, not commenting.”
“I do learn, eventually.”
“So do I. Eventually.” She leaned a little in the saddle and clucked to the horse. The gray l
istened and broke from an easy trot to a slow, rhythmic canter.
Ethan watched for a moment, mesmerized and more than a little bit in love. And then he realized anything could happen and it would be his fault. He gave his horse a nudge and caught up with her. She eased back on the reins.
“Did I scare you?” she asked.
“Not at all.”
“Liar.”
“Okay, then. You scared me a lot.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “But it was so much fun.”
He exhaled. “For you, maybe.”
Up ahead he could see the bonfire. The truck and trailer were already there, and some of the men were getting chairs set up, pulling coolers from the truck bed and adding wood to the fire. A short distance from the fire he spotted a screened canopy and inside were Kylie and the children.
Eve brought her horse to a halt at a round pen where other horses were tied. She waited for him to tie his horse and help her.
She pulled her right leg to the left side of the horse, leaned down to wrap her arms around his neck and he lifted her down from the saddle. He held her there for a moment, deciding his next move. There was music playing from a truck radio and he didn’t immediately carry her to the chair that waited nearby.
“We can still dance,” he told her.
“We what?”
“You used that as one of your arguments. We will never dance together. But we can.”
“Ethan...” But as he twirled her around to the old country song, she stopped complaining.
“When did you become such a romantic?” she asked when the song ended.
“I always was but a younger man is more inclined to brashness and avoiding his inner romantic. They’re afraid someone will make fun of them.”
“Because you were always the guy that people made fun of?”
“Never.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then kissed that sweet spot where she smelled of herbal shampoo and lavender.
“We should join the others,” she whispered, turning her head away from his. But he knew, with her in his arms, that they were still connected. There was still a chance.
He had arrived in Hope with the idea that he was still angry with her, that he couldn’t trust her. But the more time he spent with her, the more he realized he would spend the rest of his life courting her if it meant he had even the slightest chance of getting her back.
He wanted to kiss her, but he realized they had an audience. With that in mind, he carried her to the circle of light around the bonfire.
He settled her in her chair and then he went in search of a lawn chair to sit next to her. But first he headed to the canopy where Kylie had the children, including Tori. When the baby girl saw him, she smiled. It was the kind of smile that made everything better. It reminded him that everything he was doing mattered.
“How is she?” he asked Kylie as he picked Tori up off the blanket spread out on the floor of the enclosure.
“She had fun on the hayride. She sat on my lap but she really loves Maggie.”
The four-year-old smiled up at him as she changed her doll’s diaper. “I’m good with babies.”
“I bet you are.” He glanced around. “Do you have her blanket? I thought I’d take her so she can sit with Eve and me.”
“Yes, it’s right here with her bag.” Kylie picked both up and handed them to him. “You’re pretty good at this.”
“I’m glad you think so. Most of the time I feel like I’m going under and there isn’t a life preserver in sight.”
“That’s how parenting feels about half the time,” she said with a grin. “But you’ll get the hang of it. I came into this without a lot of experience. But if you love them, you figure it out.”
“Does she feel warm to you? Maybe it’s just the night, the fire?”
Kylie kissed Tori’s forehead. “I get a better read that way. My hand isn’t always a good indicator. And yes, she does feel warm. Maybe talk to Carson. She should have been over that virus by now. Hopefully she isn’t catching something else. Babies do get sick, Ethan. She’ll be fine.”
“Another thing I wasn’t prepared for.” He shifted her in his arms so that her head rested on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” She held her hand out to Maggie. “Come on, kiddo, let’s go find your dad and Andy.”
Maggie was all for that and gave Kylie a tug toward the opening. Ethan followed, holding Tori close. This wasn’t how he expected to start a family but it was his path now and he didn’t know any other way.
People were circled around the fire pit, laughing and talking. Some were roasting hot dogs, others stood at the nearby table where all of the fixings were spread out. He searched the group and spotted Eve near Glory and the young cowboy Kenny. He paused, eavesdropping as Glory tried to convince Kenny they should go out and he told her he had plans to be a physical therapist and as much as he liked her, he thought she needed to grow up a little before she started dating.
Glory shrugged it off with a smile but it didn’t take much to see that the smile was plastered on.
Ouch. Ethan would have to talk to the younger man about being more subtle with women. He could see the hurt on Glory’s face. Eve saw it, too, and put a hand on her arm, whispering something to comfort her. Glory laughed.
Eve turned, saw him with Tori and smiled. The fire danced in the fire pit, giving her skin a warm glow. As he drew closer, she held out her arms to Tori.
For the first time in four years, he had hope.
He thought about the ranch house he’d made an offer on. A big sprawling place that was already handicap accessible. He’d wanted to tell Eve about the place. More than once he’d nearly mentioned the stable, the land or some other feature but then he’d stopped himself.
He had an unsettled feeling, as if telling her would undo something amazing that was happening between them. What if she had no intention of joining him in raising Tori? Worse, what if she didn’t want to resume their relationship?
Hope was a fragile thing but he wasn’t giving up. He had a six-month-old reason to keep trying.
Plus his own heart refused to let go.
Chapter Twelve
The phone rang as Eve opened her car door. It was Monday and she was meeting Kylie for their weekly lunch. It had been two weeks since their last lunch. Two weeks since Ethan had arrived in Hope with Tori. In that time she’d become somewhat of an expert at getting herself out of the car, and then unhooking Tori from her car seat and pulling her out. It wasn’t easy, but she was learning. She was also discovering arm and back muscles she didn’t realize she had. Her workouts hadn’t prepared her for this.
After getting Tori settled on her lap, she glanced at her phone. Her parents. They hadn’t called in weeks so she could only guess that they’d heard about James and Hanna. When the phone rang again, she actually answered it.
“Hi, Mom.” Tori smiled up at her, content now on Eve’s lap.
“Eve, honey, I’m so glad you answered.” Eve’s mother, Darlene, sounded older. When had that happened?
“I know, Mom.” Eve stopped on the sidewalk. “I know about James and Hanna.”
“Oh, honey, I am so sorry. I wish I’d known sooner. It’s been a month, I believe. I just saw Ethan Forester’s mother at the store and she told me about the accident. She also told me about the guardianship thing. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m okay, Mom. I’m...” She sighed. “I’m heartbroken. I regret so much and the four years I’ve lost. I can’t get back the time, the moments that I should have had.”
As she said the words, it all became real in a way it hadn’t been before that moment. Saying the words out loud changed everything. She had run from her life, from the people who loved her. Why? Because of that, she’d lost two people she truly cared about. And she’d lost four years with her parents.
“Mom, I’m going to be coming to Texas soon. For the custody hearing.”
“And you’ll stay with us. Of course you’ll stay with us.”
“Mom, the hearing is in Dallas. I’ll have to stay there.”
“We could drive you...” Her mom sighed. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”
Eve found it easier to laugh. “Yes, but it’s okay.”
“Now that you’re a mom, you’ll understand how hard it is to let go. You’ll want to fix everything for that little girl and make everything better for her.”
“She isn’t...” She started to say the words but then she couldn’t. The child in her arms needed to be someone’s little girl.
Her mom waited, not interrupting the silence. For which Eve was thankful.
“Mom, I would like for you to be there for the hearing. I’ll give you more information when I have it.”
“What about Ethan?” her mom asked.
“What about him?”
“Will you work out your relationship?”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to figure out a way to raise her, to share custody.”
“I understand you don’t want me to interfere.” Darlene’s tone was hesitant. “But I am your mother. I know you’re grown and independent but you loved that boy and I don’t think you ever stopped loving him. He’s a good man.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I’m afraid, Mom.” She finally said the words she’d thought in her head but hadn’t really found a way to voice. “I’m afraid he’ll take over my life. I’m afraid that I’ll become the person he takes care of, makes decisions for, and I just can’t do that.”
“I know that’s how you feel.” Of course her mom knew, she was a caseworker and therapist. “And it can happen. But you can prevent it, stop it, without shutting people out.”
“Is that what I did to you?” Eve asked, knowing it was time to clear the air between herself and her parents.
“We overreacted, Eve. And so did you. You made choices we didn’t understand and then you were injured and we wanted to fix it all.”
Her Oklahoma Rancher (Mercy Ranch Book 3) Page 13
