The hitching post on the other side was the focus of all the activity. Quinn had a rag in his hand and looked to be polishing the coat of a caramel-colored horse. It had a black mane and tail. Its legs were black, too, making it seem as if it wore stockings.
Pete was combing the long, graceful tail, which nearly reached the ground. Then he finished that and went to get a small, colorful blanket that was draped over the hitching post. Quinn stepped back as Pete flipped the blanket onto the horse’s back.
At the same time, Gage came out of the barn carrying a saddle. She laughed. He wore a child-sized cowboy hat secured under his chin with a string. Somehow he’d come up with one for Josh and evidently had decided putting it on was the best way to keep it handy. Goofy guy.
He lifted the saddle onto the horse’s back and turned to wave, motioning her to drive down. Then he grabbed a wide strap attached to the saddle and ducked under the horse’s belly. She knew nothing about saddles, but this one looked fancy. Silver trim sparkled in the sunlight.
Josh began rocking his seat and humming. Time to drive that kid over to his initiation into the world of cowboys. His blue and white striped shirt looked more nautical than Western, but at least the floppy canvas hat he wore would be replaced with something more appropriate.
She parked on the far side of the line of trucks. By the time she’d lifted Josh out of his car seat, Gage had arrived.
“Great timing. We’re almost ready.”
She glanced at him and grinned. “Interesting look you have going on.”
“Tell me the truth, now. Does this hat make my head look fat?”
“Well, since you’ve asked…”
“Yeah, I had a hunch.” He took it off. “Hey, sport, see what Daddy has for you!”
“Da-da!” Josh reached out both arms.
“Pretty cool, huh? Wanna try it on, see if it fits?”
“It looks about right.” Emma balanced him on her hip while she took off the canvas one. “Luckily he’s used to hats.”
“If he likes it, I’ll get him one that’s similar, since he can’t keep this one. It’s a family heirloom, designated for first ride photo shoots.”
“Then we’d better make sure he doesn’t chew on it.”
“Da-da-da-da!” Josh wiggled with excitement as Gage hunkered down.
“He shouldn’t get a chance if he’s wearing it. Hold still, buddy. This needs to go at the right angle.”
Josh blew a raspberry at him.
“No, I’m not kidding. The tilt of a guy’s hat is very important. Let’s tug the brim down a little. There. Now you look like you mean business.”
Emma giggled.
“Never mind your mama. It’s a guy thing.” He glanced up as a white van drove past the house and parked next to Emma’s SUV. “And here’s Granny Ken, just in time to take your picture. Okay, gonna tighten the string under your chin and…we’re done!”
Kendra came around the back of her van, phone in hand. “Oh, my God. Super cute! Quinn, you should get over here and see this!”
“Be right there!”
“So adorable.” Kendra raised her phone and took several shots. “Can I put this on the town website, Emma?”
“Sure.” She looked at Quinn as he hurried over. “Thank you for letting Josh wear the family heirloom.”
“He’s family.” His face creased in a wide smile. “And he looks great. I’m glad I found the hat.”
“What do you mean, found it?” Gage looked at him. “You didn’t know where it was?”
“Nope. Stumbled across it when I got out the boxes I’d used to pack the photo albums. I’d tucked the hat inside the first one. I wasn’t even sure you’d want Josh to wear it.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“It’s seen better days. When I was cleaning things out at the Lazy S, I debated whether to give it to Goodwill.”
“You’re kidding.” Gage turned to Pete, who was on his way over with his black hat.
“Did you know Dad almost gave our baby cowboy hat to Goodwill?”
“No, I did not know that.” He handed Gage his Stetson. “Hey, Dad, why would you get rid of a family heirloom?”
He shrugged. “It’s showing its age. Bet I could find a new one that looks just like it in about five minutes online.”
“That’s a terrible idea. You don’t get rid of an important piece of family history because it’s a little beat up. Maybe I should be the guardian of this hat.”
Quinn smiled. “Be my guest.”
“Good plan, bro,” Gage said. “You can take possession after Josh wears it for his picture. Is Banjo ready?”
“I’ve done about all the grooming on that animal I can think of short of giving him a mani-pedi and an herbal wrap.”
“Alrighty, then.” He glanced at Josh. “Whatcha say, buckaroo? Ready to ride?”
“Da-da!”
“Excellent.” He lifted him into his arms. “Got your phone, Emma?”
She took it out of her purse and held it up.
“Dad? Got yours?”
Quinn pulled his from his back pocket.
“Then let’s get ‘er done.” With Pete at his side, he started toward the horse tethered to the hitching post.
Emma walked with Quinn and Kendra as they followed the brothers.
“Can’t tell you how much this means to me,” Quinn said. “Seeing my grandson on a horse for the first time is a thrill.”
“I’m glad it’s worked out. Is that saddle as valuable as it looks?”
“It’s priceless. My kids went together on it for my fiftieth birthday.”
“Well, it’s gorgeous. Is Banjo your horse?”
“Yes, ma’am. He’s been with me quite a while, now. The only buckskin I’ve ever had. He’s a good one.”
“Gentle?”
“Sure is. Otherwise I wouldn’t allow him near my grandbaby.” He looked over at her. “And neither would Gage.”
She nodded, unable to get any words past the sudden lump in her throat. Two days ago, none of these folks had even known Josh existed. Now they were treating him like the most precious being on the planet. She’d won the lottery without even realizing she was playing.
That knowledge went a long way to easing her anxiety about her little boy approaching the very big horse.
Gage stopped a few feet away from Banjo and talked quietly with Josh, whose gaze was riveted on the horse.
The horse turned his head toward them and Josh bounced in Gage’s arms, squealing with excitement. Gage continued talking quietly and Josh settled down. Only then did Gage move closer.
His measured approach calmed her nerves. He might be new at this daddy business, but he clearly had a talent for it. He’d already mastered the art of soothing his son when the occasion called for it.
He continued talking to Josh as he brought him within touching distance and helped the baby stroke the horse’s neck. Kendra and Quinn lifted their phones to take pictures, but she couldn’t bear to look away long enough to turn on her phone’s camera. She might miss something.
Pete took charge of Josh while Gage untied the horse and mounted up. Leaning down, he scooped Josh out of Pete’s arms and onto his lap. Other than a soft little oh of surprise, Josh sat quietly, his eyes wide as he peeked out from under the brim of the brown cowboy hat.
“Atta-boy, Gage,” Quinn murmured as he continued taking pictures. “Nicely done.”
The obvious pride in his voice made Emma smile. “He’s doing a fabulous job.”
Holding Josh firmly with one arm around his tummy, Gage laid the reins against the buckskin’s neck and turned the horse to face them. “This is it, guys,” he said. “The money shot.”
That galvanized Emma into action. She gave her attention to her phone long enough to activate the camera before holding it up and focusing on Gage and Josh.
The image that filled the screen made her heart swell with love for her son, who’d accepted the unfamiliar hat without complaint and had trusted a
man he’d known for two days to keep him safe on top of a very large animal.
As for that broad-shouldered cowboy, he looked every inch the proud daddy as he sat astride a powerful horse with his infant son. The image touched her, burrowing deep. Because of Josh, Gage would always own a piece of her heart.
Tucking Josh in close, he leaned over. The black Stetson obscured his face as he murmured something to the little boy.
Josh’s lips moved, but he was talking very softly, probably mimicking Gage’s lowered volume.
“A little louder, buddy.” Gage looked up. “Emma, can you come closer? I think you’ll want to hear this.”
She approached the horse with some hesitation. There was no stall door between her and the animal like there had been with Winston.
The mustang stood very still and gazed at her with liquid brown eyes. She could at least be as brave as her son. She drew near enough that she could have reached out and stroked his nose, but she chose not to.
“Okay, Josh.” Gage dipped his head again. “Just like you’ve been doing. Ma-ma.”
The sound came out as a baby whisper that could have been anything. Emma smiled. “That’s sweet, but you don’t have to—”
“He’s been saying it, though. When I was calming him down I told him let’s make your mama proud. Repeated it a few times. Then he started saying ma-ma. Come on, sport. Ma-ma.”
Josh looked right at her and spoke in a clear voice. “Ma-ma.”
Her breath caught. “Oh, Josh.”
Gage glanced up. “Now don’t tell me he doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
“I absolutely won’t.” She met his gaze. “What a gift. Thank you.”
“Thought you’d like that.” He flashed her a smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to take a short ride around the pasture. Be back in a few.” He turned the horse and rode slowly toward the gate Pete had just opened.
“Come on, Emma.” Kendra linked an arm through hers. “Let’s go watch.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Chapter Seventeen
Josh’s first time on a horse had gone well, thank God. Gage had been determined it would, but nothing was guaranteed in this world, was it? After he’d made one successful circuit of the pasture, his dad had excused himself to go work in his studio and Kendra had headed home to do chores.
But Uncle Pete had been eager to assume his new role. He’d wanted to show Emma and Josh around the place and introduce them to his horse Clifford and Wes’s horse Fudge. Then he’d helped Gage improvise a high chair so Emma could feed Josh the lunch she’d brought.
They’d stacked cushions on a straight-backed chair, used one of Gage’s belts to secure the baby, and pushed him up to the kitchen table. Worked like a charm. After Josh finished his early lunch, Emma had given them a lesson in diaper changing. They’d cheerfully pitched in, to her apparent surprise.
In the end, he’d run out of time to show her the photo album his dad had unearthed. They’d had to leave for their tour of Raptors Rise. No worries. Emma would be back the following weekend for Josh’s birthday party. That would be the perfect time to share it with her.
On the way out the door, she suggested that he ride with her, which made sense. He strapped Josh in his car seat, climbed in the passenger side, and off they went.
Another first. He’d never ridden in a vehicle with her. The intimacy of it struck him. He glanced over to see whether she was the least bit agitated by it.
Didn’t seem to be. Her cheeks were their usual creamy color. With her hair swept back in a ponytail, he could admire the soft curve of her neck where he’d placed several kisses the previous evening. And would place even more tonight barring something unexpected. His groin tightened.
When they were with other people, he managed to ignore the glittering prospect of having her to himself. But in the confines of this car, he was almost alone with her, and—
“You and Pete handled that diaper change with a refreshing lack of drama.”
Now there was a subject guaranteed to deflate his enthusiasm along with a significant body part. “We muck out stalls for a living. Squeamish wranglers don’t last long.”
“I hadn’t factored that in. I guess your job requires you to be indifferent to the earthier aspects of life.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Meaning?”
“Some of the earthier aspects are meant to be enjoyed. I would hate to become indifferent to those.”
Sunglasses covered her eyes but her pink cheeks gave her away. “Gage…”
“Come on, Emma, you have to be thinking about it.”
“Well, I am, but overlaying that is the reality of leaving my son overnight for the first time ever.”
“It’s a big step. I probably don’t even understand how big since I haven’t been taking care of him for almost a year.”
“But I couldn’t ask for two better people to leave him with. My rational side knows that he’ll be fine, but my emotional side is—”
“See, that’s where I come in.” Time to shift the topic to something a little juicier.
“You mean by distracting me.”
“Exactly. And we might want to consider changing the dinner plan.”
“The singalong at the Guzzling Grizzly? You don’t want to do that?”
“I’d be happy to do that, but I can’t guarantee you’ll be sufficiently distracted.”
“Yeah, maybe not. Singing along with Nicole could remind me of singing to Josh in the car and I’ll be toast.”
“On the other hand, I know one sure-fire way I can take your mind off Josh.” He paused to let that sink in. “But it would get us thrown out of the restaurant.”
She didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. Her blush and her quick gulp communicated her state of mind perfectly.
“So I’m thinking instead of going out, we should pick up some food and go back to the B&B. I’m fairly certain that if we do that, I should be able to—”
“Stop talking about it.” Her words were rushed and she squirmed in her seat.
“Why?” He gave her a slow smile. “Am I getting you hot?”
“Never mind. We’ll decide on dinner later. We’re here.” She swung the SUV into the empty parking area. Gripping the wheel, she drew in a shaky breath.
“You might want to shut off the motor.”
“Right.” She switched off the engine.
“Did I take your mind off Josh?”
“Yes, you did.” She took another deep breath. “Now I have to get my mind off you.”
“Just testing.” Reaching over, he cupped her chin and turned her toward him. Then he gently pulled off her sunglasses. His pulse rate spiked at the heat in her gaze. “What a shame if we get to the moment of truth and discover we can’t blot out the world like we did before.”
She swallowed. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”
“Good.” Leaning over, he brushed his lips over hers. “Now let’s show that little guy some eagles.” Handing her back her glasses, he climbed out of the car and went to free Josh from his car seat.
Emma wanted him as much as ever. Hallelujah for that. The intensity of the moment in the car eased as he picked up the baby and walked with Emma into the facility, but he remained in a state of heightened awareness. Judging from the way she kept sneaking looks at him, she was in the same condition.
The lobby was empty. With no one in there, she’d have an unobstructed view of his dad’s artwork and he was eager for her to see it. She couldn’t miss it since it dominated one wall.
When she spotted it, she gasped. “That’s your dad’s?”
“Sure is.” How great to be able to say that, to be the son of Quinn Sawyer. The life-sized image of a family of bald eagles in a massive tree-top nest gave him a shiver of pride no matter how many times he saw it. His dad had named it Home, Sweet Home.
“That’s amazing. You told me the name of the technique before. What
was it?”
“It’s called scratchboard.” Josh wiggled with excitement and chanted ba-ba as he carried him a little closer to get a better look. “Dad can explain it better than I can, but he starts with a dry surface coated with black ink. Then he scratches the image into it to create…this.”
“Incredible. And what a perfect choice of subject for a town called Eagles Nest. I’m sure that was no accident.”
“Actually, it was. Wildlife is his passion and he was intrigued by the challenge of an intricate nest and getting the feathers just right on a life-sized piece. But as he worked on it, he realized he couldn’t sell it to an individual. It belonged on permanent display somewhere in town. This was the logical place.”
“Lucky me, that he decided to donate it to us.” Zane walked into the lobby from a nearby corridor. “Hey, Emma and Gage. Glad you could bring Josh over.”
Emma turned. “Thanks for letting us come before you open. Once I heard about this place I couldn’t wait to see it. And Josh is fascinated with birds.”
Zane smiled. “Takes after his dad?”
Gage returned the smile. “Maybe. In any case, seeing those eagles should be epic for him.”
“Hope so. How did his first ride go?”
Emma looked surprised. “You knew about that?”
“Yes, ma’am. I was over at the ranch early this morning helping Mom feed the horses. She couldn’t talk about anything else. She said you’re letting her babysit tonight and she’s so excited.”
“It’ll be my first time leaving him overnight, so I’m a little nervous.”
“Understandable. So, ready to get this show on the road?”
Emma nodded. “Absolutely.”
“I recommend we do it a little differently than I normally would because this one’s for Josh. We need to go for the gee-whiz stuff outside instead of the indoor facilities.”
“I agree,” Gage said. “He’ll be mainly interested in the birds out in the enclosures.”
“That’s what I figured. Anyway, we don’t have any birds in the infirmary right now, thank goodness, and the nursery is empty this time of year. We’ll go straight outside.”
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