Chapter 10
Carter
I didn’t know why I was going inside the house to meet said family.
I should have just gotten back into my Jeep and gone home when Hawk said I couldn’t ride today.
Which, honestly, kind of pissed me off. He was ascribing feelings and emotions to me that I didn’t necessarily have.
But he was the boss, at least when it came to horses, and I knew there was no point arguing with him.
Besides watching him with the donkey had been fucking endearing.
I followed him up the steps, scraped my boots after he did, and walked into the house behind him. There seemed to be a lot going on, judging by the noise, and several people were talking at once. All the noise stopped when Hawk and I appeared.
A woman with a blond ponytail who was hardly older than me gasped when she saw us.
“Oh, Hawk, honey. Lucinda just called. Miranda and the baby were in an accident! She’s going to go to be with them at the hospital, but she’s stopping here to drop off Robbie and Sammy.
Then their mom is going to come get them from here once she’s out of work, but Jannelle is in Colorado Springs today so it’s going to be at least an hour. ”
Hawk tilted his head, looking up at me. “Woman you helped today? Brown hair and a nose ring?”
I blinked. “Well, I didn’t notice a nose ring but she had brown hair.”
“Hawk?” The woman said.
“Mom, this is Carter Cahill. Carter, meet Jenn.” Hawk pointed to the other people in turn. “My dad, Mike. Brother-in-law, mostly, Luke, and his daughter, Aria. Where are Demi and the twins?”
“Napping,” Mike said, rising to shake my hand. He had a solid handshake, and he didn’t squeeze too hard, like some assholes did. Not that I assumed Mike would be an asshole, but you never knew. “What’s this now?”
“Carter found a car off the road, called 911, and stayed until the driver and baby were off in the ambulance. I’m assuming now it was Miranda.”
“Oh!” Jenn rushed around the large counter that separated the kitchen from what was the dining area.
She held out her arms and before I could even blink, she was hugging me.
It was sort of awkward and she seemed to realize that after a second.
She pulled back, wiped a hand under her eyes, and then peered up at me. “You saved them.”
I shook my head and smiled gently. “No, ma’am. I just called the people who did. That’s all the credit I’ll take and not an ounce more. I’m glad they’re going to be okay.”
“They are, thanks to you. Who knows what could have happened if you hadn’t come upon them. No. I’m not going to think it. Thank you for doing the right thing and stopping. Helping. So many people wouldn’t.”
“Uh. You’re welcome.” I shot a look at Hawk who smirked and stepped in between me and his mother.
“Mom, how about you—”
The donkey’s loud as hell bray interrupted Hawk’s words and Jenn darted around us toward the door. “They’re here.”
Mike headed outside after his wife. I stood there completely nonplussed. The chaotic energy was unmatched and not what I expected when I walked in this house.
“Sorry,” Hawk said, voice low and not looking at me. “I should have realized there was a possibility that we’d know the person in the accident.”
I wasn’t sure why he was apologizing. “It’s fine. I take it you know a lot of people?”
“Small town. Really small town. And Mom knows just about everyone.” That smirk graced his lips for a second.
“I went to school with Miranda. And Demi babysat for Robbie and Sammy when they were little. Miranda’s nephews.
They’ve gotta be like eight and ten now.
I’m sure Ms. Lucinda was getting them off the bus. ”
I nodded, glad for the explanation. Not that I cared too much about people I didn’t know but it was at least good to have context.
I realized suddenly that, even though I knew Miranda was expected to make a full recovery, I would be privy to a full update if I wanted one.
I was sure all I had to do was mention it at some point in the future, and any one in this family would know.
I found comfort in that. I wanted to know that Miranda had recovered fully.
Mike popped back in the house. “Luke, hey, can you take the boys to the barn and keep them entertained? Luce is pretty shaken up, so Jenn is going to drive her to the hospital and I’m going to follow behind.”
“Yeah, of course,” Luke said quickly, standing up. He passed Aria to Hawk on his way out the door. “Go see Uncle Hawk.”
“Hawkle!” the little girl squealed, wrapping her chubby arms around Hawk’s neck. One of her pigtails nearly went into Hawk’s eye.
I raised a brow. “Hawkle?”
Hawk groaned. “My dumbass brother Keegan’s sense of humor. Our little angel here doesn’t say a whole lot of words yet but that one she’s got.”
I chuckled, because his grumbling was good natured.
At least in this instance. It was clear he loved his family and doted on his niece.
He made funny faces which Aria loved, judging on her peal of laughter and the way she squished his cheeks together.
I liked seeing him this way. I was used to the cranky, pissy man who didn’t seem to like me most of the time. This was a breath of fresh air.
There was a crash that had the three of us turning toward the stairs, and then the wail of a baby crying.
Hawk shoved the little girl at me and I barely had my hands around her before he’d taken off at a run, going up the stairs two at a time.
I looked down at the cherub in my arms. She looked back at me like I was an alien.
“What just happened, huh?” I tried for a sing-song voice, not wanting her to be scared of being held by a stranger. I didn’t have a whole lot of experience with kids, and certainly none as young as she was. Weirdly, she didn’t seem scared. Just confused and wary. “What was that noise?”
She lifted her arms and shrugged her shoulders. I barked out a laugh, which startled her, but then she smiled. After a second, she laughed too, but more like she was mimicking me and not like she actually knew what was funny.
I glanced around, trying to figure out what I should do with this toddler in my arms. Was there a stuffie or a juice cup or something? She was pretty young. Not a baby anymore but probably no older than three. Though, to be fair, I was shit at guessing kids’ ages. I knew jackshit about them.
Fortunately, boots on the stairs signaled Hawk’s return just a moment later. I turned to the stairs to see him emerge, and he stopped dead. For a second, he just stared at us, eyes wide. Then he shook his head and finished his descent, walking quickly toward us.
“What happened, Hawkle?” I bounced Aria once, and she giggled, then dove at Hawk as soon as he was within reaching distance.
He took her back and snuggled her for a second. Then he spoke directly to her while answering my question. “Mommy woke up too fast and knocked her cup right off the table. It made such a loud noise! It woke up Emerson. Can you believe that?”
Aria shook her head and clapped her hands. “Down.”
Hawk walked toward the space that was clearly the living room and dotted with all sorts of toys and blankets. He set Aria down and she immediately pointed at the TV.
“On!”
“What do you say, baby girl?”
Her little brow crunched but she dutifully said, “Peas.”
“Good job.” Hawk picked up the remote and clicked several buttons, navigating to the right screen and picking some show. A second later, catchy music filled the room and Aria started bouncing up and down like she was dancing along with the dogs on the screen.
At the same time, the front door opened and little running feet had me turning. A boy who had a backpack bigger than he was screeched to a stop. He glanced around once, then twice, and then put his hands on his hips.
“Hawk! Where’s Mimi?”
“Hey, Pay. Mimi and Papa had to go do something real quick. I’m sure your snack is ready though.”
Pay’s face fell. “But we were gonna make cookies.”
“Payton,” Mal chastised, entering the room. “I’m sure whatever Mimi had to go do was important. She wouldn’t skip cookies for no reason, right?”
Pay’s expression lightened. “Right, Daddy. I knew that. I’m gonna get my carrots.”
Mal helped his son out of his backpack, and as soon as the kid took off for the refrigerator, he shot a look at Hawk. “Everything okay?’
Hawk nodded. “It’s a whole thing.”
I took the opportunity to step toward the door, and my movement caught Hawk’s attention. He startled, as if he’d forgotten I was there. Which I totally didn’t blame him for. It had been sheer chaos since we walked in the door.
I cleared my throat. “I should go, yeah? There’s a lot going on and you don’t need me here.”
“Oh. Right. Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” Hawk blinked, shook his head, and then that mask of neutrality fell back over his face. Something in my gut clenched. After seeing his freer attitude over the last however many minutes, the change was a gut punch. I didn’t like it one bit.
Mal glanced back and forth between us. After a moment or two, he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Carter. Twelve-thirty work?”
“Yes. I’ll be here.”
I waved at Hawk and made my escape. I was halfway across the drive, heading for where I’d parked the Jeep before I let myself breathe and think.
Today had not turned out at all like I expected.
I’d thought I’d get a riding lesson and not even see Hawk.
Instead, I saw him in a new light that changed my perception of him, at least a little.
I needed a reset. Tomorrow was a new day and it would turn out exactly like I intended. Then I could put this whole crazy day behind me.
“Heels down, back straight. There you go.”
Mal’s voice was calm and soothing, and even though I kept forgetting to sit like I was supposed to, he never seemed to get mad. He just gently corrected me and praised me when I did it right.