Chapter Fifteen
“It’s been a long time since any Bennett has had a family day. Just wish you folks would let me go.” Although Gran was staying home with Roddy to prevent any accidental falls, she had several leather saddlebags packed before Hayden came down the next morning. She was smiling.
He was smiling too.
And why wouldn’t he? He’d slept like a baby. Evie hadn’t snored. Katie hadn’t woken him at dawn. Sure, he’d woken up hugging one of the pillows Evie had placed between them. And yes, Evie wasn’t in the bedroom when that happened. But he felt good.
As for Evie…
She looked good. At home. Bustling about the kitchen in blue jeans and a teal T-shirt with her golden hair in a thick braid down her back.
“Good morning, wife.” Hayden stopped Evie with a gentle touch to her arm. He kissed her cheek, testing the weight of her silky blond braid and relishing her answering soft smile.
“Grab your coffee, Hay-Hay, and move along.” Evie hefted one of the larger saddlebags and headed toward the front door. “Rhett’s already outside, saddling horses. The girls are feeding Mike. We’re leaving soon.” Evie’s footsteps receded.
“She’s nervous, that one.” Gran closed a saddlebag and stared at Hayden with a look that commanded he listen. “Make sure you take her to one of our old haunts. I prefer Homestead Hollow, but you know Eagle Overlook and Clover Creek are people pleasers.”
“Rhett and I will do you proud.”
“With Rhett’s help, I found…that woman an old cowboy hat and a pair of boots.
” Gran frowned. “Rhett’s girls had an extra hat and boots that fit…
that precious little girl.” Another frown, as if she knew Evie’s and Katie’s names were stored somewhere in her head, somewhere she couldn’t access.
“But the right equipment doesn’t make a confident rider. ”
“Experience does.” Hayden completed one of his grandfather’s sayings, pouring coffee into a travel mug.
“Clyde always cherished me,” Gran continued. Her short white hair floated about her wrinkled face with a mind of its own, but her mind seemed on track this morning. “You need to give…your gals a good time. And that takes care on your part.”
“I get it.” He took a swig of strong, hot coffee. “Will do.”
“I mean it.” Gran pinned him with her gaze. “There’s something off between you two. If you love her, you’ll make it right.”
If I love Evie…
“I know how to keep people and things safe.” Hayden’s pride stiffened his spine, even if, historically, what he’d kept safe were him and his own heart.
“There’s a difference between keeping someone safe and showing them loving care,” Gran scoffed. She pointed to the nearest saddlebag. “Now, take this saddlebag out to the barn and think about what I said.”
Hayden tucked his travel coffee mug into the side of a saddlebag, then hefted it to his shoulder and headed outside.
The bright sun and clear sky were ideal for a family outing.
Like Gran, Hayden couldn’t remember the last time the Bennett clan had taken a day to enjoy the land and each other.
But those family days made up some of Hayden’s fondest memories of his childhood.
Horse races across dew-sprinkled pastures.
Summer afternoons spent at the swimming hole.
Melting marshmallows around a campfire before bedding down beneath the stars.
Back then, he’d dreamed of having his own ranch, raising a family with the same traditions and experiences he’d had, being his own man with a loyal, loving woman at his side.
A man his father and grandparents could be proud of.
It felt right to share that vision with Evie and Katie, even if only temporarily.
“Hay-Hay!” Outside, Katie skipped up to him, looking like a legitimate cowgirl—blue jeans and boots, stubby pigtails, and a cowboy hat. “I want to bring Mike with us.”
“Mike, the baby calf?” Hayden tsked. “And what happens when Mike gets tired? Are you going to ride with him in your lap?”
“Hay-Hay,” Katie said in a disapproving tone. “Uncle Rhett already told me I can’t take Poppy on our ride. I have to have my babies with me. Why can’t I take Mike?”
“Roddy is going to watch out for your babies.” And Gran. Since Katie frowned at Hayden, he set down the saddlebags, squatted low, and tipped his hat back so he could look the little girl in the eye. “Can I let you in on a secret?”
Katie nodded, expression lightening.
“When I was a kid…” More like a teenager. “Roddy helped me raise a bull like Mike. I showed him in competitions, like at the county fair. And I won a lot of awards.”
Predictably, Katie said, “I want to do that.”
“You can.” If she was still here when the fair rolled back into town. He swallowed thickly at the thought. “But you can trust Roddy with Mike. He knows how to care for animals.”
Katie nodded, glancing toward the barn where Roddy saddled an old ranch horse while Evie watched. “I know how to raise animals too. When we lived with Daddy, I had a hamster. I gave it to my teacher when we moved away.”
“I bet you gave that hamster lots of love.” Hayden stood and patted the top of Katie’s cowboy hat. “My grandfather used to say you can learn a little something from everyone, if you just listen.”
Katie nodded. And then she skipped off toward the barn.
“Where are you going?” Hayden called after her.
“To ask Roddy if he’s ever raised a hamster.” Katie pumped her arms and legs in a fast, determined skip-skip.
Hayden hefted the saddlebag and carried it the rest of the way to the barn.
“’Bout time you showed your face,” Rhett teased. He took the saddlebag and strapped it behind the cantle of his saddle. “I was about to send Eve to wake you up.”
“She let me sleep in.” More likely, she was still feeling the awkwardness of sharing a bed and had snuck out. Hayden moved to his horse. “But I’m here. Ready to beat you in a horse race.”
“Red has never beaten Fudge.” Rhett tested the straps on the saddlebag. “Not once when we were in Texas.”
“There’s always a first time,” Hayden warned.
“We’re not racing.” Evie didn’t state it as a question. “Promise me we’re not racing, Hayden.”
“We’re not racing,” Hayden parroted, recalling Gran’s words about Evie being nervous. “This is a beginner’s ride up to Clover Creek.”
“I thought you were going to Homestead Hollow.” Gran joined them, bringing a familiar, large red-and-white-checkered blanket and giving it to Rhett.
“Homestead Hollow. That’s a good two-hour ride, Gran.” Hayden nodded toward Evie. “We’re taking it easy this trip. It’s less than an hour to Clover Creek.” He planned to keep a lead rope on Katie’s horse, for safety purposes.
Gran’s expression clouded as if with disappointment. “Either way, best get a move on.”
*
I can do this.
When Eve had looked into the mirror this morning, she’d felt like a cowgirl in her blue jeans and her borrowed cowboy boots and hat.
Now, she wore a riding helmet rather than a cowboy hat, as did Katie.
Although Katie’s cowboy hat fit atop her helmet precariously, held on by a string threaded through her cowboy hat crown and tied beneath her chin.
Eve rode a tall, dark-brown horse with white whiskers called Happy.
Before they left, Roddy had told her the old gelding was a plodder. “Slow as molasses. Can’t hardly get him to break into a trot or a gallop anymore.”
“He’ll follow the herd,” Hayden had reassured Eve too. “He likes to mosey.”
He did indeed. They brought up the rear.
Katie rode a smaller brown horse named Star.
Star looked like she’d been spoiled with too many oats.
Hayden and Roddy had told Eve several times that the mare was perfect for Katie, since nothing startled her.
Katie didn’t care what she rode. She was ecstatic to be in the saddle, smiling as if it were Christmas and Santa had spoiled her rotten.
Ahead of Eve, Hayden turned in the saddle. He held a lead rope attached to the horse Katie rode. “How are you doing back there?”
“Peachy,” Eve assured him.
Hayden faced forward and said something to Katie, making her laugh.
He was good with her. Patient and kind, as if Katie was important to him.
Eve hadn’t considered Katie’s feelings when she’d negotiated this marriage to Hayden. Her little girl was going to be crushed if time expired on their nuptials and Hayden hadn’t fallen in love with Eve.
A bird swooped past, circled Eve, and then flew toward Rhett and his girls, who were now leading the trail ride.
Eve’s horse kept plodding along. “Happy, you go just my speed. Slow.” Eve smiled, giving the old horse a pat on the neck as they started up a low rise.
Happy gave it more effort, head rocking and joints popping as they tackled the gentle slope.
“Good boy,” Eve praised him again when they reached the top. She’d always wondered what it would be like to go on a trail ride with Hayden. Tall pines lined the rolling pasture to the north. She’d been nervous when they set out, but this was relaxing, like a slow drive.
Piper held up her cowboy hat and whooped. “Race ya!”
“No!” Rhett and Hayden cried in unison.
Piper and Sadie whooped and galloped ahead. Rhett galloped after them.
Katie’s horse pranced sideways, moving away from Hayden’s big chestnut and testing the tether Hayden had her on.
“Hayden,” Eve called, chest tight with worry. That was her baby on that horse.
“We’re fine.” Hayden held onto that lead rope with what looked like a firm grip. “Pull gently back on the reins, Katie.” His voice. So calm.
Katie sawed on the reins, nothing gentle about it.
Eve had been so focused on what was happening ahead of her, she hadn’t realized that Happy was moving at a faster clip than usual. Without warning, he accelerated into a choppy trot that had Eve bouncing in her seat. She clutched the saddle horn. “Ow. Hey. Stop.”
Happy trotted straight for the gap between Hayden and Katie’s horses.