Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
JOEY
“Idon’t know why you’re so nervous.”
I pin Georgia with a fierce stare as I stop my pacing.
“I want today to go perfectly for Max.”
Georgia smiles at me. “You managed a field trip in the first two weeks of school. I’m pretty sure all the kids are going to love that.”
“But what if they don’t like it? I don’t want him to be the one responsible for a dud of a field trip and everyone at school hate him.”
“Joey, you’re thinking way too much into this,” she says, turning to face someone behind me. “Sam, back me up.”
“On what?”
He smiles at both of us, eyes hidden behind his sunglasses and that damn cowboy hat of his.
“Tell Joey that she’s overthinking this field trip.”
“What are you worried about?” he asks.
“What if something goes wrong and the kids tease Max about a bad day at school? You don’t know what kids are like these days.”
Hell, I don’t really know what kids are like these days.
“And you don’t want Max to become the outcast of the school.”
“Exactly.” I drop my hands to my side in a huff. “See? I’m not being ridiculous.”
I aim that last comment at Georgia before twisting my hands in worry.
“Would it help if you know what I have planned?”
“Would it?”
Sam smiles at me. The kind that he shouldn’t be giving me when we’re in the presence of others. But I can’t help but feel soothed by it.
“A hayride. The picnic lunch. Georgia is helping with them brushing the horses and then we’ll cap it off with decorating plastic cowboy hats.”
“Oh. I need to go check on the brushes.” Georgia darts into the barn as the big yellow bus comes down the dirt road.
“You got plastic cowboy hats for them to decorate?”
He nods. “Why? Is that okay?”
I want to hug him and pepper his face with kisses. “Yes. They are going to love that.”
Sam squeezes my arm before moving to stand next to me. “You’re not the only one who wants this day to go well for Max.”
“Thank you, Sam. I mean it.”
He nudges me with his shoulder before the bus pulls to a stop.
Today is the perfect day to have everyone out. It’s not too hot—no whiny preschoolers here—and they’ll love getting out on the tractor.
The door squeaks open as the teachers and chaperones come out before the kids spill out behind them. Max spots me and runs over to give me a big hug.
“Hi, Mommy.”
“Hi, Baby. Were you good on the bus?”
“Yes. I sat with my friend.”
“Good, I’m glad.”
I’ve heard all about a few friends, so that helps set my nerves at ease.
“Hey, Max.” Sam waves down at him.
“Hi. I’m excited to see horses.”
“I'm excited to show them to you.”
“Hey, what about me?” Georgia says, jogging over to join our group.
“Hi, Aunt Gigi,” Max calls to her.
“I get to show you the horses after lunch.”
“Yes.”
As the parents try to corral the kids, Sam introduces himself to their teachers before clapping his hands and getting everyone’s attention.
“Hi, everyone. Welcome to The Lost Spur Ranch. I’m Sam and I’m going to be taking you guys on your field trip today.”
Cheers and shouts meet our ears.
“Make sure to bring your lunches, because we’ll eat out in the fields where you might get to see some of the animals we have here at the ranch.”
“Like giraffes?” someone calls out from the back.
“More like cows,” Sam says with a smile.
He really is a natural at this.
“Can we feed them?” another student asks.
“Not today. But I promise, I have fun things planned for you.” He rubs his hands together. “Now, if you want to follow me, we can get started.”
Sam leads them through the barn where curious heads are poking out of the stalls. A few of the full-time guys are helping tack the horses as kids wave to them.
The tractor is waiting out back with a wagon filled with hay for the kids to sit on. When I pitched this idea to Kade, he loved it. I have a feeling his daughter’s class will be coming out here soon.
I help the kids get on and find seats as the girls all migrate to one side with the boys on the other.
Just how I remember it.
Looking around to make sure everyone is on, I go to take a seat, but there’s no room.
“Where am I going to sit?”
Max looks at me then to Sam standing behind me. “You can drive with Sam!”
“Care to help me navigate?” Laughter fills Sam’s voice.
“I guess I have to.”
“Eww,” one of the girls says. “Boys are smelly.”
One of the chaperones—her mother by the matching face—scolds her.
“It’s okay. I think I can manage.”
“Let’s get started. What do you say?” Sam asks.
Everyone cheers as I follow Sam to the tractor.
“What a shame.” He clucks.
“Having to ride with you?” He extends his hand and helps me up before dropping down into the seat next to me. “There are definitely worse ways to spend my day.”
The tractor rumbles to a start as he steers us through the field. I unhook my sunglasses from my denim shirt and slide them into place.
The voices behind us echo around.
“Can I say thank you again for doing this?”
I rest my hand on his knee. From where we’re sitting, no one can see us.
“Thanks for trusting me to do it.”
“I’m glad you’re doing it. Max hasn’t stopped talking about the carnival.”
“Thank you for letting me hang out with you, darlin’. It’s been a long time since I’ve had fun like that.”
“Too busy at the ranch?”
He links his hand with mine. “More like trying to steal away any time I can with the pretty girl that works at the front desk.”
As we head through the pastures where the horses are out, a few stop to glance over at us.
They’re used to guests at this point, but I’m sure a wagon full of kids is new for them. It’s been a while since the ranch has been this busy.
The biggest draw is all the experiences that Kade brought back.
Especially the trail rides into the mountains.
Conversation is easy with Sam as he takes us by the trees. He makes wide, sweeping loops of the land back here before pulling up to a few makeshift tables set up in a shady area.
He really did pull out all the stops. Not only did he go above and beyond for me, but he did it for my kid. That tells me a lot about Sam. About the man he is.
“Anyone up for a picnic lunch?” Sam pops up from his seat as soon as the tractor is turned off. “How does that sound?”
“Can I sit by you?” Max pipes up.
Leave it to him to be the first to answer.
I jump down and unlock the back of the wagon to start helping the kids off.
Sam grabs the box of lunches and calls out names to hand them out.
Ms. Anderson, one of Max’s teachers, helps to make sure no kid gets the wrong lunch.
The last thing we need is a kid getting the wrong lunch and having a reaction to something they weren’t supposed to eat.
“I can’t thank you enough for organizing this,” Ms. Anderson tells me.
“I was happy to.”
“I know my second grader was jealous that we got to come out here. I expect there will be a lot more classes coming.”
“It was all Sam’s idea,” I say, giving the man sitting next to Max all the credit. “I was way too anxious about Max starting school, and he thought it would be a great idea.”
“You have nothing to worry about. Max is a great kid. He helps others and is always volunteering when I ask for help.”
“Thank you. That makes me so happy to hear.”
It also helps with the nerves I’m feeling about Max going to school. He loves telling me about his day—one of my favorite times as well—and I love that he’s not the quiet kid that doesn’t ask questions. I want him to learn and have fun.
Grabbing one of the lunches we packed for the chaperones—all thanks to our chef—I grab a seat opposite Sam and Max.
“Can horses eat sandwiches?” one of the kids asks.
I unwrap my own sandwich and take a bite, trying not to laugh.
“Horses don’t eat sandwiches,” Sam replies. “They can eat bananas, carrots, or even apples, as a treat.”
“I get a treat after dinner,” she says.
“Our horses don’t get that many treats.”
“Why not?” Max asks. “I like treats. I think a horse would too.”
“I think they like their hay the most,” Sam tells him. “But we save the good treats for when visitors come.”
“Like my elephant ear.” Max nods like he gets it.
“Just like that.” Sam smiles at him before digging into his lunch.
This is something I don’t get to do. Listening to the kids chat brings a smile to my face. Their conversations are so different from the ones I have with Max. They talk about their favorite books or stuffed animals, or what they want to do in class tomorrow. Like drawing pictures.
It’s the cutest thing ever.
All of the kids are on their best behavior, a testament to how great their teachers are.
They don’t get enough credit because I could never do this.
Having Max all on my own can be stressful some days.
I don’t know if I’d survive having to manage fifteen other kids.
There’s two teachers, but even then, it’d still be hard.
“Is everyone done with lunch?” their teacher asks, walking up and down the tables.
“Yes,” they answer in unison.
“Great. Then let’s clean up after ourselves and not leave any trash. We don’t want the animals to get it.” Her gaze flits behind us. “Because I think we have some visitors.”
Everyone turns toward the fence where a few of the ranch’s newest residents come wandering up.
“Cows!” they shriek, jumping up and running over to greet them.
“Don’t put your fingers through the fence,” someone says. “We don’t want them to bite you, okay?”
The cows don’t stick around long, coming over just long enough to see what’s going on before heading back out to find their lunch.
“Are they hungry?” Max asks, packing up his lunch.
“Maybe,” I say. “They can eat whenever they want.”
All the kids are gathered to get back onto the wagon as we head toward the ranch.
“This really is the perfect day for them,” I tell Sam.
This time, I don’t even bother trying to find a spot in the back. I’m happy riding up front with him.
“They’re having a great time.”
“They are. And no one tried to feed the animals their sandwich.”
Sam laughs, warm and deep. “I think I’m going to have to watch out for that one kid. He was picking his bananas off his sandwich.”
“As he told me, they were yucky.”
“I don’t know how kids eat anything these days.”
“Thank God Max isn’t picky. Although, I’m pretty sure he could live off tacos if I let him.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It’s not. I make a mean taco.”
Sam nudges me in the side. “Is that code for something else?”
“Stop it.” I swat at him. “Mind out of the gutter.”
“I wouldn’t mind one of your tacos, darlin’.”
“Seriously,” I hiss. “You cannot say things like that when we’re out here.”
“That I want your tacos?”
“You’re incorrigible.” I shake my head, laughing.
“Maybe you can make me some on Saturday. See if they live up to the hype.”
“And if they don’t?” I cross my arms, turning to face him.
“Then I get to eat your taco.”
“I don’t know if I’m turned on or hungry right now.”
“Both. Definitely both.”
“Let’s hope it stays that way until Saturday.”
“Darlin’, with you, that feeling never goes away.”