11. Silas
I take a few more sips of my iced coffee, taking the longer route to the barn because Max is loving the ride in my Maserati and I don’t know if or when I’ll get to drive him around again.
That and watching him and Ellie in the back seat reminds me of another duo finding adventures on Blue River Ranch.
I ease the car to a stop near the barn just as Storm comes into view, riding along the fence line like she’s got nowhere else to be. The sun’s low enough now to catch in her hair, turning her loosened ponytail a rich gold. It lights her up in a way that feels unfair.
The horse looks familiar.
Tucker.
She’s riding my horse.
He moves beneath her like he trusts her completely.
She sits deep in the saddle, legs steady, hands relaxed, in full control.
“Here we are,” I say, stepping out, my left arm sore from maneuvering this thing the last ten minutes.
The kids hop out, still playfully arguing over something.
“You can’t rename the pony,” Max argues.
“Daddy said if I pick one as mine, I can,” Ellie claims.
“Why would you want a pony? When you can have a horse?”
“Why have a horse, when you can have a pony?” Ellie shrugs. “And I don’t like Winter. It’s cold. I want her name to be Poppy.”
Ellie sure is getting a lot more comfortable on the ranch, that’s for sure.
“Before you go doing that, let’s see if my mom thinks Winter will even let you walk her. She said she’s a tough cookie.”
What did he just say?
“Oh, Cookie would be a cute name,” Ellie muses and skips ahead.
Max shakes his head, following behind her.
I stay where I am, watching, almost in a blur, as the kids race away and over to the arena where Storm finally sees them, her face lighting up as she halts Tucker. Looking over their shoulder, her smile fades and I swear she pales.
“Mom,” Max calls. “Can you tell Ellie she can’t rename Winter?”
She tears her eyes off me, blinking, and focuses on Max. Then hops off my horse. “H-hey, kids. The, um, the ponies are just taking a break now in the barn, but I’ll bring them out in a minute. You two have fun today?” She inhales sharply like she’s catching her breath.
“I had fun. Max said he was bored like a hundred times,” Ellie claims.
“It was boring, but then we had ice cream. And then Silas came and gave us a ride in that.” He points to the vehicle just behind me now as I approach them.
Storm sweeps her gaze over me. “Thanks for bringing them over.”
I don’t answer. I just look at her, eyes narrowing as I try to figure out how the hell I missed that Storm had a child.
“I’m so excited about the wedding. Daddy said if anyone can get Winter ready, it’s you.”
Storm tears her eyes from me then takes Ellie’s hand with a warm smile.
“Well, if your uncle Silas can walk her in a semi-straight line, I think you certainly can.” She turns to Max, cupping his chin gently and something tugs in my chest. “I’m sorry you were bored today, honey.
I promise we’ll do something fun tonight.
It’s still early.” She straightens and ushers them forward.
“Now go and wait for me inside. I’ll get the ponies. ”
Without a second thought, I follow her into the barn. I know she’s well aware I’m behind her, but she doesn’t stop. Moving to the first stall, she brings out the darker pony I saw in the pen with her earlier. “If you’re here to help, you can grab Winter. She’s three stalls down.”
“You have a kid.”
“Can’t get one past you,” she mutters.
I stop in my tracks. “Are you trying to?”
She snaps her head back. “Of course not, why would I?”
“Storm, it doesn’t take much for me to do the math. You’re twenty-seven. That kid’s nine. When did this happen?”
She stalks forward. “Thought you said it doesn’t take much for you to do the math.”
“I’m serious, Storm.”
She turns, her eyes flaming. “And I am too when I say it’s none of your goddamn business. Now if you’re not here to help me, please leave.”
“Like hell it’s none of my business,” I mutter. And there isn’t a bone in my body that doesn’t believe it. I knew there was something special about the kid. Something that drew me to him and of course, he’s Storm’s. How could I not see it? The freckles, the nose, the eyes. The imagination.
Sucking her teeth, she stalks over to me and hands me the lead rope for the calmer horse. “Hold Cupid.” Then she moves to the other stall and prepares the white pony. Winter or Poppy or whatever Ellie plans on calling her.
“Storm,” I call, following her with Cupid as she walks Winter out of the barn toward the pen.
“Silas, drop it,” she hisses, snapping her head back. “I don’t know who you think you are showing up here and asking questions, but this isn’t your arena, it’s mine. And I need you to leave me alone.”
“Need or want?”
“The hell’s the difference?”
“I’ll tell you. I needed to stay away from you in high school. But I sure as hell didn’t want to.”
She flips back again, eyes narrow searching mine. But she gives up quickly. “You get one question and make it quick.”
I watch her with a quiet ease, trying my luck. “Are you free for dinner tonight?”
She rolls her eyes. “Not only is the answer to that no, it’s Sunday––you have your family dinner tonight at Wilder’s.” She grabs Cupid from me as if to say she can take it from here and steps into the training pen with Ellie and Max waiting.
For the next forty minutes, I watch her with the kids and ponies, teaching them how to hold a line, how to move with intention instead of force.
Every so often I catch her glance over at me, where I’m standing with Tucker.
Stroking him gently. He isn’t as responsive to me as he is with her, but at least he’s not huffing me out of his space.
Then again, maybe he’s just too mesmerized with Storm to bother with me.
She’s patient in her quick lesson. A kind you can’t fake.
Which is impressive given she wasn’t expecting me to show up with her kid in my car tonight.
And the exhaustion that’s still clear in every inch of her.
My phone vibrates and I check it quickly.
Dallas: You OK?
Silas: Feeling kind of stupid for snapping at you, but I’m sure I’ll get over it.
Dallas: So about that, can we talk about it soon?
Silas: Did you need something?
Dallas: Dad asked if you’d like to invite Storm and Max to dinner at Wilder’s tonight.
Silas: Thanks, no. And I’m skipping tonight’s dinner. Taking them out instead.
Dallas: She agreed?
Silas: Shot me down flat. But I’ve got a secret weapon.
Dallas: Do NOT use the kid. She won’t like it.
Silas: Then I’ll sit out in the penalty box and be back on the ice before you know it.
I smirk, knowing my cocky attitude always drives him crazy.
Dallas: Silas, this isn’t the way.
Silas: Neither was marrying the stranger who broke into your house just to win custody of your daughter, yet here we are.
There’s a longer beat before he responds.
Dallas: I’ll swing by to pick up Ellie.
That makes me laugh and I slip the phone in my back pocket, then catch Storm flicking her gaze back to the kids. Walking backward as she leads them toward her slowly. Then stops and claps her hands. “Great job, you two.”
Winter shuffles, causing the flower petals to fall everywhere.
“Oh, I’m sorry, you four. Great job!” She takes both lead ropes. “Okay, go wash your hands while I get them back into their stalls.”
I turn to Tucker since I’m alone with him now.
“Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Probably the same thing she is.
Who do you think you are, coming back here and staking claim.
Well, let me tell you something buddy—I’ve known her a lot longer than you have.
” I hold his reins. “Besides, I didn’t hear her confessing an old crush on you,” I chuckle, stroking his nose.
He doesn’t find the humor and he shuffles away.
“Well, look at you,” Dallas calls, hopping off Trouble. He’s carrying a small helmet I assume is for Ellie for when he takes her home. “Talkin’ to your old horse.”
He steps inside the arena. “How’d the training go?”
I release Tucker’s reins. “Couldn’t tell ya, wasn’t watching the kids.”
He grins. “Not surprised. What’s the verdict on tonight?”
“I told you, taking them to dinner.”
He nods, treading carefully as he steps closer. “Silas, she’s got a kid.”
“And I appreciate the heads-up about that,” I say dryly.
He glances behind me. “I’m just saying, you’re not exactly an in-it-for-the-long-haul kind of guy.”
I glare at him.
“Don’t look at me like that. We’ve never seen you with the same girl twice. In other words, you’re . . . always on the next flight out. Storm isn’t a . . . layover kind of girl.”
He’s not wrong about my dating history. Women have always fit neatly into the gaps between seasons and travel games, with the occasional summer fling. I’ve had a few repeats but I’m not a liar, so I never make promises. And relationships require promises I know I’m not good for.
“Dal, it’s dinner with an old friend. That’s all.” As much as I want to believe it, the words don’t sit right with me. Because it’s more than that. I want to fix what I allowed to break when I refused to stand up to someone. I want my best friend back.
And, yeah, maybe selfishly—I want some answers myself.
Dallas nods. “Friend, huh.” He scratches his beard, watching as Storm makes her way back toward us with the kids. “I don’t know, she looks pretty ticked off when you’re around. What do I do if you’re not back by morning?”
I smirk, following his gaze. “Pin my disappearance on the Callahans.”
“Deal.”
After Dallas takes Ellie home, I wait for Storm and Max outside the barn, watching as the sun slowly starts to settle behind the mountains.
“Where’s your jacket?” I hear Storm ask Max as they return from the barn with her things.
“Oh, I left it at The Sha . . .”—he spots me and practically skips—“Silas, you’re still here.”
Storm quietly glares at me as they move closer, noticing the keys she left in her truck between my fingers. It was a good guess she keeps them there since that’s what everyone does around here.
“So he is . . .” She glances at both our cars. “Am I blocking you?” There’s an edge to her voice as she works to keep her tone even.
I push off the truck. “Not at all, actually, thought we’d use your truck when we get dinner tonight.”
Max’s eyes go wide with excitement. “We’re going to dinner with him?”
Storm’s jaw is harder than I’ve ever seen it—but I’m not nervous. Not really.
“We’re not going to dinner,” she says sharply, then smiling and speaking through gritted teeth, she adds, “thought I made that clear earlier.”
I twirl the keyring around my finger. “Could have sworn you said you were free.”
“Mom! You promised we’d do something fun tonight. This is fun.”
She purses her lips.
Thanks kid, was counting on you holding her to it. I wink at him.
“You have school tomorrow,” she reminds him calmly.
“Do you not feed the kid on school nights?”
She glares at me again. And this is a new one. Not one I can’t handle—just new.
“So, I was hoping we’d take your truck tonight since my left arm’s a bit stiff after getting back in mine.”
She snatches the keys from me. “Mine it is,” she growls low and moves to the driver seat. “Get in.”