The older kids wanted to go riding, too, but their mothers called them back.
Sam rushed after his son, knowing for a fact Jenna wouldn’t want Ethan on a horse without Sam’s supervision. She probably wouldn’t want Ethan on a horse at all. But he was a Strickland now and they’d all learned to ride early.
He saw his father had been planning this. Popcorn and Froggy, two of his work horses, were saddled in front of the stables and ready to go. His dad climbed up with Ethan and settled the boy in front of him. Ethan fussed for a moment, a little startled, but then became fascinated by Froggy’s black mane. They set off at a walk.
Sam joined them on Popcorn, keeping a close eye on Ethan, and Froggy. The bay had earned his nickname because as a yearling, he’d hopped like a frog when startled or excited, and Ethan was now kicking the horse roughly.
But Froggy was five years old now and took it in stride, only giving the annoying kicking thing a backward glance.
They set off across the meadow. The morning was nice, still cool and just enough breeze to keep the air fresh. It had been less than a week, but he’d missed the feel of a horse beneath him.
“
Saw we had a new dog all of a sudden,” his dad said.
“
Yeah, he needed a home. I figured it’d be okay.”
Knox shrugged as if he didn’t care one way or another. “Your mom’s in charge of the dogs. If she says it’s okay, then it’s okay.”
“
She said it was okay.”
“
Well, okay, then. Heard you’re getting married.”
“
News travels fast.”
He patted his shirt pocket where the shape of his cell phone had created a permanent outline. “Your mother called me.”
Sam chuckled. “Am I in trouble?”
“
Trouble? No. Glad to hear it. This girl, the boy’s mother, she’s a Morgan, is she? The late mayor’s daughter?”
“
Yeah. Why?”
“
Your Uncle Sage called me this morning. Says he found the boys bullying some rich kid out in the barn.”
Sam wasn’t interested in hearing about the high school pranks of his uncle’s kids. He had problems of his own.
“
Said they had the kid cleaning out the horse and pig stalls all night,” his dad continued. “Wouldn’t let him go till he was finished. And they said it had to do with you. The rich kid was causing your girl some problems?”
“
Brandon Stewart? He’s the one?”
“
Wanna tell me what’s been going on?” his dad asked.
Sam thought about it, wondering how the Strickland kids had found out about Stewart and the problems he was causing Jenna. His Uncle Tad was doing some background work on Brandon Stewart, but certainly wouldn’t have instigated that kind of behavior. Then he remembered Brianna had befriended his young cousins. Brianna must have called them about the threat Brandon had sent in the flowers. And they must have talked to the boys about teaching Brandon a lesson. He made a mental note to speak to his cousins about doing things like that. And he needed to talk to Brianna, as well. Some of the Strickland kids were still wild and reckless. They’d end up getting her into all kinds of trouble.
“
He’s been harassing Jenna,” Sam said. “Making threats. But I didn’t sic those kids on him. I wouldn’t do that. I was planning to talk to Brandon. I’ll try to smooth things over.”
Knox gave Ethan a pat on the head. “Look at this boy ride. Like an old pro.”
Sam needed the laugh. Actually, Ethan was hopping in the seat and swaying from side to side, singing, but he was having a good time.
Knox gave Ethan a kiss on the head and gently asked him to stop pulling so hard on Froggy’s mane. “Those kids are full of spit and fire. You need to keep your name out of it.”
“
I know what they’re like. I don’t need teenagers to take care of my business.” But Sam knew the kids must have had a blast. A part of him would have liked to have been in that barn, watching that spoiled brat muck out stalls. The thought of it made him laugh.
Ethan looked at him and laughed along. “Having fun, buddy?” Sam asked him. “Like riding horses?”
“
Horsey!” Ethan declared, kicking again. “Oh! Right there!” And then he sang a short song about horseys.
“
That’s right, sonny boy,” Knox said. “You’re a riding a real live horse. You’ll have your very own horsey someday living on your daddy’s ranch.”
“
Yeah,” Ethan agreed. “
My
horsey.”
“
That’s yet to be decided,” Sam said.
“
You’ll work it out. Seems like yesterday,” Knox said, “I heard a ruckus up at the barn and found my little brothers doing the same thing to that Morgan kid. Guess it’s turned into some kind of family tradition.”
“
I’m not following,” Sam said.
“
Oh, Larry Morgan. He was a mean pest in high school. Drove my brothers to distraction. He and his rich friends were always picking on them, calling them names. One day, Morgan and his friends put manure in your Uncle Tucker’s truck. So, they got their revenge. A little backwoods justice. I told them to cut it out. It doesn’t help anything.”
“
Wait a second,” Sam said, finally catching on. “Your brothers took Jenna’s dad up to the barn and made him muck out stalls? Well, that would explain a lot. I think that’s why my son had to be born in Atlanta. And why Jenna had to fight to put my name on the birth certificate. Stupid, old grudges.”
“
Human nature, kiddo.” They turned back toward the stables. “You know,” Knox said, “I wonder what’ll happen to this place when I’m gone.”
“
You’re not planning on dying on us, are you?” Sam said. Because he knew where this conversation was going.
His dad sent him a warning glance. “You know, I’ve got two hundred acres of some of the prettiest land you’ve ever seen. I’ve bred some fine racehorses here. I always thought my boys would take over the farm. But you were the only one that showed any interest at all in the horses and you moved off. Your mom wants to travel more. She’s on me to retire.”
“
My
horse,” Ethan said, leaning forward to pat Froggy’s neck. “
Yeah
.”
“
So,” Sam said, just to sum things up, “you want me here, Mom wants me at Jack’s, Granddad made me promise not to leave the ranch, and I don’t know what Jenna wants. I’m not gonna have any arms or legs left after this visit.”
“
You’ll have one leg left, son,” Knox said, finding himself amusing. “I’m just saying if you wanna stay here and take over the farm and live at Jack’s that’s an option. Just laying out options. If you feel you need to go back to your granddad’s place then that’s what you have to do. Remember when you were a kid and you said you were going to breed the next Triple Crown winner? I wonder what ever happened to that dream.”
Thankfully, Sam’s phone chimed and he dug it out of his pocket. It was Jenna, calling to check up. He held up his finger and they stopped the horses. “We’re doing fine,” he assured her. “He’s been playing with his cousins.”
“
Can I speak to him? Is he right there?” she asked, as if wanting proof Sam hadn’t dumped Ethan in a ditch somewhere.
He handed his dad the phone who then held it to Ethan’s ear.
“
Mama?” Ethan said. And then in a moment he said, “Yeah. My horse.
My
horsey.” He listened some more and then said, “’kay. Love. Bye-bye.”
Popcorn, probably bored, started snorting and neighing and whipping his mane. Sam patted his neck, wishing the horse would shut up.
He took back the phone. “What’s this about horses?” Jenna immediately asked, sounding suspicious. “I hear horses.”
“
We’re just playing outside,” he answered, evading her question. He’d confess later but didn’t want to worry her at work.
“
Is he wearing his cap? Did you put the sunscreen on him?”
Sam winced, checking Ethan for signs of sunburn. His cheeks and arms were a little pink, but he was always pink. “He’s fine. Stop worrying. How’s work?” he asked to change the subject.
They chatted a few more minutes. Her day was going fine. She was dealing with some gossip about her promotion, but nothing too serious, she assured him, and her break was almost over. He remembered just in time to get her ring size.
“
Are we all good?” his dad asked as they nudged the horses.
“
She may have my hide for this,” Sam said, nodding to the horses. He winked at his son. “You tried to rat me out, boy.”
Ethan lunged forward to hug Froggy’s neck and Knox pulled him back by the shirt. “My horsey,” Ethan said. “Daddy.”
Sam yanked on the reins in surprise, causing Popcorn to back up and then sidestep. Knox stopped Froggy. “
What
?”
Sam pointed urgently at Ethan. “Did you hear that?” he asked his dad. “You heard that, right? He said it.”
Knox laughed and kept moving. “I think he plans to steal my horse,
Daddy
. Have to keep an eye on this kiddo.” He leaned forward to speak to Ethan. “Are you a horse thief, sonny boy?”
“
Yeah,” Ethan admitted.
Sam watched them ride away, his heartbeat racing. He didn’t know if Ethan understood what he’d said or if he’d only heard the word a few times in the past hour, but it didn’t really matter.
Sam let Popcorn trot to catch up. The word was now part of Ethan’s vocabulary, which meant one day soon he’d know Sam was his father.
Which meant Sam would have to start acting like a father. A role he’d never really considered beyond the occasional and vague concept of one day in the future possibly having kids.
But the concept was no longer vague or in the future. That day had arrived.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
At the end of a very tiring workday, Jenna returned home and found Ethan and Sam in the den. Sam was sitting on the couch drawing in a sketchpad. Ethan was lying on his stomach on the floor, slashing colors in his coloring book with a crayon.
“Mama!” he yelled when he saw her. He ran to her and hugged her leg so she picked him up to give him a hug.
Sam’s eyes lit up at the sight of her and she was equally glad to see him. “Hey, finally,” he said.
Ethan squirmed from her arms and ran back to his coloring book.
Sam came to give her a warm kiss and hug then led them back to the sofa where she gratefully fell back. “You look beat. Tough day?”
“Tiring,” she admitted, covering her face and groaning. “I never thought about Brandon’s rumors getting around the office. You wouldn’t believe some of the looks and attitudes I got. Plus, Mr. O’Hara was out sick today and it was like they all thought I was responsible. How could they think I’d have an affair with Mr. O’Hara to get a promotion? He’s a grandfather.”
She knew why but didn’t want to say it out loud. It was because she’d had Ethan and had kept Sam’s identity a secret. It was because she’d ruined her father’s reputation – and her own. Now people were willing to believe anything about her.
Sam raised his eyebrows at her. “Doesn’t sound like you’re very happy there.”
She nodded toward Ethan, wanting to forget about work for the rest of the day. “How was he today?”
“We had a blast. He got to know everyone. My dad and I took him for a ride on the horses.”
Sam tensed as if expecting a harsh reaction from her. But she could see her son was fine. “Did he like it?”
Sam frowned at her, with
that
frown, but then smiled. “He loved it. He’s claimed my dad’s horse as his own. Seriously. He wants that horse.”
Jenna needed the laugh. “He’ll forget about it later.”
“You’d be proud of me. I saved his life.”
That caught her attention and she sat forward to take a better look at her son. “What happened?”
“He almost ate a grape. But I remembered and stopped him. We gave him apple slices instead. I hope that’s okay.”
“Oh.” She sat back. “He just gets a little rash. The doctor said he’ll probably grow out of it. Apples are okay. But thank you for keeping a close eye on him.”
She lifted the sketchpad and saw several doodles. Most were of clocks, but one in the corner was of what she was sure were her eyes.
Sam took the sketchpad away from her, chuckling. “I’m not much of an artist. Your TV doesn’t work and I got bored while Ethan took his nap.” He pointed behind him. “But take a look. Good as new.”
She followed his direction and saw her grandmother’s clock sitting on the chess table. The dark wood gleamed from a recent polish and the movement ticked steady and gentle. “Oh, you finished it.” She fell against him, shaky after an exhausting day at work, needing his strong arm around her. “You’re amazing.”
“
He called me Daddy today,” Sam said, pointing at Ethan.
“
He did?” She leaned back, a little startled, and perhaps a touch jealous. But the jealousy only lasted a moment and then turned into a sense of urgency. Sam had a lot to offer their son. Vital, valuable things, like laughter, optimism, and affection. And in that moment, she realized the seriousness of her situation. She had to keep Sam in Ethan’s life – it was imperative that her son have a decent, loving father to emulate.