Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“What scared you?” I asked.
“It was darker than my room. But when I told her, she put a light on, and I was okay!” She dropped her voice. “Is she a cover too, John?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
She nodded sagely. “I thought so.”
Quinn watched us, a smile on her face. Abby turned to her, holding out her arms. “Hi!”
I handed her off, and Quinn dropped a bunch of little kisses on Abby’s face, making her giggle.
“Momma!”
“I missed you. Did you have a good time?”
Abby nodded. “We watched a movie and had popcorn and chips. And we made the pizza and got to put on whatever we wanted!”
“Let me guess,” I mused. “Hot peppers and anchovies?”
Abby wrinkled her nose. “No. Pepperoni and cheese with mushrooms and some bacon.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Are we going to the farm?”
“Nope,” I said. “I have a little surprise planned.”
Quinn buckled Abby in the back, and I held open her door, helping her scramble into the seat. It amused me to watch. She was so petite compared to me. I bent and kissed her.
She cupped my face. “A surprise?”
I winked. “Yep.”
We drove out of town for about thirty minutes and headed up a dirt road I knew well, pulling up to a large homestead. A group of men stood outside, and Abby stared at them as I swung her out of the back, perching her on my hip.
“Farmer John, are those cowboys?”
“Yep. This, Pumpkin, is a real ranch.”
“With horses?”
“Yep. And you get to ride one today.”
Her squeal was loud. “What about you and Momma?”
“Um, I think I’ll just watch,” Quinn said, sounding nervous.
I glanced her way. “Your choice, but you can ride with me if you want.”
“Oh, um…”
“Please, Momma?”
“Okay. Maybe,” she mumbled.
Laughing, I introduced her and Abby to my friend who owned the horse ranch. “Brent, this is Quinn. And this munchkin is Abby.”
He greeted them, tipping his hat. He indicated the group with him. “My sons, Luke and Mike. My right hands, Joe and Taylor.”
I shook their hands, and Abby and Quinn said hello. A woman came outside, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “And this is my wife, Sadie.”
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Sadie. You’re looking beautiful as always.”
She waved me off. “Hush, you.”
“We’re gonna ride a horse,” Abby told her.
“Yes, I heard. Then I have some cake and lemonade for after.” She glanced at Quinn. “Are you joining them or coming inside?”
“Momma is coming,” Abby said firmly.
Sadie laughed. “If you change your mind, the coffee is on. I hear you’re quite the cook. We could swap some recipes. I plan on visiting your dill place next time I’m in town.”
“You are always welcome,” Quinn replied.
“Sadie here makes the best cakes I know. Didn’t you used to sell them at the market?” I asked.
She nodded. “But when the stall closed down, I wasn’t interested in what the new vendor was offering. I miss making them, strange as that sounds.”
Quinn stepped forward. “I’m looking for local vendors for the restaurant. Maybe we could talk.”
Sadie smiled. “I’d like that. You go for a short ride. Then we can chat.”
“Okay.”
Quinn looked decidedly more nervous as they brought out the horses. Abby had no fear, delighted at the small gelding they helped her up on. Quinn eyed the tall black stallion I swung myself onto. I held out my hand. “Come on, darlin’. It’s perfectly safe.”
“I think I’d rather go talk to Sadie.”
“Ten minutes. Just ten minutes around the yard. If you’re still nervous, we’ll go out with Abby, and you can head inside.”
She worried her lip, and I flicked my fingers. “Come up, baby.”
“You don’t have a saddle.”
“Lots of room for you, then. Come on.”
She gasped as Brent lifted her from behind, and I grasped her waist, sitting her in front of me. She grappled on my arms, her grip tight. “Relax,” I breathed in her ear. “I have you.”
I urged the horse forward, and we began a slow pace. Brent held the harness of Abby’s horse, and she held the pommel, a wide grin on her face, not fearful at all. We trotted slowly around the yard, but Quinn never fully relaxed, her body pressed into me as close as she could get, her grip never easing.
“Not enjoying this?” I asked quietly.
“It’s fine. Just not my thing.”
I turned to Brent. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
They moved out, a protective guard on either side of Abby. I slid off the horse and helped Quinn down. “Go have a chat with Sadie. I’ll go with Pumpkin, and we’ll be back soon.”
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Hey.” I lifted her chin. “Don’t be sorry. You tried. Horses aren’t your thing. No big deal. This was for Abby, and as long as she has a good time, then all is great.”
“I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
“You could never disappoint me, Quinn. I love you exactly the way you are. I don’t want you to change.”