ChapterOne
“Apple juice,Daddy. I want apple juice,” Jameson said as he stood in the bedroom doorway holding Roary, his stuffed dinosaur. “I’m firsty.”
Brendan Marshall groaned and looked at the clock. “Buddy, it’s five in the morning.” He pushed back the covers, got out of bed, and took Jameson to the bathroom to get him some water. “You can have apple juice with breakfast.” He let Jameson drink before putting the cup back and taking him by the hand to lead him to his room and put him back to bed. Hopefully, once he fell back to sleep, Jameson would stay in bed. His son had early-riser tendencies, and Brendan needed those to stay away this morning. It was Sunday, and Brendan had only been in bed a few hours. “Night, night,” he told Jameson, who snuggled down under the covers.
“Love you, Daddy,” Jameson said before rolling over.
“I love you too,” he said with a soft sigh, and left the room. He desperately wanted to go back to bed and sleep for hours, but there was plenty of do. Still, he returned to his room. He had until seven before he had to get up, and that time felt like gold at the moment. Slipping under the covers, he lay down and must have gone right to sleep, because the next thing he knew, the alarm chimed, and he slapped it off before it woke Jameson.
He dressed in the early-morning light that was peeping around the curtains and quietly made his way downstairs. The goddess of coffee had started on time and was ready with a full pot. He poured a cup and sipped it while he filled his travel mug. Then he pulled on his boots and a heavy sweater and finished his coffee before stepping outside.
The early October air was crisp and fresh. He inhaled deeply before striding across the yard to the long barn on the west side of the property. The land had been in his family almost as long as Pennsylvania had been a state, and it was in his blood. He hoped it would get into Jameson’s as well.
“Morning, Diane,” he said, taking a sip from the travel mug. “How is Tahara this morning?”
“She’s walking better and doesn’t seem to be in pain any longer. I’m going rest her another week and then we’ll see where she is. I fed and watered all the horses already. I wasn’t sure which ones you wanted put out.” She had more energy than three people, it seemed like.
“You could ride Dandy if you wanted. I know he’s not as polished as Tahara, but a little exercise would do you both good.” Brendan charged good rates for board and feed. Part of the deal was that each owner kept their horse’s stall cleaned and helped out a couple hours a week. Diane always went beyond, so he tried to do the same.
“Thanks, but I think I pulled a muscle the other day, so I’m taking it easy myself. But maybe when I come on Tuesday, if that’s okay.” She put her hands on her hips as if she didn’t quite know what to do with them. “How is that cute son of yours?”
“Hopefully still in bed. He was up a few hours ago.” He yawned as footsteps on the gravel sounded outside. Michael strode into the barn, smiled, and headed for his horse, Kraken, who was very pleased to see him. Michael knew what he needed to do, and Brendan left the quiet teenager alone. He didn’t speak very much to anyone and seemed to prefer his horse to people.
“You look like hell, if I can be honest. What did you do last night? Party? Did you get yourself wasted?” She grinned and rolled her eyes. Brendan was known for being boring in that regard.
“I was working.” He tilted his head, and she followed him all the way through the barn to the very back. Across from the tack room, he unlocked the door and pushed it open.
“Oh, I get to see the secret room.” Her smile dimmed when she saw the power tools lining the wall. “Oh….”
“What did you think it was?” Brendan asked.
The twinkle in Diane’s eyes told him he was in for it. “Some of us had a betting pool, and my square was sex dungeon. “I always wanted to see one.” She shook her head. “A girl can dream.” That probably told him more about Diane than he wanted to know. She stepped inside. “What are you making in here?” She turned around, and her mouth dropped. “Wow.”
“I began working out here while I was going through the divorce. I needed a way to get through the stress.”
“I love the turned jar,” she said softly, lifting one of the smaller pieces and then setting it back in place. “You should sell these.”
“That’s the plan.” He smiled and motioned to a stack of tubs. “I’ve been building up a stock of sorts.
“What are all these?” she asked as she approached the last set of shelves.
“Experiments. I’m not sure that any of them are working out. I was thinking of some toys for Jameson, but he wants Legos and things like that. So lately I’ve been trying to come up with something else. But I’m just now sure yet.”
Diane nodded, then smiled. “Ask Jameson what he would want you to make for him. I bet he’ll tell you.” She left the room, and Brendan closed and relocked the door. Others had arrived and were working with their horses. Sunday was the one day he did not schedule lessons, thank goodness, so he didn’t have appointments, but there was always plenty of work to be done. But first, he needed to check on Jameson.
Brendan found him still in bed. He sat on the side, and Jameson stirred, wiping his eyes. “Are you hungry?” Brendan asked. Jameson nodded and went right into his arms. He lifted him, then stood and carried Jameson downstairs and into the kitchen.
“Do you want eggs or oatmeal?” Brendan asked.
“Sammiches,” Jameson said. “With bacons.” Of course—his son was a bacon fiend.
“Okay.” Brendan set about making egg sandwiches, putting bacon in the air fryer and getting out the bread. “I’ll cook, and you go get dressed.”
“Can we see the horsies?”
“After you eat and get dressed.” Jameson loved the horses. He ran out of the room, and Brendan finished making breakfast. By the time it was ready, Jameson had come back down. His socks didn’t match, but that was okay—he was dressed, and he climbed into his chair. Brendan cut up his sandwich and put the plate in front of him with some apple juice.
Jameson tucked right in. “Yummy,” he half sang between bites.
