He stuffed sunscreen and sunglasses in a backpack, sat his cowboy hat onto his head, and stuck his feet into sneakers. Jake might not be able to ride a horse with them on, but he’d been riding since before he could walk and could go bareback and barefoot if need be. Shea left his room and went to forage in the kitchen. He filled a plastic container with cookies and brownies, and remembering he also needed something healthy, swiped some apples, peaches, and carrots. Several bottles of water and some juice packs also went into the backpack.
By the time Shea walked outside, Jake and Stacey were out there talking with Terry and Patty.
“Here I am. Was just makin’ sure I have everythin’.”
“Shea, you don’t have to do this,” Terry said. “I’m happy to take her instead. All we’ll need is for someone to drive us there and back.”
It wasn’t his imagination that Stacey lost that sweet smile. “I know, Miss Terry. But I was hopin’ me an’ the princess could have a little special time together. Plus, I promised. Right?”
The smile reappeared, and Stacey nodded.
“So there you go. Jake, we’ll be at the lake when you’re finished.” Without waiting for anyone else to object, he picked Stacey up and swung her onto his shoulders. “I’ll be your horsie until we get to Rambo.”
And holding on to her, he galloped away. Three horses were in the paddock, with the rest out grazing in the pasture behind the barn. When they approached, Rambo trotted over, and he set Stacey down and took her hand. “Now we’re gonna go right inside the barn and get his saddle. How about that?”
She nodded. “He’s big.” Her eyes saucer-wide, she gazed up at the horse.
“Yeah, he’s a big old boy, but gentle as a pussycat, aren’t you, buddy?” He patted the horse’s neck. “You know, I was your age when my daddy taught me how to saddle a horse. You think you can help me?”
Those big green eyes, so like Jake’s, widened. “Me?”
He tweaked her nose. “You.”
Her mouth hung open. “Uh-huh.”
“C’mon, then.” From the barn, he took the saddle, pad, and bridle and returned to the paddock. They entered, and he showed her how to slip on the bridle and put on the saddle and cinch it properly like his father showed him all those years ago.
“Doesn’t it hurt?” She cocked her head when Rambo took the bridle in his mouth.
“Nah. He’s okay with it. We just gotta make sure we never pull on the reins too hard, cause that’s what can hurt their mouths. But don’t you worry. I’m gonna show you the right way. Now when I put you up there, I want you to hold on tight to the saddle horn.” He patted it. “Right there.”
“Okay.” She didn’t say anything when he picked her up, but when she sat, her mouth made a perfect O. “Ooooh.I’m so high up.”
“You sure are, Princess.”
He hopped into the saddle, and with one arm holding her tight, clicked for Rambo to start walking. Smart animal that he was, Rambo understood he was carrying special cargo and stepped carefully down the path. They passed by Terry and Patty on the porch, who waved to them, and Stacey bounced a little and waved in return. When he plopped his big cowboy hat on her head, she broke out in giggles, and Terry took picture after picture or maybe a video. With one final wave, he turned Rambo off the path, and they trotted to the lake.
Once they arrived at the spot he’d decided was shallow enough for Stacey to splash around in, he spread out the blanket and towels and put her in her life vest. He sprayed her with sunscreen, kicked off his sneakers, and took off his T-shirt.
“Let’s go.”
They splashed in the water, and Shea pointed out the little fish swimming around them.
“Oh, I feel them.” She stood still in the water watching them swirl around her legs.
She decided she’d had enough of swimming and wanted to look for frogs. After a while, they gave up the search, and he dried her off and they sat on the blanket. Damn, he was tired, and he’d barely done anything.
“I have some snacks. Do you want a cookie or some fruit?”
“Yes, please.” Stacey yawned, and he handed her a cookie, but she only took one bite. “Are you Daddy’s boyfriend?”
About to bite into an apple, Shea felt his throat close up, and he put the apple down on the towel.
“I don’t know,” he said, choosing his words carefully, feeling the best way to answer her was as honestly as possible. “I like your daddy a lot, and we’re good friends. That’s most important.”
“Uh-huh.” She ate part of her cookie. “You’re nicer than Uncle Andy. He didn’t like me.”
Her lip trembled, and alarm zinged through Shea. Oh God, what would he do if she started to cry?
