I hand him the baby. He swaps me for the diaper bag and holds Mitchell at arm’s length.
“He’s not contagious,” I assure him.
“Is this going to be how it is when you’re a dad?” Luke asks Cody.
“When I’m a dad I’ll be so smitten with my own child their poop will smell like roses,” Cody says, confidently.
“I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works,” Ethan says, laughing.
“You guys are awesome,” Cody’s cousin, Kellie, says, walking in and grabbing Mitchell from Cody. “You don’t have to do diaper duty. I can take him now.”
Kellie and her husband Daniel are visiting from Alabama for the holiday weekend. I’ve been holding five-month-old Mitchell nonstop—partially to give them a break, and partly because he’s adorable and I love the feel of him in my arms.
I shake my shoulder out and smile at Kellie. “He’s the cutest.”
“He’s way cuter when he doesn’t keep you up all night,” she says, smiling at Mitchell. “Aren’t you, Mister Stinkypants?”
He squirms and fusses.
“Here,” she says. “Give me the diaper bag.” She coos to Mitchell, “Let’s go get you comfy.”
They walk down the hall to the guest bedroom.
I smile, watching them go. Mitchell’s still fussy, but he’s snuggling into Kellie’s arms and nuzzling her neck. The magic of motherhood.
Cody stands up and rests his chin on my shoulder. “Are you still up for a ride?”
I turn and glance into his eyes. “Always.”
I rode Lark over this morning, so she’s already in the barn.
I follow Cody out to the stalls. I pause to give Storm a little love. He’s right at home here on the ranch.
“Sorry, buddy,” I tell Storm. “It’s not your turn for a ride. Maybe next time.”
We saddle our horses and lead them out the back barn door. Then we mount and I follow Cody across the lawn and up the fence line.
Lark perks up, trailing behind Jasper and keeping his pace. The wind is low and soft in the high grass. Leaves rustle in the trees. I lift my hand, freeing my hair tie and letting my braid unfurl as Lark rolls forward into a full gallop. Cody looks back over his shoulder and smiles at me.
I nudge Lark and ride up beside Cody. Jasper’s not eager to have anyone keep his pace. He loves being in the lead. Cody takes charge, pulling Jasper back just a hair so we can ride side-by-side.
I smile at Cody. “Race you to the tree!”
I nudge Lark and she takes off at a gallop.
“No fair!” Cody yells, his laughter lifting around us.
He and Jasper catch up and take the lead.
We slow to a lope and then a trot as we come to what we now callOur Tree. I’m ready for Cody to tell me to dismount here. He’ll spread a blanket—like we have so many times since that first ride out here together that day we snuck away.
“I have another plan today,” he says.
“You and your plans,” I tease.
“Humor me,” he says with a smile.
“Always.”
