She reached out to adjust his hat, using the gesture to buy herself a moment. “You can call him whatever feels right to you. But yes, he’s your dad, and I think he’d love to hear you say it.”
He looked away, then back to her, his blue eyes earnest in hers. “What if I mess up my run? What if I’m not as good as he was?”
Clearly Huck was all about breaking her heart today. She stood. “You want to know a secret about your dad?” Sierra guided Jasper toward the warm-up area, Huck walking beside her. “He wasn’t just county champion three years running. He was state champion twice. And you know what? He told me you’re already better at ten than he was.”
Huck’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Really. He said you’ve got natural talent and good instincts. The rest is just practice and confidence.” Sierra squeezed his shoulder. “And you’ve got plenty of both.”
He grinned, and her heart simply split wide apart. She pulled him close. “I’m so proud of you.”
He wiggled away. “I gotta warm up, Mom.”
She laughed. “Yep.” They spent the next twenty minutes working Jasper through his paces, letting the old horse remember his job while Huck settled into the rhythm of competition preparation. Other kids moved through similar routines around them, the air filled with encouraging words from parents and the occasional whicker from horses recognizing friends.
“Riders for the ten-and-under tie-down roping should start heading to the staging area.” The announcer’s voice crackled across the parking lot. “We’ll begin competition in approximately thirty minutes.”
Huck dismounted to lead Jasper into the staging area.
Sierra pulled out her phone, checking for messages from Rowan. Nothing since his text two hours ago saying he’d be there soon. She typed quickly.
Sierra
Huck’s asking for you. Competition starts in 30. Where are you?
“Mom, I think I’m ready.” Huck looked up at her with the kind of determination that reminded her so much of Rowan it made her chest tight. “I got this.”
“You absolutely do.” Sierra gave him a quick hug, breathing in the scent of sunshine and confidence that clung to her son. “Go show them what a Blackwood can do.”
“A Blackwood-Wallace,” Huck corrected with a grin.
“Even better.”
She watched him lead Jasper toward the staging area, her heart swelling. How she’d survive this day, she didn’t know. Too much joy, really, for a woman who’d lost everyone.
And yet still found her happy ending.
Sierra made her way toward the arena, weaving between families claiming spots on the metal bleachers. The afternoon sun caught the dust kicked up by horses in the arena, creating golden clouds in the air. Vendors hawked popcorn and cotton candy, their calls mixing with the sounds of excited children and neighing horses.
She spotted Bailey Sinclair halfway up the bleachers, waving like a crazy person. “Sierra!”
Sierra climbed toward her best friend, dodging families with coolers and bleacher chairs, apologizing for stepping on toes and squeezing past knees.
“Finally.” Bailey shifted over to make room. “I thought you’d never get here. How’s our boy doing?”
“Confident. Nervous. Ready.” Sierra settled beside Bailey, scanning the arena where younger kids were finishing their events. “And asking if he can call Rowan ‘Dad.’”
“Oh my gosh.” Bailey clutched Sierra’s arm. “Wait. Rowan knows?”
“Yep.”
“How did that go?”
Sierra heated despite the afternoon breeze. “Better than I ever dared hope. He was shocked, of course, and maybe a little angry, but…Oh, Bailey, the way he looks at Huck…” She shook her head. “It’s like he’s been waiting his whole life to be a father.”
“And Huck knows.”
“Yeah. He found out last night. It was…well, let’s say dramatic. But yeah, he knows.”
