The long day passed, followed by a restless night.
And then it was the day of the Pony Swim. Wednesday dawned and about forty-five cowboys arrived at the southern pen, tired from a long, exhausting few days but also exhilarated at the thought of the big event.
There was a lot of stress involved in herding 150 ponies and their foals over two miles of muddy marsh. The journey to the channel was always nerve-racking and somewhat perilous. It was challenging to get the whole herd to the crossing site in one bunch. Furthermore, for the ponies’ safety, they had to cross during slack tide—a thirty-minute window between high and low tides when there was no current.
No one wanted any harm to come to the beautiful animals. Not to mention all the media or the tens of thousands of people who waited to experience the famed Pony Swim. It was a lot of pressure.
Tyson pulled his hat low on his head as Joe Barnes, one of the old-timers, opened the pen. “Let’s do this!”
Jenna stifled a yawn. She’d been up before the sun and on the road. It was still early when she reached the causeway to the island.
A sense of freedom hit her as she drove over the channel. She was home, this time for good. Her life in Alexandria was over, and the thought didn’t even make her sad. That chapter was over, and a new, exciting one was about to begin. Maybe her years away from the island hadn’t gone exactly as planned. But she’d learned what she needed to learn. She’d arrived exactly where she was supposed to arrive.
And this chapter—the one that picked up where it had all begun—had been written just for her. The thought made her smile.
She couldn’t wait to start her new job. Coastal Currents had always felt like a home away from home, and it would soon be hers. What a dream it would be to wake up every day and run the business she’d always loved. To see her beloved island’s history passed on. She was equally confident her grandma would’ve approved of her use of the trust she’d left Jenna for her dream. She’d never felt so certain of her career’s direction.
Even if she was less certain of other things.
Mom’s house was a quick ten-minute drive from the bridge. Gordon’s car wasn’t there, but then again Jenna had known it wouldn’t be. He’d returned to DC, and the two were courting long-distance with visiting privileges extended both directions. Jenna thought that was wise of them. No reason to rush things.
Not bothering to knock on the front door, Jenna followed the pavers around the house where she found her mom enjoying her coffee and morning devotional on the deck. A cardinal tweeted from the bird feeder hanging nearby.
A pebble scraped the cement under Jenna’s foot, alerting her mother to her presence.
Mom’s eyes widened, then a smile bloomed across her face. “Jenna! What are you doing here?” She popped to her feet, still wearing her pale pink pajamas, and threw her arms around her daughter.
“You didn’t think I’d miss the Pony Swim, did you?”
“Oh, I’m so glad to see you. You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“I wanted to surprise you. And well, I hope you meant what you said about me staying awhile. Because it turns out I can’t move into my rental until the end of August.”
Mom drew back, hope in her eyes. “Your rental?”
“I’m moving back to the island, Mom.”
“Oh, honey!” Mom threw her arms around Jenna again.
She laughed. “You’re strangling me, Mom.”
“Sorry!” She let loose of her iron grip. “You’re really moving home? What happened? I thought you liked your new job.”
“I liked it okay. It just wasn’t what I needed right now. And then a week and a half ago I got a call from Miss Molly. She’s selling her business, Mom—to me.”
“Oh my gracious!” She clapped her hands in glee. “You love Coastal Currents. That’s just perfect.”
“Isn’t it? I couldn’t believe it when she offered it to me. I’ve been going over the financials for days, and it makes good business sense. The buyout will take place over the next two years—the trust Grandma put in place will be put to good use after all.”
Mom gave a mock scowl and swatted her arm. “You could’ve told me. I’ve been over here missing you like crazy.”
“Again...” Jenna waved jazz hands. “Surprise!”
“Oh, you! I suppose I can forgive you since you’re moving home and all. Now sit down and tell me everything.”
Jenna told her about the cute Cape Cod she’d rented over on Poplar Street. Miss Molly had agreed to pay Jenna a generous salary until the buyout was complete. Eventually she hoped to purchase a home—but that was a ways down the line.
When Jenna finished giving her mother all the details, Mom turned hopeful eyes on her. “And what about you and Ty? Are you back together?”
