Free Fit for Love (A Stand By Me Novel Book 3) by Brinda Berry Page A

and looks up at Ryder. Auburn hair streams back from her face in rippling waves of pure color. Ryder’s still laughing, that little kid kind of belly-laughter that is contagious. The sound carries like wind chimes across the backyard.
    I cannot fail at this. If Ryder doesn’t like me, I know she’ll end our dates—the right choice for any mother.
    And there will go my chance to get to know her better. Gut instinct tells me that I have to try harder to form a bond with the kid.
    I stride forward to meet them. I’m not the type to mope around because something is difficult. The boy dislikes me. It doesn’t matter why. I can change that.
    Gunner opens one side of a doublewide door. “Ladies first.”
    Makenna and Kiley walk inside and I hold the door. “I have it,” I say to Gunner, so he and Ryder can go inside.
    “I need to run in and get the carrots. I forgot to grab them. Can you get…” he looks up and pretends he doesn’t see Ryder. “I don’t know where Ryder is but there’s something stuck to the top of my hat.”
    Ryder freezes and looks down, past the brim of Gunner’s cap. “Me,” he says, accompanied by a fluttery wave of his fingers in front of Gunner’s eyes.
    “Oh, there you are! Well, I have to get the carrots so the horse won’t nibble our fingers. Let Aiden help you down. I’ll be back.”
    “OK,” he says in such a sweet voice that I wonder if I’ve imagined the whole last hour of his standoffish behavior.
    I gently lift him from Gunner’s shoulders—wanting to keep that gleeful expression on his face. The minute his feet touch the ground, he’s off like a racehorse into the barn and away from me.
    The tyke couldn’t make it more clear.
    I give a long-suffering sigh. “This is a test. That’s all it is. I got this. No problem.”
    Gunner laughs and jogs away from me up to the cabin. Walking inside the barn, I search the interior. I’ve been inside one or twice, but it’s been a while.
    A tractor and some large equipment are stored in half of the building. The other half of Gunner’s barn serves as a place for his two horses to shelter at night.
    The winter weather is mild and the horses would usually be outside during the day, but he’s brought them inside for us. His stallion and new mare turn their heads toward me.
    The girls stand in front of one stall, talking to the horses. Makenna holds Ryder on her hip. His hands fist her shirt as if she plans to throw him into a stall and leave him. He leans his cheek against her shoulder, his eyes wide and curious. He’s hesitant now and I understand. The horses must look enormous to him.
    “The bigger one is Conan. The smaller gray one is Zelda,” I say, standing close to Makenna so I can talk to Ryder. Kiley walks to the barn door, looking up toward Gunner’s cabin.
    “Conan and Zelda are happy to see you. I can tell.” I reach across and run my hand over Zelda’s muzzle. She whinnies and bobs her head. “You want to pet her?” I ask Ryder.
    “No,” he says and clutches Makenna’s shirt tighter. “Don’t want.”
    Gunner enters with a package of carrots. “Sorry that took so long. Here you go,” he says and rips open the bag. “Mak, take a couple.”
    Ryder watches her, then takes the long carrots she offers and hands them to me. He’s happy to sacrifice me to the evil horse.
    “You want me to do it?” I wait for him to answer. When he doesn’t, I smile and offer the carrot to Zelda, who immediately tugs the entire stick into her mouth and begins chomping loudly. Gunner hands me the bag before he and Kiley walk out the door. I suspect they’re trying to give us time alone.
    Ryder’s mouth drops open. “Oh.”
    I push more carrots through the hole in the plastic bag. “Want to feed him?”
    This time, Ryder takes the carrot and holds it out a foot from Zelda’s mouth. The horse doesn’t hesitate in taking the offered treat and bobbing his head to facilitate getting the entire carrot inside.
    Ryder covers