Free A Father In The Making by Carolyne Aarsen

that the man and lady brought last night,” Josh said, smoothing his hand over his shirt, beaming with pride.
    â€œDo the boys have boots?” Nate asked Mia.
    â€œNo. Just running shoes,” Mia said, glancing down at Nate’s worn, slant-heeled cowboy boots.
    â€œBoots for what?” Josh asked.
    â€œNate will be teaching you boys how to ride a horse,” Mia said, breaking the news to them.
    â€œReally? A horse?” Josh’s grin almost split his face, but it was the shine in Nico’s eyes that dispelled any doubts Mia had.
    â€œYou guys will have to get your shoes on and we’ll get you set up.”
    â€œA horse. We’re going to ride a horse.” Josh grabbed Nico’s hand and without a second glance at Mia, ran out of the door. Mia was about to follow when Nate stopped her.
    â€œI got the boys. You take care of the girls.” His easy smile made his eyes crinkle and her stomach flutter.
    Mia watched them leave, her heart hitching at the sight of the tall cowboy leading her two sons by the hand.
    That should have been Al, she thought, though even as she formulated the thought she knew it was wishful thinking. Al had never been a hands-on father. Once in a while, if pressed, he would play with Josh, but seldom with Nico and, of course, he hadn’t even seen his daughters.
    â€œLooks cute, doesn’t it?” Evangeline said, coming to stand beside her.
    â€œLooks dangerous.” The words popped out before she could stop them.
    â€œDangerous? How?”
    Josh danced alongside Nate, his one arm waving as fragments of his chatter drifted back on the early-morning air. She saw Nate drop his head back as he released a deep belly laugh. Then he turned to Nico, his voice lowered as he spoke to her other son. Nate’s dog, Socks, joined them, his plumed tail waving his joy, completing the Norman Rockwell picture.
    â€œMy boys are already too attached to him,” Mia said, the hitch in her heart deepening. “What am I going to do when he leaves?”
    Evangeline’s gentle sigh underlined Mia’s concerns. “Like you’ve always said, just take it one day at a time,” she said.
    â€œI’ve tried to take it one day at a time,” Mia returned, folding her arms over her chest. “But sometimes several days come flying at me at once.” Then she gave Evangeline a smile. “But you’re right. I need to take my own advice.”
    â€œI think he’s a good guy,” Evangeline said.
    â€œAnd that’s the trouble.” And on that cryptic note Mia left to take care of her other children.

Chapter Seven
    â€œI ’m slipping. Help me, Nate,” Josh called out from atop the horse he was riding.
    Mia clung to the top rail of the corral, her other arm clutching Jennifer. She could do nothing but watch her oldest son clinging to the mane of the horse he was astride, slipping sideways off his saddle.
    â€œMom. Help,” he called out.
    This was a mistake, Mia thought. Josh was going to fall, get hurt and be even more afraid. He had survived a fire three days ago. How much more could he deal with?
    Mia glanced back at Grace, who still slept in the stroller, and was about to climb over the fence, still carrying Jennifer when Nate called out. “I’m coming, Josh.” Nate put Nico on his hip, then strode over to Josh’s side and set him straight. “There you go, buddy. Good as new.”
    Josh took a few quick breaths, his eyes wide. “I got scared.”
    â€œI saw that,” Nate said, patting him on the shoulder. “But you did good.”
    Josh gave Nate a feeble smile. “Really?”
    â€œYou really did. Most kids would have screamed and let go, but you didn’t. You’re a real cowboy.” He turned to Nico. “Is it okay if I set you down, buddy?”
    Nico nodded, his expression solemn.
    Nate let him slide down to the dirt, but Nico didn’t move from