Free A Father In The Making by Carolyne Aarsen Page B

“Look at us, Mommy. We’re cowboys.”
    â€œYou sure are,” Mia said, giving them a small wave. Jennifer burbled and waved, as well.
    Nate looked ahead and in the shadow of his cowboy hat she caught the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. He’s enjoying this, too, she thought, surprised at the idea.
    â€œYou going to join us, Mia?” Nate said as they came closer.
    â€œNo, thanks. Me and horses...” She waggled her hand like an airplane to indicate her ambiguous relationship with the beasts.
    Nate just grinned, his teeth a white slash in his tanned and dusty face. “Horses are a man’s best friend.”
    â€œI thought that was dogs,” Mia returned, looking down at Socks, who had lain quietly at her feet ever since Nate had pointed to the ground beside Mia and commanded him to stay.
    â€œA dog won’t take you up into the mountains,” Nate said, still smiling. “Or carry your gear.”
    â€œA dog won’t kick you,” Mia returned.
    â€œTrue enough.” Nate grinned as he made another circuit of the corral. Then he stopped in front of Mia. “Hey, Dimples,” Nate said. He touched Jennifer’s cheek with one gloved finger. “You want to take a turn next?”
    â€œYou’ve called her that before. Why?” Mia asked.
    â€œâ€™Cause of the dimples at the corner of her mouth. And Grace has this cute nose. That’s how I tell them apart.”
    Mia shot him a surprised look. “You can tell them apart? Most people can’t.”
    â€œCan we go again?” Josh asked.
    â€œI don’t want you boys to get stiff and sore,” Nate said. “So we’ll make a few more turns around the corral and then you can go play.”
    Josh protested again.
    â€œHoney, you have to listen to Nate—”
    â€œWe’ll go again tomorrow—”
    Nate and Mia spoke at the same time, stopped at the same time and exchanged a wry smile.
    â€œSorry about that,” Nate said, giving her an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to cut in on you.”
    â€œThat’s okay.” She returned his look with a smile.
    And once again a connection rose up between them, as real and tangible as a touch.
    Look away. Look away. Nothing to see here.
    Other Mother’s annoying voice cut in and the moment was shattered by reality.
    She looked away, fussing with Jennifer just as Nate turned and led the boys a few more times around the corral. She set her little girl in the stroller beside her sleeping sister and turned them away from the sun, pushing the stroller back and forth to keep Jennifer quiet.
    Jennifer squawked a few more times but then Socks stood up, looking over the edge of the stroller, his tongue out, his soft eyes looking so friendly. Mia had to smile and Jennifer started laughing.
    Nate’s animals—keeping my kids happy and entertained, Mia thought, shooting another quick look over her shoulder at Nate. He was tying up the horses, joking with the boys, telling them silly stories.
    He puzzled her. The first time she met him he seemed turned off by the fact that she had kids. When Nico had glommed on to him at the hospital, he looked genuinely uncomfortable.
    Yet here he was, chatting with Josh and Nico like he had known them forever and was able to tell her girls apart. Something not even Evangeline, one of her best friends, could do.
    â€œMommy, did you see me? Could you see me? Did you take a picture?” Josh clambered over the fence, his words spilling out in a stream of pure joy.
    â€œNo, honey, I didn’t take a picture.” Another loss squeezed her heart. Her camera, and the past year’s moments had been lost in the fire.
    â€œBut you always take pictures,” Josh said, puzzlement threading his voice.
    â€œI know, honey, but my camera—” And goodness, if her voice didn’t break just as Nate and Nico climbed over the fence to join them.
    She gripped the