Page 27 of His Eighth Ride

The call ended, and Opal rolled onto her side and let her hand dangle over the edge of the couch. She rested her palm against baby West’s belly, feeling him breathe in and then out, and Opal smiled to herself.

“You’ve made the right decision, Opal,” she whispered. “You belong here in Ivory Peaks.” Her eyes drifted closed, and she simply relaxed into the comfort and peace that God had led her here, and she’d listened.

She dozed until her phone buzzed, and when she checked it, she grinned all the wider when she saw Tag’s text that said, How about dinner at my place tomorrow night?

That’ll do, she told him, and she said out loud, “That’ll do just fine.”

nine

Gertrude Hammond shrugged out of her backpack and set it on the backseat of the truck. When she turned, Mikey took her into his arms. “You call me if you need anything at all,” he murmured before he kissed her.

Gerty loved being in his arms, loved being with him, loved how he loved her and took care of her. “My parents know you’re coming, and they’re expecting you and Tag for dinner.”

“I’ll stay in touch with them if things are slow,” she said.

“The weather looks good the whole way,” Mike said next, his lips falling down the length of her neck. Gerty shivered, and not only because the winter morning wind had just kicked up. “But keep in touch. Call me tonight.” He pulled back and smiled at her. “Okay?”

“I’ll call you tonight,” she promised. “We’ll be okay.”

“The road can be windy, and you’ve got the trailer.”

“I’ll pull over if it’s bad, and Tag’s a more experienced driver than I am. He said he’d be happy to drive.” Gerty knew she wasn’t the best driver in the world, and Mike and her daddy sometimes teased her about it.

She had a horse trailer that would hold four equines, which was why she was only buying four of Bryce Young’s horses instead of all five. She didn’t want to rent an eight-stall trailer and drive it for twenty hours for that extra horse, though she did want it.

“I love you,” she said to Mike, smiling at him.

“Love you too, baby.” He backed up, and Gerty closed the back driver’s side door. She got behind the wheel and made sure she had her coffee thermos, her sunglasses, her thread wallet, and her phone. With a charger.

“All set,” she said, glancing up and out the windshield. Tag had already put his overnight bag in the back, and he’d run back inside to get coffee himself. As Gerty watched, he and Opal came out onto the front porch, and Gerty grinned at West on Opal’s hip.

She’d already kissed her baby boy goodbye, and Gerty pulled back on the emotions flying through her. She loved being a mother way more than she’d thought she would, and everything about her blonde baby reminded her that God was a God of miracles.

Mike went up the steps and took West from Opal, said something, and went inside the house. Gerty ducked her head, because she didn’t need to spy on Opal and Tag while they said goodbye. They wouldn’t be gone for even forty-eight hours, but Opal and Tag had only been out a few times, and their relationship was still pretty new.

Gerty reached for her coffee and took a sip, startling as the passenger door opened. “Oh.”

“Hey,” Tag said. “Ready?”

“I am,” she said, looking up again. Opal leaned against the pillar at the top of the steps, a smile on her face. She waved to Gerty, who smiled and waved back. Then she flipped the truck into drive and slowly eased around in a wide arc to get off the farm.

Gerty’s nerves vibrated at her. She didn’t normally need to say everything she thought, but Tag worked for her, and she wanted him to work for her for a very long time. She’d also been talking to Mike about Opal finding somewhere to live, but she wasn’t ready to say anything about that yet.

Her skin felt like spiders were marching eight by eight up and down her arms and legs. She squirmed and cleared her throat.

“Just say what you want to say, Gerty,” Tag drawled. “You’re dancin’ all over the place.”

“You didn’t kiss her goodbye,” she said, shooting him a quick look. “Opal.”

Tag’s jaw tightened, and he pressed his lips into a flat line. “No,” he finally said.

“Why not?” Gerty asked. “You two have been dating for a couple of weeks now. I didn’t think—I mean—” Panic cut off her thoughts and her words. “She doesn’t talk about you. To me.” She shook her head. “She doesn’t. And I don’t ask, Tag. I really don’t.”

Tag exhaled and looked out his side window. “Do I have to talk about it?”

“No,” Gerty said. “Sorry, Tag. Really.” She watched him, and he seemed frustrated. Gerty hoped it was because of this conversation and not because of his relationship with Opal.

“Dinner with her parents tonight,” she said lightly. “They know you two are dating.”

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