Page 17 of Rekindled Heart

“Hey, buddy! How are you?”

The dark-haired boy charges up to the porch and hops out into my arms when I hold out my hands. Fire bursts into life in my shoulder and I gasp, feeling my head swim a little before I manage to shove that shit down.

“Christopher! Get down off of Ricky! He’s hurt.”

I smirk at her. “I’m not that hurt, baby girl.”

She flushes and ducks her head. “Okay, well, as long as you’re okay.”

“I’m good.” I smile at Christopher when the boy wraps his arms around me gently, his little fists resting on my shoulders.

“Are you hurt, Mr. Rick?”

I laugh at his name for me. “I’m just fine, Christopher. How have you been, buddy?”

“I’m so good. We got to see Aunt Angel but she wasn’t feeling good. She had a bandage on her belly. I saw it when she lifted her arms. She must have gotten hurt like you!”

My head whips around when Caro gasps and her pretty face pales. “Christopher!”

Huh. “We’ll talk about that later,” I promise her. Now I’m even more sure that she’s gotten herself involved in something really bad. Now that she’s finally back and we’re tentatively working towards something…I’m not really sure where we’re going but I want to know. And if there’s something threatening her, I need to know what it is and I need to know how I can fix it.

But for now…I’ve got a little boy to show the joys of ranch life.

“Hey! I hear that you want to see a horse?”

His dark head nods up and down quickly, his stormy gray eyes, so much like Caro’s, sparkling with innocent excitement.

“Well, I’ve got a little surprise. We’re gonna go to the barn and see one of my horses and then we’re gonna take a little trip.”

He pulls his hands out and claps his little hands excitedly. “Yay!”

Caro looks at me curiously. I lift a brow and she nods her head.

I shift Christopher to my hip and hold out a hand to Caro. She takes it without hesitation. Smiling at her, I lead her over to the barn and open the door, slipping inside, chuckling lightly when Christopher squeaks, his eyes the size of saucers.

“This is the guy I wanted to introduce you to. This is Harold.” A Shetland pony whickers inside the stall and I open the bottom, letting Christopher down. “Hold on to your mama’s hand.”

He immediately steps over to her and grabs her hand, his fingers tight on hers. She winces but keeps the smile on her face.

I slip a lead onto Harold and bring him out into the space in between the stalls, holding him tightly. “Would you like to pet him?”

His eyes widen, “Really?”

I nod my head. “Really. Harold loves to be petted by little boys!” He squeaks and tentatively steps forward, his eyes so big it’s a wonder they don’t roll out of his head. His hand reaches out and I watch Caro tense up. I move up behind Christopher and stand over top of the boy, hoping it eases her mind.

She glances over and sees me watching her, then looks away. But not before I see the relief in her eyes and the slight smile on her lips.

Christopher giggles when the pony’s soft muzzle skates along his hand. “Mommy, his nose is so soft.”

Smiling, I hold Harold’s lead gently, keeping the pony’s head where it is so nobody gets startled by a quick movement.

Caro reaches out a hand and runs it along the little roan pony’s withers, smiling when his skin jumps under her touch.I’m pretty sure I do the same damn thing when her fingers touch me!

Christopher backs away and Harold softly chuffs under his breath and his neck stretches out, looking for attention.

I lead him back to the stall, letting him loose and patting his shoulder. Then I slide back out and smile at Christopher, kneeling beside him. “Well, what did you think? Did you like your first horse?”

“He’s not as big as I thought he’d be.” He screws up his face like he’s thinking. I pat his shoulder and stand up.

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