Page 3 of Back in the Saddle

“Do you still love her?” Isabelle asked.

I stared at the wall as my heart squeezed. What sort of question was that? And how could I answer it? Truth was always best.

I turned to find them both watching me. “I will love her every day for the rest of my life.” As much as it would hurt, I would.

They shared a look and smiled.

I didn’t want them to read more into that than they should. “Sometimes love isn’t enough.”

I’m sure that statement went against everything I’d ever told them. And once I would have believed that love conquered all. I’d thrown everything I could into our marriage, but in the end, it had felt like it was all one sided. Taylor had not attempted to resolve anything when I left. She’d just continued on the same path—work.

I carried the pot to the bench and started filling up the bowls. The earthy fragrance of the lamb and full-bodied scent of the vegetables with a hint of fresh herbs filled the air. My stomach grumbled. “How was school today?”

Callum collected his bowl. “Good. Exams are finished.”

“Holidays soon,” Isabelle said, taking her bowl to the table.

“Parent-teacher interviews first,” I reminded them.

They groaned.

Nearly July already. It was crazy to think that only a couple of months ago we had been all living in the same house, as a family. Two months since we’d realised it was going to be another dry winter, that we weren’t going to get a reprieve from the drought. Two months since our lives had changed.

Drought was tough on farmers. Ongoing drought was worse. Every decision we made was stressful. Balancing the welfare of our horses with the needs of our farm team and the future of our business was a delicate act. Do we sell horses? Do we keep the horses? Do we reduce the number of client horses? It all needed to be weighed up.

We chatted while eating dinner and washing the dishes. When they were ready to leave, I gave them the container of food for Taylor.

“Tomorrow, text your mum before dinner time as a reminder to come home. You know how she gets lost in her work.”

Isabelle frowned. “It won’t make a difference.”

“Just try.”

I would speak to Taylor in the morning to tell her about the plan. That way she’d be prepared. It was a delicate balancing act—helping Taylor see how she was failing to meet the needs of the kids, and not pissing her off while doing it. Tomorrow’s conversation promised to be fun.

“Give me a hug and kiss,” I said as I walked them to the door.

“We only live down the road,” Isabelle said. She wrapped her arms around me, and I kissed the top of her head.

“I still miss you like crazy.”

I pulled Callum in for a hug and a kiss.

“You’d miss us more if you move back to Ireland,” he said, gazing up at me as he took a step away.

I sucked a breath in. Had Taylor said something to them? Did she want me to leave?

“Why would I move back to Ireland?”

He shrugged.

“This is my home.”

Although the only thing that made this building a home was the children. Otherwise, it was just a place I lived and slept. There was no warmth, no photos on the wall, no personal belongings. I felt like a seasonal worker who brought nothing but their clothes. All my memories were in the house down the hill.

“What about Mamo?” Isabelle asked.

“What about your grandmother?”

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