Page 66 of Back in the Saddle

She giggled. “I said ‘is that what they’re calling sex now’.”

Taylor bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

“A healthy sex life is important to a marriage,” I said.

Taylor shifted in her seat. “Yes, well, anyway, your dad and I love each other, and we would like to fix what we broke.”

I nodded. “It will take some time, but we’re working on it.”

“Good.” Callum shoved a forkful of pancakes into his mouth and chewed with his cheeks puffed out.

It was good.

“Mum and I are going for a ride this morning. What have you got planned?”

“Nanna said she will help me with some decorations,” Isabelle said. “Mamo can help too.”

Callum shrugged. “I’ll go with them into town. Make sure they buy good food, you know, chips and stuff.”

I laughed as Isabelle rolled her eyes.

Taylor looked at her phone. “It looks like we have twenty coming with staff and friends.”

“That’s good. Not too big,” I said.

Isabelle nodded. “Yeah. It was short notice, and school holidays have just started, so some have gone away.”

Taylor poured herself some juice. “Before you go, can you strip your beds so I can put the washing on before we head out?”

They nodded. I smiled. Things were getting back to normal, back to where we were years ago. First, she helped fold the washing and now she was actually doing the washing. But not only that, she was invested in us as a family again. She was back on track to being the wife and mother she once was.

We finished our breakfast, dropped the kids off and headed out to the horses. Myrtle and Capall glanced at us. They had their ears forward, probably thinking they were going to get a second breakfast. When they saw we didn’t have buckets, they ignored us.

“Bet Capall comes first,” I said to Taylor.

“What are we betting for?”

Now, any other man who’d had a dry spell would bet on something sexual. But I was convinced getting more was a sure thing.

“Winner gets to help deliver the first foal.”

“Deal.”

Taylor climbed in through the fence.

I followed quick smart, then walked away from her. “Capall.”

He swung his head in my direction

“Mrytle.” Taylor raised her arms in the air.

Myrtle looked.

“Come on, boy,” I called out. “We’re going for a ride.”

He nickered. I had him.

“Come on,” I called in the tone all horses in the world responded to.

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