Page 79 of At First Flight
“Don’t kid yourself. Just looking out for my sister.”
“Sure. And no, I’m not looking for another investment. I’m actually looking to cut back some. Just wanted to see how successful the farm is.”
Slamming the tailgate harder than necessary, Rowan turns to face me. “We do just fine, Dean. Don’t worry about us.”
“Suit yourself. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Dean!” a little voice shouts as she barrels at full speed in my direction. Saved by the niece. “Ms. Claire says I can ride the horse if you walk with me! Can you? Will you? Please? I never get to ride the horses when we come.”
“Sure, I can. Lead the way.” I gesture for her to grab my hand and guide me toward the barn. I’m surprised when Rowan follows.
Claire greets me warmly as she ushers us into the barn and shows me the tan horse named Butterscotch that belongs to Lila. Rowan walks Evelyn and Oliver through the task of grooming the horse prior to riding, pointing out that the horse should be free of loose hair and dirt.
While the kids stand on a stool working the brush across the horse’s body, Claire shows me the special spots around the nose that are Butterscotch’s favorite spots. By the time the kids are done, the horse and I are best friends.
Rowan set up the saddle and bridle on Butterscotch and gently eases her from the stall out toward the corral.
Both kids energetically reach for my hand and tug me toward the exit, eager to get their ride on the horse.
“I want a horse, Uncle Dean,” Evelyn exclaims as we broach the sunshine again. In the short time we were in the barn, the sun has risen high in the sky, and the temperatures have quickly followed.
“Maybe we can visit Ms. Claire’s horses for a while. I’m sure Butterscotch would miss you if we got our own,” I explain, trying to placate my niece as I release Oliver’s hand and pull my T-shirt away from my chest.
The sweat is already beading on my skin and soaking through the thin cotton.
“Alright, who is going first?” Rowan asks now that Butterscotch has moved around the circle a few times.
I expect Evelyn to jump at the chance, but she tucks herself behind my leg and lets Oliver go first.
It’s been a few years since I’ve spent the summer in Miami. I didn’t consider that the humid heat in Virginia could be as strong. It sticks to you like a second layer of skin.
“God, it’s hot.”
“Oh, sweetie, this is nothing. Just wait until July hits,” she proclaims as she retrieves a bottle of water from the fridge in the barn for me.
It’s ice cold.
Plastic bottle clenched against my palm, I chug the cool contents at record speed.
“May I grab another?” I ask, just as a blustered breeze whips past Claire and me, sending dirt against our clothes and skin.
“Of course,” she adds, dusting off her denim pants.
“I’ll get it.” Brushing past her, I head to the barn and open the fridge, taking a moment to let the cool air fan across my skin.
I tug my sweat-soaked shirt away from my skin before making the decision to remove it. I shove the material into the back pocket of my jeans and douse my head in the cool liquid.
“Ah, fuck. You read my mind,” Rowan says as he steps into the barn, already yanking his shirt over his head. “The humidity is at like one hundred today.”
“I’m from Miami, and it’s hot even to me.” Peeking out of the barn doors, I notice that Mason, Lila’s dad, has stepped into the corral and is helping Oliver down from the horse. Evelyn is patiently waiting for her turn.
“You’ve got good kids, man.”
“Thanks,” I say with a grin. “I’m doing the best I can. I couldn’t do it without your sister. She helped bring them out of their shell.”
“Speaking of sisters, it seems she and her scheming friend are enjoying the show.”
Brows furrowed, I search the confines of the corral but come up empty. That’s when I see her and Ashvi in the shadows, parked on a bench beneath a large oak tree. Ashvi speaks in the animated way I’ve come to associate with her while Lila’s eyes are locked on me. Making no effort to hide the fact that she’s taking in her fill of me shirtless.
