Page 71 of Prodigal Son

“I mean, are you asking as a friend or are you digging up dirt for your next story? The children are fine. They are safe here and adjusting to their new life. They don’t need anyone interfering—”

“Cain, that’s not why I was asking. God, what do you think of me?” His low opinion actually stung.

“Sorry. I just want to protect them. I gave my word, and that means something to me.”

Another big, fat check slid under the honorable traits column. But none of that mattered, because in the light of day, Cain was unmistakably Amish and this was not her life. “I want that, too. I would never interfere with the opportunity you’ve given them. It’s incredible. They’re lucky to have so many people in their support system.”

His mouth softened and twitched. He reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers. “I’m sorry.”

She accepted his apology but still wanted to clear up any negative perception of her he might harbor. “I’m not a bad person.”

“It’s television. We’re not used to media and press. When I saw you at the funeral…”

“I know what you thought. You were right. I shouldn’t have been there.”

He paused, appearing surprised by her confession. It wasn’t always easy for her to admit when she’d been wrong, but here the pressure and competition wasn’t as influential. She could see right from wrong, and it mattered how he saw her.

His hand closed around hers and he smiled. “Do you want to see the horses?”

Glad for the distraction, she nodded and followed him into the stables. The stalls were impeccably clean and several horses peeked their heads out when they heard them enter.

“This is Sully,” Cain introduced. “I’ve had him since he was born.”

She stared up at the horse’s dark eyes and felt an unexpected connection to the animal. She’d never been so close to a horse before and found it calming and mesmerizing. “He’s beautiful.”

“Do you want to feed him?”

She smiled and looked at him expectantly. “Can I?”

He handed her a broken carrot. “Flatten your palm and fingers and hold it out to him.”

She did as he instructed, laughing when Sully’s wet lips closed over the carrot and his big teeth crunched down on the stick. Cain handed her another and she fed him some more, spoiling the horse until the bag was empty.

After the stables, he showed her the chicken coop and made fun of her when she called a hen a rooster. “Hey, English is my second language. I do my best.”

“Were you born in Portugal?”

She couldn’t remember telling him about Portugal, but her memory wasn’t very dependable these days. “Yes. I lived there until I was seven. Then my mom sent me and my brother here to live with our aunts. They’re all back in Portugal now living on my family’s farm.”

“Your family has a farm and you confused a rooster for a hen?”

“We raise goats, not chickens.”

“Do you miss them?”

“The goats?”

He laughed. “Your parents.”

“I visit once a year.” It was a line she repeated whenever asked about her parents, but the truth was she missed them terribly. Technology made it possible for her to see her mom and dad’s faces every day and hear their voices, but it wasn’t the same as living in their actual presence. “I miss them a lot, actually.”

“When’s the last time you visited?”

“About six months ago. They’re getting older now. I worry more than I used to. Vito’s going this spring, so at least he’ll see them.”

“You should go with him if you miss them.”

“I can’t. The flights are expensive and I can only take so much time off of work.” She didn’t want her longing to spoil an otherwise lovely day. “The houses here are beautiful. Do you build them yourselves?”

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