Come Home, Cowboy

“I’m excited,” he admitted. “I’m told Kimberly is almost walking and Nathan can ride a tricycle.”

Raquel’s expression melted. “They sound like angels.”

“Kimberly doesn’t sleep through the night yet. Nathan does. Probably because he spends all day getting into trouble and tires himself out.”

“Just like a boy.”

He pulled out his cell phone. Raquel had asked to see pictures of the kids before, so he didn’t think he’d annoy her by sharing the latest batch his former in-laws had sent.

She gasped with delight. “They’re adorable. You are truly blessed. If you ever need a babysitter, you simply have to ask.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“If you don’t ask me, I will be hurt.” When he laughed, she insisted, “I am serious.”

He had no doubt of it. “I am fortunate you built this apartment. Not sure what else I would have done or where I would have gone.”

Her smiled dimmed. “Your father and I, we had hoped my parents would stay here during their visits. That is why we built it.”

“They didn’t?”

“No.” She methodically wiped dry the baby bottles she’d just washed. “They preferred the inn in town.”

Josh was admittedly curious and would have asked more questions, but footsteps sounded on the outside stairs. He expected Gabe and Reese might be returning or perhaps Cole, checking out the new digs. Instead, Cara entered the apartment, a look of horror on her face.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“Unpacking.” Josh was unsure what to make of her reaction.

“Raquel?” She turned to the other woman, who swallowed guiltily.

“I offered Josh the apartment,” Raquel said. “For his children. I was going to tell you...”

“When?”

“Wait a minute.” Josh stepped between them. “Raquel hasn’t done anything wrong. In fact, she’s been very helpful.”

“That’s right.” Cara directed her anger at him. “You’re one of the owners. If you want to move into the apartment, no one can stop you.”

“Why would you?” Josh genuinely wanted to know. “You aren’t living here now.”

Cara brushed at her damp eyes, then fled the apartment.

“I should have told her.” Raquel tossed aside the dish towel. “I was going to. Then I didn’t.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Josh reiterated.

“She has so many memories of this place. Too many for her to continue living here after Javier died.”

“She had to assume someone would move in eventually.”

“Perhaps she chose not to think about it.”

That was possible, he supposed. Then again, he specifically could be the cause of Cara’s objections.

“I’m going after her,” Raquel announced.

Josh didn’t stop her. Better she speak to Cara than him. Whatever he said was bound to upset Cara, and no amount of wanting to change that would make a difference.

* * *

“IS IT POSSIBLE you overreacted?”

Cara studied her friend Summer Goodwyn, seeing only concern and not criticism in her eyes. “Maybe. A little,” she admitted. “I was surprised. Raquel should have told me. Or Josh. Someone.”

“Josh? Seriously?”

“Okay, not him.”

“He might not have known you used to live in the apartment.”

“I doubt that.”

“You can’t always think the worst of him just because you want to.”

That was the thing about Summer—she didn’t mince words. They’d been friends since after Javier’s death. Cara had joined a support group that met at the Mustang Valley Community Church. Summer belonged to another support group, one for parents of children with special needs.

After talking several times in the hall between groups, they’d gone for coffee. Then, lunch. Eventually, they began meeting up at least once a week. Summer was one of Cara’s biggest supporters, championing the sanctuary and volunteering with fund-raising.

“I wish I’d known,” Cara murmured.

“Would it have made a difference?”

“I’d have been prepared. Not blindsided.”

They stood inside the round pen, the late-afternoon sun warming them on what would otherwise be a chilly day. The ranch was relatively quiet, as most everyone was involved with the semiannual equipment maintenance. Except for Josh. He’d gone to San Jose to retrieve his kids.

Summer’s eight-year-old son, Teddy, was in the pen along with Cara, Summer and Hurry Up. The boy usually loved animals. For some unknown reason, he hadn’t taken to the gentle horse.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Summer said, her gaze straying to Teddy, whose autism often caused him to behave unpredictably. “Someone moving into the apartment. It’s been like a tomb these last two years.”

The words hurt, but that didn’t change the fact Summer was right. Cara had no claim to the apartment simply because she’d lived there for six months with Javier.

In many ways, those were the worst months of her life. The separation from Manuel. Their constant fighting. The lonely nights. And in some ways, they were the best months. Whoever said children were at their worst during their twos hadn’t met Javier. He’d been a delight. The absolute light of her life.

Cara took a deep breath. “Having someone live in the apartment won’t make me suddenly stop grieving.”

“I didn’t say it would.” Summer put an arm around Cara’s shoulders. “We can’t halt time. We can only move forward.”