Come Home, Cowboy

Cara sniffed and bit down, her emotions dangerously close to the surface.

An odd strangled sound spurred Summer into action. Teddy crouched on the ground, his back pressed against the round pen railing. He stared wide-eyed as if confronted by demons.

“Teddy! It’s okay.” Summer knelt in front of him and tried to get him to look at her by putting her face directly in his line of vision. She didn’t touch him, however. Teddy didn’t like to be touched, especially when he was agitated. “It’s all right, baby. The horse won’t hurt you.”

Teddy continued to stare at Hurry Up, who stood placidly by the gate, his nose to the ground, his breath blowing dust into the air and not the least bit interested in any of the humans.

“Garh, garh.” Teddy waved an angry hand at Hurry Up in an attempt to shoo the horse away.

Cara unlatched the gate. “I’ll get Hurry Up.”

Whatever the horse had done—looked directly at Teddy, nuzzled his arm, snorted, swished his tail—had set the boy off. Best to just return Hurry Up to his stall.

Experiment a total failure, Cara thought as she led Hurry Up to the horse stable. Before she would agree to let Josh have the horse—make that sponsor the horse—she’d decided to see if Teddy wanted him. Obviously, he didn’t.

Teddy’s screeching reached Cara’s ears even at this distance. She felt terrible for her friend. At the same time, she envied Summer. Her son was alive.

With Hurry Up happily munching on an oat and bran mixture, Cara sought out Summer and Teddy. They were at Summer’s car, parked in front of the stable. Teddy sat in the rear seat, a quilt thrown over him and covering his face. Summer crouched inside the open car door, softly reciting a nursery rhyme.

Cara had seen this before. The weight of the quilt and the darkness, along with the sound of Summer’s voice, calmed Teddy. After a few moments, he stopped struggling and quieted. Summer slowly stood, strain showing on her face.

“Sorry about that.”

Cara dismissed her with a wave. “As if you have anything to apologize for.”

“He’ll be okay now.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Nothing.” Summer smiled weakly. “But thanks.”

“Here.” Cara tugged her friend around to the rear of the car. She also knew from experience that Teddy would remain where he was. “Relax. Breathe deep.”

“He’s been agitated more than usual lately.”

“Any reason in particular?”

“Hal came by earlier this week.”

“Oh.” Cara nodded.

“He hasn’t seen Teddy for months. Then, boom, he shows up out of the blue, deciding he’s going to be a father.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “I wish I’d never agreed to visitation.”

“You could go back to court.”

“No, thank you!” Summer lifted her chin, visibly composing herself, then promptly changed the subject. “At least Josh is trying to be a good father.”

Cara made a face. Couldn’t they talk about something else? “The man’s impossible.”

“He’s taking responsibility for his kids and giving them a secure home. That says a lot about a person.”

Cara waited until the pain in her chest subsided. “I hate it when you’re right.”

“Give him a chance. I get that it’s hard for you to think about someone else living in the apartment you shared with Javier. Someone with children. But it really is best for them.”

“I thought he’d keep the guest suite and his brother Cole would move out.”

“You hoped.”

“He wants Hurry Up for his children.”

“Aren’t they a little young to ride?”

“Yes.”

Summer smiled. “But you’re going to let him adopt the horse.”

Cara shrugged one shoulder. “Sponsor the horse. For a monthly stipend. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll take Hurry Up back.”

“Sounds like a good compromise.”

“He wants the black stallion, too. He didn’t tell me, but I overhead him talking to Cole. I’m less inclined to agree.”

“Because?”

Cara groaned in frustration.

“Let him sponsor the horses, Cara. You’re always looking for good homes. What better home is there than Dos Estrellas?”

Right again. This was getting old.

“Muh, muh,” Teddy called from inside the car.

Summer glanced over her shoulder. “I’d better go. He’s getting restless.”

At the driver side door, the two women hugged. Summer tucked a lock of Cara’s hair behind her ear in an affectionate gesture.

“You’re stronger than you think,” she said. “You can handle this.”

Maybe. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Rather than return to the house, Cara walked through the horse stable. It wasn’t Hurry Up that drew her, but the apartment stairs. The next thing she knew, she stood on the landing.

Her hand reached for the knob and turned it. The door wasn’t locked, and she slowly entered, her bootsteps soft on the braided area rug. Josh and the children weren’t due for several hours.

Like a ghost, she silently walked across the small living room, down the hall and to the bedroom. Her heart lurched at the sight of the crib set up in one corner and the changing table beside it. She’d furnished the room similarly. The only difference was the youth bed in the opposite corner.

Summer had been wrong. Cara wasn’t strong at all.