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I slept through the night with her at my side and woke with sunlight shining through the sheer curtains. She stirred against me and then rolled over in my arms to face me, her face only inches away.
I dropped a kiss on her nose. “Happy Thanksgiving, beautiful.”
She smiled. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“How’d you sleep?”
“Much better after you got in here,” she said.
“I hope you didn’t mind me staying up.”
“Not at all. Family time is important. Especially when you’ve been away from them for so long.” She blinked sleepily and yawned. “Your mom missed you like crazy. I can tell.”
I nodded. “What do you want to do today?”
“Eat and watch football? Isn’t that what everyone does?”
I chuckled at her response. “We usually do that after chores. I thought we could ride the horses around the pasture this morning. Check in on the cattle that aren’t in the feedlot.”
Her expression fell. “I know I said I was interested in horseback riding, but isn’t there a weight limit? I was too big to go on a trail ride with Kenner last year.”
An ache grew in my chest. I hated that she had to worry about these kinds of things. “Our horses are really strong—made for hard work. You’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Of course. Plus, I want to see that ass in some jeans.” I reached around and grabbed a handful, already turned on.
She shook her head at me. “You’re such a horndog.”
“Maybe. But I have a gift for you. Go use the bathroom, and I’ll leave it for you on the bed.”
While she used the bathroom, I set the gift I’d special ordered for her, with some help from her mom, and then got dressed and went downstairs. Mom was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast, coffee gurgling in the pot.
“Morning,” I said.
“Morning.” She reached for a mug and poured me some coffee. “Still take it black?”
I nodded, reaching for the cup. That first sip tasted amazing. No matter where I went or where I ordered it, coffee never tasted like it did brewed from the well water at home.
“What are your plans for the day?”
“After the game, we’re going to the city to see Gage,” I said.
A dark look crossed Mom’s face. “Can you bring him a loaf of the lemon zucchini bread for me? I have some in the freezer.”
“Sure thing.” My heart ached for her, caught up in a war between her husband and her son. Mom’s rule was always to put her marriage first, but I could tell it was hurting her.
Footfalls sounded on the stairs, and we both looked to see Hen coming in jeans, a flannel shirt, and her brand-new cowboy boots. I’d gone with square toes and tan coloring with intricate leather work up the wide calves. With her jeans tucked into the boots and her buffalo plaid shirt, she looked absolutely adorable.
I whistled loudly, and Mom clapped her hands together.
“You fit right in on the farm,” Mom said.
Hen smiled, doing a spin in her boots. “I can’t believe you got these for me, Tyler. How did you know my size?”
“Had a little insider help,” I answered with a grin. “Do you like them?”
She nodded, coming to sit beside me. She placed a kiss on my cheek and said, “Thank you so much. That was so thoughtful of you.”