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“Bring him out to the ranch,” Lucas said. “He could meet my dog, and Mrs. R’s. And Chance’s dogs too. He rehabs military dogs.”

Jackson liked that fact that the boy felt confident enough in his new, tragically altered life to make the invitation, knowing Keller Rafferty would have his back.

And as he watched them go, he acknowledged that he was a bit uncomfortable with this aspect of his life being a topic of discussion with strangers, but he knew it came with the territory. And he had the feeling these wouldn’t be bad strangers to let in the door. Especially if they were going to be here awhile.

Between this family and the Highwaters, he was finding a lot of people to like here in Last Stand. Maybe this hadn’t just been the best idea for Jeremy, but for him too.

When he arrived back at the Baylor ranch, Jeremy was, as he’d expected, happily aboard Pie in the main corral. What he hadn’t expected was that he was still with Mrs. Baylor, only she was astride a compact, muscular bay right there in the corral with him. Nic was leaning on the fence, watching. Smiling. Widely.

He hesitated, afraid his arrival might put an end to that smile. He reminded himself they’d made peace, and she’d made that lovely apology, yet still he hesitated, not really sure why.

“Going to just stand there, or come watch?”

She hadn’t even looked, yet she knew it was him? He found himself thinking he’d like to read something into that, then laughed inwardly at himself. This was the time they’d agreed on for him to pick Jeremy up, so why should he be surprised she knew it was him without looking? He walked over to the fence.

The moment he got there, three things happened fast. Jeremy spotted him and waved. Pie sidestepped a little, making the boy wobble a little and say “Whoa” in a way that had little to do with the classic horse command. And Jackson tensed, ready to go over that fence if the pony didn’t settle. But he did, quickly, although he came to a halt as if confused.

Mrs. Baylor, ever the teacher, even here it seemed, calmly spoke to his son. “What do you think happened there, Jeremy?”

“I think I pulled on the reins when I waved to Dad,” he said. “But I was still telling him to go forward, and he got confuzzled.”

Jackson sucked in a breath at hearing the once familiar, joking combination of confused and puzzled that Leah had often used. He was sure the echo of that old pain was showing in his face, so he lowered his gaze to his hands where they rested on the top railing. He was aware the two riders had begun again, but couldn’t look up just yet.

“It’s okay. He’s fine,” Nic said.

“I know,” he said without looking up. “It’s just... his mother used to use that word a lot.”

“It’s a great word, on three levels. The definition of each, and then the combination that illustrates the very thing it’s describing.” He raised his head and looked at her, a little startled. She smiled rather impishly. “What can I say? I’m the daughter of a teacher.”

He smiled back at her. “And a great teacher. I’ve never heard Jeremy so excited about what he’s learning, even after only three days.”

“She’s the best,” Nic said simply. Then, with another of those smiles, added, “Well, her and Mrs. Valencia.”

“Second time I’ve heard that name come up. She must be something.”

“She was one of those teachers who was legendary.” She gave him a rather pointed look. “She retired to help her daughter look after her grandson, after his father was killed in action overseas.”

He couldn’t miss the point she was making, but he didn’t think it fit. Again, that was something actually heroic, not a safely conducted representation of it. Or maybe that was her point.

“Of course, now her daughter’s married to a police detective, Sean Highwater. I guess some people are just attracted to... some people.”

She looked away hastily, and he wondered why. But then Mrs. Baylor and Jeremy were heading for the gate, the riding lesson apparently over for the day. Jeremy was chattering, actually chattering, and Jackson didn’t think he’d ever tire of hearing that enjoyment in his son’s voice.

And that as much as anything decided him.

“As soon as you get him taken care of,” he said, nodding at the flashy pony, “I need your help.”

Jeremy blinked. “My help?”

“Yeah. We need to give your aunt her office back, so I thought we’d start looking for a place of our own.”

His son’s eyes widened, so full of hope Jackson thought his heart might have missed a beat. “Here? In Last Stand?”

“That sound good to you?”

Jeremy nodded so fiercely Jackson wanted to hug him. But he knew that would embarrass the boy in front of his teacher—his two teachers—so he didn’t.

But it was a close thing.