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“What do you mean?”

She glanced up at the stairs, but there was no sign of Ford and Ashton. “Did Ford get a room ready for me, too?”

Tanner’s eyebrows shot up. “I… I don’t know. I didn’t think. Shit! I just assumed… But Ashton. I don’t know what Ford assumed. Would it be a bad idea if…”

“I don’t know. I should have thought about it before now. I was so busy getting used to the idea that we were coming here, that I didn’t even stop to think about the sleeping arrangements.”

He squeezed her ass. “I think you know what I’d like to arrange.”

“I’m sure I do. And I hope you know that I’d like that, too. This isn’t a situation I’ve found myself in before.” She blew out a sigh as she mulled it over. “You know what? I think I just have to be honest with him. I always try to be.”

Tanner held her gaze. “Only if you’re comfortable with it. There’s no big rush. At least, I’m hoping that we’ll have plenty of time to get him used to the idea.”

“I hope so, and I think it’s better to be honest from the start.”

“Okay. If you’re sure. If you’re not, we can set you up with your own room – I’ll just have to sneak in after he’s gone to bed, and sneak back out before dawn,” he said with a smile.

Everly frowned. “No. I don’t like that. It doesn’t seem right.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t even joke about it.”

“It’s okay. I understand why you would.”

“Yeah, but I understand that it’s best to be up front with the little guy. No lies. He’s too smart to try fooling him with anything.”

She laughed. “You can say that again.”

~ ~ ~

When he and Ford came back into the kitchen, Ashton was wearing a huge smile, and a cowboy hat.

“Look what Uncle Ford gave me! And it fits!”

“Wow!” Everly exclaimed. “Look at you! It suits you.” She smiled at Ford. “Thank you, that’s so kind of you.”

Ford nodded happily. “I was up in Clyde Park this afternoon. When I heard that you guys were coming, I figured Ashton might need his own hat. I was lucky that Murdoch’s was still open when I came back through town.”

Tanner gave his brother a puzzled smile. He couldn’t be more grateful, but Ford was the last of his siblings he would’ve expected to go out of his way for the kid. Ford lifted a shoulder.

“It looks like you haven’t had time to figure out what you’re going to eat yet,” he said. “There are plenty of frozen pizzas if you like those. Or we can rustle you up something else?”

Tanner felt guilty. He’d made the most of his first few minutes alone with Everly, but he hadn’t done anything about feeding the kid.

“I like pizza,” Ashton piped up.

“Then let’s get one in the oven, why don’t we?” Ford said with a smile.

Tanner loved the way Ashton followed him around the kitchen, helping him to set the table and get drinks ready while Everly chatted with Ford.

“How do you like your room?”

“It’s awesome! Uncle Ford said that when the sun comes up in the morning, I’ll be able to see the mountain.”

“You will. And when you get up, we can go down to see the horses, if you want.”

Ashton nodded so vigorously that it made Tanner laugh. “You like horses, then?”

“Yeah! Will you teach me how to ride one? Uncle Ford said that you’re like a horse whisperer.”