Page 23 of Finding Home (Willow Valley #1)

TWENTY-THREE

CHLOE

W hen I wake up in the morning, Everett is in the kitchen, shirtless, making coffee. I bite my lip as I approach him and grab a mug. He pours some into mine before his, adding milk and sugar, and I duck my face as I think about how Everett has watched me make my coffee enough to know how I like it.

I lean against the kitchen counter and watch him finish his cup, a single spoon of sugar and just a splash of milk so it’s still dark in colour.

It fits him. A dark and bitter view on the outside, but when you actually try it, it’s got some sweetness and softness to it.

Just like Everett. He may not show the rest of the world that he’s not all grumpy and grumbly, but I see it when he’s with Lila and how soft he is with her.

How he’s been with me. The small things like learning how I take my coffee, or sitting on the couch and reading with me.

The way he brushed my hair last night and massaged his fingers into my scalp in a way that had me nearly falling asleep and begging for more when he stopped.

Everett isn’t just what everyone else sees. He’s so much more, and the fact he lets me see that part of him is everything.

He takes a sip of his coffee and stares at me. His eyes are assessing, like he’s trying to decide something before he finally shakes his head and says, “I’m going to get Lila up and see what she wants for breakfast.”

I nod as he heads upstairs, and I take a seat at the kitchen table.

I’m still in my pyjamas, meaning an oversize T-shirt with no bra and a pair of shorts, but I’ve decided I’m done running away from Everett.

As much as I know he’s a student’s parent and crossing that line can be all sorts of wrong, I can’t help but want to be closer to him.

To see more of what he doesn’t show just anyone, only those he deems worthy.

I want to be worthy of seeing those parts of him.

Lila bounds into the kitchen, taking a seat beside me, Everett hot on her heels.

“Lila has decided on french toast this morning. Sound good?”

I smile. “Sounds perfect. How can I help?”

Everett shakes his head. “All good. I’ve got it.”

I sit back and sip my coffee as I watch him move around the kitchen like it’s all second nature. He occasionally looks over and checks on Lila, who’s drawing beside me, and I see how he tries to fight his smile when his eyes land on me. It only has mine growing, which causes him to look away.

When he finishes, he once again plates the food for both Lila and me. I notice how he makes sure my hashbrowns and bacon don’t touch each other or the french toast, just the way I like it. It’s the little things.

“So,” I start. “I was thinking about taking Lila for her first ride today, if you wanted to join us.”

Lila is grinning like a fool, and Everett smiles at me. “I’d love to. You excited, Peanut?”

Lila nods. “Yup. It’s gonna be the bestest. Miss M said I can ride her horse, Miley. I have to make sure I brush her first and then we can go out, and then I brush her after.”

“I see. Well, I’m sure you’re going to do great,” Everett says.

I finish my breakfast and excuse myself to get ready for work, calling out, “Bye,” as I head out the front door.

The second school is done, Lila is waiting beside my desk for us to leave. I told Everett I’d bring her home with me today and then we can head over to my parents’ together. I can’t help but chuckle at her excitement.

“Okay, girlie, let’s head home and change.”

She half skips the entire way to my car.

I get her settled in the back and turn the music up as we make our way home.

Once we’re inside, I tell her to change into a pair of old jeans and a hoodie.

After I change, I find Everett in the kitchen, putting together a snack.

He wordlessly hands me a plate with cut up apple and cheese slices, and my stomach chooses right then to grumble.

We settle at the table as Lila joins us. She inhales her snack like it’s a race, looking at me with excited eyes when she finishes.

“You can put on some boots now, and we’ll head out.”

Lila’s out of her chair before I even finish, and Everett and I share a look before shaking our heads.

We follow her out and to Everett’s truck because he insists on driving.

He pulls up outside my parents’, and I guide him to the side gate, opening it and letting him through before closing it and hopping back into the truck.

I guide him down the tiny dirt trails towards the barn and have him park beside it.

There’s a couple people milling around, doing some final things to take care of the horses before they head home for the day.

I smile at Peter, one of the first people Grayson hired to look after the horses, as we pass him and he tips his hat at me.

Lila heads straight to the brushes and then to Miley’s stall, who whinnies when she spots Lila. I unlock the gate for her, and she slips in. Everett and I watch as she grabs a stool from the side and moves it beside Miley then climbs it and starts gently brushing her.

As she gently works the brush over Miley, she talks to her, telling her about everything that’s happened since she last saw her. When she decides she’s done with one spot, she shuffles the stool over to get to a part further down.

When she’s done, she pushes the stool to the side and looks at me expectantly.

I nod and slip into the stall with her, grabbing reins and getting them situated on Miley before guiding her out and towards where we keep the saddles.

Lila is patient the entire time, studiously watching every move I make.

Once the saddle is on, Lila and Everett follow me out to the field.

I get a helmet settled on Lila’s head as I ask Everett to grab the stool beside the barn and set it on the ground beside Miley.

“We’re going to start with mounting, okay? You’re going to put your left foot in this.” I grab the stirrup. “This is a stirrup. This is where you keep your feet when you ride.”

Lila nods .

“Can you show me which is your left foot?”

Lila picks up her left foot and gives it a shake.

“Very good. I’m going to hold the reins, and you’re going to put your left foot in the stirrup. Then you’re going to hold on to the top of the saddle and push up on your left foot and swing your right leg over Miley.”

Lila stares at me for a minute, and I hand the reins to Everett, moving to stand close to Lila.

“Put your left foot in the stirrup,” I say, and she easily follows that. I tap the edge of the top of the saddle. “Now your hand goes here.” When she’s done that, I touch her left foot. “Now push down here and use your hand to pull you up. You want to get your leg on the other side of Miley.”

She nods, and her tongue comes out between her lips as she focuses. She tries, but her leg doesn’t make it high enough to get over Miley.

“It’s okay. It takes practice, just like everything. We’re going to try again. This time, I want you to try jumping a little more.”

She tries again, just barely missing. She huffs.

“One more time. Third time’s the charm.”

She gets a determined look and does it again, this time making it over. She cheers, and I clap for her.

“Look, Daddy. I did it.”

“You did, Peanut. Good job.”

I take the reins back from Everett, and he grabs the stool as I stand in front of Miley.

“Make sure both your feet are in the stirrups,” I say. “Today, we’re going to start with me just leading Miley around while you sit back there. Get you comfortable being on her and her comfortable with you. Okay?”

Lila nods.

“Hold on to the same part of the saddle as before.” She does, and I start walking.

Miley has been ridden by several newbies, which is why I trust her with Lila. You can’t stick new riders on just any horse. They need to have the temperament for it. Some horses could take off running and leave a rider behind, and that’s unsafe for both rider and horse.

After a few minutes, I ask, “How ya feeling, Liles?”

“This is so fun!” she says.

I smile at her over my shoulder and see Everett perched against the fence, one foot on a bottom rung and his arms on the top, watching us. He can’t hide his grin right now. It’s taken over his entire face. I bite my lip. The sight of Everett Lawson grinning like that is hot.

Lila and I spend about thirty minutes in the field before I lead us back to the barn. Everett meets us with the stool, and I walk Lila through dismounting. She looks apprehensive at first, but after a little reassurance, she gives it a shot and nails it.

“Can I lead Miley back into the barn?” she asks, and I nod, handing her the reins and staying close.

Miley walks right behind Lila and into her stall when she’s led in.

I take her saddle and reins off, and Lila is right back on her stool, brushing her.

I lean against the gate to watch her as Everett joins me.

“Thank you,” he says, and I look at him.

“For?”

“For being patient with her. For taking the time to do this with her. For being there for her.”

He holds eye contact with me, and it feels like everything around us stills and Everett and I are the only two people here. He leans in, and I follow his lead. His eyes flick to my lips, and I lick them. His eyes track the movement, and I swear he’s going to kiss me, and I’d let him.

We’re pulled from the haze when Lila asks, “Can we come back tomorrow and ride Miley?”

I smile at her. “Dad’s on shift tomorrow. You and I have plans with Grandma.”

“Okay. Can we come the day after tomorrow, then?” she asks.

“We’ll see.”

The look of pure excitement in her eyes has me falling just a little more for this little girl.