Page 32 of Holden: Bucked By Love (Crawford Ridge Ranch #1)

"Daddy!" A squeal breaks the quiet as Josi comes tearing into the barn, and I'm good with the change of topic. "You're back!"

Bob, the princely new addition, tosses his head and snorts again, but stays standing and watches as Jo-Jo approaches. Her hair is more orderly than usual, thanks to my mom's work I'm sure, and she looks adorable with some new teeth finally coming in.

"Hey," Mason says to her when she gets near, "don't you know you can't just run in here screaming? You'll scare the animals."

Walker and I exchange an amused look over Mason's shoulder as Josi stumbles to a stop.

Her hazel eyes, wide with worry, meet mine and I immediately go to her side to assure her she's all right.

Her little hand reaches for mine and she holds her casted arm at her side as she looks at the horse more closely.

"Who is he?" she asks.

"Sir Loin," Mason answers at the same time that Walker says, "Thunder Hooves" and I say, "Bob."

Josi wrinkles her nose. "That's a long name. I can't remember all of that."

We chuckle and I explain the name issue.

She listens with focus and tilts her head, looking at the gelding who is also watching her.

My children have been around horses their entire lives, but they're like Leni and haven't often had much interest in them.

So it surprises me to see them both taking in the new arrival with such interest. I understand that for Mason it's more about connecting with his uncle. Josi, though, I'm not sure.

"He looks like a fox," Josi states after a few minutes. "His eyes are smart."

Walker scratches at the short beard growth covering his lower jaw as he looks back at the gelding. "Huh. Fox, eh?"

He then turns to look at Mason, who nods, and then at me. I nod too. Walker smiles down at Josi.

"Fox it is," he states.

Josi's smile blooms big and wide. "Did I just name a horse?" she asks in awe.

"Sure did, sweetheart," Walker nods. "All right, Fox, let's get you out to the corral to meet your new friends."

Mason, Josi, and I step back to allow Walker room to untie Fox's halter rope and lead him past us and out to the back paddock where a handful of our horses are lazily grazing.

We watch as he guides Fox into a separate area, fenced off, where they can all scent one another and meet before being physically put together.

Fox neighs and the other horses raise their heads in interest. When Walker and Fox are out of sight, I turn to my kids.

"What have you been up to today?" I ask Josi.

"Helping Grandpa sand some chairs to paint," Josi replies with a smile, showing me her dusty shirt. "He says I can paint one of them purple if I want."

I nod. "Purple would be nice."

"He says Grandma wants them to be fancy for her wedding parties, but that he'll make one just for me," she whispers, biting her lips in happiness.

It makes me smile and I'm thankful, once again, that my kids have grandparents who take care to spend time with them. As a parent I'm too busy working to care for them and to try teaching them right from wrong, but grandparents, man, that's where they get soaked in love.

"Grandma and Mama went to look at a field that has some big trees. Grandma thinks people will want to get married there," Josi supplies. "They left after lunch. It's almost dinner time."

I look out into the yard, past the homestead to where I imagine Leni and my mom are. I wonder if Leni has had a chance to break the news to Mama that she doesn't want to do weddings. Maybe I need to help that along.

"It's hot out today," Josi says. "That's why I stayed here with Grandpa in the shade."

I mumble agreement. Plus, it would be a long walk for her little legs.

"At least Mom and Dad will get to cool off when they go swimming tonight," Mason grumps .

I hustle to stop him from oversharing with Josi, but Walker overheard as he entered the barn again.

"Oooh, swimming huh?" Walker teases. "Just your mama and dad?"

Mason makes a face. "Yeah. With no clothes."

Walker's smooth gait stops and he glances at me with playfully large eyes. "Well, well, well . . ."

"No clothes?" Josi asks.

"It's gross," Mason says.

Walker laughs, big and loud. "This is interesting news."

"It's for their bucket list," Mason says. "I have no idea why they'd put that on there."

"Oh, I have a few ideas about that," Walker says, oh-so-helpfully.

I punch his shoulder, hard, and have to resist rubbing my fist when it feels like I punched a stone pillar. "Shut it, Walker."

"They're going to Maple Pond," Mason continues, and Walker howls, bending back at the waist.

"Nothing like some public indecency to bring a couple together," he hoots.

I look down at Jo-Jo who is standing with her arms wrapped around herself and a wrinkled forehead.

"Baby, Mason and Walker are teasing. You don't need to worry about it," I say to her, putting a soft hand on her shoulder.

"So you and Mama aren't going swimming without clothes?" she asks, looking up at me.

"Who's going swimming naked?" My dad joins us through the big open front of the barn and I groan, slapping my hands over my face.

I don't need to look at him to know that his bushy white mustache will be dancing with delight under green eyes .

"My parents," Mason says at the same time I say, "Nobody!"

I don't take my hands from my eyes, rubbing at them in annoyance. "This has gotten out of hand."

"There aren't many problems that can't be solved with a little skinny dipping," Dad cracks.

I throw my hands in the air and growl. "That's it. No one is swimming, ever, from this day forward."

"Yes," Josi cheers. "I hate swim lessons."

Walker and Dad laugh at that, but Mason scowls.

"But the bucket list," he reminds me.

"We'll find something else to do," I state, slamming my hands to my hips. "This family is banned from water." I make my expression stern. "And from telling each other anything, at all, ever. No news is the only news, got it?"

Mason shakes his head and Josi reaches up to take my hand. "But I have a loose tooth," she says. "Is that no news?"

My dad bends down to look into her eyes. "Let's see, sweetie."

Josi opens her mouth and wiggles a tooth, and my dad's wrinkled eyes nearly disappear with happiness over his granddaughter's loose tooth.

"That's a real winner, Jo-Jo. Bet the tooth fairy will bring a lot of money for that one." He grins.

"Just don't lose it tonight," Walker adds in. "The tooth fairy is tied up."

I glare at him as my dad disguises a laugh with a cough.

"She's busy?" Josi asks. "Doing what?"

I tug on her hand and get her walking out of the barn before my family can crack any more jokes at my expense. Dad and Walker laugh as we walk away, and Mason steps in beside me and his sister.

"Those two are a problem," I say under my breath .

"Sorry, Dad," Mason says. "I didn't mean to start something."

I'm not actually mad. I'm more embarrassed than anything. A family full of men is bound to rib each other, and I'm no angel myself. In an effort to practice openness, I put an arm around my son's shoulder.

"I'm not angry, Mace," I say, giving him a squeeze. "I'm sort of embarrassed, I guess. Your mom and I are trying to figure some things out and I don't like being teased about it. I know they love me and they don't mean to make me feel bad. It's okay."

"So this is a private thing?" Mason asks.

I nod. "Yeah, I think so."

"I can be more careful about private things," he says.

My heart warms and I snug him up against my side for a quick hug before releasing him. He's such a good kid, and that conversation went well. Maybe being open isn't such a bad thing after all.

"If we have to be good about private things, Daddy, then why are you swimming without clothes? Isn't that private?" Josi asks innocently.

I sigh. "Good point, baby. Your mama and I will figure something out."

Mason glances my way and I offer him a smile. "You have to finish the list," he says when Josi gets distracted by the blooming lupine flowers.

"We will, buddy," I say.

He stops me with a tug on my arm as Josi skips off to gather a few for Leni.

"Dad. I'm serious. This is important. The list needs to be done how Mom wrote it."

His brown eyes, so much like his mama's, stare at me with unbridled desperation, and I realize fully that my boy sees this list as the way his mom and I will be able to come back together. I don't tease, I don't push, I simply pull that lanky pre-teen in for a hug and promise him that I will.