Page 17 of Someone to Hold

“Cut the cursing,” Ray clarifies.

“I can do that.”

They offer matching snorts.

The habit of swearing like a sailor won’t disappear overnight, but I’ve got to start somewhere. “I can try.”

“Of course you can.” Janice steps forward to hug me. “It’s a good thing, what you’re doing for Teddy’s widow and those kids.”

“Paying off one debit, but I still owe the two of you. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” I tell her.

She pulls away and narrows her eyes. “You’re family, Chase. Even if we’re not related by blood. And don’t act like you’re saying goodbye forever. This is the first step to you putting down roots in Skylark, where youbelong.”

I swallow against the unfamiliar tightness in my throat. “Thank you for saying that.”

Ray claps me on the shoulder with a firm grip. “You bring those kids over to meet the goats when you get a chance. Kids love goats, and ours need the attention.”

Ray and Janice’s place is on the opposite end of town from Linda’s house, and it’s half past five when I pull in with the horse trailer. Curtains flutter in the house’s front window as I’m unloading, but no one comes out to greet me, so I decide it’s best to get Fancy settled in the barn before I knock on the door again.

I’ve had my horse since she was a yearling and can tell she’s looking down her nose at moving from Ray’s well-appointed barn to the stall at the McAllisters’, which needs quite a bit of TLC. But Fancy trusts me implicitly, a sentiment that goes both ways. Our relationship is the most committed I’ve ever had with a female, and has seen me through a lot of life’s ups and downs.

“It’s going to be fine,” I assure her as she checks out her new digs. She offers a doubtful whinny in response, but seems happy enough once I give her fresh oats and hay.

“What’s his name?” a voice says from behind me.

I turn to see Laurel staring at Fancy, and once again, I’m struck by how much she looks like her father.

“Hername is Fancy.”

“She looks fancy,” she says as she moves closer, obviously fascinated by the animal, who’s chestnut coat gleams.

“Exactly.”

Her gaze flicks to me. “Can I ride her?”

“Sure,” I answer immediately, then shake my head. “I mean, if your mom says it’s okay.”

She scrunches up her nose. “Mom’s scared of horses.”

“She mentioned that.”

“Does Fancy bite?”

“She’s as gentle as a lamb.” I reach into my coat pocket andtake out the carrot I grabbed from Ada’s refrigerator on my way out the door. “You want to feed her a snack?”

The excitement on the girl’s face makes me feel like I offered her a pet unicorn. She takes the carrot from my hand and steps forward without an ounce of trepidation. “She likes it when you talk sweet.”

Laurel shoots me a dubious glance, also pure Teddy, before focusing on the horse. She looks at the carrot in her hand then up again as she reaches her arm out. “Hey, Fancy. You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”

The horse takes the carrot gently because she is, indeed, a good girl. Then she snuffles against Laurel’s palm, earning a bright giggle as the girl strokes her velvet head.

“I think she likes me,” she says.

“She definitely likes you. She also likes being scratched between her eyes.”

“I’msogoing to convince Mom to let me ride her.”

“Good luck with that. Speaking of, does your mom know you’re out here?”