Page 9 of Sweet Surprise (Honeysuckle, Texas #2)

Hanging out all afternoon and evening with Mason and Jess had been the best day Carson Sweet had spent in a hell of a long time.

Exhausted, Mason had fallen asleep in the Jeep just before they’d reached home.

The kid slept like a proverbial log. Carson lifted him out of the vehicle, carried him into the house and up the stairs to his room and he didn’t move a muscle.

Jess stripped him of his shoes and pants and Mason didn’t even blink.

Carson would kill to sleep that soundly.

The plan for the morning was to introduce his son to the horses. Even though a few of the horses would be out working with his siblings and Clint, there would be enough left for Mason to meet and sketch.

At the sink, his mom hummed softly as she poured hot water into a pitcher of tea bags.

Thinking back, he was pretty sure this was the first time he’d heard his mother humming since they’d found his father slumped at the kitchen table over a year ago.

Standing at her side, scrolling through her phone, his sister Rachel frowned.

“Bad news?” he asked.

Rachel shook her head. “Just work.”

With a nod his head turned to see the woman sitting at the table, her dark hair clipped into a bun with loose strands caressing her shoulders, a little messy but somehow perfect.

Cradling a mug of hot coffee, her gaze remained on their son, sitting across from her, scribbling furiously in his sketchpad.

Their son. Would he ever tire of those words?

Carson tried not to stare, but it was impossible not to feel the tug in his chest every time he looked at the boy. Nine years old, wiry, with his mom’s brilliant green eyes and determined jawline. Shaking away the growing nostalgia, he inched closer to Mason.

“May I see?”

Nodding, Mason sat back so Carson take a look. It took a moment but he realized Mason had not just sketched a horse, but their pen as well.

“Do you like it?” The little boy’s voice sounded smaller than usual.

“Very much.”

“It’s here. There was a horse outside when I woke up.”

“I can tell. It’s Cinnamon.” The drawing was so good from a distance, he couldn’t imaging what the boy could do up close and personal. “This is great.”

Mason beamed.

“So.” Carson pushed to his feet. “You ready to meet the horses?”

“Am I!” Clutching the pad to his chest, the kid sprang to his feet with unexpected speed and flexibility.

“We could see them later if you want to keep drawing.” Jess’s voice cracked ever so slightly.

It suddenly occurred to him that Jess was a city girl and this was her first time in ranch country. Facing her, he took a step closer. “Have you ever ridden a horse?”

Jess shook her head.

Okay. “But you’ve seen one before?”

“Before yesterday? Only if television counts?”

“You never went to a dude ranch or a rodeo?”

Nibbling slightly on her lower lip, she shook her head.

All right. Maybe it was Jess he needed to worry about and not Mason. “Then you’re in for a treat.”

Heaving in a sigh, she nodded, and mumbled, “Treat. Right.”

Coming in closer, he leaned into her and lowered his voice. “It will be fine. I promise.”

And with that, the three of them stepped out into the sunlight, heading toward the barn. Jess’s apprehension was palpable. Her hands rubbed down the side of her jeans and back again.

Effervescing eagerness, Mason scurried several feet ahead of them.

“Remember the rules.” Concern heightened in Jess eyes. “I can’t help you if I can’t reach you. Wait for us.”

Leaning against her, he lowered his voice. “There really isn’t much trouble he can get into out here.”

“It’s not out here I’m worried about.” Her gaze remained on Mason and his slower pace.

“Have I ever lied to you?”

That seemed to bring her short. Slowing her steps, she tipped her head to level her gaze with his. He could almost see the wheels turning the pages of time. “No. No, I don’t think you ever have.”

“Then trust me, he’ll be fine.”

The scent hit Jess first: earthy, a little dusty, and distinctly animal.

She hesitated at the entrance to the stable, her hand resting on the weathered wooden beam.

Peering inside, her heart did a nervous flutter at the sound of shuffling hooves and an occasional low, throaty snort.

Her gaze darting left then right, she spotted Mason, jaw hanging slightly open, slowly walking, taking in his surroundings.

All set to remind Mason to stay close—something she’d taught him as a toddler, terrified he might dart out in front of a moving car, or succumb to some human predator—she made sure he understood that if she couldn’t reach him to help him, then he was too far away.

The words were at the tip of her tongue when Carson’s words echoed in her head: trust me.

She turned to see Carson at her side; his gaze fixed on Mason, his cowboy hat tipped just enough to shadow his pleased smile. “Stop there,” he called out. “That first horse is Boots. She’s a real sweetie.”

As told, Mason came to a stop, the horse nodding her head as if greeting the small human.

“You ready to see your first horse up close and personal?” Carson smiled at her, looking entirely too at ease for a man who’d just promised to introduce her to creatures the size of small trucks.

“Define ‘ready’.” She resisted the urge to take a step in retreat.

Carson chuckled, his boot heels clicking against the floor with every step. “You’ve got this, city girl. Just stick close to me.”

“That’s the plan,” she muttered under her breath as he gestured for her to follow.

Dimly lit, the closer they drew to the stalls, the cooler the building felt.

Slivers of sunlight cut through the gaps in the wooden planks.

And there was her first horse. Boots was gigantic.

Noting other horses popping their heads out over the stall doorways, she realized Boots wasn’t the only enormous equine—they were all frighteningly large.

Mid step, she froze, her jaw struggling to move. “Oh my gosh, they’re huge.”

“You should see the Clydesdales. Now, those are huge animals.”

“Thanks, but no thanks.” She gestured helplessly at the nearest horse, a massive chestnut creature with a mane that shimmered under the dim stable lights.

Boots turned her head to look at Jess. Dark eyes seemed unnervingly intelligent.

She wasn’t sure who was sizing up who, but right now it seemed the horse was doing all the thinking.

“Good morning, Boots.” Carson gave the horse a friendly pat on the neck. “She’s one of the gentlest ones we’ve got. Come closer and say hello.”

Mason didn’t hesitate, walking straight up to where Carson had gestured. She, on the other hand, didn’t move. “I’m not sure Boots got the memo about ‘gentle.’ She looks like she could snap me like a toothpick if she wanted.”

Carson laughed outright, the deep, rich sound echoing through the stable. “Trust me, Boots is probably more scared of you than you are of her.”

Shaking her head, Jess was pretty sure that’s what everyone said about a rattlesnake before it struck.

Extending his hand, Carson motioned for her to come closer. “C’mon. Just take it slow. Horses can sense if you’re nervous.”

“Great,” she mumbled. “What you’re saying is that I’m more or less just a walking anxiety beacon.”

“She wouldn’t hurt a fly, Mom.” Mason failed to show even a modicum of concern.

“Remember what I told you before leaving the house.” The statement was directed at Mason.

“Yes. Stay away from the hind legs, and don’t approach straight in front because their eyes are to the side of their head and I could spook her.”

“That’s right. Now remember the carrots.”

Pulling a large carrot chunk from his pocket, Mason opened his palm, letting Boots nibble it out of his hand. The toothy grin that took over his face as the carrot disappeared had Jess grinning as well.

“She’s so soft.” Mason rubbed his hand gently down the side of the animal’s neck.

Jess dared to take a step closer, her shoes barely making a sound. She could do this. Maybe if she told herself that often enough, she’d actually believe it.

“Come on, Mom. She’s a sweetie.”

Carson put his hand to his mouth, doing a poor job of hiding his laughter at Mason’s repeating what had been said earlier about Boots.

She’d managed to muster the courage to take another step when Boots decided this would be a great time to wiggle her lips, bob her head down then up, and let out a snort that had Jess jumping back the two feet she’d suffered to gain.

“You’re doing fine,” Carson encouraged.

What she couldn’t decide was who was eyeing who more closely, her or the horse.

The horse sniffed in her direction, lowering its massive head slightly.

Why couldn’t Carson have been an accountant or engineer in some reasonably big city. It didn’t have to be bustling like New York or Chicago, but just a little less… horsy.

“Do what I did, Mom. Hold your hand out and give her a carrot. She likes that.”

Right, hold out her ordinary hand in front of a large toothed, lip smacking behemoth.

“Like this.” Carson opened his hand the same way Mason had moments ago, then taking her hand in his, pulled gently at her fingers until her hand was flat, palm up. Then he placed the large carrot piece on her hand. Not letting go, he eased her hand under the horse’s nose.

A slight tremble moved her hand. Boot’s warm breath puffed against her fingers. Letting out a sharp yelp, she jerked back and away.

Taking hold of her hand, Carson gave it a gentle squeeze. “She’s just saying hello. Try again. You’re doing fine.”

This time, Jess steeled herself, extended her hand again, and tried not to flinch as the horse’s velvety nose brushed against her palm.

“Oh wow,” she practically whispered. “She is soft.”

“Told ya, Mom.” Mason continued rubbing at Boot’s neck. The two were becoming fast friends.

“Yeah, Mom,” Carson whispered at her ear, his soft breath sending a whole different kind of chill down her spine. “We told you.”

Her heart slamming a rapid beat against her rib cage, she let out a soft sigh.

If she could stay calm long enough to pat the neck of an animal large enough to swallow her whole without having a heart attack, maybe she’d figure out how to stand this close to Carson without melting into a pool of quivering nerves.

Then again, maybe some day pigs would fly.