Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Thanks for making dinner,” I reply. “Really. It’s a big help.”
“You’re welcome. We have to keep our babies fed.”
She kisses each of the kids, and then she’s off for the evening, and I get to work, serving dinner and getting the kids bathed so they can enjoy some TV or reading time before bed.
“I want to go to the barn,” Holly announces. “To see the new baby horses.”
“Me, too,” Johnny agrees.
“Sorry, we have to do your project.” I shake my head as they both frown. “That’s what happens when you wait until the last minute. Come on, let’s dig in. You can see the horses tomorrow.”
“I didn’t wait until the last minute,” Holly grumbles. “That’s stupid that I can’t go.”
“You’re not going by yourself,” I inform her. “So, you can help us, or you can grab a book to read or watch something on TV.”
“She can’t help us,” Johnny argues, and I sigh as my kids start to fight.
“Enough.” My voice is deep and sharp, which makes them stop swiping at each other. “Holly, go find something to do while we work on this.”
She stomps out of the room, and I turn to my son, who’s scowling. “This isn’t your sister’s fault.”
“She’s a busybody.”
“Where did you hear that phrase?”
“From Grandma.”
It’s late when I finally get the kids into bed and sit down to eat some stew myself. I’m hungrier than I realized and go back for seconds before sealing up the leftovers and popping them into the fridge.
With two fingers of whiskey, I sit in my leather chair in front of the fire and sigh.
Today would have been Jessica’s thirty-sixth birthday.
I didn’t mention it to anyone. Johnny was only two when she died, and he has no memory of her. Jessica’s family moved away from Bitterroot Valley after her death because they said it was too painful to be reminded of her all the time.
So, there’s no one here to remember her with me.
Jess wasn’t the love of my life. We married because she was pregnant, and we were friends. I liked her a lot, and we did well as co-parents. We were a good team.
But was there love? Passion? Not really.
And I never felt guilty about that because it was the same for her.
But it feels wrong that today, on her birthday, it’s just another day. Hell, I didn’t even remember until I had tucked Holly in and passed by Jess’s picture in the hallway.
Blowing out a breath, I lift my glass in salute. “Happy Birthday, Jess.”
“I can’t find Holly.”
I turn and scowl at my son. “What?”
Without waiting for him to answer, I rush upstairs, with Johnny right behind me.
“She’s not in her room,” he says. “I don’t know where she went.”
“Holly!” I yell her name as I search every room on the second floor and do the same downstairs. “Shit, Holly!”
“Did she die?” Johnny asks, tears filling his eyes. I turn to him and scoop him into my arms.
“Definitely not. She’s just hiding.” I kiss his cheek and pull my phone out of my pocket, just as it rings.
It’s my senior ranch hand, Lucky.
“Yeah.”
“Your little princess is in the barn, boss,” he says in my ear, and I deflate in relief. “Found her petting the filly.”
“I’m on my way.” I hang up and set Johnny on his feet. “Get your stuff for school, and I’ll grab Holly’s.”
We drive to the barn, and I rush inside and find my daughter giggling as the filly sniffs at her neck.
“Holly Wild.”
Her gaze snaps up to mine, and there’s guilt in her eyes.
“Get out of that stall now.”
“Daddy, I just wanted to see the babies.”
“You know you’re not allowed in the barn by yourself.” I pick her up and head for the SUV. “Thanks, Lucky.”
“You bet, boss.”
“It’s a good thing you’re dressed, or you’d be going to school in your pajamas.”
“Why are you mad?” she asks as I set her in the back seat. “It’s just the barn.”
“You’re five,” I remind her. “I make the rules here, and you know you’re not allowed to wander around the property by yourself. We have animals out here, Holly. You saw the big bear we had last fall.”
“He looks friendly,” she says.
“He’s not friendly.” I start the car, and then Johnny gasps. “What?”
“I forgot my poster.”
I close my eyes and count to ten, then drive back to the house and run in for Johnny’s project before returning to the car to take them to school.
“You won’t be in the barn for the rest of the month,” I inform Holly. “You’re grounded from it.”
“But, the babies!”
“You should have thought of that before you broke the rules. And you don’t get to go to Kayla’s birthday party on Saturday.”
“But we already bought a present!”
“That’s the consequence, baby girl.”
Holly sniffles in the back seat. “I’m really sorry, Daddy. I didn’t know any better.”