The next day, around lunchtime, I called Demi who was still at home with the twins while Luke brought Aria to hang out with Mom on most days while he was at work.
“Hey, sis. This a good time?”
“Not better or worse than any other time, but it’s quiet so….” There was humor in her tone, which was definitely good news.
“So, I’m sure you’ve heard all about Carter by now,” I started. “He needs riding lessons. Basic stuff. He’s done trail riding a bit. I took him out on one of our trails, but he can’t even really sit in a trot at the moment.”
“I’ve definitely heard things,” she said, the amusement coloring her voice still. “I think I need a couple of more weeks before I can come there even part time with the boys, but youshould ask Mal. He did a few of my lessons for me when I was having bad days just before the twins were born. He knows what he’s doing.”
“Okay, I’ll do that. If he’s not too busy.”
“Yeah, figure out your schedules and all that. My regular lesson plan is on hold until I’m ready to come back, but you need to get Carter to a point where you can eventually put him up on his own horse whensheis ready.”
I snorted softly. “There’s time. But you’re right.”
“I usually am,” she quipped in her big sister tone.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll talk to Mal. Thanks, sis. Kiss the babies for me.”
“Will do. Talk to you later!”
“Bye!”
I had been walking and talking, so before I put my phone away, I glanced up ahead. Yes! Luck was on my side, because I saw Mal and Crew strolling toward the house for lunch, too.
They were holding hands, and for a while I just watched them. My big brother had never been as happy or as at ease as he was now.
It was funny, in a way, that he’d been the foreman of the ranch and settled in that way, but finding Mal—and Payton—had still changed him a lot. He just seemed so damn chill now. Like finding his person had just slotted something into place within him.
Malachi, on the other hand, still had the occasional moment of insecurity, mostly because of his past and his sensitivity, but the two of them with Payton were as perfect of a little family as I felt was possible for anyone to have.
I wasn’t naïve enough to think they didn’t have troubles or that anything could really be perfect for real, but I also wasn’t one of those people who chased happiness. No, I was more in the campof contentment instead. Most of the time, in most aspects of my life, I was content, and that was just fine with me.
Happiness was fleeting. I didn’t need to chase something like that.
“Hey, Mal!” I called as I jogged after them.
They both turned and smiled.
“What’s up?” Mal asked, his expression open in a way that told me he was having a good day. It hadn’t always been his default, and I felt grateful for the universe to be seeing it now.
“You did some of Demi’s riding lessons, right?” At his nod, I asked, “Would you have time to give Cahill some pointers?”
“I don’t see why not. It’s not time sensitive, right?” he asked as I fell into step with them.
“No, it’s not. But sooner rather than later, so I can take him on the trail and have him handle riding different types of horses. Right now his form is shit and he needs to learn how to gentle his hands. Eventually I’ll have to let him ride his own horse….”
Crew chuckled. “Seems like you’re reluctant to do that.”
“Right now nobody is getting on her. She needs muscle before I want to even try. As for Carter? He has a couple of months to learn before I would let him on her even for a slow walk around the arena.”
“Sounds fair. I think I have time tomorrow afternoon. Around two good?” Mal raised a brow.
“He said whenever is good for us is good for him, so I’ll send him a message. Just put him on one of the teaching horses and see where he’s at. Slow progress is good, as long as there’s progress.”
The next afternoon, I snorted softly at the message Carter sent me.
First, I texted Mal.
