“We’re turning around, and I’m going to take you somewhere else. If you want to go to the museum later, we can.” I stop us at a gas station, get out of the car, and make the necessary call to pull this off.
“Who were you talking to?” she asks when I slide into the driver’s seat again.
“Just Poppy.”
Returning us to Willowbrook, I follow the roads that lead me to Plain Daisy Ranch, hoping like hell Bennett doesn’t see me. But I don’t want to tell my daughter the truth surrounded by hundreds of strangers. I have no idea how she’ll react.
I park outside the stables and Leia screams, “Mommy, Sparkles!”
“I know.”
Poppy walks out of the stables with Nash at her side, holding the reins of Junebug, all saddled and ready for us.
“Thanks, you guys.”
“Of course. Nash and I can guide you, then he wants to go workout a horse to give you some space.”
“I can’t thank you enough for this. I tried the museum but just couldn’t do it.”
She smiles. “Yeah, this is better. The advantages of living on a ranch.” She claps her hands. “Ready, Leia?”
Leia looks back from watching the other worker with Sparkles in the corral. She climbs down from the fence and runs over.
A worker comes out of the stable with helmets in hand. Nash hands the reins of Junebug to Poppy and returns with another horse, and a worker brings out another one. I get up on Junebug first.
“Look at who has become a pro all these years later.” Poppy laughs.
I roll my eyes. “Couldn’t have my daughter learn if I couldn’t ride with her.”
“Eh, I think it’s that you just couldn’t stay away from ranch life.” A teasing smile lands on her lips.
Nash helps Leia up onto Junebug so she can ride in front of me. “All good? Poppy will lead, and I’ll follow in case anything…”
“Thanks, Nash.” I give him a smile.
He nods, and I can’t gauge if he knows or not. I’m sure Poppy wouldn’t have told him, although they seem awfully close. No, she wouldn’t, but eventually everyone in this town will know anyway, so what’s the difference?
“Let’s go, cowgirls.” He smiles at Leia, and she squeals, running her hands down Junebug’s neck.
We head up the trail I rode with Bennett so many times, and with every step, my heart grows heavy. I’m not sure he’ll ever forgive me, and I’m not sure I can blame him, so I need to shut off that part of myself. Get rid of the hope that we could somehow be anything but coparents from now on.
I’m so lost in my thoughts, and keeping Leia balanced, that the ride passes quickly. Before I know it, we’ve reached our destination. Again, Nash helps Leia, and I climb down myself. He takes charge of securing Junebug to a tree.
“We’ll be back in a little bit,” Poppy says, hugging me.
Nash flawlessly gets up on the horse and offers a hand to Poppy to help her, making it all look so easy. Just like Bennett used to.
The two of them ride off, and I walk us over to the creek and grab a handful of pebbles. “I need to tell you something, Leia, and you’re welcome to feel however you want. Your feelings are yours, and there’s no right or wrong. I want you to know that, okay?” I pour some of the pebbles into her hand.
She throws one in the water, not saying anything.
“Daddy is most likely going to be in jail for a very long time.”
“I know. Marcus said his dad said he’ll be lucky to ever get out.”
Of course parents have discussed it in front of their kids who have decided to talk to my kid about it. I take a deep breath through my frustration.
“Yeah. I know that makes you sad, but he did some really bad things, broke laws, and?—”
