chore that needed doing once a week to all the tack to keep it in good shape.
âHow come youâre okay with Bryan moving to Seattle?â he asked.
Henry worked the saddle soap into the leather in slow, patient circles. âItâs what Krissy thought was right. Paige was her sister. Family counts.â
âYeah, but youâre his great-grandfather. Youâre family.â Jay wasnât. Never could be. âHe couldâve stayed here. Together we couldâve looked after him.â
âGuess when Krissy and me were talkinâ, it didnât occur to either of us that sheâd actually die before I did. Before the boy was grown. That sure didnât seem real to me. Still doesnât.â
âIf you had it to do over, would you have told her to pick Paige for Bryanâs guardian?â
Setting his cleaning rag aside, Henry hefted the saddle, carried it into the tack room and set it in its floor stand.
âI didnât tell her. She decided. Donât much matter now, does it? Whatâs done is done.â
Jay didnât particularly like that answer, but he didnât know what else he could do.
A few minutes later, Paige came sauntering into the barn carrying a tray with a pitcher of iced tea and three glasses.
Jay gaped at her. She was wearing jeans that were belted, emphasizing her slender waist and the slight swell of her hips. On her feet she wore scuffed cowboy boots. She might be a city girl, but in that outfit she looked like she belonged right here in Montana high country.
He shook the thought off. Jeans and boots didnât change a person on the inside.
âWe still had a few cookies left,â she said, after filling the glasses with tea. She extended the plate of cookies to her grandfather. âThought you might like them with your tea.â
Smiling, he selected an iced cookie. âThatâs thoughtful of you, child.â
She offered the cookies to Jay.
Leaning against the doorjamb of the tack room, he met her gaze as he leaned against the doorjamb of the tack room. The cookies werenât a peace offering. She was still mad at him. He saw the spark of determination in her eyes. In spite of himself, he admired her decisiveness. âThanks.â
âYouâre welcome.â
She delivered cookies to Nathan, who in his quiet fashion was sitting on a nearby bale of hay, and finally took one for herself. âIâll leave the rest of the cookies and the pitcher of tea for you. I have to call my boss, let him know that Iâll be there for theââ
Bryan came running into the barn, home from school. âHey, Grandpa. Jay. Guess what?â He spotted Paige and slid to a stop.
âHi, Bryan. Whatâs up?â she asked.
The boy glanced between Jay and his grandfather. âI was going to tell âem that Game Day is gonna be this Friday.â
âThatâs great, son,â Grandpa said. âYou can count on me being there.â
âMe, too,â Jay said.
A frown wrinkled Paigeâs forehead. âWhatâs Game Day?â
âItâs a school thing,â Jay explained. âThey have races, tug-of-war...the classes compete against each other.â
âYeah, and Iâm one of the fastest guys in my class,â Bryan bragged. âIâm gonna beat Toby this year. Iâm gonna win the baseball toss, too. You get medals and stuff for winning.â
âWow, that sounds exciting,â Paige said. âIâd like to come cheer you on, too. Is that okay with you?â
Bryan twisted his lips. âYeah, I guess so,â he mumbled.
Jay stepped away from the doorjamb. âI thought you had to be someplace else on Friday.â
She turned and looked him straight in the eye. âI canât think of anyplace in the world that Iâd rather be than watching Bryan win a whole bunch of medals at Game Day.â
Mentally, Jay kicked himself. Looked like Paige was
Amanda Gray
Ginna Gray
Romany Rivers
Ann Aguirre
George Carlin
Barón Corvo, Frederick Rolfe
Amy Grace Loyd
Aria Kane
Joan Lowery Nixon
Naima Simone