build an ark.
That would probably really put a crimp in his plans.
He didn’t know dick about training horses on a boat.
Chapter 21
Trace watched his parents pull up in their big blue SUV, trying to tell himself there was no reason to be stressed. He had a good life, a busy life.
An interesting life.
No reason to be nervous at all.
“That them?” Brent asked.
“Yeah.” It so was.
“You okay, baby?”
“Yeah.” He had to be. Trace didn’t have time not to be.
“Ringo. Cass! Y’all come on.” Brent whistled up the dogs, who were bouncing around.
“Is that them?” Jakob asked, wide-eyed.
“It is. You want to come help them inside with me?” He didn’t blame the little boy for staring. As worried as he’d been, it was leaking out everywhere.
“Yessir.” Jakob dutifully trotted out to meet his parents. The girls had disappeared like smoke, and Daisy was in her pack and play.
The rain let up, and Mom got out first, her smile wide as she looked around. “Wow. Look at this gorgeous place!” Then her eyes landed on Jakob. “You must be Jakob.”
“I am. You’re my new granny?”
“I am.” She held her arms wide open, and to his delight, Jakob ran right into them, his face against her side.
Mom teared right up and hugged Jakob tight. “Oh, it’s so good to meet you.”
Dad came around the other side of the car and chuckled softly. “Well, she’s going to be fine. Afternoon, son.”
“Hey, old man. You’re looking good.” Dad really was. He’d put on a little weight and looked hale and strong. Mom was eternal and immortal, but Dad always seemed to change, age.
Hair dye and moisturizer was a real thing.
“Hey, son. You look tired. And your hair!” Dad softened it with a smile, but concern underlay the words.
“Do I? I’ve been working. Four kids, four puppies, cowboys, twelve goats, hens, and the evil rooster of doom, you know?” His life was full. And he didn’t want to talk about his damn hair anymore.
“That’s a lot of critters,” his mom said, arm around Jakob as she joined them.
“The puppies are mine. I take care of them. You want to meet them?”
“Jakob, let them come in, meet your daddy, huh? And Caro and Daisy? See Susannah?” He winked at Jakob, knowing that those puppies were the center of the little boy’s life.
“Oh. Okay.” Jakob smiled at him. “I get excited.”
“I know, kiddo. They’ll want to see them for sure.”
They headed up to the house, Brent waiting there, Miss Daisy in his arms.
“Hey, y’all. Nice to meet you. I’m Brent. Come on in and get something to drink.”
“Brent, I’m Allison; this is Jack. We’re so pleased to meet you.”
“Granny!” Susannah came screeching in.
“There she is.” His mom picked Susannah up, swinging her around. His dad, bless him, went to meet Daisy.
“Oh, Granny! You have to meet my sister. Caro is my best friend. We’re best friends!” She wiggled to get down and ran for Caro. “Come meet Granny and Poppy!”
He grinned at his mom. “They’ve decided to be twins.”
“I always wanted to be a twin!”
Caro peeked out at them, wearing her princess tutu and little high heels.
“Oh, hello, Caroline. Susannah has told me so much about you. Can you two show Granny where the bathroom is?”
“I can!” Caro ran across the floor, and Dad caught her as she almost wiped out.
“Oops.” Dad grinned at her, winked. “Slippery floors.”
“Uh-huh. My shoes are high. Thank you.” She kicked them off, then reached for his mom’s hand. “Let’s go! I’ll show you our bathroom. We share it with Jakob. It’s pretty. There are dinosaurs. Purple ones.”
“I love purple.” His mom was in love, he thought.
“This is Daisy. She’s the easy one, huh?”
Brent chuckled. “She’s my angel girl. She was only a few weeks old when her folks died. Daisy girl, this is—”
“Poppy,” Dad interrupted.
“Pop!” Daisy wiggled and clapped, and Trace saw his dad dissolve into dew.
“Would you like some milk, Poppy?” Jakob asked very seriously.
“I would love some, young man. Would you like a glass too, so we can sit together and visit?”
Trace was so proud he was going to melt.
“Yes, please.” Jakob was looking at Pop like he hung the moon.
“Go ahead then, son. Go show Poppy where the glasses are.” He went to Brent, leaned a little. “Wow, huh?”
“Yeah. Your folks are champs.” Brent kissed his cheek.
“They love kids.” They’d wanted six kids and had one. Now one grandbaby had turned into four.
With puppies.
Jakob and Pop settled at the table, milk and, somehow, cookies in front of them. When he