that Dad was going to put him to bed later.
“But I wanna go too.” He stamped his foot and crossed his arms. “Lachlan doesn’t even like horses. This is so unfair.”
“Hey, put the attitude away. You get to ride every day with me on the trails. Tonight, I’m havin’ private time with Lachlan, and you can hang out with my dad.”
“You just want to kiss him more.”
I couldn’t stifle the laugh. Oh, kid, if you only knew. “So what if I do. It’s none of your business. Dad said he’d rent one of those movies you like and make popcorn, but I’m gonna tell him to forget it with that attitude.”
Percy thought about that, and I elbowed Lachlan, who was doing all he could to hide a smirk.
“If I stop having an attitude, can I stay up later?”
“Maybe.”
“Can I watch Iron Man?”
I pretended to think, a deep frown in place so he knew I was serious.
“I’ll stop being rude. I promise.”
“Fine. I guess you can watch Iron Man.”
Percy’s face brightened, and all thoughts of riding with us were gone. “Really?”
“As long as you understand those bad words don’t ever get repeated.”
“I know. I know.” Then he was off like a shot. “Erwin! East said we could rent Iron Man.”
“Nice save,” Lachlan said.
“It’s all in the scowl.”
“You wear it well. Even I’ll behave now.”
I bumped his shoulder. “Now that I don’t want. You ready?”
He sighed and shook his head. “As I’ll ever be. I don’t know why I agreed to this.”
“Hey, you’ve got the gear, now you just need the skill to go along with it.”
With all Percy’s new purchases, Lachlan had bought himself riding gear and had asked me to teach him to ride. He was embarrassed about his fear of horses—any big animal—and wanted to overcome it.
Dressed in his designer jeans that were looking more and more beat up each day, a checkered button-down that made me proud, and his new riding boots, he looked good. I’d noticed over the past two weeks, he spent less time ensuring his hair was done to perfection and more time with a smile on his face. The casual, outdoorsman-look suited him.
This was also the first time I’d ever seen Lachlan sporting scruff. The man was perpetually clean-shaven to this point. It was a feat not attacking him where he stood and devouring that smart mouth of his just to feel the rough scratch under my fingers and against my face. He looked good enough to eat.
As we headed out to the barn, Percy caught up and tailed behind us, munching on a box of crackers. If the kid wanted to eat, I encouraged it. He was underweight and far too small for his age. I’d made him a doctor’s appointment to discuss my concerns, but it wasn’t for another week. Maybe it was normal and just his genetic makeup, but I wanted to be sure. He looked like a kindergartener and not like a kid who was starting grade three in September.
“Don’t forget, Lach. Sit up super straight and no slouching in the saddle. Don’t squeeze the horse with your legs either. They don’t like that. And never, ever put your hands in the air, or you’ll fall off. You have to hold on.”
“Thanks, squirt.” Lachlan ruffled Percy’s hair, earning a crackery-faced grin.
“Now back in the house, buster. What did we just talk about?” I pulled up my scowl again.
“I’m going. I need to get Logan for the movie. Logan!” Percy shouted.
The dog came running, and the two of them went inside.
Lachlan was getting over his fear of the dog. When he spent the night, I refused to lock Logan out of the bedroom, so Lachlan was forced to get a grip. The first time we woke up with a two-hundred-pound dog lying across our legs, Lachlan gave up fearing him and decided he wasn’t all bad. Heavy, yes, but no longer a threat.
We started out in the equipment barn, and I went over the important items required when saddling a horse. My plan was to allow him to ride Jelly Bean again since they were acquainted. Lachlan showed less fear when the horse came to sniff and investigate his new rider this time.
We’d brought apples, and I showed Lachlan how to lay his hand flat and feed them to the horse.
“You swear he won’t bite me?”
“Keep your hand flat, and you’ll be fine.”
Lachlan placed the cut piece of apple on his palm and held it out, but when Jelly Bean moved