wouldn’t listen either.
“Have fun, and be careful,” Dad told me.
“I will. I’ll see you later.”
When I reached the stable, Wells was carrying Ira back to the entrance, shaking his head.
“He would’ve run straight into a horse’s personal space if I hadn’t caught him,” he said, chuckling.
“That would’ve been dangerous,” I told Ira, placing my hand at his back. “Next time, wait on daddy, okay?”
Ira looked at me and tried to understand what would’ve been so dangerous, but then he nodded. “Okay.”
“Are you ready to ride on a horse?” I asked, smiling again.
“Yes!” he called out, pointing at one of them. “I want that one.”
I looked behind me to see one of the older horses.
I knew which ones were a better fit to go on a calm and slow walk, and the one Ira chose was actually a good fit.
“That’s Jigsaw. He’s gentle and kind,” I said, wanting them to know the horse before they got on it to feel more comfortable.
They were already saddled, as Alexis and Kira prepared them every morning before the guests arrived.
“Have you ever been on a horse?” I asked Wells.
“Uh, when I was younger, yes. Can’t say I remember much of it though.”
“That’s okay. You can ride with Ira and I’ll hold Jigsaw’s reins. He’s used to having people ride on him, so you’ll be fine.”
Wells nodded and looked at Jigsaw before he let Ira down again to hold his hand.
He admired Jigsaw as I walked him outside where he stopped and waited.
Mom and Dad trained these horses right, so I had no doubt nothing would happen.
After I got Molly out, I made sure the saddles were tightened right, and turned to Wells to let him know Jigsaw was ready for him and Ira.
“You get on him first and I’ll help Ira up afterward.”
To my surprise, Wells mounting Jigsaw was more graceful than I had thought it would be, and he looked good sitting on that midnight black horse.
God, he looked like Prince Charming.
I had to shake that thought away before picking up Ira and letting Wells pull him up to sit in front of him.
“Is that comfortable for you, Ira?” I asked, watching him adjust himself on the saddle.
“Yes, thank you!”
I couldn’t with this kid.
Wells definitely raised him right.
“All right! Let’s go!”
I mounted Molly and reached back to grab Jigsaw’s reins, and once both horses started walking, I smiled back at Wells and Ira who were already enjoying themselves.
Maybe words weren’t needed at this time, so I turned back around and led the horses to the place I spent most time at when I came to visit my parents.
It’s been a while, but I knew no matter what time of the year I came here, that one place would always look beautiful.
It didn’t take us long to get there, and at first I wanted to get down and sit in the grass with Wells and Ira, surrounded by the pretty colored leaves of fall and just watch the mountains towering in front of us.
“It’s beautiful here, huh?” I heard Wells say to Ira, and I smiled just listening to their conversation while I enjoyed the nature surrounding us.
“Can we come here again sometime?” Ira asked, making me turn to look at him, then Wells.
If he’d say yes, I promised myself to stop thinking negatively about what we might become.
Or not become, for that matter.
“Of course we can. As long as Rooney’s okay with that,” Wells said, looking at me with intense eyes.
I smiled.
“I’d love to take you here again soon,” I said to Ira, getting a happy squeal in return.
So…that was enough of a confirmation, right?
Chapter Thirty-Three
Wells
All good things had to come to an end, and this weekend really went by faster than expected.
We had a wonderful two days at her parents’ ranch, but after that much fun, even I was exhausted.
After we said goodbye to Louise and Devon, and having one last serious talk with him alone, we got into the car and drove back home.
Ira kept talking about his favorite things he had done on the ranch, and he wasn’t as stunned by the clowns as much as the other kids at the show were.
He said they were trying to be funny but they just weren’t, which made us all laugh at the dinner table before we said goodbye.
Safe to say Ira was a harsh critic, but at least none of the animals disappointed him.
He fell asleep halfway through the drive, and Rooney and I weren’t as talkative as we usually were.
I