“We’re just worried about you. You’ve had a lot of close calls with Thunder lately and we don’t want you getting hurt. If anyone can help Thunder, you can. But you can’t be effective in that pen if you run yourself into the ground. You haven’t been yourself for a while and Thunder’s picking up on it.”
Amy rubbed her forehead. “I know that. I’m just frustrated.”
She glanced behind her, shoulders sagging. Logan followed her gaze to the far side of the enclosure where Thunder kicked and stomped.
“I’m doing the same things I’ve always done,” she whispered. “I don’t know why he won’t respond.”
Logan studied her weary expression and cringed. Dominic was right. She needed some space. Some time to relax.
Logan plucked a piece of dead grass from her sleeve then rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Well, forcing it isn’t going to help you or Thunder. You need to take a break and clear your head.”
Squeals broke out behind them. Jayden sprinted across the field at high speed, his brother chasing close on his heels. They kicked up clouds of dust that hovered in sunlit particles behind them and drew to an abrupt halt at the fence.
“I won.” Jayden doubled over, air rasping between his lips.
“Only ’cuz you cheated.” Kayden shoved his brother then swaggered over to Amy. He propped his hands on his hips and squinted at Thunder thrashing in the pen. “You ain’t whipped that horse, yet, Aunt Amy?”
“She’s not gonna whip anything,” Jayden huffed. “She don’t give spankings.” He skipped over and tipped his head back to look up at Amy. “Ain’t that right?”
Amy laughed and hugged the boys to her legs. Her entire demeanor changed. The rigid tension in her body released and the tight lines on her brow eased.
Logan’s chest swelled. This was Amy. As she had been. Bright and energetic. Warm and inviting. The way she was before they’d lost so much.
“Oh, you know what I mean,” Kayden drawled, squinting up at Amy. “You could whoop any horse into shape. Uncle Dominic said so.”
Amy glanced at Dominic. “That’s nice of him to say. But I don’t think Thunder likes me messing with him. I think he’d prefer to run me over.”
“You want me to help you?” Kayden puffed his chest out. “I won’t let no horse come after you.”
Amy smiled. “Thanks for the offer, Kayden.” She bent and kissed his cheek. “But I wouldn’t want to risk you getting hurt.”
Kayden shrugged, his features firming. “Okay. But if Thunder shows his butt, you tell me and I’ll whoop him for ya so you won’t have to.”
“Me, too,” Jayden said, sharing a conspiratorial look with Kayden. “We’ll both give him a butt whoopin’.”
The boys dissolved into a fit of giggles, wrapping around Amy’s legs and snorting.
“Lord have mercy,” Traci muttered, grinning. “Any horse would take off as soon as they saw the two of you coming.”
“Uh-uh,” Kayden jeered. “Besides, I know what Aunt Amy’s doing wrong.”
Kayden darted between Dominic’s legs and climbed onto the fence rail next to Traci.
He rubbed a grubby hand over his face, leaving a streak of dirt on his cheek. “She ain’t spitting.”
Traci issued a sound of disgust. “What does that have to do with anything, squirt?”
“Everything.” Kayden lifted his chin. “Mr. Jed said if something’s broke on a ranch, it just needs some spit-shine and elbow grease.” He smiled, teeth gleaming. “She needs to spit on him.”
Dominic laughed and ruffled Kayden’s hair. “I think you’re spending entirely too much time with Mr. Jed. Why don’t you give the hands a break and let ’em work without you underfoot today.”
Kayden’s nose wrinkled. “Mr. Jed ain’t no hand. He said he’s a bone-a-fine cowboy. Like you and Uncle Logan.”
“That’s bona fide.” Traci said, lips twitching.
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” Kayden pursed his lips in affront then grinned. “Anyways, Mr. Jed likes us helping him. He gives us good jobs, and he pays us.”
Logan smiled. Grumpy Jed probably came up with something all right. The boys had started trailing Jed the second they were released from school for Christmas break yesterday and hadn’t stopped since.
“What kind of job did he give you today?” Amy asked, smoothing a palm over Jayden’s back.
“He gave us a dollar to sit by the fence he painted and make sure it dried.” Kayden shrugged. “But that got boring so we left. Then we couldn’t find him.”
Amy laughed. “Well, that’s his loss.”
Jayden tugged at Amy’s wrist. “Are you a bone-a-fine cowgirl, Aunt Amy?”
She smiled down at him. “I don’t know. Depends on who you ask. Everyone has their idea of one. Do you think I’m one?”
“Yep.” Jayden grinned. “That’s how come you can whoop any horse into shape.”
“Yeah and Uncle Dominic said you can beat anyone on a horse,” Kayden said, flashing a sly look at Logan. “Said you used to beat Uncle Logan every time y’all raced.”
Logan narrowed his eyes at Kayden. “Not every time. I won on occasion.”
“Sometimes, but not often,” Amy said, laughing.
Jayden’s eyes widened with excitement. “Are you gonna race Uncle Logan today?”
Amy’s laugh tapered off and she glanced back at the round pen. “I don’t have time for a race. I need to work with Thunder some more.”
The shadows returned to her eyes and her expression fell.
Logan shook his head. “Not a good idea. You’ve been at it long enough.”
“But—”
“No buts. Jayden has a good point. You need a break and so does Thunder. I think a ride is a great idea.” Logan pulled at Jayden’s belt loop, pausing to unwind the boy’s arms from around Amy’s legs with a chuckle. “Let your aunt Amy go, buddy. She’s already taken.”
Jayden frowned. “Who’s takin’ her somewhere?”
Logan returned Amy’s grin. “Me.”
Kayden sprang down from the fence, ran over and stood beside his brother. Both boys put their hands on their hips and narrowed their eyes up at Logan.
“Where you takin’ her?” Kayden asked.
“For a ride on a horse,” Logan said.
“How
