to do this.” She wanted to tell Ryder that giving in to Adam’s tantrum was teaching him the wrong lesson. She didn’t. The boys’ giggles were too hard to resist.
“My dad used to cart me and Cassidy around when we were his age.”
Tatum had to wonder if her best friend remembered any of the good times with Mercer like her brother obviously did.
“Hey.” Gretchen reined Cupcake to a stop in front of them and glared. “Mom says we’re not supposed to roughhouse around the horses.”
Tatum did say that and was frequently ignored. Gretchen likely wanted in on the fun her brothers were having but refused to ask. Next best was ruining their fun.
“It’s okay.” Drew hugged Ryder’s neck harder. “We have an adult present.”
Tatum’s throat closed. She ached for her children, who missed their father and moments like this. Monty had come around only a few times since their divorce, though his work as an installation foreman for a national auto parts chain brought him to the Phoenix area at least every other month from his home in Flagstaff. Gretchen, old enough and smart enough to figure out that her father didn’t want to see her, was especially hurt.
“She’s got you there,” Tatum told Ryder. “You might spook Cupcake, and Gretchen could fall.”
“Aw, no, Mom,” Drew threw his head back and wailed.
“Noooo,” Adam echoed.
Without missing a beat, Ryder turned toward the gate. “Come on, boys. We’ve got bigger pastures to ride.”
While Gretchen continued circling the pen with Cupcake, an activity that had lost a lot of its appeal, Ryder and the boys frolicked outside the round pen. Before long, Gretchen reached her fill of being excluded and pronounced, “It’s Drew’s turn.”
“Okay.” Tatum didn’t think either of her sons would abandon Ryder in favor of Cupcake.
Even so, she helped her daughter dismount, then looped Cupcake’s reins over a fence railing. “Your turn,” Tatum said to Drew upon leaving the pen.
“I don’t want to ride.”
Of course he didn’t. “You need to give Mr. Beckett a rest. He must be tired.”
“How about I go with you?” Ryder offered.
Drew bestowed a Christmas-morning smile on him. “All right!”
“Wanna ride,” Adam said, refusing to be left out.
“If it’s okay with your brother.”
“Okay.” Drew’s joy visibly dimmed. He didn’t want to share his new best pal with his brother, but he’d rather share than miss out entirely.
Using one hand, Ryder lifted Drew off his back, then lowered Adam to the ground. He didn’t resume sucking his thumb, but he did grab Ryder’s leg.
“Daddy!”
Uh-oh. Tatum’s stomach dropped to her knees. Could her children not go fifteen minutes without embarrassing her? “Honey, he’s not—”
“You stupid dork!” Gretchen shoved her little brother, nearly knocking him over. “He’s not our daddy.”
“Gretchen! No name-calling. You know better.”
Adam burst into sobs. Drew looked ready to cry but held himself in check. Tatum wished for the ground to open up and swallow her and her children whole.
“I’m not your daddy.” Ryder lowered himself so that he was eye level with both boys. “I am your friend, though. And that’s good enough. Now, let’s ride Cupcake.”
Like a miracle, Adam’s tears dried, and Drew’s smile reappeared. Gretchen, however, was another story, and she remained aloof.
The boys rode Cupcake a full twenty minutes before tiring. Ryder stood in the center of the pen, giving them instruction. Correction, giving Drew instruction. Adam sat behind his brother, holding on. Tatum couldn’t resist and took several pictures with her phone. All right, she admitted it. She took a few shots just of Ryder. Who could resist?
“Time to get home, boys.” Tatum scanned the area for Gretchen. Her daughter had found twin sisters to play with, children of Liberty’s client. Confident her daughter was fine and adequately supervised, she returned her attention to Ryder.
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