the mere thought of riding a horse. She wiped her mouth, praying she wouldn’t have a repeat performance.
Returning to the stable, she spotted Piper and Colton halfway down the wide corridor that ran between a small arena and some horse stalls.
“Where were you?” Colton eyed her suspiciously.
“I had something I had to take care of.” She forced a smile, hoping she didn’t look as pale as she felt.
Fortunately, the cowboy reappeared with two horses before her son could ask any more questions.
It pleased her that one of them was nothing more than a Shetland pony, and she wondered if they might have another for her.
The man stopped in front of them, looking far too serious. “We have a slight problem.”
Oh, no. Her kids were so looking forward to this, and now they weren’t going to be able to ride. All because of her. Her silly fear had blown it for all of them.
The cowboy continued, “We had another family that arrived just before you. Typically, we prefer not to have any more than six guests on a trail ride. With you three, that would be seven.”
Piper’s bottom lip pooched out. “You mean we don’t get to ride?”
“Man, we finally get to do something cool...” Colton kicked at clump of hay.
Lily’s stomach tightened again. If only she hadn’t panicked. Now she’d ruined everything.
“Of course,” the cowboy finally said, “if one of you would be willing to stay behind, the other two could still go.”
Lily jerked her gaze to his.
His dark eyes were directed right at her.
He was giving her an out. But why? Was he afraid she’d get sick again while they were on the trail? Or did he know she was afraid?
“I’m not staying,” said Colton.
“If Colton doesn’t hafta stay, I don’t want to, either.” Arms crossed, Piper peered up at Lily.
Looked like it was up to her to take one for the team. Something she was more than okay with this time. Thanks to Noah Stephens. However, it presented her with a new problem.
Mr. Stephens was a stranger. Colton and Piper were her greatest blessings. A gift from God she cherished with every fiber of her being. Could she trust this cowboy with her children?
Clearing her throat, she looked at her kids. Saw the disappointment etched on their faces. “I wouldn’t want the two of you to miss out, either.” She eyed the cowboy. He looked responsible. And he’d already shown he wasn’t the type to stand for Colton’s shenanigans. “Would it be all right if they went without me?”
He nodded. “So long as you signed the consent forms.”
She looked at her children. “Are you two okay with that, or would you prefer to wait until later when we can go together?” Not that she’d be any more enthusiastic, but she’d settle for less nauseous.
“I can watch Piper,” offered Colton.
“Yeah, Colton can watch me.”
Lily couldn’t help but laugh. For once her children were in agreement. “Okay. But I want you to be on your best behavior.”
“We will,” they said in unison.
The cowboy tipped his straw hat in her direction. “I promise to take good care of them.”
To her surprise, she actually believed him. Probably because he’d come to check on her when she was outside. Something she found very chivalrous. And as they walked away, she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to be taken care of by someone like that. Someone strong, caring... Not self-serving like her ex.
She quickly shook away the thought. God and her children were her only priorities. Not love or any notions thereof. Especially with a cowboy.
* * *
“Mom, you should have seen it.” Colton met his mother in the lobby, his enthusiasm obvious. And that made Noah happy.
The kid was far too young to have the kind of attitude Noah had witnessed prior to their ride. Angry. Disrespectful. The type of kid Noah hoped to help. Not that troubled kids were the focus of his soon-to-open rodeo school at Abundant Blessings Ranch. Still, Noah knew firsthand the difference horses could make in the lives of troubled kids and adults dealing with loss. They’re what helped him get past the deaths of his wife and unborn child. And he had a feeling the root of Colton’s anger had to do with some sort of loss, too. During their ride, the kid had mentioned that his parents were divorced. Was his father involved in his life?
While Noah’s parents had loved each other until his mother succumbed to cancer three years ago, he’d had many friends whose lives had been impacted by divorce. He understood the pain and anger that came from such an experience. Especially when it was something they hadn’t chosen and there was nothing they could do to fix it.
If only he could help those kids deal with their feelings by giving them a way to channel their emotions into something else. Or perhaps the kids would simply benefit from spending time with a good listener. He knew for a fact that horses were very good listeners.
“We got to ride on the mountain,” Piper said.
Cute kid. Happy, smart, energetic... If his child had been a girl, he’d have hoped she’d be like Piper.
“Can I get a soda?” Colton watched his mother hopefully. “Noah said there’s a machine around the corner.”
The woman—what was her name? Some sort of flower. Lily? Yes, that was it—pulled a series of ones from the pocket of her jeans. “Okay, but no caffeine. And get one for your sister, too.”
She looked at Noah then, her green eyes void of the anxiety that had been there before. “Thank you for taking them. I...hated to disappoint them.”
“No worries, ma’am. I’m pretty sure they enjoyed themselves.” He turned his attention to her daughter. “Right, Piper?”
“Right!”
They both chuckled at her daughter’s exuberance.
He eyed the woman again. She’d tucked her long reddish-blond hair into a crude ponytail, making him wonder if she’d gotten sick again after they left. “I trust you’re doing all right?”
The pink in her cheeks heightened as she tugged on the hem of her fitted gray button-down. “I am. Thank you again.”
“Good.” Suddenly uneasy, he glanced down the corridor. “If you’ll excuse me, I have something I need to tend to.”
“Of course.”
With the voices of Lily and Piper echoing in his ears, he rounded the corner and headed down the corridor. Passing the alcove where the soda and snack machines were, he saw no sign of Colton.
Weird.
