“Thank you.” His voice was husky.
“I knew you weren’t here to buy a horse. But I never imagined...” She went back to stroking the leather with reverence. “I’ve never had a saddle like this. Bertha Mae will strut like a queen.”
She lifted her head again and glanced around the room. “Thank you, all of you. It means more than I can say.” Her voice caught, and she swallowed. “I can’t imagine a better birthday gift than this, except to have you all here to share it with me.”
More cheers followed. Then the grandchildren crowded around and asked to sit on the saddle. She lifted each one in turn, while camera phones clicked. Everyone laughed at the kids looking so proud sitting on their grandmother’s birthday saddle.
Molly turned back to Ben. “Do you mind that the kids are sitting on it?”
“Why should I?” He watched with a smile.
“I don’t know. It’s a valuable saddle. Maybe you’d rather not see little kids bouncing on it.”
“They can’t hurt it. Obviously they’re having fun, so why not?”
From the corner of her eye, she studied him. He didn’t seem to be faking his enjoyment of the scene, which seemed odd for a man who’d decided not to have kids. The puzzle of Ben Radcliffe became more complicated than ever.
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