Page 56 of Savage Heart

Billie: Anyone who’d name their child Bobby Roy should’ve seen trouble coming.

Cameron: I was thinking of naming my firstborn Buddy Opie.

Billie: Don’t you dare.

Charlie: Wouldn’t want to do this with anyone but you guys

Grady: Ditto.

Billie:

Chapter 14: It’s Enough

Iris

I’ve been dreading this day since I first heard about it. A parents’ weekend at the ranch for the campers to show off what they’ve learned. I hoped I could get out of going, but Linc has talked about it for the past three days when he calls, almost as if he knows I’m hedging about coming.

“You have to go,” Kell says.

I’ve stopped by Prairie Rose for coffee with the sole purpose of dragging my feet. I’d rather do just about anything than do an overnight at Harrington Ranch. It’s not even the night that concerns me, it’s all the daylight hours that I’ll have to be around the Harringtons and possibly Jennifer.

“I know.” I sigh.

“Call me if things get bad, and I’ll come set them straight.” She comes over and puts her hand on my arm, leaning in. “You walk in proud. Hold your head up high. You have every right to be there.”

I give her a weak smile and nod. “I will. I’ll be okay.”

She hugs me. “You will be. I wish one of us could be with you, but you’ve got this.”

She sounds as unconvinced as I am.

Harrington Ranch smells like hay and leather and lingering woodsmoke. Parents gather near the riding ring, talking to each other and their kids. This is often when the pain is the most acute—when I see happy couples at family events, proudly watching their kids together. Actually, the couple doesn’t even have to be happy. Divorced couples who have set aside their differences but are joining forces to be there for their kids—I envy that. I long for Linc to have two parents in his corner. He doesn’t even have grandparents cheering him on. I’m grateful for the family we’ve formed, but it’s still impossible not to feel like I’ve failed him.

I smooth my hands down my jeans and lift my chin the way Kell told me to.

“Mom!”

I barely have time to turn before Linc barrels into me. His cheeks are flushed, his shirt is wrinkled, and his hair is longer than when I dropped him off, but he’s never looked better. I drop my bag and catch him, hugging him tight and breathing him in.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you,” he says.

I think that might be what I love about my son the most—the way he says exactly how he feels. I’ve never known another kid like him.

“I’ve missed you. An embarrassing amount,” I add with a catch in my throat.

“We’re gonna have so much fun. We’ve been cleaning so much.” He exhales dramatically. “But now we can finally relax and show you all we’ve been learning. And you’re gonna ride too, right?”

“I . . . don’t know. It’s been a while.” I look around the grounds to see if I spot Lady. I’ve been too afraid to ask if she’s still here. I didn’t see her the last time I came, and it has always hurt too much to think about her. I grieved losing her for a long time.

“It’ll come back to you. I know it will. I learned how to ride without hands,” he announces, pulling back. “And I’ve been practicing getting faster. Maverick says I have what it takes to be great at cutting.”

My stomach flips.

“That’s . . . incredible,” I say. “I can’t wait to see. Be careful out there.”

He laughs. “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”

He grabs my hand and drags me toward the arena.