Malcolm’s heart swelled with love and gratitude, and he pulled his big sister into a proper hug. “You’re the best.”
“Tell that to my teenage daughter.”
He laughed out loud, kissed the top of Melissa’s head, and then released her. “She’ll figure it out for herself, when she really needs you for something, and you’re right there, holding her up and loving her, no matter what.”
She met his eyes, and a silentunlike our parentspassed between them.
His phone buzzed. He checked the screen.
Iggy:
Done at the saloon. When’s this surprise happening?
Malcom grinned.
Leaving in five to get you.
Iggy sent back a thumbs-up emoji.
“Judging by that goofy smile on your face,” Melissa said, “I’m not going to hold you to making it to breakfast tomorrow. Enjoy your date.”
“I will come around and see the kids, I promise. I do miss them.”
“I know, and they miss you. But they also have to learn to share their Uncle Monte with others. Just like I do.”
“Give everyone a hug for me.”
Malcolm grabbed the cross-body gym bag he’d stashed a few things in, put his cowboy hat on, and then headed for his truck. Drove the familiar path to the saloon, around behind the building to the private lot. Iggy was waiting on the patio, and he stood, some sort of floppy straw sun hat in his hands. He climbed in the passenger side and leaned right over for a hello kiss.
“You’re not going to make me wear a blindfold, are you?” Iggy asked.
“No, this isn’t a kidnapping.” Malcolm’s heart kicked at what he’d said, but Iggy’s smile never wavered. Maybe he was still taking Iggy’s revelation about the night of that party a little more personally and overthinking the kidnapping joke. “It’s something we used to talk about doing, but we never had the chance before.”
“Hitchhiking to Alaska so we can live off the land and far away from anyone we know might be hard, since we both have to work tomorrow.”
“No, I’m saving that for at least a month into this new relationship.” Malcolm winked and put the truck in reverse. “This one’s much more local.”
“Egging Mr. Vicker’s house?”
“You don’t forget anything, do you?”
“Not petty revenge plans, no.”
Malcolm snickered as he drove back through town. Mr. Vicker had been a sheriff’s deputy when they were in high school, and he’d constantly rousted the local teens from “loitering” at the Dairy Queen and other popular hangouts. No one under twenty-one liked the guy, but he’d retired years ago. The idea of egging his house has been fun at sixteen, but not so much as an adult.
“We are not egging anyone. No eggs are involved in tonight’s date.”
“Hmm.” Iggy settled back against the seat, hat on his lap. “No Alaska, no eggs. I am at a complete and utter loss.”
“Good. Relax, the surprise is not in town.”
Iggy messed with the radio while Malcolm drove up the highway. He stiffened a bit when they turned onto Stonewall Road toward the ranch, but he also didn’t object to their direction. Iggy didn’t say much of anything during the next twenty or so minutes. Once they arrived at Snow Creek Ranch and parked, Malcolm led him down to the barn. Jake was waiting with two saddled horses. When Malcolm had called Jake to hatch this little romantic plan of his, he’d asked for gentle trail horses, and Jake had obliged.
He’d owe the foreman some free labor for this, but Malcolm didn’t mind trading work around the ranch for free horse rental.
Ever since their encounter with the mechanical bull, Malcolm had been more than ready to face this fear and ride again. With his boyfriend and lover by his side.
Iggy needed a bit of help getting into his horse’s saddle and comfortable with the stirrups, which Malcolm adjusted. Then it was time to mount his own ride. The horse stood there, looking bored with the entire production, and it hit Malcolm: what washe so scared of? The accident had been his own damned fault, strutting around, instead of respecting the animal he was riding. Taking reckless chances with his body, because his heart was still broken wide open, so why not break his neck, too?
