Page 10 of The CEO and the Mountain Man

“It’s cool, I guess,” River answered, his practiced indifference right on point.

Thankfully, I was fluent in teen speak and deftly translated his response into,“This is more therapeutic than I thought it would be. Thank you.”

I’ll take it.

Beau’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “If you’re still feeling good, let’s have you turn back in the original direction and go around twice. Maybe work up to a trot?”

River leaned down and petted Betty’s neck. “Sure.”

Beau and I stood side by side as River rode off, a little faster this time. He rode without any obvious pain and seemed almost … proud? Of himself?

Jesus, would I not stop crying?

Beau must’ve heard the sniffles because he held out his arm. I leaned my shoulder against his side, giving in to the half-hug.

“Thanks,” I said, my words a little watery.

“You’re welcome.” He squeezed me a little closer. “By the end of this, we’ll have you both on the horse, expressing your emotions and riding trail like real cowboys.”

I laughed, then cried some more because that’s what was happening today, apparently.

Maybe I hadn’t fucked up too badly.

As River came back around, Beau stepped away. “Guess it’s your time to get up on the horse,” he said with a smile.

“Are you sure I actually need to do that?” I asked, wondering how I was even supposed to get up there.

Oh, right. The mounting block.

“If you want to join us on the trail ride, you’re gonna need to get on the horse.”

“But didn’t, like, the trail rides of old have people who walked along?”

“Yeah, and some of them even went by covered wagon. But that’s not what we’re doing.”

Dammit.

Beau hid his laugh—poorly—behind his hand.

“Fine. Let’s get me up on a horse.”

“Come on,Dad, it wasn’tthatbad,” River said as we walked back to the cabin.

To be honest, it was less like walking and more like we were a mini zombie horde making our way across the little footbridge.Maybe I should get my own walking stick.

“I’d have worked on my side splits if I’d have realized how much time I was going to be spending up on a horse.”

“Dad, you dragged us out to a dude ranch. To go trail riding. How’d you think you were going to avoid getting up on a horse?”

I didn’t even care that he was amused at my distress. The almost-smile on my son’s face was worth it.

“Well, son. In the olden days, they did have covered wagons …”

“You’re ridiculous.”

He turned his head and raised one eyebrow at me, dramatic in his disappointment. He looked like he was about to unleash another zinger when his eyes went wide. “Dad, watch out!”

Squish.