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“The quilt is just something fun we can do together,” her mom said. “I’m not on a deadline or anything. Besides, I’m going to start on preparations for lunch, then dinner.” She dug into the bowl of scrambled eggs and took a bite. “Thanks for this, it’s delicious.”
“Mom, I can help you with whatever you want,” Evie said, setting her hands on her hips. “I know I’m on spring break, but I don’t want you taking care of everyone when we can do that for ourselves.”
Her mom gazed at her with a soft smile. “I like doing things for my family. And you know, cooking is my thing, my therapy.”
And Evie knew that, but didn’t her mom need a break? “Why don’t you ride with me?”
“I haven’t ridden for a while,” her mom said. “I have my full strength back, but I don’t trust myself on a horse. But really, you go. Enjoy the fresh air of the country.”
Evie crossed to her mom and bent to kiss her temple. “Okay, see you soon. And I have my phone with me.”
When Evie stepped out into the morning, decked in the cowboy boots she’d pulled out of her closet, her oldest jeans, and a well-worn flannel shirt, the familiar scents of the ranch struck. The new grass, the spring flowers, the fresh air, and even the tang of the horse arena. It all brought on a wave of nostalgia, feeling like home.
Evie strode to the barn and walked inside to find Jerry, their ranch hand, brushing down the horses.
“Hi, Miss Evie,” he said, turning a wide grin toward her. He was a short, wiry man, with dark hair and eyes.
“Hi, Jerry,” she said. “Where is everyone?”
“They all went into town to the feed store,” he said. “Lane was talking big about bringing in some new type of vitamin mix that will be good for the horses.”
Ah, Lane always had ideas for the ranch, although he claimed never to want to work here.
“How are the horses?” Evie asked as she walked toward the stable.
“They’re great,” Jerry said. “We’ve got four we’re boarding, and Holt is doing their training.”
Holt had earned a decent reputation for training horses for different rodeo events. It helped that they had their own small arena at the ranch, and then of course, access to the main rodeo arena in town.
She spotted her favorite gray mare, Molly. “Hey, girl.”
Molly nudged Evie’s shoulder as she stroked her long nose. Evie laughed. “Does that mean you missed me?”
“Wanna take her for a ride?” Jerry asked.
“Sure,” Evie said. “We both need the exercise.”
Jerry brought over the tack, and soon, Evie had Molly saddled. Then she grasped the reins and led the horse out of the stable and through the back of the barn. After she climbed onto Molly, they set off at a walk around the arena.
Holt had created his own little dynasty over the past couple of years. Evie was impressed. The entire ranch seemed to be well-run, and her family content. Having only Lane around on a holiday was a big change. Usually on breaks, Cara was here, too, and Evie always felt insecure around her sister. And Knox . . . Well, he was a different story. He’d cut himself off from the family for so long that Evie was used to him being gone. Since Holt and Macie’s wedding, Knox had reached out more to the family at large, which basically meant he participated in group texts.
Since Knox was Ruby’s real father, Evie had thought he might come around more just because his daughter lived in Prosper now. But so far, that hadn’t happened. He’d basically relegated their relationship to phone calls, which was sort of understandable since he was on the rodeo circuit in Montana.
“Wanna go faster?” Evie asked the horse.
Molly tossed her head.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Evie said with a laugh, and snapped the reins. “Come on.”
Molly moved to a canter, and Evie gazed about the landscape. On the west side of the property was a river, and she headed toward it. Before reaching the copse of trees, she reangled Molly and continued south. Now, she was technically on the old Anderson property—well, now Mr. Hunt’s, and she supposed Carson’s.
She slowed the horse to a walk as she checked out her surroundings. The spring grass stretched as far as she could see, and butterflies and insects moved lazily about the wildflowers. The morning sun had finally dried the dew, and the endless blue sky promised plenty of warmth later.
Without realizing it, Evie had traveled quite a bit farther onto the Hunts’ property. In fact, she could see the back of the house, and . . .
Carson was standing in the backyard, in the garden? His back was to her, and well, she knew it was him, because surely his grandad didn’t have such broad, muscled shoulders, and a back that was magazine-worthy. Because, yep, Carson was shirtless. He stood, hands on his hips, as he surveyed whatever he was looking at.
Evie was staring—how could she not? She might be caught at any moment, but her hands were frozen on the reins. Even the horse seemed mesmerized by the shirtless Carson Hunt.
