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“Mm.” He continued to gaze at the pasture for another moment before he turned to his sister-in-law. Beth wore a denim skirt that narrowed at her knees and a black blouse with brightly colored flowers on it. She was exactly the kind of woman Trey should be with, and Cayden smiled at her.
“Sorry. I got lost looking at your horses. I need to get outside more.” He’d finally finished wrapping up the horses-of-all-ages sale that had taken place at the ranch last month, and he was ready for a tropical vacation now too. It would be hot in Kentucky soon enough, and then he’d be wishing for cooler mornings like this one, with plenty of breezy afternoons.
“Those are actually Trey’s,” she said. “He brought them over last night.”
Cayden crossed the distance between them. “You told him I don’t want to go to this, right?”
“Repeatedly,” she murmured without looking at him. “He has it in his head that if you two will just get yourself into the same room together, you’ll remember why you liked each other so much.”
“I don’t need a reminder,” Cayden said darkly. He’d never thought of himself as a growling, moody man, but since Ginny’s disappearance from his life, he’d certainly become exactly that.
“Maybe she does,” Beth said. “There’s nothing wrong with reminding her of certain things.”
Cayden pressed his teeth together and kept the words he wanted to bark at her contained. He’d told two people what Wendy Winters had said to him. Exactly two—Lawrence and Trey. Neither had bothered him much about calling Ginny or trying to breathe new life into a relationship that had gone quiet.
Until now. Now, Trey seemed to think it was his job to make sure Cayden embarrassed himself at every turn.
“If I’m so forgettable,” Cayden said. “Will the reminder really matter?”
“You’re not forgettable,” Beth said. “Come on in now. TJ wants to ask you somethin’ before we go.” She turned and went into the house, and Cayden had no choice but to follow her. He wouldn’t disappoint TJ if he could avoid doing so. The child had some sort of magic about him that made everyone bend to his will.
“He’s here,” she called as she went past the comfortable couches in the living room. The farmhouse had huge windows flanking both sides of the front door, letting in plenty of light. Cayden had never given much thought to where he lived, but as he’d gotten to know Ginny and seen her house, he’d been stewing on it more and more.
He wasn’t even sure why.
She hadn’t called him. He’d been very busy with the horses-of-all-ages sale, sure. He hadn’t asked her to stay away, though. He hadn’t given her any indication that he didn’t have time for her.
Not only that, but another month had passed since that event, and she still hadn’t called. He hadn’t called her, because she’d been prepping for the Sweet Rose Gems & Gin event.
His mind seized on that thought, but he couldn’t examine it before TJ yelled, “Cayden!” from the kitchen.
The little boy came running through the doorway Beth had just gone through, and Cayden braced himself to receive the kid. He had a battery that never seemed to run out, and Cayden had seen him trailing behind Trey several times. He’d think TJ had gotten tired, but it was never true. He’d pick up the pace a moment later or see a dog and go chasing after it. Or Trey would say something to him, and he’d perk right up, running to catch Trey and get swung up onto a horse, where his face would glow like a lantern.
The little boy had a bright personality and a shock of dark hair that made him look like Trey’s son, even though he wasn’t.
“Heya, boy,” Cayden said, his soul warming with the hug of the smaller human. “Your momma said you had something to ask me.”
“Yeah.” TJ released the tight grip around Cayden’s neck and pulled back. “My teacher asked if anyone had a mom or daddy who knew how to make banners, and I was talkin’ to Trey and he says you do.”
“Said,” Beth said from a few feet away. “Treysaidyou do.”
Cayden grinned at TJ and then Beth. “I do know how to make banners,” he said. “I know lots of people who make banners, actually.”
“She wants to talk to you, then,” TJ said. “I guess she needs some help with it.”
“Okay,” Cayden said, not sure what he should do here. He looked at Beth, who rolled her eyes.
“Trey can give her your phone number,” Beth said. “If that’s okay.”
“Is it okay?” TJ asked, his eyes bright. He started playing with Cayden’s collar, a hint of nerves in his movement.
“Sure,” Cayden said. “Why not? What’s her name?”
“Miss Robertson,” TJ said. He wiggled, and Cayden put him on the ground just as Trey came in the back door.
“You’re late,” Beth said, and Trey just smiled at her, grabbed her around the waist, and kissed her. She giggled and made a lame attempt to push him away. Cayden couldn’t help staring, and he felt bad for doing so once his brother looked at him.
Cayden was three years older than Trey, and three years younger than Spur. They were both cut from similar cloth—a rough, scratchy cloth. They didn’t speak as often as the younger brothers. They held their emotions tight.
