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He and Toby finished their sandwiches, then John opened the package of cookies. Ember was right. He was kind of obsessed with them. As he ate his second one, he spotted a guitar propped against the kitchen cabinet.
John stood and wiped his hands on his jeans, then went to pick up the guitar. He returned to the couch and held it for a moment, then played a chord. The instrument was out of tune. He took a few minutes tuning it, which came naturally to him. Then he played a series of chords. When a song floated into his head, he played it through without hesitation.
He looked at Toby. “It seems I know how to play the guitar.”
He spent the next two hours playing every song that came into his head, then finally set the guitar aside and looked at Toby again, who hadbeen on the edge of sleep for the last hour and a half.
“It also seems I play it quite well.” Toby wagged his tail. “Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the show. Even though you slept through most of it.”
John figured Toby needed to go outside to do his business before they went to bed, so he put on a jacket and they went outside. It was another clear night with a sky full of stars, and John wished he was looking at them with Ember. He wanted to call her and talk to her. But he didn’t have a cell phone yet, and there was no phone in the cabin. He imagined she was probably losing at Rummy against Scott. Or maybe they were playing a rousing game of Mouse Trap with Aaron. Possibly the most boring game in the world. Next to Candy Land, that is. He wasn’t sure how he knew that, but it served to remind him he was a parent of possibly three kids. Maybe more. The idea of that was appealing. And he hoped someday he’d know for sure.
How would those, most likely adult children, feel about Ember, who could only be a few years older than them? Once again, he hoped he’d get the chance to find out. There’s no way they wouldn’t love her. How could they not? Ember was very lovable.
He walked to the barn and picked up the lantern style flashlight Everett kept by the door. He turned it on and walked over to Sugar’s stall.She came to the gate to greet him.
He rubbed her nose. “Hey there, girl. I’m sorry we spent the afternoon trying to scare you. But you did good. You’re braver than you think you are.” He whispered a few encouraging words to her in the native language he apparently knew. And then another word, not related to calming down a horse, came into his head. “Noko.” The older woman’s face came to mind. “You’re doing your best to show me the path home. I’m trying. I’m really am.”
Chapter seventeen
"Every cowboy needs a hat."
John was brushing down a horse when Ember, Scott, and Aaron came into the barn. Aaron ran to him and hugged him around the waist.
“Hey there, cowpoke. How’re you?” John glanced at Ember. “What’s up, guys?”
Scott cleared his throat. “We were hoping you could help Aaron ride a horse. If you have the time, that is.”
John raised an eyebrow. “Sure.” He looked at Ember and she gave him a nod. “Let me put this guy away, and I think I have the perfect horse for a new rider. I’ll bring her to the rail out front if you want to go wait for me there.”
Scott nodded and took Aaron’s hand. “Come on. John’s going to pick a horse out for you.”
They left and Ember approached John and took his hands. “This is his way of apologizing.”
“I figured.” He smiled at her. “God, I missed you.”
“It’s been twenty-four hours.”
“Twenty-four hours too many.” He pulled her close, then kissed her. “Are we going to get you on a horse, too?”
“Not today. Let’s deal with one Madison on a horse at a time.”
“Okay.” He kissed her again, then went to a stall with a black mare. “This is Ebony. She’s as gentle as they come.” He attached a lead rope to her halter and lead her out of the stall. Ember followed him outside. “Aaron, this is Ebony. I’m going to tie her up here and go get you a saddle.”
“Can I pet her?”
“Sure. Stay by her side there, and pet her neck and her belly. She likes that.”
He returned to the barn and got a child-sized saddle, then went back outside. He put a padded blanket on Ebony’s back, then put the saddle on top of it before cinching it down.
“I think she’s ready.”
“Can I get on now?”
John held up a finger. “Hold on. You’re missing something.” He returned to the barn and came out a few minutes later with a dark brown, child-sized cowboy hat. “I got this for you this morning. I’m glad I was able to give it to you so soon.”
Aaron was ecstatic as John set it on his head. “Dad, look. I’m a cowboy!”
Scott smiled. “You sure are.” He looked at John. “Thank you.”
