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“I know.” The girl smiled sweetly. “You said I had been very mean to Morgan and I should be ashamed of my behavior. So I’m sorry too.”
Morgan’s small smile widened into a grin. “Hey, that sounds a lot like what my mom said.”
Both girls snickered and Tess couldn’t help but smile herself. At least they were finding some common ground to stand on.
“You wanna go see the wild horse we have staying here right now?” Morgan asked, waving her new friend away.
“Sure.” Callie caught up to her. “I heard about how she got hurt. Is she getting better?”
“She’s doing great. Wait until you see her. She’s beautiful.” The two hurried past the house toward the back pasture.
When they were out of earshot, Brad sighed. “Well, at least they can bond over how annoying their parents are.”
Tess laughed. “I guess I could think of worse starting points.” At least both the girls had seemed good-natured about the situation. She’d been worried that Callie was going to be difficult and angry.
“I want to thank you again for inviting us over. I know you’ve been through a lot.” Brad shoved his hands into his pockets, his eyes not quite meeting hers. “I have so much respect for Jace. Always have. And his sacrifice isn’t lost on me.”
“Thank you.” Not long after the funeral, the Klines had sent her a heartfelt card and the most beautiful tribute flowers. “I know your family’s going through a hard time too. And, from someone who’s walking the single parenting road, I’m truly sorry.”
“That means more coming from you than it does coming from the people who randomly say it at the grocery store.” The brief spark of humor in his eyes cooled. “No one else has really bothered to reach out to us. I think Callie’s friends’ families feel a little awkward ever since Hannah left.”
“I can relate.” No one had seemed to know quite what to do with her after Jace had died either. Many of the families they’d once gotten together with had seemed to think she’d feel uncomfortable going to a party without a husband. “We’re glad you could come.” She swept an arm toward the porch where she’d set out a pitcher of lemonade and cookies earlier. “I thought we could sit on the porch. That way we can keep an eye on them while they’re running around outside.”
“Perfect.” He waited for her to lead the way up the steps and then they both sat in the Adirondack chairs Jace had built.
“That was an interesting meeting last night.” Brad poured her a glass of lemonade.
“I should’ve known it would get contentious.” Tess took the wrapping off the plate of cookies. “I probably should’ve asked around to see who the supporters were and then had the meeting here instead of at the café. That pretty much opened up the floor to everyone who had an opinion.”
“I think it’s good information for everyone to hear.” Brad picked up his glass and leaned back in the chair. “Unfortunately, my father seems to agree with Darrell and Ford. He grew up protecting his cattle at all costs. They almost lost the ranch a few times when he was a boy. So he can be pretty stubborn.”
Tess wasn’t surprised. The elder Kline spent a lot of time with Darrell and Ford. “I understand people are concerned about their cattle being able to graze, but shooting the wild horses isn’t the answer.”
“What is the answer?” Brad angled his body toward hers as though truly interested.
Tess waited for a flicker of appreciation that should’ve come with an attractive man looking at her so intently, but she felt nothing. “We need to find a way to manage the horses so they’re not staying in one spot long enough to decimate the land.” Herd management was the only solution that made sense. “I know the Bureau is trying. I’m thinking about partnering with them, actually. To take in some of the wild horses and care for them on my property.”
She hadn’t told anyone else that yet, but using her land for the cause would help protect them from being hunted. “Becoming a sanctuary for wild horses is a lengthy process but I feel like that’s how I can keep them safe and also help the public lands regenerate so there’s plenty of grazing to go around.”
“That’s an interesting prospect.” He set down his half-full glass. “And it sounds like a lot to take on.”
“It will be. But I have help.” She had her brother and Kyra. Thatch and Lyric. Her heart slumped at the thought of Silas potentially leaving. She might not have as much help as she’d counted on in the past. “Between my family and friends, we should be able to handle it.”
“That’s great that you have so much support.” Brad helped himself to a cookie. “I feel pretty maxed out since Hannah left. Even with my dad and mom helping out. They can’t take on too much anymore.” The words didn’t have a ring of self-pity. They were simply honest. “I took it for granted. Having a partner. And then when that partner was gone, I realized how much she was a part of me. It’s almost like that part of me is gone too.”
Tess could’ve said those same exact words. She knew the truth behind them all too well. “Yes. You have to discover a new part of you. A part you didn’t know was there.” And that kind of self-discovery was still an ongoing process for her.
“That’s where I’m at now.” The man finished the cookie and dusted the crumbs off his hands. “I suppose I’ll get through the tough part eventually.”
“I’m not sure you’re ever fully through it.” Tess winced at her boldness in making that statement. “Sorry. That doesn’t sound very hopeful.”
He grinned and waved off the apology. “At least you’re honest. I appreciate the honesty. I appreciate being able to talk about how hard it is without having to pretend I’m sailing right through.”
“There’s no sailing, that’s for sure.” She found a smile. “It’s more like just trying to keep your head above water most days.”
“And going under sometimes,” he added. “But you also start to find yourself. The old you, I mean. The one you were before you became part of anus.”
Tess let his words sit. “I agree. Jace was selfless and giving. And I let him take on too much, I think.” Not because he took over but because she got comfortable and sat back. “I never would have started this wild horse fight while we were married.” She laughed a little. “But he would have. And I probably would’ve made him do most of the work.”
