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“I understand.” Instead of despair, these days Jace’s absence in her life brought on more of a yearning, a longing for the kind of love they’d shared. It was only because of him that she’d known what true sacrificial love meant. While it was hard to let go and she hated that she’d forgotten their anniversary, it was freeing to not obsess so much about every date that passed without him there. Moving forward was part of the process too. “We’ve come a long way together, haven’t we?”
Nodding, Morgan jiggled the reins and got her horse moving again, into the meadow, in the direction of Jace’s memorial plaque. “It’s gotten easier. That’s what I told Callie too,” her daughter said wisely. “It’s super hard for the first few years one of your parents is gone but missing someone gets easier.”
“So how are things with Callie?” Tess had to push Dreamer into a trot to keep up with Morgan. “It seemed like you two had a great time together at our house.”
“We did!” Morgan’s thick red curls trailed behind her in the wind. “She’s my really good friend now. I kind of understand what she’s going through. We’ve both lost a parent.”
“That’s true.” Tess smiled to herself, remembering that day in the truck when Morgan had been so upset with Callie. But look what happened when you offered someone a little compassion. “I’m really glad you two have become friends.”
“Me too.” Her daughter slowed the pace as they approached the pond. “She asked me if I could come over to her house and have a sleepover soon.”
“Sure. I think we can arrange that.” Tess stopped Dreamer and dismounted a few steps away from the memorial.
Morgan followed her, leading Bravo along by the bridle. “Callie also told me her dad asked you out,” her daughter said tentatively.
“Oh.” The word came out in a gasp. She hadn’t planned on telling the girls about their dinner. “He kind of asked me out, I guess. But it’s not like a date or anything. We’re just two friends going out to dinner.” Even with the cool evening air, her cheeks fired up. She wasn’t sure she was ready to discuss men or dating with her daughters. It would likely be difficult for them to picture her with anyone besides Jace…
“But maybe you two could date eventually and then Callie and I could be sisters!” A look of hope widened her daughter’s eyes and crushed Tess’s soul.
“Sweetie, I’m not sure I’m open to getting married again.” Six months ago, opening her heart that way again had seemed like an eternal impossibility. Now her heart had opened, only to let in the wrong man.
“I know you’re not.Right now.” Morgan let go of Bravo’s bridle and the horse started to graze on the green grass. “But maybe someday, right?” She touched the bronzed plaque that bore her father’s name. “I mean, Daddy would want you to be happy. I know he would. He would want us all to be happy. That’s what you always say.”
“I believe that with all of my heart.” She patted her pocket, where she always carried the folded-up letter that Jace had written to herjust in case. In his final goodbye, he’d told her to let herself find happiness with someone again. He’d told her that, even if he was gone, she had to show the girls how to love someone so they would know what a healthy relationship looked like.
But she didn’t know how to love someone else when she’d loved Jace so much. “I am already unbelievably happy. With you and Willow.” She smoothed her daughter’s hair away from her cheek. “You girls are everything good in my life. I don’t need a husband to make me happy.”
“But you’re not too old yet,” her daughter argued. “Maybe you’ll want a husband someday. And Brad seems really nice.”
“Well, thanks for saying I’m not too old.” Tess had to laugh. Some days she did indeed feel too old to fall in love again. It almost felt like she’d lived a lifetime with Jace. “Brad does seem nice. But we’ve decided we’re only going to be friends.”
“Fine,” Morgan said. “But if you do want to get married, keep Brad in mind.”
“Will do.” Tess laughed again and ruffled her daughter’s hair. “I can’t believe how much you’re growing—”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Tess whirled around. The sounds were faint, but they were definitely gunshots.
Bravo and Dreamer both lifted their heads, ears perked and twitching.
“Mom, what was that?” Morgan’s face had paled.
“Come on.” Tess nudged her daughter toward Bravo. “We need to get out of here, okay? We need to ride home fast.”
Morgan quickly stuck her boot into the stirrup and pulled herself onto Bravo’s back while Tess got situated on Dreamer.
“They’re gunshots, aren’t they?” Her daughter’s voice trembled. “The bad guys are shooting at the wild horses again!”
“It’s all right, honey girl.” Tess’s heart raced. “We’re fine. But we need to get home as quickly as possible.” Before they got caught in the cross fire. “Come on. This way.” An engine noise sounded somewhere nearby. More pops cut into the air. “Go, Morgan! Faster!” Tess slowed her horse, letting her daughter get out in front. She turned the horse around, squinting into the woods.There.Across the meadow, barely into the trees, a flash of the UTV caught her eye. White with a purple stripe.
“Come on, Mom!” her daughter screeched. “We have to get out of here!”
“I’m right behind you, honey!” She paused and pulled out her phone, turning on the camera and zooming in to snap a picture. Maybe it would be enough for the police to go on.
“Mom!” Morgan was already halfway across the meadow.
“I’m coming.” She crouched low and nudged the horse into a gallop. Side by side, she and Morgan tore across the meadow and slowed on the switchbacks heading back down into the valley. “Keep going but take it easier,” Tess called, out of breath.
