She snuggled into his side. “This is great already.”
Oliver ran up to them. “My turn.”
Mason picked him up and settled him on his hip. “You ready?”
Oliver nodded.
Mason was ready, too, for a life filled with moments like this.
“Danny, rein him in and come to a full stop.”
Danny gently pulled the reins, bringing his horse to a halt. He patted the horse’s neck, then leaned over and hugged him. He sat up straight, keeping hold of the reins. “That was awesome!”
Mason approached and set Oliver on his feet next to the horse, then said to Danny, “Dismount like I taught you.”
Danny swung his leg over the back of the horse and dropped to the ground. He pulled the reins over the horse’s head and stood next to him, holding the horse still.
“Very good.”
Danny beamed him a smile, pleased with the praise. “You can do this,” he encouraged his brother.
Mason took the reins from Danny. “Help your brother mount.” He’d taught Danny how to help Oliver into the saddle. Mason could pick him up and settle him atop the horse, but he wanted the boys to learn to work together.
Danny cupped his hands. Oliver grabbed the saddle, one hand on the front, the other on the back, put his foot in Danny’s hands, and pushed himself up, laying his belly over the saddle, then swinging his leg over the horse and righting himself in a seated position. He clutched the pommel and held on. “Got it.”
“That’s great teamwork.”
Danny adjusted the stirrups so Oliver’s feet rested in them.
Mason pulled the reins over the horse’s head and handed them to Oliver, who adjusted them in his hand like he’d been taught.
“Ready?”
Oliver smiled and nodded, his focus straight ahead.
Mason made a big show of letting go and holding his hands up. “You’re on your own.”
Sierra snapped a photo.
“Walk him around the circle,” Mason coaxed, holding his breath but confident Oliver would ride as well as his big brother.
Oliver lightly tapped his heels into the horse’s side.
Mason chose Kit for his mild temperament. Still, putting one of the boys on him and letting them loose put a knot in his stomach. If something happened, he’d never forgive himself.
But Oliver rode like a champ. He kept the pace slow, happy to just be in the saddle and on his own.
“I’m doing it.” Oliver pulled the reins gently to the left to make the horse turn along the circle curve. Not that he really needed to—the horse had to follow the fence—but Oliver was doing great. Mason couldn’t be more proud.
They gave Oliver a good ten minutes to ride circles around them. His smile never wavered.
“Does this mean we can ride out in the pastures with you on our own now?”
Mason planted his hand on Danny’s riding helmet and stared down at him. “One step at a time. Oliver isn’t quite ready. You both need a little more practice. But soon.”
Just as he said that, Oliver got tired of slow circles and kicked the horse into a nice trot. At first his eyes went wide with surprise, but then he laughed and enjoyed the faster pace.
Sierra took a video, then looked up at him. “What were you saying?”
“They’re fearless.”
“You gave them the tools and training to know they can do it.”
He gave her a worried look. “We’re in trouble with them. You know that, right?”
“I think we can handle it.”
He hoped so. Because if anything happened to one of the boys, he’d be devastated.
This is what it feels like to be a parent.
It hit him all at once. He’d accepted that the boys came with Sierra. He welcomed them in his life. He thought of them as his. But for the first time it really hit him what that meant. A lifetime of worry and hoping that they had safe and happy lives.
Sierra looked up at him and read his mind. “Scary, right? You want everything good for them, but there’s so much that could go wrong, so much that you can’t control. Including that they’re their own people and have a mind and will of their own.”
“Can we lock them up until they’re at least thirty?”
She laughed. “They’re good kids. Discipline and boundaries. The rest is just hoping they use their heads and hearts.”
Oliver brought the horse around in front of them and reined in like he’d been riding forever. He turned to his mom with another big smile. “Did you see?”
“I saw it all, baby. You were fantastic.”
Mason felt like he’d lost at least a year off his life worrying about the boys, but he had to admit, they rode well and followed all his directions and rules.
He was so impressed with Oliver, he plucked him right out of the saddle and swung him around. “Excellent job.” He grinned down at Danny. “You, too.” He set Oliver down next to his brother. “I think this calls for a guys-only lunch in town.”
He’d already spoken to Sierra about taking the boys for a couple hours. Time enough for her to decorate the boys’ rooms with all the things she’d bought for them.
“Yes!” the boys said in unison, then turned to their mom. “Please.”
“Okay, but you need to go up to the house and wash your hands before you go.”
The boys took off for the house.
With an arm around Sierra, Mason took the horse’s reins and walked with her and Kit back toward the stables. “We’re so close to really making this happen.”
“The boys are going to love their new rooms.”
“I mean everything. You and me. A life together.”
She smiled up at him. “I can’t wait.”
* * *
Mason had no intention of making her wait long. Mostly because he was impatient to make her his wife.
Danny and Oliver demolished a cheeseburger, fries, and shakes. Chocolate for Danny. Vanilla with caramel sauce for Oliver.
Mason finished his burger, but he’d barely tasted it with his stomach tied in knots and filled with butterflies. “So, guys. I thought we’d stop at a store before we head home and buy your mom something.”
Danny sucked on the straw, but with barely any shake left, all he did was make loud gurgling noises. “What?”
Oliver stared at him, waiting patiently for the answer.
Mason dove in. “I love your mom. You know that, right?”
Two dark heads bobbed across from him.
“We’ve talked about us living together and being a family.”
“Mom said soon, but so far nothing’s happened,” Danny pointed out.
“Right. Your mom and I are working on it. But I want to make sure your mom knows moving in means a lot more than just us sharing a house.”
Both boys’ heads tipped to the side, their eyes filled with questions.
“I want her to be my wife.”
“She said you guys might get married.” Oliver stared at him, letting him know they’d covered this and to get on to something new.
“I’m going to ask your mom to marry me, but before I do, I wanted to make sure that you’re both okay with that.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s what she wants.” Danny abandoned the empty shake and pushed the glass away. “She smiles a lot more now. So that’s good.”