“I tell God what I’m thankful for.”
“And what are you thankful for?”
Amy folded her hands and closed her eyes. “I’m thankful for our new house and for Mommy and Jordan and Marissa and you.” Opening her eyes, she said in a low voice to Jase, “Then I ask God to bless everyone.”
“Okay,” Jase agreed.
“God bless Mommy and Jordan and Marissa and you and Mr. Cramer, too. He found me. And bless kitty cat.”
She unfolded her hands and opened her eyes. “That’s it.”
“You did a good job.” Jase couldn’t hide the smile in his voice.
“That’s what Mommy says.”
“And now Mommy says it’s time for sleep.” Sara stood and so did Jase. She could see he didn’t know whether to stay or go.
She pulled the sheet up to Amy’s neck and kissed her forehead. “Good night, little one. Have very sweet dreams.”
Jase bent to Amy, laid his hand on her hair and then moved away. Sara wondered what he was thinking as they returned to the living room.
She didn’t have to wonder for long as he said, “I hope she takes her time growing up.”
“I know what you mean.” When they reached the sofa, Sara suggested, “I think Amy and your dad bonded.”
“I didn’t get the feeling that he scolded her for running away,” Jase agreed, looking pensive.
“Did he scold you when you ran away?”
After a thoughtful pause, Jase shook his head. “No, he didn’t, come to think of it. He asked me about the book I was reading. It was Treasure Island and he said he’d read it as a boy. I’d forgotten all about that conversation.”
“Sometimes it’s not so bad taking a stroll down memory lane.”
“No, sometimes it’s not.” He took her into his arms, then, and gave her one of those long, wet kisses that made her want to strip his clothes off and hers, too.
After he raised his head, his expression showing he didn’t want to stop any more than she did, he told her, “I’m going to a wine expo in San Jose next weekend. It’s just an overnight trip. I’ll leave Saturday morning, be back by Sunday evening. How would you like to come along?”
* * *
Late afternoon on Wednesday, Sara stood beside Ramona at the Four Oaks Ranch, watching Connie Russo on a bay as she led two children on their own horses around the ring. Sara had decided to introduce Ramona to Connie because she thought it might help her attitude.
Ramona said, “They look like they’re having a lot of fun.”
“They are. Connie says the lessons teach them confidence, balance and independence.”
An SUV had driven up while they were talking and a young woman who looked to be in her thirties climbed out. She walked over to Sara and Ramona and motioned to the ring.
“Those are my two.”
“They’re doing great,” Ramona noted. “Good seats and handling the reins well.”
“Do you help out here?” the woman asked.
“No, I don’t,” Ramona said.
Sara was hoping Ramona would want to. Soon Ramona would be able to ride again. Maybe not out on the trail, but here in the ring. She could give her input from the ground for now and Connie could use the help.
The two children dismounted and the mom excused herself to go get them. They all climbed into the SUV and drove off.
Connie joined Sara and Ramona at the fence, extending her hand to Ramona.
“It’s good to meet you. Sara told me you used to ride a lot.”
“I took tourists on trail rides up into the mountains, did a lot of camping on my own, too. But then I was in a biking accident and everything changed. I haven’t been on a horse in six months.”
“Do you think you’re good to ride now?”
Ramona glanced at Sara. “I guess that’s up to Sara. I feel stronger than I did since I’ve been working with her, but my leg muscles are still weaker than I’d like.”
“Riding will help strengthen them again, you know that,” Connie told her.
“Yes, I do. I guess I’m just scared.”
“We all fear whatever might hurt us,” Connie said.
That sentence hit home with Sara. When Jase had asked her to go along to the expo in San Jose, she hadn’t given him an answer. She’d told him she’d think about it, that she would have to see about someone watching Amy. She’d also said she wasn’t sure being separated from Amy was a good thing right now. But the real reason for her hesitation was fear. If she went with Jase, she knew she’d be intimate with him, and she wasn’t sure where that was going to lead.
For the moment, however, she had to put thoughts of San Jose aside to focus on Ramona. “I think it would do you good to be out in the sun, to just be around horses again and to feel your way. You’re strong enough to get back in the saddle on a gentle horse, but you have to feel you’re ready.”