Finding the staff member and retrieving Stargazer, they tethered the horse to the hitching post outside the tack room. After assuring the woman they’d be fine, she left to attend to another student. Quinn chose a youth saddle from the array in the tack room and a bridle with a gentle bit, although Teddy probably wouldn’t actually guide the horse. The reins were for him to hold on to and to give him a sense of security.
“Do you really think he’ll get on the horse?” Summer gave him a skeptical look.
“I do.”
“Hmm.” She stood off to the side, fidgeting.
Teddy hadn’t moved from Stargazer’s head and continued to stroke her nose. Unlike his mother, he appeared calm and collected.
“He’s been around horses enough to know what a saddle and bridle are used for.” Quinn adjusted the girth. “If he were scared or unwilling, he’d have let us know by now. We’d probably be chasing him around the ranch.”
“Wait until he sees the stepladder,” Summer said.
A moment later, Quinn retrieved it from the tack room. He also brought one of the therapy program’s harnesses. While confident Teddy would climb up onto Stargazer, Quinn was less convinced he’d tolerate the harness being attached. That would necessitate a lot of touching and, once on, it might feel restricting.
He’d have to try. There was no way he’d take Teddy riding without safety precautions.
“You ready, son?”
Quinn positioned the stepladder next to Stargazer and patted the top. The mare, reliable as always, stood quietly. Summer gnawed her lower lip.
Teddy looked at Quinn, then the ladder. He still held the lead rope, sliding it between his fingers.
“Come on,” Quinn said. “Time’s a-wasting.”
Seconds dragged into a full minute. Then, all at once, Teddy handed the lead rope to Quinn and climbed the stepladder as nimbly as if it was something he did every day. Throwing a leg over the saddle, he stuck his sneakered feet into the stirrups and gathered the reins.
Quinn half expected him to shout, “Giddyap.”
“I... I don’t believe it.” Summer stared openmouthed. “Teddy, you’re riding!”
“I’ve got to put this on.” Quinn held up the harness and showed Teddy.
He lifted his arms, and Quinn did his best to attach the device without any fuss or unnecessary contact. Twice Teddy grunted and once he squealed. They did, however, eventually secure the harness.
“I’m shocked.” A smile spread across Summer’s face. “And impressed.”
“Maw Maw. Ride.” Teddy shook the reins.
“Yes, sweetie, I see you riding.”
Quinn thought there might be tears in her eyes. He longed to hug her again but resisted. A line crossed once was enough. To cross it again was out of the question.
“Where to?” He switched the lead rope to his other hand.
“Not the arena,” Summer quickly responded. “It’s enough he’s on the horse. I’m afraid all the other riders and people will upset him.”
“Okay. We’ll use the small corral. It was empty a while ago.”
“Thank you, Quinn.”
The sincerity in her expression penetrated the shield he kept firmly in place around his heart. How was it possible she’d accomplished what only his family and his closest friends had?
They proceeded slowly down the aisle. Quinn held on to the lead rope, guiding the horse while Teddy rocked back and forth in the saddle, humming. Quinn had the impression it was out of enjoyment and not distress or fear. The tune reminded him of one he’d heard Summer sing to Teddy before.
Outside the stables, they went in the opposite direction of the arena. Summer changed sides, circling behind the horse to join Quinn. She glanced up at him and when he smiled, her features relaxed. Had she thought he wouldn’t want her next to him?
Given his choice, he’d have her beside him in more places than the horse stables. Bed came to mind.
Wait, no, he couldn’t let himself think like that. Then again, it was hard not to. She smelled great, looked fantastic and had felt incredible in his arms. More than anything, it was the affection in her eyes that captivated him.
“I still can’t believe Teddy’s riding,” she said.
Quinn peered over his shoulder. Teddy appeared lost in his own world, seeing but not seeing. He also appeared content, as if the world he occupied was an enjoyable one. Knowing that wasn’t always the case, Quinn was pleased for him and Summer, who also seemed content.
“I think the real test will be when it comes time to get him off the horse.”
“You could well be right.” She half sighed, half laughed. “Let’s enjoy this part while it lasts.”
Quinn entered the corral first, leading Stargazer. When all went without a hitch, Summer followed. The sun had begun its slow descent behind the McDowell Mountains, lighting the peaks while throwing the foothills into purple and gray shadows. Quinn didn’t think he’d ever grow bored of the sight.
“Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?” he asked.
“Not at all.” Summer smiled. “As long as I can reserve the right not to answer.”
“Fair enough.” Each trip around the small arena took only a few minutes. They were on their third one. “Given the chance, would you change your circumstances?”
“Circumstances?” Her smile dimmed. “You mean, would I want Teddy not to be autistic?”
“Not that. Would you still want to be married to Hal? Losing your family must have been difficult.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“When I was in prison and learned Jenny had left the state, I told myself I didn’t care and, eventually, I didn’t. But that was when I had six more years left on my sentence. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about her. More specifically, what might have happened with the two of us if I wasn’t arrested?”
“Are you still in love with her?”
“No. And not just because she left. Our relationship had run its course before the night in the bar and wouldn’t have lasted much longer. But I wonder about Corrine and how I might have been part of her life all along if I hadn’t gone to prison.”
“Would you have stayed with Jenny, then?”
He liked that Summer didn’t hesitate to ask him such direct questions.
“Hard to say. I was a different guy then. But I think yes. For Corrine’s sake.” He searched a little deeper and struggled with the feelings he uncovered. “I wish I didn’t have regrets, but I do.”
“Everyone does. And to answer your question, I wouldn’t change circumstances. If Hal and I were still married, Teddy wouldn’t be doing as well as he is. Hal has a different...opinion of autism. We didn’t—don’t—agree on a lot.”
“I’m not defending him,” Quinn said. “Don’t take this wrong. But I understand how difficult it is when life doesn’t turn out the way you planned.”
“You’re preaching to the choir.”
“Yeah, sorry.”
She gazed lovingly up at her son. “Then again, unexpected turns can also have wonderful results. Any difficulties with Teddy are far outnumbered by the rewards.”
Quinn didn’t consider himself the sentimental type, yet, for a moment, with Summer by his side, he was.
“It took a while for me to understand and accept that if Teddy wasn’t autistic, Hal and I would probably still be married but not happy. One of those couples we all know who stay together because it’s easier and less scary than starting all over with someone new.” She absently patted Stargazer. “The pressure Teddy’s disorder put on us was more than we could handle, and our marriage simply crumbled.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She sniffed softly before visibly collecting herself. “I have to believe Teddy and I are where we’re
supposed to be.”
“I’m waiting for that particular realization.”
“Maybe you’ll have it when you’re reunited with Corrine.”
Reunited. The word had a nice ring.
On their next circuit of the corral, a group of kids playing tag ran by. Quinn assumed they were siblings of the therapy program students. He’d seen them before. Perhaps bored and disinterested in watching the lesson, their parents had let them wander the grounds.
He might have ignored the kids except, on closer inspection, he spotted his nephew Nathan. Josh or Cara had to be nearby, but Quinn didn’t see them.
“Just a sec,” he told Summer. While she and Teddy waited, Quinn placed a call to his cousin Josh. “Hey, man. Where are you?”
“The ranch house.”
“Look around. I think you’re missing someone.”
“No. Wait, am I?” There was a pause. “Yes, dammit. Nathan,” he hollered.
“He can’t hear you. He’s here with us at the corral.”
Josh swore softly under his breath. Twice. “Kimberly, put that down.”
Quinn chuckled. Josh clearly had his hands full with his toddler daughter, which accounted for him losing track of his son.
“No worries. Nathan is here. He’s playing with some of the other kids.”
“I’ll be right there.” Josh uttered another curse under his breath. “Cara’s going to skin me alive.”
Nathan was a renowned escape artist. This wasn’t the first time he’d evaded his parents’ watchful eyes.
Quinn disconnected and pocketed his phone. As he did, the air was split by Nathan’s cry of alarm. One of the other boys, considerably bigger and older than Nathan, had him pinned on the ground, a knee pressed into the center of his back, and was delivering a series of blows to his head. Nathan’s cries increased.
“Hey!” Quinn yelled. “Knock it off.” He looked at Summer.
“Go,” she told him.
He ran out of the corral to where the boys were fighting. Without hesitating, he grabbed the larger boy by the waist and lifted him off Nathan. The boy kicked and yelled and flailed his arms, demanding to be put down.
Quinn obliged, setting the boy on his feet but keeping a firm grip on his shoulder so he wouldn’t run off. The rest of the kids promptly scattered. “What’s the problem?”
Nathan lifted his dirt-and tear-smeared face and, sobbing, said, “He h-hit m-me.”
Red-faced and sweating, the kid spat out, “He stole my quarter.”
“It’s right there.” Quinn bent and picked up the quarter.
Rather than be happy, the kid snatched the quarter from Quinn’s hand and promptly kicked him in the shin.
Despite the sharp pain, he hung on to the boy’s shoulder. “There’s no need for that.”
“Let me go.”
“I will. Just cool your jets.” He wanted to see if his nephew was all right. First, though, he needed to talk to this kid. “Trust me when I tell you, fighting’s not the answer. It’s especially wrong to pick on someone younger and smaller than you, even if he did take your quarter.”
“Mom! Dad!” the kid yelled. “Help. He’s hurting me.”
“I am not.” Quinn fought to keep his temper in check. It was one thing to defend yourself. Another to bully someone.
The kid abruptly twisted sideways, wrenched free and darted away toward the arena to join his friends.
“You okay, pal?” Quinn knelt and held Nathan tight. The boy buried his face in Quinn’s neck, unable to stop crying.
“Poor little guy.” Summer came over, leading Teddy and Stargazer. “Is he hurt?”
“Nothing serious from what I can tell.” Quinn patted Nathan’s back. “Come on, pal. Buck up.”
The next moment, Josh came sprinting out from the direction of the ranch house. When Nathan spotted his father, his sobs turned into wails. Quinn handed over the boy while relaying what had happened.
“Thanks for intervening,” Josh said.
“Glad I was here.”
Nathan’s crying jag finally subsided, and he held the back of his head. “Daddy, I have an owie.”
Josh inspected the injured area, then Nathan’s dirty face. “We’d better get you inside and cleaned up.”
After they left, Summer laid a hand on Quinn’s arm. “You’re a good uncle.”
“I might disagree. I wanted to throttle that kid.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Right. Wish I’d shown the same kind of restraint three years ago.”
“Maw Maw, man,” Teddy called from atop Stargazer. “Ride.”
They returned to the corral and made two more circuits. Quinn berated himself for not noticing Nathan’s predicament sooner. As Summer’s lively chatter and vivacious smile kept his attention focused on her, he cut himself some slack. It was a wonder he could put one foot in front of the other with her around.
Eventually, they returned to the hitching post outside the tack room. Here was the moment of truth.
“You ready to get down, son?” While Summer watched, and without any fuss from Teddy, Quinn unfastened the harness and set the stepladder next to the horse. “Okay, come on.”
Teddy stared at the ground and sat motionless. Quinn expected him to start rocking and humming. He was about to reach for him when Teddy gingerly eased out of the saddle, swinging his right leg over and stepping down onto the ladder with his left.
“That’s it,” Quinn coaxed. “You’re doing great.”
Teddy lowered himself another step. Right before he reached the ground, he lost his balance and teetered precariously. Quinn caught Teddy by the arm and steadied him while he navigated the last step.
“There you go.” He let go gradually and, without thinking, patted Teddy’s back much like he had Nathan’s.
Teddy went over to Stargazer’s head and resumed stroking her nose. Quinn collapsed the stepladder and placed it out of the way. As he turned, he was taken off guard when Summer threw herself at him.
Not that he didn’t like it, but he had to ask, “What’s all this about?”
“Teddy let you touch him, and he didn’t scream.”
Quinn grinned, as much from Teddy’s startling accomplishment as from holding Summer in his arms.
Chapter Six
There was no need for Quinn to walk her and Teddy to her car. Yet he had, and Summer relished the warmth blossoming inside her as he leaned in close to say goodbye.
They were standing at her open car door. Stargazer and the buckskin had been returned to their stalls, and Teddy was buckled into his booster seat. From the look of his drooping eyelids, he was ready to nod off. Another first. Teddy didn’t sleep in the car. Not since he was in kindergarten—which was also the only time he’d attended public school.
“You haven’t stopped smiling,” Quinn said.
She touched her fingertips to her mouth and felt the curve of her lips. “It’s been a good day.”
The floodlights at the arena reached only to the fringes of the parking area, leaving Quinn and Summer cloaked in partial shadows. The lesson was ending. In another twenty minutes, the students would be finished with unsaddling their horses and, along with their families, making their way to their vehicles. Until then, and with Teddy nearly asleep, Summer and Quinn were relatively alone.
“You’ll let me know when you hear more about your daughter?” she asked. Chances were she’d be updated at the office, except she’d rather talk to Quinn personally.
“You’ll be my second call.” He seemed pleased that she’d asked. “I promised the folks they’d be the first.”
“They must be excited. Do they have other grandchildren?”
“Two. My older brother got married a few years ago. He has twin boys abou
t Kimberly’s age.”
“And now they’ll have a granddaughter.”
“Another reason for everyone to spoil her rotten.” Quinn somehow decreased the space separating him and Summer by several more millimeters.
She hadn’t thought it possible as they were already close. “It’s getting late. I have a mountain of laundry at home to fold and put away.”
“See you tomorrow,” he said as if tomorrow was much too long to wait to see her again.
She reached out and impulsively grabbed his arm, the fabric of his shirt bunching beneath her fingers. “Will you?”
He froze and locked eyes with her. “Count on it.”
She swallowed. “Quinn, what’s happening here?”
He stood impossibly still. “That depends entirely on you.”
It was crazy and reckless and undeniably stupid. She could come up with a dozen different reasons off the top of her head to let go of him and hightail it away from the ranch.
Instead, she slipped her arms around his neck and whispered, “Kiss me.”
His reaction was instantaneous. Circling her waist, he hauled her against him. Just at the moment his lips touched hers, he hesitated, perhaps giving her one last chance to come to her senses. Summer tightened her hold and, feeling instead as if she’d finally come to her senses for the first time in years, she kissed him hungrily.
It was, of course, incredible. Just look at him, for crying out loud. A man that sexy, that blatantly masculine, had been made to rock her world.
Angling her head, she arched into him, wanting to feel every possible inch where their bodies joined. Quinn groaned, low and with a desperation that let her know she mattered more to him in that moment than anyone else.
When his tongue swept into her mouth and they finally tasted each other, she sighed with satisfaction. This was how a man and woman should kiss.
Don’t stop. Not yet. Make this last. Please.
Except, darn it, he didn’t. Too soon, and with obvious reluctance, he broke off the kiss. She understood why. As much as she wanted to, they couldn’t continue like they were. Not if they expected to walk away unscathed. Though, it would have been nice. Great. Fantastic.
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