“Hi, Quinn.” The greeting came from Lizzie, the little girl with Down syndrome, and roused Quinn from his reverie.
He spun. “What’s shaking, kid?”
“Not much.”
Lizzie was alone, having apparently escaped her mother’s watchful eye. She was a lot like his nephew in that regard.
“Where’s your mom?” he asked, glancing about.
“In the bathroom. I’m supposed to be waiting right there.” She indicated a spot thirty feet down the row of stalls. “And not moving an inch.”
“But you did.”
She made a face. “I said hi to you, but you didn’t hear me. What was I supposed to do?”
Before Quinn could answer, Lizzie’s mother came running out from the horse stables where the restroom was located. She appeared shaken, as if she’d encountered a nest of black widow spiders beneath the sink.
“Lizzie!” she called. “Get over here.”
“I’m just saying hi to Quinn.”
“Afternoon, ma’am.” He tugged on the brim of his cowboy hat. “Lizzie is—”
“Let’s go, young lady. Right now.” The woman didn’t give her daughter a chance to respond and practically hauled her away.
Okay, maybe hauled was too strong of a description, but she’d done her best to quickly remove Lizzie from Quinn’s vicinity and hadn’t spared him a single glance. It was weird, he decided, and he might have spent more time dwelling on it if Summer hadn’t finally noticed him. Wasting no time, he sauntered over to her and Teddy.
She smiled like a woman glad to see her man. Quinn figured he must be wearing a pretty dopey grin himself. His cheeks actually hurt.
“You came,” he said.
“We’re visiting Stargazer.” She nodded at Teddy, who was petting the placid horse though the stall rails.
The boy turned his head and, as had happened before, made direct eye contact with Quinn.
“Be careful that horse doesn’t bite you.” He was joking, of course.
Teddy seemed to understand and made the same garbled noise he had before. Laughter. It was the second time today Quinn had seen Teddy display a sense of humor.
“Corrine and Jenny get off all right?” Summer asked.
Quinn explained about the cancelled flight, Jenny booking a later one and the nap in his apartment. “We’re leaving for the airport about six.”
Summer’s gaze traveled to Teddy. “We have a lesson in a short while.”
“Today? It’s Sunday.”
“The program director sent out an email. Because the weather’s cooler, they decided to offer an extra lesson on a first come, first serve basis.”
“That’s great.” Quinn moved marginally closer to Summer. Enough that he could catch the delicate scent of her lotion. Not so close that they’d draw attention.
“We’ll see.” Her reply lacked enthusiasm.
“What’s wrong?”
She inclined her head, indicating she didn’t want Teddy to hear them. Quinn leaned in to hear better.
“Hal insists on coming to the lesson,” Summer whispered.
“How did he find out?”
“He’s on the email loop. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but Teddy’s been agitated all day, ever since our little scene this morning. I jumped on the chance for a lesson when the email came. Riding always calms him down. Now I’m afraid just the opposite will happen, and he’ll have a meltdown when he sees Hal.” She groaned. “Why does he have to come? He doesn’t care.”
“Because he knows I work here?”
“Would it be selfish of me to say I really hope the adoption agency finds them a baby soon?” She pressed a hand to her face. “That was a terrible thing to say.”
“Look, Teddy loves it here. Maybe everything will be all right.” Quinn couldn’t help himself and touched her arm, keeping the caress brief. “You worrying will only agitate him. He’s very perceptive.”
“You’re right.” She touched him back. “Thanks.”
Quinn had an idea. “When’s the lesson?”
“Four.”
“Since we both have some time, why don’t we put a halter on Stargazer and let Teddy walk her around the grounds? That way, Stargazer can work her magic on him, and he’ll be ready for the lesson.”
Summer hesitated. “Okay, but only if you come with us.”
“And if Hal sees us?”
Summer shook her head. “I don’t care.”
“I do,” Quinn insisted.
“Well, we’re not going without you,” she said.
In the end, he relented. Her pleading eyes were too hard to resist. He’d just have to make sure they were done long before Hal arrived. “All right. You win.”
Her smile was triumphant. “Come on, sweetie,” she called to Teddy. “We’re going to take Stargazer for a walk. You, me and Quinn.”
* * *
“TELL ME EVERYTHING about your brunch with Corrine and Jenny. Did you get a chance to discuss visitation?”
Summer, Quinn and Teddy had been doing their usual, circling the stables with Stargazer in tow. Teddy led the horse several paces ahead of Summer and Quinn. If asked, she’d say she was in a better position to watch Teddy. It was also true she liked walking beside Quinn, their conversation of no interest to Teddy.
During the last two circuits, more vehicles had pulled into the parking area. Soon, students and instructors would be saddling up their horses for the lesson.
“It went great.” Quinn’s grin was contagious. “You won’t believe this. Jenny offered to bring Corrine to my parents’ in Bishop.”
“You’re kidding!”
“For a whole week. In October. I’m driving there to meet them.”
This was the best outcome possible. “Have you told your parents yet? They must be ecstatic.”
“I was planning on calling them tonight.”
Summer couldn’t contain the happiness bubbling up inside her. Was it true? Did she and Quinn have a chance at that future she’d thought beyond their reach?
“Jenny could always back out,” he cautioned.
“She won’t. Why would she?”
“She can be impulsive. One minute, she’s generous. The next, she’s thinking only of herself.”
Summer understood Quinn’s reluctance. He’d been disappointed by Jenny before. Summer’s job as his friend was to remain positive.
“I can’t believe she’d let your parents down. No one’s that cruel.”
He shrugged, possibly recalling Jenny’s disappearance after his conviction.
When they reached the entrance to the stables, he suggested they saddle Stargazer in preparation for the lesson. Summer agreed. She didn’t want to hold up the other students more than necessary.
Teddy remained glued to Quinn’s side, watching his every move. It was a vast improvement over the days when he just stood at Stargazer’s head, ignoring everyone and everything save the horse.
“We didn’t talk support.” Quinn showed Teddy how to brush the horse’s mane without pulling the hair.
“Better to leave those details to the attorneys.”
He paused, his gaze meeting hers. “It’s really happening.”
“It is.”
He pulled her to him, his touch igniting a flurry of delightful tremors. He would have kissed her had she allowed it. She didn’t. There’d be time for that later, when they were alone and Hal wasn’t due to arrive any moment.
“I suppose we need to figure out what’s next.” She retreated a step, putting a small but respectable distance between them.
“If by what’s next you mean what’s next with us, yeah. And I can’t wait.”
“Not much has changed, Quinn.”
“After last nigh
t, I’d say a heck of a lot has changed.”
“We need to go slow.”
“As long as we’re moving forward, I can handle slow.” She felt the heat from his gaze as it roamed her face. “I’m going to fight for what I have, Summer. It’s important to me.”
“I will, too. But nothing definite is happening with us until you and Jenny reach an agreement. At least regarding Corrine.”
“Nope.” He walked away. “No can do.”
She went after him, grabbing his arm. “What?”
“I want to see you again. Soon.” He lowered his head to hers. “I insist.”
She almost melted at the unguarded longing in his dark eyes. “We’ll see.”
“Yes, we will.”
“Maybe you can come by for dinner later this week. But just dinner.” She leveled a finger at him. “I realize we can’t go back to where we were—it’s too late for that. But Teddy’s still my first priority and Corrine is yours.”
“Want to see her again before she leaves?”
Summer laughed at his abrupt change. “I’d love to. But what about Jenny?”
He gave her a swift peck on the cheek. “I’ll bring Corrine over to watch the lesson. I bet Jenny will be okay with that.” He might have kissed her again if not for Teddy’s exclamation, startling them both.
“Bit! Bit!”
Summer was embarrassed to admit she’d once again forgotten about her son, Quinn having demanded all her attention.
“Bit?” She looked at him. “Is he talking about the bridle?”
“He must be.”
She reveled in yet another milestone. Teddy was learning the names of the riding equipment. Could her day possibly improve? Summer didn’t dare voice the question for fear of jinxing herself.
After Stargazer was fully saddled and bridled, Quinn positioned the stepladder beside her so that Teddy could mount. He put his foot on the first step, then hesitated.
“Uh-oh.” She’d worried he might regress and refuse to use the ladder. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”
Pivoting abruptly, he reached out and stuck his index finger through Quinn’s belt loop. All right, he needed a little extra encouragement. Who didn’t now and then?
Teddy surprised Summer by grabbing her wrist, much like he had Quinn’s that one day. She froze, afraid to move, afraid to breathe, afraid he’d let go. He seldom touched her and usually only under duress.
“Sweetie,” she whispered.
“Maw.”
The small tug on her wrist released a flood of emotions. Joy. Relief. Excitement. Even sorrow. Tears pricked her eyes. Teddy wasn’t just communicating. He was connecting, physically and emotionally, with her and Quinn. This was a rare and remarkable moment.
Sadly it didn’t last. Teddy let go of both her and Quinn. He skillfully climbed the ladder and plunked down into the saddle as if he’d mounted horses from the day he could walk.
Extending his arms in front of him, he said, “Ride, ride.”
Quinn placed the reins in Teddy’s hands and faced Summer. “You okay? You look a little funny.”
She wiped at her damp cheeks. “I’m fine. Seriously.” Who was she kidding? She was over the moon. Best day ever.
“Let’s get out of here.” Quinn took hold of the lead rope, and the three of them started down the aisle.
“Don’t you think it’s strange no one else came by the tack room to saddle their horse or use the hitching rail?”
“Are we early?”
She checked her phone. The lesson was scheduled to start in ten minutes. “No.”
Could everyone else have saddled up while she, Quinn and Teddy were circling the horse stables? She supposed it was possible.
As they reached the wide entrance, several things became simultaneously apparent, every one of them alarming.
A small gathering of parents had formed thirty feet away, Mindy and the Gonzaleses among them. The sight gave Summer a start, as did Hal and his wife approaching from the parking lot. They headed straight for the small group of people and were readily welcomed, people parting to let them in.
Where were the students? Summer glanced about, her unease growing. They must be at the horse stalls or the arena.
“What’s going on?” she murmured, not really expecting Quinn to answer her.
“I have no idea.” He stopped and handed Summer the horse’s lead rope. “But there’s Hal and his wife. I should leave. He doesn’t look happy.”
“No. Stay.” Summer wasn’t sure what to do, but retreating didn’t feel like the right choice. She had to stand her ground with Hal. Show him he didn’t intimidate her.
As Summer and Quinn waited, everyone in the gathering continued to stare, which, frankly, gave Summer the creeps. Lizzie’s mom spoke quietly out of the side of her mouth to Hal and his wife. He scowled while his wife covered her mouth in shock.
“Something’s not right,” Quinn said.
The next instant, Cara emerged from the group. She strode toward them, her steps determined, her posture rigid and her expression grim.
Summer started at the sound of Quinn’s phone chiming. He grabbed it and read the text message.
“Corrine’s awake from her nap. Jenny’s bringing her down.”
Teddy, always sensitive to his surroundings, began to hum, and not his this-is-fun tune. The rocking followed. Summer assumed he’d seen Hal and his stepmother at the edge of the group and that was the cause. If not for the many cold stares pinning them in place, she’d have suggested she and Quinn make a run for it.
So much for her perfect day. “I don’t like this,” she said as Cara neared.
Jenny and Corrine appeared at the bottom of the apartment stairs next to the tack room. Jenny called to Quinn.
“Just a minute,” he answered, motioning for her to wait.
The little girl had yet to fully wake and was rubbing her eyes. She brightened at the sight of Quinn. When she would have run toward them, Jenny heeded Quinn’s warning and held her back.
At that moment, Cara descended on them. “Quinn, do you have a second? We need to talk. There’s a problem.”
“Sure.” He glanced over his shoulder at Corrine and Jenny. “I just—”
“This is important,” Cara said. “And urgent.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”
Her glance briefly sought out the crowd of people behind her before returning to Quinn. “I’d rather not say here. Is there somewhere private we can go?”
Summer’s anxiety skyrocketed, as did Teddy’s humming.
She studied the group of parents, especially Mindy. This had to do with the petition Mindy had been circulating against Quinn. No other explanation made sense.
“How long will this take?” he asked Cara, shifting impatiently.
“I’m not sure. A little while.”
“I have to drive Jenny and Corrine to the airport.”
“Please, Quinn.”
“We can go to my apartment,” he finally relented, “but I’m talking to my daughter first. Don’t try to stop me.”
He and Cara started out together but not before he sent Summer a backward glance she interpreted as Wait for me.
She wished she could go with him and be part of the discussion, but she didn’t dare suggest it.
While he stopped to chat with Jenny, Cara continued up the apartment stairs. Summer fidgeted, feeling the stares increase. Did she dare take Teddy to the arena for the lesson and walk past that den of vipers?
“I hungry,” Corrine announced in her child’s voice.
Summer was close enough to hear most of what Quinn said to Jenny.
“Why don’t you take her to the ranch house? The back door is open, and Raquel always leaves
snacks out on the counter or in the fridge. I’m pretty sure there’s some crackers in the pantry.”
Jenny wavered. “We wouldn’t be intruding?”
“Not at all. I’ll text Raquel and be there shortly. Ten minutes, tops.”
Except, Summer didn’t think Quinn’s discussion with Cara would end that soon.
She’d have offered to go with Jenny and Corrine if not for Teddy’s increasing agitation. A quick look around revealed Hal and his wife advancing on them. Summer had no choice but to deal with them or risk Teddy unraveling.
Squaring her shoulders, she gave Quinn one last backward glance, hoping his conversation with Cara wasn’t about a demand he be let go from the program and knowing in her heart it was.
Dammit! Why hadn’t she warned him or at least spoken to Cara? She’d been distracted by the wedding, not to mention stupidly believing Mindy had come to her senses. Now Quinn was about to be blindsided, and it was all Summer’s fault.
Chapter Eleven
“Come in,” Quinn said, meeting up with Cara on the apartment landing.
Opening the door, he stepped aside and let her precede him. He didn’t mind admitting he was nervous about what lay ahead, though he kept reminding himself there was no reason.
Had she been unhappy with him taking Stargazer out? That must be it. Technically, Teddy was supposed to be supervised by a therapy program staff member when he interacted with the horse. Rules were in place for a reason, and the program was liable if something went wrong.
An image of the parents gathered outside the stables filled his vision. Had they complained to Cara? Did they think Summer and Teddy were receiving special attention or privileges denied their children? It was entirely possible. From what Quinn had witnessed, parents were willing to start a small revolt if they believed their children had been treated unfairly.
No problem. He’d apologize to Cara. Apologize to every parent if necessary. Quinn wasn’t above humbling himself when warranted.
Rescuing the Cowboy Page 15