Logan grimaced and scraped his boot over the ground. Amy hadn’t been herself since he’d brought her home but she’d definitely been more out of sorts lately. The only explanation for it was their sexual encounter three weeks earlier.
He didn’t blame Amy for backing away. He blamed himself. With everything that had happened between them, he should’ve been more controlled. Shouldn’t have let the chaos of that day and one shared moment of success coax his guard down.
It seemed his body was as intent on betraying him as much now as it had before. But despite that, he couldn’t bring himself to regret making love to her. He’d missed her over the years and it’d felt good to comfort her. To be comforted. To hold her again.
But he felt as removed from Amy now as he would if she were already in Michigan. And only a couple of weeks remained before she left.
Logan balled his fists. Time. He’d never been on good terms with it. The earth could crack under his feet and the fool sun would still rise. But as soon as a moment of peace arrived, night would swallow it whole. Time kept ticking no matter what occurred.
“There he goes again.” Dominic smacked his palm on the fence, rattling it under Logan’s elbows as Thunder lunged and missed Amy by inches. “I’m worried she’s gonna get hurt. He’s starting to wear her down.”
“She’s being careful,” Logan murmured.
Hell if he knew who he was trying to reassure. Dominic? Or himself?
“Angle over this way, Amy.” Logan waved a hand, keeping his tone calm. “I can boost you over if he charges again.”
Dominic sighed. “I know she doesn’t want to hear it but have you talked to her? Asked her to ease off a bit? Take a break?”
“I’ve tried,” Logan said. “But she’s adamant she can bring Thunder around. Keeps fantasizing that he can be saved.”
“It’s not a fantasy, Logan. There’s always a chance. But she needs to take a step back. Rest and regroup. Let us take over for a while.”
“That won’t help,” Logan said. “Thunder trusts us less than he does her. And no amount of time is going to change the final outcome.”
“So, that’s your solution?” Dominic cocked an eyebrow. “Just give up? She can handle him, Logan. More than handle him if she gets her bearings again.” He jerked his chin at the enclosure. “She’s gentled more horses in that pen than I can count.”
“This is different.”
“How? There’s a horse and a round pen. Same as before.”
“It’s not the same—”
“Shhhh.”
Logan jerked his head back around to find Amy scowling in their direction. Thunder, rattled by her hiss, snaked his head and charged. Logan shot over the top rail, catching Amy as she jumped out of Thunder’s path and assisting her over the fence.
She pushed his hands away, tossed her hair back and frowned. “I can handle myself. Could’ve handled Thunder, too, if the two of you hadn’t been running your loud mouths.”
Dominic cast a halfhearted smile at Amy. “We know you can, Ames.” His face softened. “We’re just worried about you. You’ve had a lot of close calls with Thunder lately and we don’t want you getting hurt. If anyone can help Thunder, you can. But you can’t be effective in that pen if you run yourself into the ground. You haven’t been yourself for a while and Thunder’s picking up on it.”
Amy rubbed her forehead. “I know that. I’m just frustrated.”
She glanced behind her, shoulders sagging. Logan followed her gaze to the far side of the enclosure where Thunder kicked and stomped.
“I’m doing the same things I’ve always done,” she whispered. “I don’t know why he won’t respond.”
Logan studied her weary expression and cringed. Dominic was right. She needed some space. Some time to relax.
Logan plucked a piece of dead grass from her sleeve then rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Well, forcing it isn’t going to help you or Thunder. You need to take a break and clear your head.”
Squeals broke out behind them. Jayden sprinted across the field at high speed, his brother chasing close on his heels. They kicked up clouds of dust that hovered in sunlit particles behind them and drew to an abrupt halt at the fence.
“I won.” Jayden doubled over, air rasping between his lips.
“Only ’cuz you cheated.” Kayden shoved his brother then swaggered over to Amy. He propped his hands on his hips and squinted at Thunder thrashing in the pen. “You ain’t whipped that horse, yet, Aunt Amy?”
“She’s not gonna whip anything,” Jayden huffed. “She don’t give spankings.” He skipped over and tipped his head back to look up at Amy. “Ain’t that right?”
Amy laughed and hugged the boys to her legs. Her entire demeanor changed. The rigid tension in her body released and the tight lines on her brow eased.
Logan’s chest swelled. This was Amy. As she had been. Bright and energetic. Warm and inviting. The way she was before they’d lost so much.
“Oh, you know what I mean,” Kayden drawled, squinting up at Amy. “You could whoop any horse into shape. Uncle Dominic said so.”
Amy glanced at Dominic. “That’s nice of him to say. But I don’t think Thunder likes me messing with him. I think he’d prefer to run me over.”
“You want me to help you?” Kayden puffed his chest out. “I won’t let no horse come after you.”
Amy smiled. “Thanks for the offer, Kayden.” She bent and kissed his cheek. “But I wouldn’t want to risk you getting hurt.”
Kayden shrugged, his features firming. “Okay. But if Thunder shows his butt, you tell me and I’ll whoop him for ya so you won’t have to.”
“Me, too,” Jayden said, sharing a conspiratorial look with Kayden. “We’ll both give him a butt whoopin’.”
The boys dissolved into a fit of giggles, wrapping around Amy’s legs and snorting.
“Lord have mercy,” Traci muttered, grinning. “Any horse would take off as soon as they saw the two of you coming.”
“Uh-uh,” Kayden jeered. “Besides, I know what Aunt Amy’s doing wrong.”
Kayden darted between Dominic’s legs and climbed onto the fence rail next to Traci.
He rubbed a grubby hand over his face, leaving a streak of dirt on his cheek. “She ain’t spitting.”
Traci issued a sound of disgust. “What does that have to do with anything, squirt?”
“Everything.” Kayden lifted his chin. “Mr. Jed said if something’s broke on a ranch, it just needs some spit-shine and elbow grease.” He smiled, teeth gleaming. “She needs to spit on him.”
Dominic laughed and ruffled Kayden’s hair. “I think you’re spending entirely too much time with Mr. Jed. Why don’t you give the hands a break and let ’em work without you underfoot today.”
Kayden’s nose wrinkled. “Mr. Jed ain’t no hand. He said he’s a bone-a-fine cowboy. Like you and Uncle Logan.”
“That’s bona fide.” Traci said, lips twitching.
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” Kayden pursed his lips in affront then grinned. “Anyways, Mr. Jed likes us helping him. He gives us good jobs, and he pays us.”
Logan