Sunrise Canyon (New Americana 1)

In the stable, he took a saddle, a pad and a bridle from the tack room, then walked down the row of stalls to the very last one. Dynamite nickered at his approach.

“Hello, old boy,” Jake said, opening the gate of the stall. “How would you like to take me for a nice morning ride?”

* * *

By the end of the outing, Dusty and Paige were tired, and even the students were winding down. But Kira was satisfied that the break from routine had been worth the time. They’d strolled through the historic section of town, touring the San Xavier Mission, visiting a craft market and enjoying a fiesta staged by a church group, featuring traditional food, music and dancing.

While Dusty rested on a bench in the plaza, she’d also given her students time to explore the shops, gardens and galleries.

As on their earlier trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, she made it a practice to watch how her students were interacting socially. There’d been some interesting changes. Most surprising was the friendship between Brandon and Heather. The two of them—opposites in many ways, but each an outsider—were walking apart from the group, talking earnestly. Had Brandon come out to the brash, attention-starved girl? That could be a good thing. Both of them needed support, and they appeared to be getting it from each other.

Faith and Lanie were hanging together, sporting identical French braids—also a good sign. Both girls needed friendship. Patrick and Calvin, who seemed to be getting along, were trailed by an unhappy-looking Mack. Of all her students, Mack worried Kira the most. Last night, after spending the afternoon with Jake, he’d appeared happier than she’d ever seen him. Today he looked as if he wanted to punch somebody.

Most of Kira’s students finished the horse therapy program with renewed self-esteem, empathy for others, and a heightened sense of responsibility. Nearly two weeks into the course, she could see that happening with most of these young people. But not everyone succeeded. Some went home for rule breaking. A few, with serious issues, needed more help than she could give them. Still others simply refused to cooperate. She was far from ready to chalk up Mack as one of her failures, but she needed a better way to reach the boy.

She was loading everyone into the Jeep when her cell phone rang. The caller was Consuelo.

“I wanted to let you know I was back,” she said. “I’ll have dinner ready by the time you get here.”

“Have you seen Jake?”

“He’s out in the shed, working on that bike. Do you want me to call him?”

“No, that’s fine. We’re just getting ready to leave, so we’ll be home soon.”

“Oh, one more thing,” Consuelo said. “I picked up the mail from the box on my way in. Mostly just bills and things. But there’s a letter addressed to Dusty. It looks like it’s from somewhere in Africa.”

At the mention of ?

?Africa,” a knot formed in the pit of Kira’s stomach. Her aunt Barbara—Dusty’s daughter and Wendy’s mother—was in Africa with her minister husband. There’d been little contact with them over the years, so why a letter now? What if it was bad news?

Maybe she should open the letter before giving it to Dusty, so she could prepare him for whatever it held. She’d never approved of opening other people’s mail, but the old man was fragile. An emotional shock could be dangerous to his health.

Thanking Consuelo, she ended the call. Dusty had settled in the passenger seat. He looked worn-out. He’d probably overdone it today. She would give him the letter after dinner, when he’d had a chance to rest.

After buckling Paige into her booster seat and making sure her students were safely belted in, Kira started for home. Everyone was tired. By the time they passed the outskirts of Tucson, Dusty had fallen into a doze, his silvery head drooping forward over his chest.

By the time they reached the ranch, it was getting dark. Kira pulled into the yard and let her students out of the Jeep, so they could wash up in their cabins and come back to the house for dinner. Dusty had awakened. He yawned, climbed stiffly to the ground and headed for the front porch.

Paige, still in her booster seat, was fast asleep. Kira had climbed out, opened the side door and was unbuckling the straps when she felt someone behind her.

“Let me carry her inside for you,” Jake said, close to her ear.

She stepped aside to let him scoop Paige out of the seat and lift her in his arms. Roused by the motion, Paige opened her eyes, looked up at Jake with a sleepy smile and drifted off again.

Kira saw his jaw tighten, saw his throat move as if gulping back emotion. She moved with him into the house, holding the door so he could pass through with his precious bundle

In Paige’s room, Kira turned down the bed and pulled off Paige’s sneakers. For now, the soft leggings and tee she wore would do for her to sleep in. Jake eased her onto the bed. As he slipped his hands away, Kira pulled up the covers and tucked them around her.

They stood for a moment, looking down at the child they both loved. Jake’s arm stole around Kira’s waist and pulled her close to him. How would it feel, she wondered, to be a real family, sharing moments like this every night?

The mood was shattered by the sound of Dusty’s raised voice from the living room. “Where did this letter come from, Consuelo? How long has it been here?”

With a moan of dismay, Kira tore herself away from Jake and rushed back down the hall.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kira had planned to wait for the right time before giving the letter to her grandfather. Now it was too late. By the time she reached the living room, Dusty had torn open the exotically stamped envelope and unfolded the single handwritten page.