Mack had made progress here, but his stubborn temperament remained an issue. Kira had long ago learned that there were some problems not even the horses could remedy.
Today their outing would be the longest so far. They’d be riding up to a beautiful alpine meadow for a lunchtime picnic and getting back in time for dinner. Jake would be coming along to bring up the rear and lend an extra hand.
He joined the group at breakfast, looking fresh and well-rested. Kira knew he’d taken Dynamite out for an early-morning ride. As he took his seat, their eyes met across the table. They’d had precious little time together in the past few days, but his warm look told her nothing had changed between them.
“How’s the motorcycle coming along?” she asked.
He grinned. “Would you believe I finally got it running? Yesterday while the horses were out on the trail, I started it up and took it for a slow drive around the yard. It still needs fine-tuning and a lot more work, as well as new tires and new brakes. But those things will have to wait until I can afford them.”
“Wow, you finally did it!” Mack reached for the last strip of bacon.
“With a little help from you,” Jake said. “Too bad you won’t be here when it’s licensed and ready for the road.”
Paige, who’d been eating breakfast in the kitchen, wandered in to stand beside Kira. “Aunt Kira, can you walk up to the cairn with me now?”
Kira sighed. “Sorry, honey, I need to help get the horses ready for the trail ride. We can go tonight, when I get back.”
“But I want to go this morning.” Paige’s lower lip jutted. She turned toward Jake. “Can you go with me, Mister Jake? I’m not supposed to go by myself.”
Jake shot Kira a questioning look. Early on, they’d agreed that he shouldn’t spend time alone with his daughter, but a lot of things had changed since then.
“It’s all right—that is, if you don’t mind taking her,” Kira told him. “Since your horse is already saddled, you can join us when you’re done.”
Jake finished his coffee and half a piece of toast. “All right, Miss Paige, you’re in charge,” he said, pulling back his chair. “Lead the way.”
* * *
Jake followed the small figure across the yard to the foot of the hill. “We’ll need rocks,” she said, looking around. “Here’s a good one for me.” She picked up a flat, rust-colored chunk the size of her hand. “And there’s one for you.” She pointed to a larger stone. “It’s too heavy for me, but you can carry it fine.”
Jake picked up the stone, touched by his daughter’s amazing sense of purpose. This task had become all-important to her; and right now, nothing mattered more to him than the chance to share it. “Is this all we need?” he asked her.
“We’ll need more. But we can find them on the way.” Clutching her rock, she darted up the faint trail that had been worn among clumps of brittlebush, owl’s clover and Mexican poppy. Jake followed close behind, picking up extra stones as she pointed them out. This would be his first visit to the memory cairn. He’d made excuses, telling himself he was too busy to go. But the truth was, his few memories of his late mother-in-law were bitter. The woman had cursed him for getting her daughter pregnant and broken Wendy’s heart when she refused to attend the wedding or even acknowledge Paige’s birth.
But Paige didn’t need to know that. She was a happy little girl honoring her grandmother.
He reached the cleared circle a few steps behind her. The cairn the students had started was growing with the pebbles and small rocks that had been added every day. Following Paige’s example, Jake added one of the stones he’d brought, choosing a place where it would balance. That done, he was about to turn back, but caught sight of something else.
A few steps away from the cairn, but still inside the circle, was a miniature pile of stones—colored pebbles carefully stacked. “What’s this, Paige?” he asked her.
“This is a cairn I’m making for my mom.” Paige added two small rocks to the pile. “Do you want to help me, Mister Jake?”
Jake’s throat tightened. This was the last thing he’d expected, but he could hardly say no. As he took the rocks they’d gathered and helped Paige arrange the pile into a pyramid shape, he remembered Wendy—her flaming beauty, her laughter, her reckless passion. Wendy, who had given him this wonderful child. Wendy, who had lied, cheated and betrayed him in the cruelest way.
She was who she was, and nothing could change that, Jake reminded himself. It would be his choice to hate her for the rest of his life or to forgive her and move on.
His choice.
As he took each stone from Paige’s hand and placed it on the new cairn, he felt forgiveness, and healing, begin.
* * *
The narrow trail wound upward through the foothills above the ranch and into the heart of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Changing with the altitude, desert scrub gave way to mesquite groves, then to oak, juniper, cottonwood and Arizona sycamore. The morning was bright, the crystalline air musical with birdcalls.
With Kira leading on Sadie, the students rode single file. Their horses knew the trail and needed little guiding. The young riders were free to look around, enjoy the fresh air and spectacular scenery. Today they had made their own lunches, filled their canteens and packed their saddlebags with things a rider would need. If things went well today, the final event at the week’s end would be an overnight trip and a campout with their horses.
As they approached a bend in the trail, Kira glanced back along the queue of riders. Jake, who was bringing up the rear, gave her a hand sign. All okay back there—for now, at least.
They’d both been concerned about Mack, who seemed to be having one of his bad days. Back in the stable, while they were saddling up, Patrick had taken Mack’s usual bridle by mistake. Mack had yelled at the other boy. Kira had stepped between them just in time to avoid a nasty fight.