He kissed her on the cheek and moved off of her, sitting up and heading for the bathroom, adjusting his pants as he went. Lou straightened her clothes and looked at herself in the mirror before walking out of the room.
Brody walked into the kitchen a few minutes later to find Lou kneeling before Sarah, both of the child’s small hands clutched in her own larger ones. He heard her remind Sarah, “Now you be a good girl and listen to what Jeb and Sadie say. Stay out of trouble and mind your manners. Don’t get dirty every time you go outside. Try to stay clean for once.”
Tears hovered over Lou’s dark lashes like a dam ready to overflow. She blinked them back. Sarah said, “I promise to stay clean. I’ll say please and thank you and be a good listener.” She threw her arms around Lou’s neck and squeezed tightly. Lou squeezed back until the child yelped. “You’re hurting me, Mommy,” she grunted.
Lou loosened her hold and placed her on the floor. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
Sadie came to stand in front of Lou and said, “I’ll take care of her, but I’m still worried about you.”
“It’s okay,” Lou whispered to her loud enough Brody could overhear, “I have a plan. It’s all worked out. I just have to pay them what they think I owe them and we’ll be done with this.” She shrugged. “No big deal, really. As long as Sarah is safe, it will be just fine. Promise.” She kissed Sadie on the cheek and moved to embrace Jeb.
Sadie walked to stand in front of Brody. He grunted. “Why does she get lovely words of devotion and you look at me like I’m the cat that ate the canary.”
“Because I happen to know you, Brody, probably better than you know yourself. If my memory serves me correctly, you have never had to go out of your way to find trouble.” She leaned in and whispered, “Take care of her, please.”
“Why do you think I’m here?” he whispered back, a smile on his face.
John hugged them both as well and yanked Sarah’s ponytail. “I’ll miss you, Squirt.”
“I’ll miss you, too, John.” He squatted so she could climb on his back and he carried her out to the truck. Lou walked alongside them and buckled Sarah into her booster seat.
She stepped back and waved as the truck roared to life. Sarah turned around and waved all the way down the drive.
Lou placed her fingers over her mouth, trying to stifle the choking feeling that came with tears. Then she felt John’s strong arm around her shoulders as he pulled her into his chest. She pushed back at him with her hands. “No. No,” she said with confidence despite the tears that rolled down her face. “I can handle this.” She took a deep breath through her nose.
“Glad to hear it,” John said. “How about if you comfort me, instead?” She gratefully moved into his brotherly embrace, his strong arms around her shoulders, her arms clutching his waist.
Brody coughed loudly and dramatically from where he stood on the porch. They both looked up. “So, which one of you is going to make breakfast?”
Chapter Eighteen
John decided to forego the Lucky Charms and left to hit the local diner for a real meal while Lou and Brody talked over their bowls of marshmallow cereal and coffee.
“What are you going to do today?” Brody asked casually, his mouth full of cereal.
“I don’t have any plans. I have a book I want to start and I was thinking of taking a nap. I haven’t been sleeping well.” She rubbed her neck and flexed her muscles in an attempt to relieve the tension. She covered a yawn behind her hand as she placed her bowl in the sink. “But first I want to go out and see the new foal. Wester’s Fancy Lady finally delivered last night. We were starting to think that baby would never come.” She started walking toward the door.
Brody took another bite of cereal and laid down his paper. “Why don’t you wait a minute and I’ll walk with you?”
Lou took a deep breath. “I knew this was coming.” She pointed her finger at him. “Let’s get one thing clear. I do not need a babysitter.”
Brody smiled and raised his hands in mock surrender. “I just wanted to go and see the new foal, Lou. Not stay stuck up under you all day.” He waved his spoon at her and grinned. “Although that does sound like even more fun than seeing the foal.”
Lou groaned. “No pun intended, I’m sure,” she muttered. “I’m just going to the barn. Alone. I’ll be right back.”
“If you say so.” He motioned for her to continue.
Lou walked out the door and felt the cool morning breeze caress her face. Fall was approaching so the mornings were not stiflingly hot like summer mornings. The days still were just as warm so Lou was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
She walked into the barn and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the change of lighting. Each stall had a turn-out pen so the mares and foals could enjoy some time outside. Many of them nickered to her as she walked by their stalls.
Lou patted her shirt pocket. “No peppermint today, guys. Sorry.” She stopped by the barn fridge and picked up two thick, orange carrots and approached the stall of the new mom and foal. She quietly looked over the stall door and smiled when she saw Lady standing up, the babe suckling from her breast. The colt was steady on his feet and appeared to be pretty sturdy. Lou dared not walk into the stall with a colt so young, because she was unsure of how the mare would react. Instead, she reached over the top of the stall and offered Lady a carrot, crooning softly to her all the while. The horse greedily ate it with no signs of stress that could have been caused by Lou’s approach. She let Lou smooth her hand over the top of her head, comfortable and relaxed. Then she suddenly changed. Her ears were pinned back close against her head and she moved so she stood between the stall door and the baby.
“What’s the matter, girl?” Lou asked cautiously.
“Looks like her senses are keener than yours,” a masculine voice said from behind her.
Lou spun around quickly and jumped when she saw Wes, the former farm hand who helped to put up the hay, standing behind her in the barn. Lou walked backward until her back hit the wall. She jumped.