A Forever Kind of Love (Kinds of Love 1)

Mia was off her horse and hugging the boy as fast as she could move. Grayson shook like a leaf in her arms. The mare was frothing at the mouth, so Carter took her and walked her. He spoke low, soothing words as he let Mia take care of Grayson.

“Are you okay?” Mia asked, her hands checking him for any sign of injury. He had managed to stay on the mare the entire time, so it only looked like he was just terrified rather than hurt.

“I don't wanna ride anymore,” he whispered, burying his head into her shoulder. He started to cry, the shock of what happened finally hitting him. Mia just held him and rocked back and forth.

When his breathing finally came back to normal, he sat up and wiped his eyes. His little face was blotchy and his eyes swollen with tears.

“I want to go home,” Grayson whimpered. His hands held onto her shirt like the ground might take off running like the mare did and Mia was the only solid thing in his world.

“Okay,” Mia told him. She wiped the tears from his cheeks and helped him stand up.

Home was a long way away. They'd ridden the horses quite a distance, but if Grayson wanted, she was ready to walk them all the way home, even if it took until dark. She looked out at the long path back and chewed on her lip.

“How about you ride with me for a bit?” Carter asked, coming up beside them guiding the horses with him. He'd tied Grayson's mare to walk behind his horse. The mare looked exhausted and somehow embarrassed as well. “It's a long walk otherwise. Do you think you're safe with me?”

Grayson looked up at him and nodded. “You saved me.”

Carter smiled and squeezed his shoulder. “I'll get up first, and then Mia will help you up. You'll sit in front of me.”

Carter swung up into his saddle in a smooth motion and then made sure there was space for Grayson. With Carter's help, Mia lifted Grayson up and helped settle him in Carter's protective arms. Carter looked at ease, but Mia could see in his eyes that he wasn't going to let anything happen to that boy. She'd never seen someone look so determined and protective at the same time.

“You comfortable?” Carter asked Grayson. Grayson made sure that Carter's arms were tucked firmly around him before he nodded. He looked far less afraid with Carter holding him in place.

Carter nudged his horse into a slow walk. Grayson gripped the saddle pommel with one hand and Carter's arm with the other. The worry crept back into his face.

“You doing okay, Grayson?” Mia asked, walking alongside them with her hand on Grayson's leg. Carter led his horse in the direction of Mia's gelding.

“Carter will keep us safe, right Carter?” Grayson turned to look back at Carter.

“Super safe,” Carter promised. He gave Grayson a small hug. “Nothing will happen. I promise.”

Grayson nodded and gave Mia a weak grin.

“You did great, Grayson,” Carter told him. “I'm really impressed. The first time that happened to me, I fell off in an instant. I landed in a bush.”

“A bush?” Grayson turned to look at him.

Carter nodded. “A prickle bush. I was pulling prickles out of my hair for weeks.” He pretended to pull something out of his hair while making a goofy face. Grayson giggled.

“You should get your horse, Mia.” Carter nodded toward her gelding. “I've got him.”

Mia gave Grayson's leg a gentle squeeze, not wanting to let go of her kid just yet. But, if they were to get home, she needed to be mounted as well. It took two tries to get up in the saddle this time, and her face was blazing as she finally settled herself.

Carter didn't say a word about it as they walked their two horses back to where Laura was keeping Alexander and Lily occupied.

“Are you okay?” Lily asked as soon as they got close. Worry and concern filled her face. “Laura said we needed to stay here.”

“She was right. You did good waiting,” Carter told her. Relief filled Lily's face. She'd been the caretaker for her younger brothers until Mia had come along. Lily was used to taking care of them, so being told to stay away would have been hard for her.

Mia brought her horse alongside Lily and patted her leg. Lily gave her a small smile.

“What happened anyway?” Alexander asked. He still looked worried for his little brother.

Carter shrugged. “She saw something and spooked.”

“What did she see that scared her that bad?” Lily asked, glancing around at the meadow like something might jump out at them.

“Sweetness doesn't like snakes,” Laura replied. “If she thought she saw one, she might have bolted.”