For Keeps by Rachel Lacey

Author:Rachel Lacey [Lacey, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
ISBN: 9781455582129
Google: 8dyroAEACAAJ
Amazon: B00K5UNVD8
Barnesnoble: B00K5UNVD8
Goodreads: 22046597
Publisher: Forever
Published: 2015-01-27T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

T.J. blew out a breath. Halfway through the third week of camp, the kids were all doing well for the most part. He was the one having a problem. He was frustrated, driven halfway out of his mind by the ongoing friction between him and Merry, Noah’s increased moodiness, and having a dog underfoot every damn minute in his own house.

He was ready for camp to end. Ready to get his simple, orderly life back.

Except that he wasn’t. He had a feeling nothing would be the same once they all left, once his farm was quiet and empty again.

He needed a nice long ride on Tango after camp today. They’d take a trail ride through the woods, let the peace and quiet reset both of their systems. Necessary stress relief.

Peaches was back in the ring today and thrilled to be carrying Lucy. Pat led her, while Savannah and Madison walked on either side. T.J. walked behind, leading Parker on Twilight. The boy seemed to find his center on a horse, calm and focused.

“All right, now,” Pat said. “I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on feeling the horse move underneath you.”

T.J. glanced up at Parker. The boy sat, eyes closed, both hands on the saddle horn, but his posture was relaxed. They walked a full length around the arena, while Pat had them focus on each part of their body individually, their legs, their shoulders, their arms, their necks. Then he asked them to open their eyes.

“Feels different when you can’t see, doesn’t it?” he asked.

“Kind of cool,” Parker said.

Next, Pat had them extend their arms out to the side, learning to center their bodies over the saddle while increasing balance and muscle tone.

Both kids remained quiet and engaged. Confident. Everyone in camp had made great progress except Noah. Which frustrated the hell out of T.J.

He’d seen Merry spending extra time with him, and he wanted to know what they’d been talking about. So far, she hadn’t volunteered anything, despite her promise to keep him in the loop where his nephew was concerned.

After lessons, the kids helped hose off Peaches and Twilight, then put them in the pasture to graze with Tango. T.J. had given Merry two more riding lessons last week. She was holding her own, still timid but solid in the saddle. Maybe he’d invite her to join him and Tango for a ride after camp, give Twilight a much-needed break from the monotony of lessons, and see if he could get any information out of her about Noah.

And of course, the chance to see Merry on his horse again. There was always that.

He found her in the barn with Ralph, the kids crowded around her.

“Your turn, Jules,” she said.

T.J. stood in the doorway, watching.

Jules stepped up to Ralph. “Ralph, sit.” Her voice was clear and strong.

“Stay,” she said, holding out her right hand. She stepped backward, focused on the dog as she walked away from him. “Stay,” she repeated before she turned her back, walked to the grain room, then turned and called Ralph to her.

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