LITMIR.BIZ

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a palm over Jayden’s back.

      “He gave us a dollar to sit by the fence he painted and make sure it dried.” Kayden shrugged. “But that got boring so we left. Then we couldn’t find him.”

      Amy laughed. “Well, that’s his loss.”

      Jayden tugged at Amy’s wrist. “Are you a bone-a-fine cowgirl, Aunt Amy?”

      She smiled down at him. “I don’t know. Depends on who you ask. Everyone has their idea of one. Do you think I’m one?”

      “Yep.” Jayden grinned. “That’s how come you can whoop any horse into shape.”

      “Yeah and Uncle Dominic said you can beat anyone on a horse,” Kayden said, flashing a sly look at Logan. “Said you used to beat Uncle Logan every time y’all raced.”

      Logan narrowed his eyes at Kayden. “Not every time. I won on occasion.”

      “Sometimes, but not often,” Amy said, laughing.

      Jayden’s eyes widened with excitement. “Are you gonna race Uncle Logan today?”

      Amy’s laugh tapered off and she glanced back at the round pen. “I don’t have time for a race. I need to work with Thunder some more.”

      The shadows returned to her eyes and her expression fell.

      Logan shook his head. “Not a good idea. You’ve been at it long enough.”

      “But—”

      “No buts. Jayden has a good point. You need a break and so does Thunder. I think a ride is a great idea.” Logan pulled at Jayden’s belt loop, pausing to unwind the boy’s arms from around Amy’s legs with a chuckle. “Let your aunt Amy go, buddy. She’s already taken.”

      Jayden frowned. “Who’s takin’ her somewhere?”

      Logan returned Amy’s grin. “Me.”

      Kayden sprang down from the fence, ran over and stood beside his brother. Both boys put their hands on their hips and narrowed their eyes up at Logan.

      “Where you takin’ her?” Kayden asked.

      “For a ride on a horse,” Logan said.

      “How far?”

      “Far.”

      The boys pondered that, their wide blue eyes moving from him to rest on Amy.

      “You wanna go with him?” Kayden asked.

      Amy smiled and nodded.

      Jayden huffed, jutting his chin out at Logan. “You better bring her back.”

      “I will,” Logan murmured, body tightening at the warmth in Amy’s green eyes. Her throat moved on a hard swallow and she looked away. “I promise.”

      “Hey.” Kayden darted off and yanked at Dominic’s jeans. “Is it time for the bonfire yet?”

      Logan grinned at the excitement gleaming in Amy’s eyes. Every year, Raintree kicked off the week of Christmas with a special celebration for family and guests. The night consisted of tasty treats, games for the kids, lighting the large cypress tree behind the main house, and a big bonfire.

      Every child on the ranch received an ornament, painted their name on it and hung it on the tree. Then, the bonfire would be lit to make sure Santa had a clear view of all the names. Pop used to say the bonfire was Raintree’s way of getting the Nice list to Santa.

      Logan shook his head. He’d never been conned into believing it. But as children, Dominic and Amy had. The flames had burned so bright and high they had believed the message reached all the way to heaven.

      Logan remembered how excited Amy had always gotten over the annual Christmas bonfire as a kid and her joy for it had never diminished. It’d been years since she’d been home for one.

      “Not yet,” Dominic said. “Needs to be good and dark first, then Uncle Logan will get it lit.”

      “Can we light the bonfire, Uncle Logan?” Kayden asked.

      Logan suppressed the shudder sweeping through him. It wouldn’t take the twins more than ten seconds with a match to send Raintree up in flames.

      “No,” he said. “I think it’s best to leave that to the grown-ups.”

      Dominic winked and nudged Kayden’s chin with a knuckle. “Uncle Logan lights it every year. We don’t want to break tradition, do we?”

      Kayden frowned but shook his head.

      “How ’bout we go in for some hot chocolate?” Dominic suggested. “Traci and I will get you fixed up with some marshmallows. After that, we can help Mr. Jed and the rest of the hands get the wood stacked for the bonfire.”

      The boys squealed at that. Jayden ran over and tugged at Traci’s arm.

      “Can I get the big marshmallows this time? I don’t like the small ones.”

      Traci hopped down off the fence and took Jayden’s hand in hers. “They both taste the same, Jayden.”

      “No, they don’t.”

      “If Jayden gets the big ones then so do I,” Kayden grumped.

      “Rein it in, Kayden, or you won’t get any marshmallows.” Dominic scooped Kayden up and settled him atop his shoulders, holding his hands as he started walking across the field.

      Jayden scampered after his brother and Dominic, pulling Traci behind him and hollering over his shoulder, “You better bring Aunt Amy back, Uncle Logan. You promised.”

      “Keep it quiet when we get inside, boys,” Dominic said. “Your aunt Cissy’s probably still napping.”

      Their Yes, sirs faded into the distance.

      “You don’t want to ride, Dom?” Amy called.

      Dominic twisted, tossing a dimpled grin over his shoulder. “Nah, I’ve had my share of riding. I want to check on Cissy.”

      The group ambled off toward the main house.

      “He’s changed.” Amy stared after Dominic as he made his way across the field.

      “Yeah,” Logan said. “Took a while, but he finally decided to settle down. Cissy and the boys had a lot to do with that.”

      She glanced at him. “Does he still compete at rodeos?”

      “No.” Logan shook his head. “The last time he rode a bull was over a year ago. He talks about starting up that bull-riding clinic but he’s been preoccupied with preparing for the babies lately. When it comes to Cissy, those bulls don’t stand a chance with Dom.”

      Amy looked back at Dominic making his way up the wide, front porch steps, Kayden on his shoulders and Jayden at his side. “He left the circuit for her?”

      Her lips barely moved over the quiet words. Logan’s chest tightened at the air of yearning that surrounded her. That familiar wistfulness was in the stillness of her body and the features of her face. It was an air that had clung to her over the years. One he’d first seen shining in her eyes when she’d kissed him by that oak tree all those years ago.

      “She’s his wife.” Logan moved close, touching her jaw and bringing her face back to his. “A man stays with his family. That’s the way it should be.”

      Her eyes dropped and her resigned half smile hit him hard in the gut.

      Heaven help him, he missed her. Missed them. He wanted to rebuild their friendship and remind her of who she used to be before her spirit was broken. Return that sweet look of wistfulness to her face and feel it warm his skin when she looked at him.

      You better bring her back.

      Logan smiled. Jayden was on to something, all right. And that was exactly what he was gonna

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