Page 56 of Forbidden Dreams
“Welcome back,” Emmett greets when we get close enough, moving toward us, but Wyatt stands by the fence, probably like he was instructed to do. “How was it?”
“Amazing,” Harmony states to Emmett, who stops by her side and holds out his hand to help her off the horse.
“Charlie just went to the house and said he’s waiting for you guys to join him.” He walks over to me now. “Even you.” He grabs the reins of the horse, and I get down.
“Thank you, I guess,” I mumble, and he laughs as I put my hand on Harmony’s lower back, moving her toward Wyatt.
“How was that?” she asks Wyatt, her voice as animated as he looks.
“Amazing!” he exclaims and then looks at me. “Sorry, Brady, but that was better than fishing.”
I laugh and nod at him. “No worries, buddy.” I ruffle his hair. “Let’s go get something to eat, yeah? You hungry?”
“Starving,” Wyatt blurts, as if he didn’t wolf down two sandwiches before we got here. “Charlie says I was born to ride.” He skips sideways beside us as we walk to the house. “And that I’m a natural.”
“He would know,” I tell him. “He’s been riding horses since he was two, I think.”
We walk up the steps, the front door is open and the storm door lets you see all the way down the hallway. I open the door and step in, kicking off my boots to the side and watching Wyatt do the same when Autumn comes out of the kitchen. “Hey, you guys.” Her voice is cheerful. “I just took the quiche out of the oven.”
“Smells delicious,” Harmony notes. “Is there somewhere we can wash our hands?”
“I’ll take them,” I tell Autumn as I turn down the hall to the bathroom. We wash our hands, and then I slip my hand in Harmony’s as I pull her down the hall toward the kitchen. The whole table looks like it’s overflowing.
“Oh my goodness,” Harmony states, “this is so much.”
“I wish I could say I did it all,” Autumn replies, “but I only did the quiche and the salad. Charlie’s great-grandmother sent over the rolls, and the chicken potpie is also not mine.”
“Where do I sit?” Wyatt asks, wanting to get the eating started.
“Wherever you want to, buddy,” Charlie urges, pulling out his own chair. Wyatt walks over and sits next to him and then looks at me. “You can sit here, Brady.” He pats the chair beside him. I walk over, pulling the chair beside me out so Harmony can sit down next to me.
“What do you want first?” I ask Wyatt as he looks around the table.
“Some potpie.” His eyes say that it’s his favorite, and then I pick up the salad. “Do I have to?” he whines, and I look over at Harmony to see what she is going to say, but I find her talking to Autumn about something.
“Nah,” I say, “there are veggies in the potpie.” I put the salad back down and turn to him.
“So how did you enjoy the horses today, Wyatt?” Autumn asks as she takes a bite of her quiche.
“It was the best,” he declares, shoveling in the potpie, even though steam is coming out of it. “I want to do it again.”
“We shall see,” Harmony says, picking up a roll for herself. “I have to call Mr. Mendelson later to make sure he’s okay.”
Autumn looks at me and we share a look. “He’s the caretaker for Wyatt when she works at night.” She nods at me. “He’s been sick for the past couple of days.”
“If you want,” Autumn offers, “we can watch him for you.”
Harmony’s eyes go big. “What?” she whispers, but Wyatt turns to her quickly.
“Mom, can I, can I? Please?” he pleads.
“Wyatt, I can’t just leave you here,” she explains to him. “Charlie works, and Autumn is carrying a baby.”
“It’s no trouble to us,” Charlie assures her, also shoveling food like he hasn’t eaten for five days. “He can help me out in the barn, and then, trust me, he’s going to crash by eight.”
“But—” Harmony starts.
Autumn looks at her. “Take the help when you can get it.” She takes a bite of her roll. “When I give birth to this child, I’m going to hand it off to anyone who wants to take it.”