“He just likes to explore,” Ty said in his son’s defense, then conceded, “He is quick as lightning though.”
“Imagine what it will be like when he starts walking.” As fast as their son disappeared now, that thought was enough to make Jessy shudder.
“What about Laura?” Ty countered. “Can you imagine Miss Priss toddling around the ranchyard? I’m still surprised she didn’t scream her head off when Dad took her for a horseback ride.”
“She actually liked it, didn’t she?” Jessy took comfort from that. “She smiled and laughed—and even patted the horse. Up to then
, I was beginning to wonder if she was really my daughter.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that.”
“I won’t, but the thought has crossed my mind a time or two.” Jessy relaxed against the seatback, smiling at the memories. But it wasn’t long before her uneasiness returned. “I still think it would be a good idea if we get home early. Just in case.”
“Not a chance.” Ty slowed the pickup as they approached an intersecting ranch road. “We aren’t going home until the cows do.”
“But—”
“No buts. It’s our anniversary, and we are going to do it up right. Okay?”
She looked at him for a long second, all of her instincts protesting the plan. Then everything smoothed out inside. “Okay,” Jessy agreed.
“What? No more arguments?” Ty eyed her skeptically.
“No more arguments,” she promised. “I just remembered something my mother told me when the twins were about a month old.”
“And what was that?”
“She said there were times to be a mother and times to be a wife. And I just realized this is one of those times to be a wife.”
“Wise woman.” Ty swung the pickup, making a right turn onto the intersecting road.
Jessy sat up, noting the change of direction. “What’s this? Are you taking a scenic route to town?”
“Something like that.” A smile tugged at a corner of his mouth, arousing her suspicions.
“Exactly where are we going, Ty Calder?”
“It’s a surprise.”
And one he was very pleased about, she could tell.
Within minutes, Jessy guessed their destination. “You’re taking me to the old Stanton cabin.” She gazed at the log structure’s low roofline, visible among the cottonwood trees that grew along the nearby riverbank. Years ago, she had lived in it when Ty was first married to Tara.
“Now if I was doing this right, you would be riding behind my saddle, just like you were the first time when you invited me in for coffee.”
“You remember.” She was moved by that.
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” Ty slowed the pickup as they approached the narrow track to the cabin. “This is where we fell in love.”
“It’s where you fell in love, maybe,” Jessy corrected. “For me, it was the calving sheds. I was about ten years old and you were sixteen.”
“That long ago.” Ty frowned in surprise. “You never told me that.”
“You never asked,” she replied with a fetching smugness.
The cabin’s driveway was little more than twin tire tracks with grass growing between them. Just as Jessy noticed the vehicle already parked beside the cabin, Cat came out the door.
Jessy cast an accusing glance at Ty. “What is this? A family conspiracy?”