Part 44 (2/2)
”I'm ashamed to say I don't know what that is,” Kate said.
”It's the use of horses and horseback riding to help people with a variety of disabilities. Teaching them to ride horses helps them to overcome a number of challenges and gives them a sense of satisfaction and self-worth. I took a cla.s.s on it in college.”
”I thought that was only a horseback-riding cla.s.s,” Jill said.
”It was a therapeutic horseback-riding cla.s.s,” Maggie said, sticking her tongue out at her sister.
”And here I thought you were looking for three easy credits,” Clare said, sharing a smile with her youngest daughter.
”It's a really intriguing idea, Mags. Reid and Ashton board horses here that mostly belong to their friends, but I bet we could include them in our program. Somehow.”
Kate took a good look around the room that used to be Reid's bedroom, where they'd spent so much time together the first time around. Back then everything had been difficult and unsettled. Now the path ahead stretched before them filled with promise and joy. She couldn't wait to get back to him. As she had that thought, the floor swayed beneath her feet, and she reached out to grab hold of the wall.
”Kate?” Her mother rushed over to her. ”What is it?”
”Nothing. I just felt dizzy for a second there.”
”Sit down,” Maggie said, directing Kate to a chair.
Clare felt Kate's head for fever. ”You're pale as a ghost.”
Kate met Jill's gaze above their mother's head.
Jill tipped her head as if encouraging Kate to tell the others her news.
”Do you think you're coming down with something?” Clare asked. ”I'd hate for you to be sick for your own wedding.”
”I'm coming down with a baby,” Kate said. ”In about seven months.”
Maggie let out a shriek and hugged Jill.
”Why didn't you say something?” Clare asked, still squatting before Kate.
”I was going to after the wedding. I figured we'd take it one step at a time.”
”Oh, honey, such wonderful news,” Clare said, hugging her. ”But you're really going to make me a grandmother? Aidan will have a field day with this.”
Kate and her sisters laughed at their mother's dismay.
”I'm kidding,” Clare said. ”Congratulations. I'm so thrilled for you. I wasn't sure you wanted to be a mom.”
”I wasn't either, until I was back with Reid. Then it was all I wanted-along with him, of course.”
”Are you feeling all right? In general?” Clare asked.
”The nausea has been tough and the dizziness is new, but other than that, I feel great. Oh, and my b.o.o.bs. They hurt sometimes.”
”Mine hurt with all three of you,” Clare said.
”Ewww,” Maggie said to laughter from the others.
They waited until they were sure Kate was feeling better before they left the house to take her home to nap. Under normal circ.u.mstances, Kate would protest that plan. But right now, a nap sounded like heaven.
Chapter 18.
Snow began to fall around three o'clock on Christmas Eve. Reid watched the darkening sky with a growing sense of anxiety. His first wife had been killed in a snow-related car accident. He wanted Kate home, and he wanted her home now.
He was about to call her when Jack walked into the stables, where Reid had been mucking stalls as an excuse to stay away from the house while Kate, her sisters and mother were out.
The kids had been playing football all afternoon, while others took long walks or watched Christmas movies or helped with the baking going on in the kitchen. Everyone seemed happy, or at least it seemed that way to him.
He eyed Jack cautiously, never sure what to say to him. ”Feel like a ride, Jack?”
”No, thanks. Horses were never my thing. The girls have been crazy about them since they were little. Especially Kate.”
”She's an amazing rider.”
From his stall, Thunder whinnied, seeming to approve of Reid's a.s.sessment. ”That'd be Thunder-her horse. He knows her name and always has something to say when he hears it.”
Jack walked down the row of stalls to make Thunder's acquaintance.
”That's Kate's daddy, boy. Be nice.”
Thunder stood perfectly still as he and Jack sized each other up.
Reid produced a couple of sugar cubes from his pocket and handed them to Jack. ”b.u.t.ter him up.”
”Thanks.” Jack held out his hand with the sugar resting on his palm.
Thunder never blinked as he scooped up the sugar with his tongue.
”I think he likes you,” Reid said.
”That's good.” Jack turned to face him but didn't say anything.
Reid continued to rake, refusing to be cowed in his own home. ”Something on your mind, Jack?”
After another long silence, Jack said, ”I'm never, ever going to introduce you as my son-in-law.”
Reid stopped raking and tightened his lips to hold back laughter he knew Jack wouldn't appreciate. ”Fair enough. As long as you don't expect me to introduce you as my father-in-law.”
”Please don't.”
Reid finally gave in to the need to laugh and was relieved when Jack joined him. ”I'm glad we got that resolved.”