Page 16 of Winter Memories

No fucking way.

The smile that grows on Eden’s face is so bright it’s fucking blinding. She leans closer to Macklin and wipes his face off with a damp cloth. “What do you think, Mack? Do you want to go with Fletcher next door? He has horses on his ranch,” her voice goes up and she shoots me a look like she’s asking if we still have horses more than telling Macklin.

“We have the best horses in the entire state,” I drop my voice a little like I’m sharing a secret with Macklin.

His eyes go big and round as he breathes out, “Horses?”

When I nod, he squeals and gives a sharp look toward Eden like he’s annoyed to still be sitting in his highchair instead of being set free. Eden pulls the tray away and then gets him out.

“Well, it sounds like we need to go and get dressed,” Eden teases her son.

I breathe a little easier knowing she’s going along with step one of my plan without even realizing it. My only goal is to have her, and Macklin, in my life permanently. I won’t let her go this time.

What she doesn’t know, what no one ever knew, was I had bought her a ring all those years ago. I figured I was either going to ask Eden to marry me or I was going to set her free when I visited her in Rhode Island. The ring is in the drawer of my bedside table; it’s haunted me, but I couldn’t get rid of it.

When we get to the point that I’m slipping my ring on her finger, which will be sooner rather than later if I have anything to say about it, she deserves something better than what I was able to afford at 20.

It doesn’t take long for Eden and Macklin to walk back into the kitchen. Edith was kind enough to give me a cup of coffee and chat while I was waiting. My breath hitches when Eden steps back in the room, but I can’t fully appreciate how damn good she looks because Macklin runs straight to me and climbs up into my lap.

“I’m ready to go see your horses, Fletcher.”

I stand up with him in my arms and the way he snuggles against me feels so fucking right. I have to swallow down the wave of emotion trying to take me under. Everything about him radiates joy. When I glance at Eden her eyes are bright and shining with unshed tears.

With my free arm, I wrap it around her shoulders after she grabs a bag overflowing with things she might need and tuck her against my side as I lead her out to my truck. Even though I’m trying to not get ahead of myself, I can’t help but feel like these two are my family.

“Oh,” Eden exclaims, “I need to grab Mack’s seat out of my car.”

“I’ll grab it,” I tell her before turning my truck on remotely and helping her slide into the front seat. I plop Macklin downon her lap, not wanting him to get too cold, and hold my hand out to her. She looks down at my hand and then at me like she’s confused. “Really, Eden, I’ll get it. I promise.”

I know why she’s hesitating. She’s had to do it all on her own for a while now. Relying on someone else isn’t something she’s used to, but she can rely on me.

After she hands over her keys, getting the car seat moved over doesn’t take long and I pay very careful attention to how it’s attached as I take it out of her car. It’s a little nerve wracking installing it into my truck because the need to ensure my little family is healthy and safe is riding me hard.

Once everything is buckled in and doesn’t move even the slightest bit, I get Mack buckled in and I slide behind the wheel. It only takes a few minutes to drive back to Limitless. I point out a few changes as I drive closer to the barn. It’s cold outside and I don’t want Macklin to get too cold.

I hustle the pair inside the barn, glad that Huxley has already finished taking care of the horses. I’m sure if he’s in the house then he’s plastered his face to a window to be the nosey bastard he is. But I can’t find it in me to care as I lead Macklin and Eden around the barn and introduce a very excited little man to all the horses.

Eden gasps and when I look up at her, there are tears in her eyes and she’s staring at a horse. She sounds bewildered and surprised, “Buttercup?”

I chuckle and lead Macklin to where Eden has rushed toward the queen of the ranch. If you thought there would be a beautiful reunion between the two, you’d be wrong. Buttercup lets out a huff and then pulls her head back into her stall and turns away from where Eden is standing.

“Buttercup,” Eden’s voice is thick, but the horse doesn’t even acknowledge her, “I’m sorry for leaving you all these years. I wish I didn’t do that. I wish I could have come home sooner. I’m sorry, sweet girl. I missed you.”

Buttercup eyes Eden warily but makes no move to step closer. I’m not surprised, out of all the horses she’s the one who can hold a grudge like no other. Normally, it’s a little funny, but the pain on Eden’s face wipes away any amusement I might feel about the stubborn horse.

“Hi, Buttercup,” Macklin’s voice breaks the sad tension between the horse and my woman. Buttercup jerks slightly and then lifts her head over the wall of the stall before looking between Macklin and Eden.

Eden’s hands grip her son’s small shoulders, and she clears her throat. “Buttercup,” she begins, a waver in her voice, “this is my son Macklin. Macklin,” she gives his shoulders a squeeze, “this is the best horse I’ve ever known, Buttercup.”

Buttercup lets out a chuff, one which could be filled with annoyance or acceptance. I’m not even sure at this point and I know these horses well. She lowers her head until Macklin can reach up and press his small hand against her nose. He starts murmuring soft words to her, too low for me to hear, but I watch as the horse relaxes.

Eden doesn’t push it; she steps back and lets them bond with tears in her eyes. She melts into me when I wrap an arm around her shoulders and tuck her into my side. There’s a tremor in her voice as she watches the scene in front of us, “Why did you bring us here?

I bury my face in her caramel-colored hair and breathe in her apple and cinnamon scent for a moment. It’s intoxicating and I’ve missed it so damn much.

“Because,” I murmur softly so only she can hear me, “this is what I want. You here. Macklin here. I want you both to be comfortable here. I know it might not make a lot of sense to anyone else, but when has that ever mattered to us? I knew the moment I kissed you last night that I’m all in.”

“I don’t know what to say,” she whispers, an edge of panic in her voice.

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