Page 9 of Sweet Surprise

Tossing his artwork to one side, Mason bounced on the bed. “I love butter cookies.”

Surprise registered clearly on Carson’s face. “Me too.”

On his feet, Mason came to a stop at Carson’s side, his gaze settling on his mother. “Coming?”

“Almost done here. You two go on and I’ll be down in a second, but save me some chocolate chips.”

“Sure thing.” Mason grinned and spun about to face Carson. “Last one downstairs is a rotten egg.”

Before Carson could say yay or nay, the kid had taken off running down the hall. Her mouth open, she was all set to reprove her son for running in the house when Carson, laughing now, waved her off and took off after their son. Great. Now she was going to have to corral not one but two kids.

In only a few hours, the world simply had to have tilted on its axis. That was the only possible explanation Carson had for why he was sitting in his mother’s kitchen with a nine year old son and upstairs unpacking was the one woman he’s never been truly able to forget.

“What’s your favorite subject?”

Without hesitation, Mason mumbled, “Math” around the bite of another cookie.

His mom, on the other hand, hadn’t stopped smiling and was already working on another batch of butter cookies. This kid might go home weighing an extra twenty pounds if the Sweet matriarch kept baking like this.

“Oh, my.” Glancing at her watch, Carson’s mom stepped away from the bowl of batter and quickly washed her hands. “It’s time to check on the calves.”

“Calves?” Mason looked up.

“We have two rejected calves in the birthing barn. Garret tried getting one of the mom’s who lost a calf to adopt them, but it didn’t work. Now they have to be bottle fed. Would you like to come with me?”

“Can I?” Excitement gleamed in the young boy’s eyes.

“Of course.” His mother tipped her head toward the back door for Mason to follow her. Another moment later the screen door slammed shut behind them and the two were darting toward the barn like a couple of wayward children.

“Where did Mason go?” Jess appeared behind him.

“He and Mom are in the barn with the new calves.”

“Is that okay?” Her gaze darted from him to the kitchen door and back. “I mean, I don’t want him to bother your mother.”

Jillian was the first to laugh. “The way she walked out of here giggling like a nine year old herself? Doubt it.”

“Oh. Well. Maybe I should go check. Just in case.”

“Sure.” Carson pushed away from the wall. “I’ll show you.”

To his surprise, when he took a step forward, Jess took a step back. “No. Thank you. Just point me in the direction of the barn and I’m sure even this city girl can find the broad side of it.”

Not sure why she didn’t want him to accompany her, he simply nodded and pointed. “Follow the path, it’ll be pretty obvious.”

“Thought so.” She smiled and quickly turned to hurry after her son.

The door closed behind her and Rachel spun around. “Okay, spill. What’s going on here?”

“Let’s take this into the study.” Garret pushed to his feet. “I’ll call Preston.”

The sound of stomping boots on the back porch filled the kitchen. All the siblings looked up to see Preston brushing his boots while holding his wife’s hand.

“Not bad timing.” Garret turned on his heel and walked away.

“Who’s the kid on the way to the barn with Mom?” Preston hung his hat on the nearby rack.

“We’re heading to the study to find out.” Jillian spun around and followed her youngest brother, her sister on her heels.

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