Page 2 of More Than a Helping Hand

I go back to my room, take off my jean shorts and T-shirt, and get into my drab scrubs. Some nurses wear cute colorful cartoon characters on their scrubs. Me? Mine are gray. The upside is that they pair well with my gray shoes.

* * *

I breathea sigh of relief when I get to the barn and Parker’s truck is the only one there. He’s great with Bailey, but I still worry about her. She’s always been unique, but things got worse after what happened with my late husband. It’s been more than a year, and there hasn’t been any improvement.

Bailey scrambles out of her booster seat, shrugs on her backpack, then picks up her box of cacti. Carefully, I pick up the tote and carry Fred inside.

“Behave for Uncle Parker, okay?”

She peeks around the side of the barn into the side pasture. “Do horses eat hair?”

“Not if you keep your hair far away from them.” I haven’t the slightest clue what horses will and won’t eat, but my answer seems to satisfy her. “Ready?” With a hand on the door, I wait until she nods before sliding it open.

A boy, who looks a bit older than Bailey, waves. “Hello. I’m Mason. I help Parker with the horses.”

She’s usually fine with other children, but I hold my breath anyway.

Bailey cocks her head and studies the kid. Then she sticks out her free hand. “I’m Bailey. I’m a little afraid of horses because they’re big.”

After shaking hands, Mason shoves his in his pockets. “These horses are well-trained. I’ll teach you everything you need to know about staying safe around them.”

“Cool.” Bailey hands me the box with the mini plants in it. “Bye, Mom. Mason is going to show me the horses.” She turns to Mason and hooks a thumb over her shoulder toward me. “That’s my mom.”

Mason waves again. “Hi. I won’t let anything bad happen to her. Parker is in the corral, but he’ll be back super quick. Come on, Bailey, I’ll show you around a little.”

“Thanks, Mason.” I wait until they walk around the barn and disappear from view. Then I carry Bailey’s prickly treasures into the barn and set them on a bench. “Parker?”

“Hey!” He pokes his head in a side door. “Where’s Bailey?”

“Mason is going to show her around. Hopefully you know the kid. Otherwise, I just royally messed up as a parent.”

“Who’s Mason?” Parker waits half a second before winking. “Mason’s great. He’s in the barn nearly every day during the summer. His dad is one of the ranch hands. They live here on the ranch.”

“Y’all are just one big happy family out here, it seems.” I’m careful not to sound grumpy when I say it.

My brother and I grew up in the same house with the same amazing parents. It was an idyllic childhood. He’s managed to carry some of that amazingness into adulthood. I have messed up repeatedly. But it’s not for lack of trying. Now I’m only trying to be a mom. I’ve given up on romance. Because Bailey deserves amazingness even if I don’t.

Parker laughs. “It’s pretty great. Bluebonnet and I are looking at land near here, and the idea of not living on the ranch makes us a little sad.”

“I hope y’all find the perfect spot.” I point at the stuff on the bench. “Her newest fascination is cactus. Or cacti. Whatever. But be careful because she brought them with her.”

“Gotcha. Consider me warned. And when I’m done here, I’ll just take her back to my place or to the mess hall.”

“Right. Let me grab her booster seat.” While she’s itching for the day she can stop using the booster, I insist because, like her mom, she’s on the short side. And I want her safe. Always.

I set it in the barn, wave, and then head to work. The whole way, I keep telling myself that the extra pay is worth all the trouble.

And I worry about Bailey. I hope she does okay around the horses.

CHAPTER2

ANDERSON

Helping my sister buy a new car went more smoothly than I anticipated, so Parker won’t have to handle the rest of the day alone. I shouldn’t say alone. Mason is probably around, helping. And honestly, the kid has learned a lot and is a big help.

I park outside the barn, pocket my keys, and stride toward the door.

Mason runs out the door and past me, waving. “Ava needs my help. Bye.”

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