Page 103 of The Last Second Chance
“Do we have to get dressed up?” Evan asked with concern.
“No, but everyone is required to wear pants,” Joey explained, enjoying Phoebe and Franklin’s discomfort.
“I like pants,” Aurora announced cheerfully.
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Between Joey, Jax, and Evan, they were able to lunge or ride ten of the more energetic mounts and run herd on Aurora. The girl never stopped. Joey made a note to herself to ask Gia if the kid walked and talked in her sleep.
Evan, on the other hand, turned out to be a huge help. He had all the makings of a good, solid horseman. His face had remained serious when she’d mentioned as much to him, but his ears turned pink with pride.
After the last pony was groomed and the aisle swept clean, they rounded up the dogs and started for the farmhouse. With two adults, two kids, and four dogs, it was easier to just walk. So they meandered down the plowed trail toward Carter’s house. It was a peaceful walk with Aurora chattering on about school and Princess and Grampa and Phoebe letting her stay up late.
Jax fell back from their group and Joey’s instincts were a split second too late. The snowball caught her in the shoulder just as she dodged to the left.
“We’re under fire!” she yelled to the kids. Evan responded immediately, scooping a fistful of snow and hurling it at Aurora.
“Hey!” Aurora yelled. She dug her mittened hands into the snow and scooped it like a shovel at Diesel who tried to eat the snow shower.
“We’re turning on each other,” Joey yelled. “We need to band together against the enemy!” She pointed at Jax who was building a snowball arsenal while they fought amongst themselves.
Her snowball hit Jax squarely in the chest. The battle raged fast and furious with snowballs flying in all directions. Aurora hit Joey in the side of the face with a tiny clump of snow while Evan outflanked Jax and hit him in the ass with a perfect shot.
They held their ground as long as they could, but Jax’s superiority in snowball production and delivery soon became clear.
“Fall back, troops,” Joey called and started to run toward the farmhouse. Aurora scampered in front of Joey and she picked the little girl up and tossed her into a snow bank.
“Run, Evan! He’ll go after the weakest one first,” Joey yelled over her shoulder. Evan laughed hysterically at his little sister trying to wiggle out of the snowdrift.
“Time out! I’m stuck!” Aurora giggled.
Jax pulled the little girl out by her feet and dumped a handful of snow on her head.
The dogs, energized by the heat of battle, raced ahead. Joey tripped over Diesel when he made an unexpected cut in front of her and Jax was on her before she could regain her feet.
He flipped her over and straddled her hips. “Who wants a face full of snow?”
“Joey does!” Evan snickered.
“I think Evan’s right. Joey looks like she wants a snow sandwich,” Jax agreed.
Joey wiggled hoping to dislodge him and when she realized she wasn’t getting out of a snow pie to the face, she braced for the blow.
Jax none-too-gently shoved two handfuls of snow into her face. Joey shrieked and brought her snow-filled hands up to smack Jax on both sides of the face. In a move so slick it looked like it had been planned, Evan jumped on Jax’s back and shoveled half a ton of snow down his collar.
Jax screamed like a girl. Aurora, not wanting to miss out on the fun, ran over and threw herself into the pile.
“Well fought, troops,” Joey said, spitting snow out of her mouth. “Well fought.”
They arrived at the farmhouse tired, cold, and still laughing. Phoebe took one look at them and banned them to the porch until she could gather towels and the changes of clothes she’d brought for the kids. Jax and Joey ended up in Summer and Carter’s sweats and all their wet clothes went straight into the dryer.
“How was your nap?” Joey teased Phoebe.
She smiled smugly. “We slept for almost two hours on the couches. It was so quiet, so peaceful,” Phoebe sighed. “Bless you for that.”
“I’m thinking you owe me some compensation,” Joey decided.
Phoebe’s gaze narrowed, calculating. “What’s it going to cost me?”
