Page 8 of The Widow's Dom

“She won’t stop until I apologize and say I won’t do it again.”

Janessa rolled her eyes. “What a baby.”

Shane snorted. “And then she’ll make me watch a chick flick with her.”

“Hey, I always make popcorn, don’t I?” Janessa asked.

Nick chuckled and went back-and-forth as the two argued, and he could tell they enjoyed it and loved and respected each other.

“Fine, we’ll talk later,” Shane said.

“Come over for spaghetti later. I’ll make your favorite dessert,” Janessa said.

“How about I bring a friend?” Shane asked.

“Sure. You know I’ll have enough.”

Shane snorted. “Yeah, because you cook for an army.”

“Really?” One of her brows lifted. “And don’t you like eating it for a few days and that I freeze some for you?”

“Yeah,” Shane said and grinned. “That’s true. Before you go, can you come and look at a mare? She was fine yesterday, but today she’s skittish as hell.”

“Sure.” Janessa dismounted and walked behind her son with the reins held loosely, but she didn’t seem to need them because both the horse and dog followed behind like loyal friends.

Nick stayed a few feet behind and watched. He tensed when she opened the stall and walked in because he could see the skittish animal. She went over the horse thoroughly before she walked back out.

“She’s bored,” Janessa said.

Shane laughed. “She hasn’t been in the paddock with the others for a few days.”

“Is there a reason you’re keeping her in?” Janessa asked.

“One of the other horses is picking on a few of the young ones. That’s why I have them in here because I’ll put up another area for the yearlings.”

“That’s smart. Call if you need help. In the meantime, get her a toy like the Boredom Breaker or something.”

“I have a few. I’ll just have to find them.” Shane followed her out.

“If you don’t, come get one at home.”

Nick walked over when she was ready to mount and lifted her into the saddle. She looked shocked at first.

“Thank you, Nick.”

“My pleasure. Be safe. Maybe slow down a bit.”

She nodded, waved to her son, whistled for the dog, and galloped off.

He turned to look at Shane. “She’s a handful, isn’t she?”

Shane laughed. “You have no idea. No one has been able to settle her down.”

“Not even your father?”

Shane shook his head. “No, but thank God he was easygoing most of the time. He’d go into his den and lock himself in when he’d get frustrated. It wasn’t much different from how he acted daily, except he locked her out. My dad wasn’t very social, so he’d come home from work and go straight to his den. We wouldn’t see him until he came to the dinner table, but he left to go back right after that.”

“Is she reckless with her safety?” Nick asked.

---