I was able to put off moving her to the farm for a few days, but she started to fuss and I missed her like crazy. Plus, it was getting harder to come up with excuses to tell Wyatt. So, the following weekend I went to my parents’ house to pick up Alyssa and bring her to Wyatt’s.
“Do you think Wyatt will let me help on the farm?” she asked as she bounced in the seat on our way back to his place. I should have been thrilled she was so excited, but I knew it was only a matter of time before everything was going to fall apart.
“Maybe some of it. I don’t know about the cattle, but maybe the chickens and horses.”
“I can’t wait to see the horses.” She clapped her hands.
As I pulled up the drive, Jasper Long passed me in his truck, pulling a trailer. He gave me a friendly wave. I waved back, wondering why he’d been there. Perhaps Wyatt was working with him on a plan to deal with Stark.
As I reached the house. Wyatt was out front with a gray horse on a lead rope, brushing its coat.
“Mama, look! It’s so pretty,” Alyssa’s face was plastered to the window.
“Wait until I stop before you jump out.” I laughed at her excitement. It always filled my heart to see her not just happy, but joyful from deep in her soul.
I parked, and Alyssa scrambled out of the car.
Wyatt smiled. “Alyssa. Welcome.”
“Hi, Wyatt. That horse is so pretty.”
“This horse is actually a pony, but she is pretty, isn’t she?”
I came to stand next to Alyssa, who was vibrating with excitement. I knew she wanted to touch it, but she was exercising restraint.
“I thought ponies were smaller.”
“She’s only fourteen hands, which means technically, she’s a pony. Do you want to pet her?”
“Can I?”
“Of course. Come here.” Wyatt held out his arm to guide her to stand with him. “Put your hand out so she can smell you. That’s how she knows you’re okay.”
Alyssa tentatively held out her hand.
“It’s okay. She won’t bite. Then you can pet her on her nose or her neck.” He rubbed his hand down the pony’s nose and then her neck.
Alyssa followed suit. Her smile was heavenly. “Does she have a name?”
“Her name is Lilibud,” Wyatt said. “Do you want to sit on her?” Wyatt looked at me, presumably to ask if that was okay. I nodded.
“Can I?”
“Absolutely. Sinclair, can you hold this?” He handed me the lead rope.
“Don’t let go, Mama.”
“I won’t, baby.” I wished I had my phone out to capture this moment, but reminded myself it was better to watch in real time and not from behind a screen.
Wyatt picked her up and set her on Lilibud’s back.
“You can hold her withers here.” He showed her how to grip the ends of the mane.
“Look at me, Mama.”
“I see you, baby.”
Her smile was infectious. Wyatt looked at me as he came to get the lead rope again. His smile was nearly as wide as Alyssa’s.
The front door opened and Peggy walked onto the porch. “Oh, you’re here. And there’s Miss Alyssa. Look at you.”
“Alyssa, this is Wyatt’s mom.” I looked at her and then Wyatt, unsure as to what Alyssa should call her.
“You can call me Miss Peggy,” she said.
“Hi, Miss Peggy.” I was surprised Alyssa managed that as she was so completely enthralled with the horse.
“Do you like her?” Wyatt asked Alyssa.
“I do. So much.”
“Good. Because she’s yours.”
My jaw dropped.
Alyssa’s mouth gaped open. “Really?”
He nodded. “I just bought her from Jasper Long. I’m told she was Julie’s best teaching pony and I only buy the best for my gals.”
Alyssa looked at Wyatt like he was a God. “I’m one of your gals?”
He nodded. “Absolutely. I’ve got three of them now.”
I was once again overwhelmed with emotion; both good and bad. Gratitude and guilt. Love and self-loathing.
“But you’ll need to take care of her,” he said.
“I will. I promise.” She looked at me. “Mama, I’ve got a pony.”
“You do.” As Wyatt’s gift sunk in, I felt a little blindsided. This was something we should have talked about. What was going to happen when this marriage ended and I took Alyssa back to my parents or wherever we ended up? She’d hate me for taking her away from her pony.
“We should put her in her new home. Hold on and I’ll walk you over to the barn.”
“Oh my gosh,” she squealed as the pony followed Wyatt as he led it to the barn.
“She’s a lovely girl,” Peggy said as we watched them.
“Yes.”
“Wyatt means well.”
I looked at her, wondering what she meant.
“I’m a mother. I know the look when your partner does something that should be a joint decision. He just wants her to feel comfortable and be happy.”
“I know, it’s just…this is temporary.”
Sadness passed through Peggy’s eyes. She turned to look at Wyatt and Alyssa. “Even so, there’s no reason not to make the most of it.”
I supposed she was right.
A few minutes later, Alyssa came running full speed from the barn to me. “There’s a saddle for me too, Mama. And the bridle. And…” Her mouth was working faster than her brain.
“It sounds like you’re all set.”
Wyatt strode up to us.
“Thank you, Wyatt.” Alyssa threw her arms around him.
He jerked in surprise but then hugged her back. “You’re welcome, Alyssa.”
“How about some lemonade?” Peggy said.
“Yes please,” Alyssa said.
“You two can enjoy the porch while Wyatt and I get the drinks,” Peggy said, heading into the house. I wondered if she wanted Wyatt alone to tell her what I said about this being temporary.
Alyssa charged up the steps and sat in the porch swing. “Come on, Mama.”
So much for
