As they neared, the beam of their flashlights revealed the nervous mare focused on the pond. Surely her foal hadn’t drowned.
They pulled their horses up close to her and dismounted.
“It’s me girl.” Ross patted her flank. “We’re here to help.” He shined his flashlight into the pond. The foal was in the edge of the pond, head far above water, but obviously cold and exhausted. “I think he’s stuck.”
“Loop this around your waist, so you don’t get stuck too.” Dad threw him his rope and secured the other end to his saddle horn.
Ross pulled the lasso down over his shoulders and tightened it around his waist. “Hey Rust. I’m coming to help you boy.”
The mare shuffled her feet, whinnied.
“It’s okay girl, we’ll get him home.” Ross’s boots sucked into the wet mud as he neared the pond. No wonder the foal got stuck. “Hey guy, let me help you out of there.”
He stroked the foal’s face, then wrapped his arms around the shivering middle. With a good tug, he pulled the foal’s hooves free.
“There we go. We’ll all be warm in no time now.” Dad dismounted and helped Ross get the foal up on his horse.
At least the exhausted baby was too tired to struggle. Minutes later, they were riding back to the barn with the mud-caked foal lying across Ross’s lap.
“I’m so glad we found him,” Dad said. “He definitely wouldn’t have lasted until morning. We’d have found him drowned.”
“Thanks for helping. It was a lot easier to get him with your help. And he’s too exhausted to walk.”
“Kind of like old times, when you were a kid, helping me and your papaw on his ranch. Once we get him settled, I’ll help you load the truck too.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Dad.” And Ross meant it from the bottom of his heart.
Things would get tough over the next few days. His folks would likely be upset that Ron never told them about the twins. That Ross had known over the last month and kept it from them. But the truth needed to come out. His parents had been robbed of being grandparents. It was high time they knew the truth.
Once they made it back to the barn, they settled the mare and foal in their stall with lots of fresh hay for warmth and put out extra oats for sustenance. The mare contently licked her offspring and he was starting to respond.
“He’ll be fine.” Dad patted Ross’s shoulder. “Ready to load that truck?”
“You can go on to the workshop through those big double doors. I’ll run to the house, let them know we found them and be right back.” Ross trotted toward the house, splashing as he went. Careful not to bust it on the wet steps, he made his way up on the porch and knocked.
Stacia opened it quick, as if she’d been waiting on the other side.
“We found them. They’re okay. The foal was stuck in the mud at the edge of the pond.”
“Oh the poor baby. Are you sure he’s okay?”
“He’s dazed, cold and exhausted from trying to get out. But we gave them plenty of food and hay. Stockings was cleaning him up and he was moving around, so he should be fine by morning.”
“Thank you. For finding them.”
“Dad and I will finish loading the truck and get it secured, then I’ll check on him again before I head to the cabin with them.”
“Do they know about Mason and Madison?”
“Not yet.”
“Why is Ron here?”
“Apparently he was my surprise. But he had no idea I was here with you.” He took his hat off long enough to slick his hair back under it. “I’ll hash it out with Ron tonight. Find out what his plans are. I can almost promise you he has no interest in the twins.”
Distrust shone in her eyes. “He saw them. For the first time.”
“If I know my brother, it won’t make any difference.”
“I hope you’re telling me the truth.”
“That’s all I’ve done since I’ve known you, Stacia.” His words came out sharp. “I can’t help it if you don’t trust me.”
“Will you tell your parents tonight?”
“Hey,” Dad’s voice came from a few yards away. “The workshop is locked.”
“Sorry Dad.” He turned away from her, unable to stand the torture of looking at her a minute longer. “I’ve got the key.”
“Thank you so much for helping with the horses and for agreeing to load the truck, Mr. Lyles.”
“Please, call me Sam. And it was my pleasure. It was kind of nice to do ranch work again. Thank you for letting us come to visit Ross. I look forward to getting to know you and your twins better.”
“Me too.”
Ross forced himself to look her way. A silent agreement passed between them. Tomorrow.
“Let’s go, Dad. It’s getting late.” He turned away from her and darted toward the workshop with Dad following.
Every muscle he owned ached. From manhandling the foal out of the mud and onto his horse, from loading the claw-foot tubs earlier. And he still had more to load. But more than his muscles, his heart hurt. No matter what he did, no matter what he said, Stacia would never trust him.
* * *
Bone-tired, Ross left his mucky boots on the porch and followed his Dad into the Bandera rental cabin.
“You found them?” Mom started to greet them with a hug, but stopped to scan their dripping attire and scurried to the adjoining bathroom. “I’ll get towels.”
Ron sprawled on one of the beds, barely looking away from his phone to acknowledge them.
“We did find them.” Dad dried off, then removed his jacket and explained about the foal.
“Will he be okay?”
“He’s warm in a stall with his mom now.” Ross dried off enough to earn a hug from Mom. He clasped her tight against his chest, feeling a bit like the foal. The familiar smell of her Avon perfume soothed his soul. “I’ve missed y’all.”
A lump formed in his throat with all he wanted to tell them. But Stacia needed to be there when
