Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Smells delicious,” Harmony notes. “Is there somewhere we can wash our hands?”
“I’ll take them,” I tell Autumn as I turn down the hall to the bathroom. We wash our hands, and then I slip my hand in Harmony’s as I pull her down the hall toward the kitchen. The whole table looks like it’s overflowing.
“Oh my goodness,” Harmony states, “this is so much.”
“I wish I could say I did it all,” Autumn replies, “but I only did the quiche and the salad. Charlie’s great-grandmother sent over the rolls, and the chicken potpie is also not mine.”
“Where do I sit?” Wyatt asks, wanting to get the eating started.
“Wherever you want to, buddy,” Charlie urges, pulling out his own chair. Wyatt walks over and sits next to him and then looks at me. “You can sit here, Brady.” He pats the chair beside him. I walk over, pulling the chair beside me out so Harmony can sit down next to me.
“What do you want first?” I ask Wyatt as he looks around the table.
“Some potpie.” His eyes say that it’s his favorite, and then I pick up the salad. “Do I have to?” he whines, and I look over at Harmony to see what she is going to say, but I find her talking to Autumn about something.
“Nah,” I say, “there are veggies in the potpie.” I put the salad back down and turn to him.
“So how did you enjoy the horses today, Wyatt?” Autumn asks as she takes a bite of her quiche.
“It was the best,” he declares, shoveling in the potpie, even though steam is coming out of it. “I want to do it again.”
“We shall see,” Harmony says, picking up a roll for herself. “I have to call Mr. Mendelson later to make sure he’s okay.”
Autumn looks at me and we share a look. “He’s the caretaker for Wyatt when she works at night.” She nods at me. “He’s been sick for the past couple of days.”
“If you want,” Autumn offers, “we can watch him for you.”
Harmony’s eyes go big. “What?” she whispers, but Wyatt turns to her quickly.
“Mom, can I, can I? Please?” he pleads.
“Wyatt, I can’t just leave you here,” she explains to him. “Charlie works, and Autumn is carrying a baby.”
“It’s no trouble to us,” Charlie assures her, also shoveling food like he hasn’t eaten for five days. “He can help me out in the barn, and then, trust me, he’s going to crash by eight.”
“But—” Harmony starts.
Autumn looks at her. “Take the help when you can get it.” She takes a bite of her roll. “When I give birth to this child, I’m going to hand it off to anyone who wants to take it.”
I shake my head. “You are such a liar.”
“No, I’m not,” Autumn bites back. “Just to show you, you get first drop-off.”
“Deal,” I agree. “Harmony and I will babysit.”
“Um,” Harmony says, “sure but—”
“So can I stay here today?” Wyatt is done with the adult conversation on who is going to watch this child who isn’t even here yet. “I have no school today and tomorrow.”
“Good,” Charlie states, “I can teach you how to muck out the stalls, and then you can help me take a few for a walk.”
“I can do that.” He nods, and I laugh at him.
“Buddy,” I ask, and Wyatt looks at me, “do you even know what muck out the stalls means?”
“No,” he says, grabbing a piece of chicken, “but it’s okay.”
“I’ll video it and send it to you.” Charlie chuckles. “The first time is always fun.”
“I don’t want to—” Harmony tries, and Autumn shakes her head.
“If you feel bad, you can make me a pie. I’m loving strawberry these days.”
“I have a great recipe for pumpkin pie and key lime pie,” Harmony suggests, “and, of course, peach pie, but that’s boring.”
“I will take one of each,” Autumn teases, making Harmony laugh.
We finish lunch, and I push away from the table. “We have to head back home. I have to go to work, and Harmony needs to nap.”
“Okay,” Autumn says as Harmony shakes her head.
“I’m not leaving until we help clean up.” She gets up and starts taking the plates into the kitchen.
“You don’t have to do that,” Autumn declares. “I got this. You go home and relax.”
“I couldn’t,” Harmony says.
“Please,” Autumn shares, “it’ll make me feel better for eating all the muffins if I move around.”
She looks over at me, and I just look at her. “Go say goodbye to Wyatt.” I motion with my head to the table, where he’s talking to Charlie about how kids get into rodeos.
She walks over and squats down beside Wyatt, who gives her a hug. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay, Mom,” he says as he turns to Charlie. “Now can we go?”
“Yeah, kid.” Charlie grins at him, then looks at a hesitant Harmony. “He’s safe here, and if he doesn’t settle, I’ll call you.”