A Rancher for their Mom. Leann Harris

for a treat? Not happy with just a bath but want a reward, too?”

      The horse nodded.

      “Well, I can’t go inside and drip all over April’s kitchen floor.”

      The screen door slamming brought his attention to the house. Todd stood outside, his face grim.

      “Your horse wants a carrot. Would you like to get him one?”

      Todd nodded and disappeared into the kitchen only to reemerge moments later with a carrot. Walking to the fence, he handed Joel the treat.

      “Don’t you want to give it to Sammie yourself?”

      “No.” He walked to the side of the barn and sat on the ground, his back against the wooden siding. It looked as if the weight of the world sat on those small shoulders, which tugged at Joel’s heart. What had happened that changed Todd’s attitude from laughing and playful to down and troubled?

      Joel searched his mind. The only thing he could think of was the Moores driving up. The boys had mentioned that their mother’s help had been hurt, but was there something else there?

      Casually, Joel walked to where Todd sat. The boy didn’t look up or acknowledge him in any way. Settling by Todd, Joel leaned back against the barn, his knees raised. He rested his forearm on his knees, knowing he couldn’t push this youngster any more than he could’ve rushed Sadie and Helo a couple days ago.

      In the corral before them, Joel watched the two horses. “I think Buckwheat and Sammie enjoyed their bath. I know the rest of us did. Didn’t you?”

      Todd found the dirt by his small boot extremely interesting. “Yeah.”

      So much for a light conversation. Apparently, Todd wasn’t going to make this easy. He needed to rope this problem from a different direction. “Is this your favorite place to think?”

      Todd shrugged.

      “When I was growing up, I had a place in our barn, in the hayloft. It was a good thinking place. I sometimes went there when I did something I knew would get me in trouble.

      “One time, my mom had made a birthday cake for my grandmother. Chocolate with Gran’s special icing.” He paused and made an appreciative sound. “I tried to sneak a big finger full of icing off the cake, but instead I pushed the cake off the counter. It made such a terrible sound when it hit the floor and the plate shattered into a million pieces, with cake and icing exploding all over the kitchen.” It had been a spectacular mess.

      Todd looked at him.

      “I can’t tell you how scared I was. I ran out into the barn and hid. Of course, my sister ratted me out.”

      “But you didn’t hurt your grandmother.” Todd’s voice quivered with emotion.

      Joel’s heart ached. “True, but we had no cake that birthday.”

      Todd hugged his knees and rested his head against his thighs.

      “What happened, Todd?”

      Tears rolled down the boy’s cheeks. “After you picked up Sadie and Helo, Mr. Moore came to work. He got the pitchfork down, but Mom called him up to the house. I wanted to help, so I got the fork and tried to put straw in Sammie’s stall. Wes walked into the barn and saw me. He said he’d tell on me for messing with the pitchfork. I got scared and put it against the stall wall and left the barn.” He shrugged. “I guess it fell down and that’s how Mr. Moore stepped on it. It was my fault.”

      It was, but this little boy didn’t need that rebuke. “Do you see why you were told not to mess with the pitchfork?”

      He nodded and with the back of his sleeve wiped the tears from his face.

      “I understand that you never would’ve wanted Mr. Moore to get hurt.”

      “I didn’t want that” came the wobbly reply.

      “I didn’t mean to ruin my grandma’s cake, either. We have to fess up when we do wrong. Gran and Ma forgave me, but my sister wasn’t as nice and reminded me of it often.”

      Todd glanced up at him. “Girls are like that.”

      “True.” Joel heard a movement and glanced over his shoulder. April stood at the corner of the barn. Todd didn’t notice.

      “I think you need to tell your mom what happened. You’ll feel better.”

      Todd stared at his hands. “Really? We can’t just keep it a secret between us?”

      “I think it’s best if you tell your mom.”

      Taking a deep breath, Todd thought a moment. “’Kay.” He stood and waited for Joel to stand. “Let’s go.”

      Todd marched to the house, much like a condemned man to the gallows.

      Admiration filled Joel’s heart for this little cowboy.

      * * *

      April finished putting sandwiches on the table when Joel and Todd walked into the kitchen. When she’d gone out earlier to look for the boys, she’d overheard Joel and Todd talking. She’d quietly backed away and rushed inside the house. The last thing she heard was “Tell your mom.”

      “Lunch is just sandwiches and cookies, but I’m told I make a mean sandwich.”

      “I’d like that.” Joel nodded toward Todd.

      Thanks, she mouthed.

      After the blessing, the kids dug into their lunch. Todd reached for his sandwich but rested his hands by his plate.

      “Todd, aren’t you hungry?”

      He shook his head.

      April leaned close and whispered, “Do you need to talk to me?”

      He nodded.

      “Joel, would you watch things for a few minutes?”

      “Sure.”

      Todd slipped from his chair and headed toward the office.

      April followed.

      “What’s happening?” Wes asked.

      April didn’t hear Joel’s explanation, but followed her son into the office.

      “I got to tell you something,” Todd began.

      April closed the door and sat in her chair. “What do you need to tell me?”

      Todd’s lips quivered. “It’s my fault that Mr. Moore got hurt.”