Page 91 of Forbidden to Fall

I explained the plan to Liv and Tate: a ride to Carver Maple Farm, where we’d do a short maple tasting, then they’d have the opportunity to explore on their own before we headed back to the stables.

The four of us talked—not an easy task since I had to turn my head enough to be heard while keeping the reins steady—but after a few minutes, conversation naturally petered out. They talked between themselves, which left James and me to entertain each other.

I asked him for an update on May’s knee, which seemed to be healing, albeit very slowly—a comment we shared a glance over. May was a terrible patient. She could last about half the day being good, but inevitably, she overdid it the second half.

“I don’t have to ask how you’re doing,” James said. “What time did you leave the shack last night? After ten, right?”

“Maybe,” I said noncommittally.

“And you’re here doing this for Archer today. You know, you can say no, Sadie. This wasn’t what Mama or I had in mind for you, and I’m sure Archer wouldn’t want you doing this for him if he realized just how busy you are.”

I laughed softly. “This isn’t for Archer, James. I want to do this. I want to bake at the sugar shack, even if it means I don’t sleep until eleven and then wake up before three some mornings. This is the stuff that’s keeping me going. Thank you for worrying about me, though.”

The ride was what I needed. Peaceful. Beautiful. Just enough laughter to make it fun.

Liv and Tate had tasted plenty of maple before, but they humored May and listened to her spiel about the different types while James and I tended to the horses.

James got two large buckets and filled them with water, while I yanked a few fistfuls of hay from the bale Liv and Tate had been sitting on and brushed the horses.

Liv and Tate made their way into the woods after the tasting, promising to be back so we would have enough time to get back to the stables before dark.

I led Han and Chewie to a grassy area where they could graze, and May insisted on bringing James and me a glass of tea.

“I’ll get them, Mama,” James said.

“No, you won’t,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “It’s my tea, and I’ll be servin’ it, thank you very much.”

James and I shared a look, then I hopped up onto the end of the wagon, my legs dangling over the edge as I rested my weight on my palms on either side of me.

James watched his mom walk to the house. It had to be tough in his position. He could only do so much to encourage May to rest. For her, the misery of sitting around was simply too high a cost for the potential-but-not-promised full recovery of her knee.

“Mia’s been asking about you,” I said, hoping to give his thoughts a happier direction.

He looked at me, intrigued. “Has she?”

“When we were at the stables earlier this week, she wanted to go in search of Mr. James in the woods. She seems to think you spend your time between working in the stables and fighting off attacking wildlife in the forest.”

He chuckled, then hopped up next to me on the wagon. “Don’t tell her I slept with a nightlight until I was thirteen.”

“Her opinion of you would never recover. Though, you may have to fight to keep your top spot on her list of favorite people. Emma Harper has made a lot of headway recently, thanks to the new Moana book she got in at the library.”

James sucked air through his teeth. “Stiff competition. I might have to up the ante and see if I can get a rhino here to wrangle.”

“They’ve got one at the Granby zoo,” I offered. “I’m sure they’d loan it out to you. The customs paperwork would be a nightmare, though.”

He laughed, and I realized how much I’d missed the sound over the past few days. Once he left back to Canada, would I forget the sound entirely? How soon would he leave?

May approached with two glasses and a full pitcher of sweet tea, which she set behind us on the wagon.

“Join us,” I said. “I’ll go get you a glass.”

“Oh, you’re a sweetheart, Miss Sadie,” she said, “but I’d better go put this leg up or I can see it in his eyes.” She looked at her son. “He’ll carry me in himself.”

James lifted his glass in acknowledgment, and she winked and left us again.

I took a sip, then set it on the edge of the wagon. “Archer asked me if I’d drive the wagon at the Sleepy Holler event he’s holding on the 17th.” I tried to keep my voice casual, looking down at the inch of space between our pinkies. “He also wants our baked goods there, but I told him I wasn’t sure if you’d still be around to run a booth.” I watched him from the corner of my eye, hoping it wasn’t glaringly obvious I was on a fishing expedition.

I needed to know how much time I had left with James.