“So was I.” But there was something else. “Tom also said Cate is trying to get a hold of Jason’s military recordnow.”
Mia gave a little laugh. “She won’t get much from that. The government won’t release more than the basics without his family’s permission. There’s nothing about Tell al-Sharruken in the official records anyway—or mustard gas orlooting.”
Joaquin drew her into his arms, kissed her forehead. “I know this whole situation sucks. What happened yesterday—it must have shaken you up. I don’t know how you’re holding it together the way you are. Try to use the time we’re up here to heal. Let go of the rest ofit.”
She rested her head against his chest, wrapped her arms around him, held him tight. “I wish it were thateasy.”
God, it felt good to hold her like this, to feel her alive in his arms, to know that she was safe. Yeah, yesterday had shaken her up. It had shaken him,too.
She drew back, looked up at him. “Jack called on the landline. He wanted to know if we’d like to go on a sleigh ride around the ranch and join them at the house for lunch. He says he’s making his world-famouschili.”
Under normal circumstances, Joaquin would have walked all the way to the ranch from Denver through a blizzard for Jack’s chili. The man wasn’t kidding when he said he it was good. But Joaquin wasn’t sure Mia was up for meeting new people or going out in the cold. “How do you feel aboutthat?”
Mia laughed. “I said yes. Hey, I grew up in Colorado, too. When someone boasts that their chili is world famous, I take that seriously. They need to put up or shutup.”
* * *
Mia openedthe cabin’s front door, a smile coming over her face when she saw the sleigh and … “Oh! What a beautifulhorse.”
Jack climbed down from the sleigh. “That’s Buckwheat, my granddaughter Emily’s favorite gelding. You can say hello if you like. He’s as gentle as he is big, aren’t you, Buckwheat, oldboy?”
Buckwheat jerked his head and snorted, as if heunderstood.
Mia tromped through the snow and reached up to stroke the horse’s forehead. “Hey, there,Buckwheat.”
“Have you spent time with horses?” Jackasked.
Mia shook her head. “Not really. I went for some trail rides when I was in Girl Scouts, but I didn’t know what I wasdoing.”
“We’ll have to do something about that.” Jack reached into his pocket, pulled out a couple of carrots. “Want to give him a treat? Put the carrot in your palm and hold your hand out flat. Yep. Just likethat.”
Mia held out the carrot, Buckwheat’s velvet muzzle tickling her palm as he took the carrot from her andmunched.
She heard a click—and turned to see Joaquin taking photos. “Oh, no! You can photograph the horse, but don’t take photos of me. I’m notphotogenic.”
“Is that so?” Joaquin turned his camera so she could see. “I don’t believeyou.”
There was a digital image of a woman with red cheeks and a bright smile on her face, a horse eating from her hand. She seemed happy, alive, even …pretty.
Mia looked up at Joaquin,surprised.
Joaquin grinned. “See?”
“Let’s get this show on the road.” Jack climbed into the front of the sleigh. “We need to make tracks if we’re going to get back to the house in time forlunch.”
Joaquin helped Mia into the sleigh, the wound near her hip making her grit her teeth as she stepped up. “Becareful.”
There were thick sheepskin blankets folded on red leather seats, a thermos and three insulated mugs tucked into a basket besidethem.
“Just make yourselves comfortable back there. Those blankets ought to keep you warm.” Jack climbed into the seat, took up the reins. “I brought hot chocolate,too.”
“Thanks, West.” Joaquin sat beside Mia, pulled one of the sheepskin blankets over the two of them, then took her hand. “Youcomfortable?”
“As toasty as amarshmallow.”
Jack made a clicking sound with his tongue. “Let’s go,boy.”
The sleigh moved forward with a jerk and then began to glide through the snow, bells on Buckwheat’s bridlejingling.