Earth and Sky

hair. “You know, what your dad did.”

    Danny grew quiet. “He’s never coming back, is he?”

    Hunter wiped the water off Danny’s head and put his hand on the slim shoulder of the youngster. “I don’t know, Danny. I’d love him to come back, but I don’t think he can live with your mom anymore.”

    Danny nodded. He looked sad, but Hunter thought he understood.

    “But I think if anyone can do what Dad did, it would be Grant,” Danny said suddenly. Hunter squeezed Danny’s shoulder by way of thank you.

    “I’ll talk to Grant as soon as he returns.”

    “Where is he, anyway?” Danny asked.

    Hunter shrugged. “He said he needed some time. And he’d be back on Tuesday.”

    To Hunter’s surprise, Danny took his hand and squeezed it. “You miss him, don’t you?”

    Hunter felt caught, wondering if he was so transparent a nine-year-old kid could see what was going on between him and Grant. He shrugged, not really knowing what to say.

    “I miss my friends when school is out too. They all live on the other side of town, and it’s too far to ride there on my bike. Anyway, Mom won’t let me go that far on my own anyway, so when I’m not in school, I don’t have any friends. I guess you don’t either, since you’re not in school anymore.”

    Hunter had to laugh at Danny’s simple way of looking at things. It was also a great relief to hear the kid’s explanation. “You’re right, cowboy. Grant’s my friend, and I miss him when he’s not around.” It was very close to the truth, and Hunter enjoyed the fact he could tell Danny how he felt about Grant.

    “I like Grant too. He’s really good with the horses, and he said he was going to make me a doghouse if I could persuade Mom to get me a dog.”

    Hunter smiled conspiratorially. “I think you deserve a dog. You’re old enough to take care of one now.”

    “You think so?”

    Hunter nodded. “You’re working really hard here, and that deserves a reward.”

    Danny’s eyes grew sad, though. “Mom won’t let me. She says dogs aren’t supposed to live in the house. They should live outside and work with the horses, not live with us, where they spread disease.” He said that last word like he didn’t really know what it meant, but was just copying what his mother had said.

    “Why don’t you leave your mom to me?” Hunter said determinedly, winking at Danny. “Now let’s get you out of the water and dried off before you wrinkle like a prune. Then we can go downstairs for dinner.” He held out the large bath towel, remembering how embarrassed he always was when he was Danny’s age with someone looking at his scrawny body, so he turned away as Danny got out of the tub. After wrapping the towel around Danny and giving him a last squeeze, he moved away. “Can you manage? Dry behind your ears and between your toes, okay?”

    Danny smiled and nodded. “Yes, Dad,” he said, and then rolled his eyes.

    When Hunter walked out of the bathroom, he suddenly felt sad, realizing he’d probably never have children of his own. He and Danny had always been close, but as long as Hugh was around, Danny was definitely Hugh’s son. Now Hugh was gone, Hunter realized that Danny was looking at him to take on the father role, and although he felt he could never fill Hugh’s shoes, he certainly enjoyed taking care of the youngster.

    Still deep in thought, Hunter rounded a corner and promptly walked into Izzie.

    “Hey, big boy. Watch where you’re going!”

    Hunter looked at his sister, her long, dark hair braided into one long strand on her back, but around her head some strands had broken loose and were clinging to her face, telling him she was still soaking wet. It was only then he realized he was still wet as well.

    “Danny’s in the bathroom, but he’s about done. Why don’t you go in there next, and I’ll run to the shower block in the crew house. That way we’ll both be clean by dinner time.”

    Izzie gave him a curious look. “Grant said he wouldn’t be back until Tuesday.”

    Hunter narrowed his eyes at her. “I know that. I just figured that if we all had to take turns, we’d never be ready in time, and you know how Mom hates us being late for dinner.”

    “Oh yes,” Izzie replied with a mocking look on her face.

    “Well, if you prefer going out there to take a shower, be my guest.”

    “Nope,” Izzie replied. “Your arrangement suits me fine.” She nudged him with her shoulder. “Don’t be so