Laughing, Lucas held up his hands. “All in good fun. I swear.”

“I hear you.”

“You really like her, huh?”

“I really do.”

“That’s cool. Good for you. If she’s anything like Lucy, you’re a lucky man.”

Eager to move on from talking about his love life, Grayson said, “Thanks again for this.”

“Any time. I’ll be around when you get back to help you put up the horses.”

“I can do it if you’ve got other stuff to do.”

“Nothing much going on today except visiting my new niece later. I don’t mind helping.”

“Appreciate it.”

“You guys be nice to Grayson,” Lucas said to the horses. “He’s out of practice. Don’t take advantage.”

“I heard that,” Grayson called after him.

Lucas’s laughter echoed through the barn.

Grayson took a seat on the bench and snapped the reins to get the horses moving toward the path through the woods that would deliver him to Lincoln and Molly’s backyard. The bells on the horses’ harness were the only sound other than the glide of the blades through the fresh powder. As a kid growing up here, this had been one of his favorite things to do after a snowstorm, and he was hoping Simone and Emma would love it as much as he did.

In spite of his desire to focus on his plans with them, Grayson couldn’t seem to think about anything other than the bomb Noah had dropped on him. What would his other siblings say when they heard this news? Would they agree to be tested?

Despite the cheerful jingle of the sleigh bells, Grayson couldn’t shake the sense of dread-laced anxiety that came over him any time he had to deal with a past he’d much rather forget than have to confront once again.

He navigated the final turn before Linc and Molly’s yard came into view and reminded himself that today was about Emma and her daughter. There’d be plenty of time after they went home for him to confront the anxiety and despair this news had resurrected in him.

This was a day for lighthearted fun and for giving Simone an experience she hopefully wouldn’t soon forget. It was most definitely not the time to allow his painful past to intrude on the best week he’d ever had. He drove the sleigh into the yard, where the jingle of the bells immediately caught the attention of George and Ringo, who’d been frolicking in the snow. Grayson was amused by the way the horses totally ignored the barking dogs.

Apparently, Emma and Simone had been watching for him, because they came out of the mudroom door to greet him, both wearing huge smiles at the sight of the horse-drawn sleigh.

“Who would like to go for a ride?” he asked.