“The one that’s all brown. The other one has a white nose. I don’t want that one.”

“Okay, Stella is yours. Jack, you get Mandy. Both these girls are great riding horses. They’re very gentle. First, we’re going to introduce ourselves to them, and then we’ll go over the rules before we ride. Deal?”

In unison the boys echoed Luke, “Deal.”

Luke set the boys down and walked them up to the waiting horses and one of his ranch hands, Miguel. As if on cue, the horses lowered their heads to the boys, ready for a pat. The boys enthusiastically stroked the horses.

“She tickled my hand. Her nose is soft.” Jack pulled his hand back to his chest. “Nick, she tickled me.”

Nick patted Stella’s soft nose. “Yeah, mine tickles, too. Let’s go for a ride!”

“Okay, boys, here are the rules. You have to wear these helmets, just in case you fall off.” Luke plunked a helmet on each of their heads. “Hold on to the reins.” Luke held them up. “These straps here. Don’t pull. And no yelling at the horses. Loud noises scare them. The last rule is that you have to do exactly what Miguel and I tell you to do. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“Deal.”

“Okay. Buckle your helmets. Let’s go over to the indoor training ring and Miguel and I will teach you how to ride.”

Luke and Miguel settled the boys up in the saddles. Their faces lit up with the kind of joy Luke hadn’t felt in too long to remember. Nerves replaced some of that excitement when the horses jostled them a bit while they walked down to the ring, but half an hour later, and several rounds about the ring, the boys were back to having a ball.

Luke nodded to Miguel and they stepped away as Jack and Nick rode on. “You’re on your own, boys.”

“I’m doing it.” The pride in Jack’s eyes made Luke’s chest tight.

“Me, too,” Nick whispered, not wanting to spook his mount.

Jack laughed with excitement and Luke couldn’t help but smile at the little boy. He was so cute and full of fun.

Luke remembered what it had been like as a kid getting up on a horse for the first time and trying to outride his younger brother. His father and mother taught them just as Luke had taught Jack and Nick. He remembered the pride in his father’s eyes when he watched them ride.

Luke felt a pang in his heart. His brother, Jason, had found love and started a family of his own. Luke loved his niece and sometimes found himself feeling jealous of his little brother.

Yesterday, seeing the boys with their mom, he’d felt that twinge of envy again.

He’d love to see his own boys riding the horses and running around the ranch like he and his brother had done for so many years. Maybe a little girl, her long hair waving in the wind.

He really wanted a family.