Braden got out of the bed and disappeared out into the hallway. Lily followed him, expecting him to go to the bathroom, but instead he went to his room, got back into bed, and pulled the covers up to his chin. She caught a whiff of bacon and coffee all mixed together as she went downstairs. She found Mack sitting at the table with a mug of coffee and the last few bites of waffles in front of him.

“Good mornin’,” he said. “I thought y’all were going to sleep in this morning. Can I make you some waffles?”

“Just coffee.” She poured a cup. “Sally needs me at the shop. Holly wants to go with me.”

“I’m going to Kerrville this morning to look at a couple of goats,” Mack said. “Reckon Braden would want to go? I’m not leaving for a couple of hours.”

“I’m sure he would.” Lily sipped her coffee. “They were both in bed with me this morning when I woke up. Do you think they’ll get over last night’s trauma anytime soon?”

“Sure, they will,” he said. “They’ll be back in their routine on Monday, and pretty soon, it’ll just become a good story to tell.”

“I hope so.” She toyed with her mug. “I can’t begin to thank you enough for all you’ve done for us, Mack.”

“Right back atcha.” He grinned.

“Do I smell waffles?” Braden rubbed his eyes as he came into the room.

“You sure do,” Mack answered. “How many can you eat?”

“A bunch. I’ll make them.” Braden went to the counter, poured the right amount of batter into the waffle iron, and closed the lid. He nibbled on a piece of bacon while he waited for it to cook. “Holly says she’s going with you to work, Mama. I don’t have to go, do I?”

“You have a choice,” Lily told him. “You can go to the shop, or go with Mack to look at goats to buy.”

“Mack!” he said without hesitation. “I just didn’t want to be here all by myself. What if Daddy calls or comes? I don’t want to see him right now.”

“I talked to him and Victoria both last night. You don’t have anything to worry about, son. It will be a while before we hear from him. I’d better go get dressed.” Lily picked up her mug, refilled it, and carried it with her.

When she got to the top of the stairs, she heard her phone ringing. She couldn’t rush with a full cup of coffee in her hands, so she didn’t pick it up until the fourth ring. Expecting it to be Sally with instructions about the shop, she didn’t even check the caller ID, but answered, “Hello.”

“I’ve called four times in the last twenty minutes,” Wyatt growled. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”