The Trio of Riders

"Isn't he a little young?"

In the weeks that followed the springs works things settled down and have returned to normal. Now, almost a month later, Dan and Tylee are getting into a little groove with Ben and how to get things on the ranch done with him. The family of three go out to the barn and feed the horses in the pens every morning and spend time together before breakfast.

"Oh, I know, but I'm sorry I just don't have all the goods, do I?" Dan tells his fussing son.

Just then Tylee comes down the stairs shaking her head. "Stop polluting our son's head with nonsense."

Playfully Dan narrows his eyes at her. "It isn't nonsense it is truth and he knows it."

She rolls her eyes and takes Ben in her arms. "Whatever floats your goat."

Dan drapes his arm around her shoulders as she begins to feed Ben. Lightly, like a feather, he places a kiss on her temple. "You sure are beautiful."

Smiling she turns her head to place a kiss on his lips. "Well, I have a very handsome Teddy Bear to make me look better."

Playfully narrowing his eyes he says, "Well I think we can both agree that Ben here makes us both look much better than we are by ourselves."

"That's right. Isn't it bud?" She says taking the smiling baby and placing kiss all over his head. "So, I was thinking that it's probably about time for little Ben here to have his first ride. What do you think?"

Dan is momentarily caught off guard and there is a pause of silence. "Isn't he a little young for that? He's just a baby. Not even a year old."

Tylee too is caught off guard. "I'm sorry, I just thought since he can hold his head up on his own now and is getting more active he might like it." For a moment neither one of them say a word. "I should take him upstairs and feed him." Without giving time for another word to be said she stands with Ben in her arms and whisks up the stairs.

Dan runs his hands over his face. Oh, Lord Jesus, I feel like I'm failing as a husband and a dad. He doesn't let his mind think on it long before he moves to the kitchen. Getting a glass from the cabinet he fills it with cool water and slowly starts up the stairs. Softly he knocks on the door to Ben's room and pushes the door open. He lifts the glass as he walks in with a smile. "I'm headed out to look for those five head we have been missing the past couple of times we've fed. I thought I would bring you some water first, though."

As he sets the glass on the small table beside the rocking chair Tylee reaches for his hand with her free one. "Teddy Bear, I'm really sorry for snapping at you. I respect your decision, as the head of the house no matter what it is."

Placing a light kiss on each his wife and son's head he feels like cuddling up with them. "Thank you, Fawn."

After one swift peck she watches him exit the room. As she looks down at Ben all she sees is his daddy. "I hope you grow up to be just like your daddy. Always patient and forgiving; always loving and helpful. I love you munchkin."
***

A couple days later Tylee found herself having over slept leapt from the bed. She scurries into Ben's room only to find it empty. A smile curves the edges of her lips up as she realizes that it only means on thing; Dan has already gotten him up and ready for the day.

Heading down the stairs with her hair a mess and fluffy house shoes upon her feet her spirits are high. The sight she meets, however, isn't the one she thought it would be. Dan is shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth while bouncing Benjamin on his knee. All the while Benjamin is still in his pajamas, contrary to the image in Tyler's mind. "Why haven't yo-" she stops herself just as Dan looks up at her with a wide grin. With a deep breath and silently saying Psalm 141:3 in her mind she grins back and scrambles down the stairs. "Look at my handsome boys!"

"Good morning sleeping Fawn," Dan comments with a wink.

Placing a light kiss on his lips she playfully frowns. "Daddy did a really good job getting you down here and happy and breakfast ready didn't he?" Then turning from Ben to Dan she adds, "Thank you Teddy Bear for keeping him happy and making breakfast and letting me sleep in. You are the best."

He places a deep kiss on her lips before handing her Ben, who is reaching for her, and bringing her a plate with a new sense of self esteem inside of him. "I'm glad you got to rest. And Ben and I had a nice boys time."

Between bites of eggs she continues to talk with her husband while Ben nurses. About the time she is done eating he has had his fill to and they are ready to get dressed. Dan, of course, has been dressed for a while. None the less he follows them up the stairs.

"So I was thinking," he begins as he changes Ben's diaper. "That we should probably check the South Ground pasture fences today before we move the cows in there next week."

While braiding her hair she looks up at him for a long moment. "That's a good idea. Do you want to ask Brandon to go with you?"

"Uh, no." He snaps the bottom of Benjamin's overalls an sets him on the  carpeted floor. "I think we should take Ben and ride it together."

A/N
Sorry it's short and sorry it's been so long! Is anyone even still here to read this? 😜

Thank you so much for reading and for waiting on this update. 😊