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That surprising feeling of safety and support she hadn’t experienced in a long, long time.
    She swallowed and looked away, suppressing the foolish reaction, then squatted down in front of Nico. “Honey, we have to go. I need to be in Cranbrook in an hour.”
    Nico raised his head to hold her eyes for a scant second then shifted them to Nate, as if seeking his approval.
    Mia fought down her agitation, aware of the other kids waiting in the van. The importance of making the specialist appointment hung over her like a cloud, yet right now she had to tread cautiously with her son.
    So she placed her finger under his chin, to make him turn his eyes back to her. Thankfully, he gave in right away and she eased off. “Sweetheart, I know it’s nice to be here with Socks,” she said, forcing herself to talk quietly. Slowly. Deflect the focus of his trip to the barn from Nate to the dog. “I know you love dogs, but right now Jennifer and Grace and Josh are waiting for us and I don’t want Jennifer to start crying because she misses us.”
    Nico blinked and he opened his mouth and for a heart-stopping moment Mia thought he would speak. But his mouth worked, open and shut, but nothing. When she saw the shimmer of tears in his eyes, she drew him close. “Oh, sweetie, it’s okay. You’re safe.”
    She stifled her fear at how close she had come to losing him. But she couldn’t stop herself from looking up at Nate, who watched them through narrowed eyes as his hands worked the rope.
    He put the rope aside, crouched down beside Nico and laid his large hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You should go with your mother, buddy. She needs your help right now.”
    Nico sniffed, nodded and then scrambled to his feet. He gave Nate a curt nod and, without another glance at Mia, left the barn, Socks trotting along behind him.
    Though Mia was thankful for Nate’s assistance it bothered her that Nico responded to Nate more than he had to her.
    â€œThanks for that,” Mia said as she got up.
    â€œJust trying to help,” he said, holding his hands up in apology.
    â€œI know that and I appreciate it.” She hesitated, torn between her need to get going and her need to draw boundaries for her children.
    Then he started coughing and her resolve wavered as she was reminded of what he had risked for the sake of her son.
    He’s not the kind of man you can let your children connect with. His leaving will cause Nico and Josh too much pain.
    Annoying as she was, sometimes Other Mother was right.
    â€œYou know that I can’t thank you enough for saving Nico’s life,” she started, watching as Nico stepped into the van.
    â€œPlease. Don’t say any more. Anyone would have done the same.”
    â€œI don’t know about that. However...” she hesitated, feeling ungrateful in spite of her words of thanks to him “...I am concerned about Nico and how attached he seems to be to you.”
    Nate’s eyes narrowed and Mia wasn’t sure how to read him. For the sake of her son, she kept going.
    â€œNico has a lot to deal with right now and I’m afraid that...that if he gets too attached, too connected, he’ll get hurt when you go.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?” His eyes still held her but his voice sounded grim.
    â€œYou’re only here until your horses heal up, and then you’re leaving, right?”
    Nate nodded, affirming what she already knew.
    â€œWhen my husband left, it took Nico a long time to get over that.” For six months after Al had left, Nico slept with Mia, afraid to be on his own.
    â€œAnd now the aftermath of this fire—” Mia’s voice broke and she pressed her lips together, feeling an unwelcome jolt of sorrow for her family’s loss of business and home. She looked away from Nate’s piercing gaze, took a steadying breath and soldiered on. “I am worried that Nico is too strongly