Lost and Found Family Read Online Free Page A

there.”
    Her throat tightened but Emma forced herself to look at the magnificent lion with his neck arched, his mane tipped in gold leaf that shimmered in the moonlight. She studied the rest in turn, her gaze stopping here and there but always avoiding one in particular. “Did Dentzel carve these horses, too?”
    The subject seemed safe as long as it didn’t become personal again. She needed to catch her breath.
    â€œNo,” Max said, “he died in 1909. These horses are new. They are wooden, though, just like Dentzel’s.” He pointed again. “See that one? Looks like—”
    â€œChristian’s horse,” Emma said around a lump in her throat.
    No longer able to avoid it, she finally glanced at the black-and-white horse on the outer row. Its painted saddle blanket was red edged in gilt. “That was always...whenever we came here...my son’s first choice.”
    Mama, look. I’m going up and down and all around.
    Hold on tight, Owen. Don’t let go.
    My horse is higher than yours! See? I can reach the brass ring—
    Always the daredevil .
    Careful, sweetie! You’ll fall.
    No. I’m the best rider. Like Daddy . Unable to stop herself, Emma had smiled then . Uh-huh ,he’d insisted. When I’m bigger I can ride General by myself and he can be my horse, too.
    With a strangled sound, she turned away from the rail. That night at the barn he’d wanted to ride. Christian would have put him up, as he sometimes did, then led the horse around the indoor ring where Grace and Rafe had been.
    â€œEmma?” Max touched her arm.
    â€œJust feeling a little off balance tonight...”
    â€œI didn’t mean to upset you. What an idiot I am for showing you these horses, bringing up the pony at my shop—”
    â€œNo, I came out here first. Maybe I had to.”
    She drew away, hoping to regain her composure. Certainly she could never go to the barn again. When I’m bigger ...
    â€œEmma,” he murmured, “I do understand. Really.”
    Something in his voice made her turn around. She gazed into his eyes, a clear brown that showed his past sorrow.
    â€œOdd, isn’t it,” she said, “how every word seems to take on different meaning. No one knows how to talk to me.” Unless, like the women at the pavilion, they were hinting at her guilt. “Or I to them.”
    â€œI was the same way after my wife died.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Max. How long ago?”
    â€œFive years.” He patted her shoulder. “I know it’s a cliché but it does take time. Lots of it, in my experience, and I’ve heard losing a child is even worse.”
    â€œSo they say.”
    â€œIt will get better,” he insisted. “Not all at once, and not every day, but you’ll see.” He paused. “Not—to be honest—that it ever really goes away. You just toughen up and learn to live with the loss.”
    Emma wasn’t that sure. But why say so? For her, it was different and she had treated Max shamefully, something she would never have done a year ago. Nothing was his fault. That was all on Emma.
    She took a breath. “About those messages you left...I apologize. I should come get his...no, I’m sorry, but I can’t take the pony.”
    â€œNow, don’t be hasty. Until you’re ready to decide, I’ll find a spot for him somewhere.” He spoke as if the carousel horse was real. Like the General. “He’s gorgeous, by the way, or he will be. Great advertising for my shop. Sure, why didn’t I think of this before? No rush,” he added. “None at all. We’ll let other people enjoy him for a while.”
    Emma couldn’t imagine having any use for the pony that only reminded her of loss, but she didn’t get to say so. Footsteps sounded behind them on the walk.
    â€œEmma.”
    When Christian drew near, he nodded at Max, his eyes on her. “Our