Ring of Fire by Susan Fox

herself.
    Up ahead, Sally was calling a break. They were in a small clearing with some rough grass dotted with wildflowers and a few old logs.
    Ben swung easily off his horse. “No mounting block,” he commented to Eric. “Need a hand down?”
    â€œDon’t think so, thanks.” Aware of his own awkwardness, he dismounted.
    After the women helped Jayden, Corrie and Sally tied up the horses. Ben took water bottles from his backpack and offered them around. Then he went over to talk to Sally, and hold her hand. Mary got Jayden settled on a log and then glanced at Eric and raised her chin slightly. It was subtle, but it was a command. Amused at her quiet effectiveness, he walked over. Mary said, “I’m going to chat with Corrie,” and left Eric alone with Jayden.
    Eric sat on the log, which was at an awkward height for his prosthetic leg. He stretched the leg out, straightening the knee and feeling a not-unpleasant pull in his thigh. Riding, even at a walk, did use muscles in a different way from any other form of exercise.
    â€œA Wednesday morning in September,” Eric commented, “and we’re out riding.” Since he’d taken LWOP, his life had lacked its normal structure. Being a disciplined, goal-directed guy, he’d imposed a structure, with pretty much every activity focused toward the single purpose of being combat ready again, physically and mentally.
    â€œIsn’t it great?” Jayden enthused.
    It probably was good therapy for the boy’s cerebral palsy, but Eric found it hard to believe that sitting on a stump in the middle of the woods was an effective use of his own time. Rather than say so, he changed the subject. “Are you homeschooled?”
    â€œNo, I go to regular school. But I have some special programs. On Wednesdays, Granny takes me to Monique’s for a physio session, and then to riding. After lunch, I go back to school.”
    â€œYou like school?”
    â€œMostly. I just wish I could do the same stuff as the other kids.”
    Eric nodded. “On the other hand, you’re riding and they’re stuck behind desks.”
    Jayden giggled. He straightened his shoulders, which had rounded into a slump. “Last time, you said Mom saved your life. What happened?”
    Unsure how much Lark would want him to reveal, Eric stalled. “Uh, did you ask her?”
    â€œShe won’t talk about spe-ci-fic rescues. She says people don’t always want the world knowing what happened to them.”
    He could only wish her son had such reticence, but the boy was rushing on. “Did she rescue you from a fire or was it an MVA ex-tri-ca-tion? Oh, MVA means a motor vehicle accident.”
    Eric had already known that, but just nodded and said, “Understood. It was a fire.”
    Jayden nodded. “That’s her job. MVAs, too. And when people have strokes and heart attacks, she saves them. She saved a man from drowning once, when there was an accident on Bent River Bridge, and his car went through the railing into the river.”
    â€œShe’s a brave woman.”
    Jayden nodded. “Mom and Granny say a woman can do anything a man can.”
    A joke from Eric’s childhood sprang to mind and he couldn’t help himself. “There’s one thing they can’t do.”
    â€œWhat?” the boy asked eagerly.
    â€œPee through a hole in a fence.”
    It took Jayden a moment to figure that out, and then he laughed. “That’s a good one! I have to tell Mom.”
    â€œMaybe better not. I don’t think she or your granny would appreciate it. It’s a guy joke.” He was hunting for words to ask about Jayden’s father—since the boy had more than once mentioned his mom and granny, but not his dad—when Sally came over.
    â€œTime to mount up and head back,” she said.
    Corrie and Mary were walking toward them, too, deep in conversation.
    â€œI like talking to