with your foot in your mouth.” Irritation flashed across Katie’s sun-kissed round face before she turned her attention back to Rosie. “Things aren’t always so cut-and-dried, are they? Let’s see those boots, Little Miss.” Katie stretched out her arms, still holding Rosie’s hands, as if afraid to let go. “You are all cowgirled up, aren’t you?”
“Daddy bought them for me.” Rosie kicked one foot in the air, then the other. “I told him they had to be pink. I like pink. Do you like pink?”
“I like pink just fine,” Katie said with a bit of a snort. “And if you’re planning on staying at the main house, I think you’re going to find it suits you perfectly. Unless you made other arrangements?” She glanced back at Chance.
“No arrangements.” Chance shook his head. “We packed the car and headed out. Given what Ty told us about all the changes to the place, I figured there would be a free bed or two.”
“More than that. Little Miss here can have her pick of rooms if she’d like. Not sure you’ll recognize yours.”
Meaning Big E had probably turned his room into a smoking room or bowling alley. He’d have bet good money his grandfather would have done his best to erase any trace of Chance’s existence once Chance left. Guess he was right.
“And if you don’t like the main house,” Katie continued, “you can always stay with me and Dad. I made up Maura’s room for her.” Katie didn’t blink as she spoke, as if gauging Chance’s reaction.
“Grampy!” Rosie squealed. “I have a room at Grampy’s house?”
“Of course you do. You always have had,” Katie added with a pointed look at Chance.
“The main house will do just fine.” No way would he ever sleep under the same roof as Lochlan Montgomery. Nor was he going to be made to feel guilty about not coming back before now. Lochlan had gone out of his way to make certain Chance was not welcome in his home. In that, Chance was more than content to oblige him. “Rosie, how about you get back in the car? We can meet Aunt Katie down at the house.”
“Or she can ride back with me.” Katie stooped down in front of Rosie and tweaked her nose. “What do you say, Little Miss? You want your first ride on a horse?”
“Oh, Daddy, please!” Rosie asked in that almost whining tone of hers.
Chance looked to the horse standing nearby, its shining gold coat glistening in the sun. He hadn’t been kidding earlier when he’d suggested a pony. Personally he’d been hoping for more of a miniature version when the time came.
“Guess we’d best find out if she takes after me or her mother when it comes to horses.” For Rosie’s sake, he hoped it wasn’t him.
“She’ll be fine,” Katie said. Chance met her challenging gaze, as if she was expecting him to say no just to spite her. Daring him to do so in front of his daughter only stirred up old resentments he’d never attributed to Maura’s kid sister.
Katie Montgomery, however, was no longer a kid. She was a fully grown woman who had spent more time on and around horses than Chance had spent walking. She looked every bit the professional ranch foreman her father had been. In fact, Chance would bet she was far more capable than Lochlan had ever been, especially in recent years.
“Daddy, can I go with Aunt Katie, please?”
He was reluctant to let Rosie out of his sight, but this was one of the reasons they’d come back to Falcon Creek. For Rosie to meet and get to know her mother’s family. For Rosie to get acquainted with her aunts and uncles and cousins. “Sure, Bug. You want Clyde to go with me?”
“Yes, please. Daddy says it’s always polite to say ‘please.’” She raced over and smacked Clyde into Chance’s hand.
“Your daddy’s a smart man,” Katie agreed. “Now hold on! Good girl, Hip.” Katie raced after Rosie when the four-year-old made a beeline for the horse as fast as her little legs would carry her. The horse dropped its head and let out a chuff, as Hip placed herself in front of Rosie. “Good girl, Hip.” Katie gave the dog a good pat. “Let’s get the introductions out of the way. Rosie, this is Hip. Short for Hippolyta. Hold out your hand, Rosie. Let her smell you so she can remember you’re a friend.”
“’Kay.” Fearless Rosie stuck her hand out right under the dog’s nose. Hip gave a good sniff, then angled to shove her nose up under Rosie’s hand as if demanding a pet. “Rosie, Hip. Hip, Rosie.”
“Her nose is cold.” Rosie’s eyes went wide.
“There you go. You’re friends, now,” Katie laughed.
“Hippo!” Rosie threw her arms up and lunged in for a hug.
“No!”
Chance nearly dove through the fence as Katie lunged for Rosie, but Hip let out what Chance could only describe as a sigh and let Rosie wrap her arms around her neck and squeezed.
Hand against her heart, Katie held her other palm out to Chance. “It’s okay. Whew.” That she appeared so relieved was more concerning to Chance than he liked. “You surprise me, girl.” She crouched and looked her dog directly in the eye. She sank her hand into Hip’s fur and rubbed. “I thought you didn’t like being called Hippo.”
Chance heard the dog growl in the back of her throat.
“Rosie, come here, please.” Katie pulled her away from the dog and motioned for Hip to stay. The dog blinked big black eyes at them as if to ask where they were going. “Say ‘Hippo’ again, please, Rosie.”
“Hippo!” Rosie giggled as Hip dropped to the ground and stuck her butt in the air, wagging her tail back and forth.
“Chance, would you try, please?”
“Uh, sure.” Chance cleared his throat. “Hippo.”
Hip shot back up, stood on all fours at attention and barked, then growled.
“Unbelievable.” Katie chuckled and shook her head. “First she gets herself a goat boyfriend, now this. Okay, Rosie, I guess for you only, it’s...um, you know.”
“Hippo!” Rosie doubled over with laughter as the dog came over and jumped into her arms to lick her face. “Doggie kisses!”
“They are the best kisses,” Katie assured her. “You still up for that ride?”
“Yes.” Rosie gripped the dog’s fur in her hand and looked up at her aunt with such admiration Chance’s chest constricted.
“We need a few bits of information before you go climbing up there. Riding a horse isn’t just for fun. It’s also a responsibility.” She looked over her shoulder at Chance. “We’ll meet you back at the house in a little bit. I need to go check on the ranch hands fixing fence line out along the south pasture. Shouldn’t take more than an hour.”
Chance nodded. “Yeah, I’ll see you then.” Feeling as if he was leaving his heart in the pasture, he forced himself to return to the minivan. Seconds later, he started the vehicle and stared down the road. Before he changed his mind, he floored it and shot forward under the Blackwell Family Ranch sign. And headed down the road to home.
