Page 34 of The Rancher's Heart

Jonas pointed. “The black horse over there with the white spots on his back.”

“He’s pretty.” She stayed close as he introduced her to the star of the Triple L.

“What kind of horse is he?” Clara stood back while he held out carrots to Duke.

“He’s a Colorado Ranger, what we call Rangerbred.” Jonas patted the big guy’s neck as he practically swallowed the small carrots whole. “Come give him a scratch, so he can get to know you.”

Sloane had followed them as Nathan disappeared into the barn. When Jonas figured Clara was comfortable with the stallion, he gently eased them both through the gate and into the paddock.

Handing her one of the brushes, he began grooming Duke’s back. “Watch what I do, okay? Then you give it a try.”

It took her a minute to get her courage up, but finally, she got close enough to reach out and run the brush down Duke’s side. The stallion stood still. He loved his grooming.

“Are you ready to see the rest of the ranch now?” he asked Clara when they’d finished grooming Duke. She started to circle behind the stallion. “Clara! Stop!” His heart climbed into his throat. Startled, she abruptly went still. He forced himself to speak calmly. “Always come around in front of a horse, not behind. You don’t want to get kicked.”

Clara flushed and backed up. “Sorry.”

“You didn’t know.” Taking a breath, he gestured for her to come to him, then pushed on Duke’s chest to get the horse to back up so Clara could maneuver around the animal safely. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, they left the paddock. “Horses instinctively kick to protect themselves.”

When he looked up, Sloane was hovering just outside the paddock.

He reassured her, “She’s okay. Duke would not purposely hurt anyone. Clara just has to learn the rules.”

“Of course she does. I do too.” Her voice was a little shaky.

He needed to do a better job of getting back into Sloane’s good graces. “How about I put away the grooming supplies and then meet you in the kitchen? We’ll pack a lunch, then go check on the garden at The Wedding Cottage. You’ll enjoy that, I think, Clara.”

Nathan came from the barn and attached the lead lying over the fence to Duke’s halter. “I’ll take these. Duke and I need to train in the arena on the barrels, anyway.” He grinned. “The three of you have fun.”

The three of them?Exactly what Jonas needed to think about.

In the house, he pulled out peanut butter, jelly, and bread. “You girls make the sandwiches, and I’ll pack up the rest.”

As he packed their lunch, it felt so much like more was happening than friends spending an afternoon going on a picnic together. Sloane had never tried to talk him out of his single status. So, he hadn’t suspected that she was unhappy with their status quo. He frowned. Now that she’d said something, he had to do something about it, but he wasn’t sure what. “Ready?”

Clara nodded. A rare grin lit up her young face.

Sloane smiled at her sister’s enthusiasm. “It looks like we are.”

“Off we go, then.” He loaded them into the utility vehicle and took the meandering dirt road to the cottage while he listened to the girls talk about Duke and his mares.

“Can you teach me to ride?” Clara asked, wiggling in her seat.

She was such an engaging kid. Sloane cast him a curious look. Jonas couldn’t sayno. Not that he would, anyway.

“How about Saturday?” He turned his gaze back to the road. “I can pick Clara up in the morning. Blake, Malorie, and their kids will be here, and Nathan and Izzy. We’re having a family meeting about the rodeo and a barbecue. You can join us when you’re done with work, or I can get Blake to drop her off on his way home.”

“Can I?” Clara turned to Sloane. “Please?” The teen had only been with her sister one day, and already she was settling in as if they’d grown up together.

He could feel Sloane’s assessing gaze on his face before she said, “I guess that will work. When is the rodeo?”

What was she thinking?

“In a couple of weeks.” Clara’s interest in horses might give him the opportunity he needed to include the teen in his family events.

And Sloane, too. But would going on dates with guys she met on Perfect Match keep her too occupied and away from the Lohmen family activities? He would see about that.

That’s where he drew the line. All of his memories included Sloane. His life back then, and even now, would have been empty without his BFF.

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