Page 138 of Downfall

“Patience sweetpea.” I murmur. “You’ll see in a minute.”

She bites her lip, scrunching her nose, and I let out a laugh.

The man gets out of the car, greets us, and goes around to the trailer. He drops the ramp and disappears from view and then we all hear it, the sound of hooves.

“Roman…” Rose murmurs.

I look at her and grin.

“Daddy?” Lara says before pulling herself free and running full pelt to where the trailer is.

The man leads the tiny little black pony out and Lara actually squeals as she sees it. It’s already all tacked up, ready to go.

“Roman.” Rose says shaking her head slightly.

“What?” I reply.

“You got her a Shetland Pony?”

“All princesses should know how to ride.” I state picking Lara up, putting her in the saddle and looping her feet into the stirrups.

She’ll need jodhpurs, riding boots, and a hat too but right now she can have a ride around the garden on the lead.

Lara grins from ear to ear. “Is she really mine?”

“It’s a boy.” I say. “His name is Bramble.”

“Bramble.” She says before throwing her arms around the pony’s neck.

“You know Shetlands are absolute shits right?” Rose says smirking.

Yeah I’d heard that. But it’s not like Lara’s going to be doing any of the maintenance. She just gets the fun of riding. The man starts leading the pony on, and Lara sits there, looking around, clearly loving every minute of this.

Rose lets out a chuckle as she watches.

“You’re spoiling her.” She says as I walk back to her.

“Maybe I am.” I reply taking her hand. “But she deserves to be spoiled. You both do.”

She bites her lip, echoing that same expression our daughter made. I wrap my arm around her waist and she tenses just a tiny bit before she relaxes into me.

“Can you ride?” She asks.

“No.” I reply. “Can you?”

She shakes her head. “I had lessons when I was a kid but I don’t remember any of it really.”

“Sofia can ride, she can teach you both if you want?”

She pulls a face then looks over at where our daughter is perched only a few strides ahead. “I think Lara would like that. She’s trusts her already.”

“She trusts you too.” I state. “And the more time we spend together the more of a family we’ll become.”

She looks at me, meeting my gaze and I see that confusion for the briefest of seconds. Yeah, she’s a tough egg to crack but then she always was.

Rose

He’s trying to charm me. I know it. I can see the way he’s acting, see the way he’s spoiling us both.

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