Page 24 of A Rancher's Heart
“Be good,” Caleb warned, pressing a kiss to Sasha’s head after leaving his glass in the sink.
“Always,” she said without a blink.
God, he was in so much trouble down the road.
He returned to the barn, thinking hard as he went. He’d have to spend a little extra time making sure the girls were comfortable, but he wasn’t about to let them chase Tamara away. He couldn’t continue on his own. From what he’d seen so far, Tamara was just the type of person he’d hoped for in his daughter’s lives—firm and yet with a sense of humour.
He was still somewhat distracted as he wandered through the doors and nearly walked into Ashton.
The foreman put up a hand to stop them from bumping. “Open your eyes, lad. I’ve no desire to be bounced to the ground.”
“Sorry, Ashton,” Caleb said. “You’re usually a much bigger target. You don’t have a horse beside you.”
“Your brothers aim to put me out of a job,” Ashton complained before proving his grumbling was all a show. “It’s good to have Walker back. I might let him take over working with Dewdrop, if you don’t mind.”
Caleb shrugged. “You know the animals best, you and Luke. But I thought we’d sold her.”
Ashton made a rude noise. “Luke offered to sell, but no way was I letting her go to that woman.”
Caleb hid his smile. There was only one female their foreman referred to asthat woman. Ashton and Sonora were involved in a long-standing feud.
Feud, or something else? Not that Ashton would ever admit it, but Caleb was pretty sure the man was sweet on the woman who lived a couple of range roads over from their homestead.
“That’s not very nice,” he chided. “Luke said he’d sell the animal. We’re going to get a bad reputation if you go back on our word.”
Ashton grumbled for a moment before lifting his face sheepishly. “I gave her a different horse,” he admitted. “She didn’t need something young and wild, she needed something steady and reliable, so I let her have Sampson.”
Caleb glanced away because there was no way he could stop from grinning this time. The man was a sentimental fool. Sampson was probably worth twice as much as the unruly young filly, at least in the short term.
Ashton seemed to sense what Caleb wasn’t saying. He let out a gruff noise. “I know, but it’d be a shame to hear she’d broken her neck trying to ride a horse that was too much for her.”
“I agree,” Caleb said. “Who’d you fight with at Ginny’s annual barbecue if Ms. Sonora was no longer around?”
Ashton gave him a dirty look. “Don’t you sass me, young man, I can still turn you over my knee—” He eyed Caleb before shaking his head. “File that. I can still make your life hell, but I’m not putting my back out trying to wrestle any of you monsters to the ground.”
“Good choice,” Caleb said before slapping Ashton on the shoulder then heading through the barn and into the arena. The momentary distraction from worrying about his girls was welcome, and when he found his brothers working with the newest horses, he stopped and watched contentedly for a moment.
Their display of skill was undeniable. Even Dustin had the potential to grow into a great horseman.
Caleb stood with a foot up on the railing as the boys rode smoothly around the arena, taking turns watching each other and analyzing their moves. Adjusting gaits and soothing restless beasts.
Walker spotted him and waved a hand, using his knees to guide his horse to where Caleb waited. “Want to join us? We’re going to work for another couple of hours then go into town to Longhorn’s steakhouse for dinner.”
“I’ll help, but take a rain check on the steaks.” Although he was sorely tempted. The opportunity to catch up with Walker was just that, a temptation. “I need to stick close to home the next few of days. Give the girls a chance to get used to having Tamara around.”
Luke was there as well, sitting tall in the saddle as he listened to Caleb’s final comments. “It’ll be good when she’s settled. I know you want to be around for your kids, but you need time to yourself as well.” He grinned across at Walker, his eyes flashing with amusement. “Might have to take him out on the town and see if he still remembers what to do with a woman.”
“Shut up,” Caleb said dryly.
“That’s right, Luke. Don’t be rude.” Walker waggled a finger at their brother. “You know it’s not that he’s forgotten, it’s just it’s been so long he might end up being a trifle quick on the trigger.”
Luke snickered, far too amused for someone whose life expectancy was not much more than his next breath. “That’s not the reputation we want bandied around about the Stone boys. Goes against our name.” He gave a lewd wink.
Caleb shook his head as he wandered away, tossing over his shoulder. “You guys are a bunch of teenagers.”
“That’s the point.We’renot, but right about now, you probably are,” Luke teased.
“Stop slacking off,” Dustin shouted from the far side of the arena.
