Page 84 of A Rancher's Heart
Chapter Nineteen
It was the first time Caleb remembered having more secrets the day after Christmas than before.
“Will there be any other little girls like Emma and me? The twins aren’t as old as us, but they’re nice.” Sasha bounced forward and leaned up on the back of his seat. “Can we go to the barn? I want to see the kittens. Do they have goats?”
“Is your seatbelt done up?” Tamara interrupted.
Sasha didn’t break stride, but she did slide her hips back a few inches. Caleb heard the click as she redid her seatbelt. “Can we go tobogganing? Do we have to do chores while we’re there? If we do, and there’s chickens, I can help with the chickens so Emma won’t have to. Right, Emma? What would you like to help with if we have to do chores?”
Caleb peeked in the rearview mirror so he could watch as Emma spoke quietly to Sasha before turning and tapping Tamara on the shoulder.
Tamara twisted in her seat. “Yes, sweetie? Do you have a chore you want to help with? Although I don’t think you have to worry, because we’re going for a party. We won’t be there long enough to help with chores.”
Caleb glanced off the road for a moment as a whisper drifted from Emma, too faint for him to hear.
“Nope, you don’t have to talk to anybody if you don’t want. Sometimes my sister Karen goes whole days without saying a word, but that’s more because she’s trying to be a pain in the butt.”
“Tamara!” Shock rang in Sasha’s nine-year-old voice. “That’s not nice.”
Tamara looked genuinely surprised. “Pain in the butt? The words, or the sentiment? I love my sister, but sometimes that’s what she is.” Tamara turned to Caleb in appeal. “Tell me I can say ‘pain in the butt’.”
“I seem to have heard it three times in the last minute, so I don’t think you have any trouble saying it.”
Giggles erupted from the back seat.
Tamara winked before rotating to the back again. “Remember, Auntie Dare lives with my family now, so I’m sure she has talked about what amazing little girls you two are, but if anybody forgets their manners, or if you need a break, come and find me, or Daddy, or Auntie Dare. And hey, you get to see your new cousin Joey again. He’s going to be a lot bigger than the last time.”
“He won’t be able to walk,” Sasha informed her as if that were the end of that discussion. “Iwant to play with the twins.”
Tamara turned back, a deep sigh of satisfaction escaping before she turned her smile on him. “I’m glad you agreed to making the trip. It’s a long way to go for one day, but it’ll be good to see everyone. I know Dare will appreciate it, as well.”
Before he could stop himself he grabbed her hand where it lay resting on the console between them. “Figured it was about the best Christmas present we could give you. The boys are doing my chores, so there’s no rush to get back.”
He squeezed her fingers then forced himself to let go, gripping the steering wheel and staring ahead as if it was the first time he’d seen this stretch of highway instead of the millionth.
Caleb could feel her looking at him, but it was too soon to reveal his cards. He stayed focused until Tamara gave up, distracted by something else.
“Hey, I brought something along.” She shook it in the air. “Wait until you hear this.”
It was the USB that Walker had given him, and she slipped it into the dash of the truck and fiddled with the buttons as he watched with amusement. “You’re kidding me. I didn’t know this truck could do that.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t know your brother could dothis.”
She hit play then turned up the volume. They were in the middle of a country-and-western song, familiar words with a simple guitar playing in the background instead of a full band, but the tune was catchy, and the performance solid, and he tapped his fingers in time with the rhythm. “Not bad. I hope that’s not pirated.”
“Daddy. That’s Uncle Walker,” Sasha chided him.
Caleb listened in shock, but after a few more beats it was clear his daughter was telling the truth. “Okay, that’s a puzzler. I knew he could sing, but that’s not half bad.”
“That’s better than not half bad. You never told me Walker was a singer.”
“He isn’t. I mean…” He gestured to the radio and the music pouring from the speakers. “Okay, heis, but he’s never done anything more than help get us through singing Happy Birthday without breaking people’s eardrums.”
Tamara grinned. “Well then, I think it’s a perfectly marvelous Christmas present.”
“Me too,” Sasha piped up. “Maybe I can get Uncle Walker and Ashton to play at my birthday next year.”
Caleb glanced at Tamara. “That’s a long way away. You’re already planning your party?”
