Page 44 of Christmas with the Cowboy
Reed was quiet for a moment as he debated options, then he said simply, “Enough said.”
“Agreed.”
“I mean it. No more talks with Trenna.”
“I never planned to have the first one. It just happened.”
Reed directed his gaze forward. “Stop worrying about me.”
Daniel let out a breath that clearly said,As if.
Reed did not respond because, now that he was a dad, he got it. But the difference between him and Lex was that he was old enough to take care of himself.
Five minutes later, they wheeled into Duffy’s “horse ranch,” which consisted of a neatly kept vintage double-wide, a tiny yard, a big barn, and twenty acres of pasture. Six horses were gathered around a feeder, and all raised their perfect heads as Daniel drove by.
Duffy had high standards and he had high prices to match, but his horses were exactly what he said they’d be. If he said an animal was quiet and kid-ready, then that’s what it would be.
The little mare Daniel had come to see was a beauty, a dainty sorrel with a full blaze and honey-colored mane and tail. Duffy led her around, picked up all four feet, demonstrated the groundwork, jumped on her bareback, then saddled her up and put her through her paces.
“Do you want my granddaughter to ride her?” he asked when he was done, keeping his voice low so that his five-year-old granddaughter, who was clinging to the rails of the round pen, didn’t hear him.
“Maybe I could ride her instead?” Reed said.
After Reed’s ride, the deal was made, and Daniel arranged to pick up the mare three days before Christmas.
“I’d love a Christmas morning surprise, but the Duffys will be in Colorado for Christmas.”
“I don’t think Lex will care.” Reed glanced out the side window at the passing scenery. His dad did drive him crazy—first by butting into his life, then by making his heart swell by buying his granddaughter a beautiful mare.
“Think it’s ever going to snow?” he asked after a couple silent miles.
“Tomorrow.”
Reed sent his dad a frowning look. “Says the weather app or your rheumatism?” Because his app said no snow for at least a week.
Daniel smiled. “My back never lies. Snow tomorrow.”
*
“You’re sure aboutthis?” Jill cupped the paper hot chocolate mug in both hands as she lifted it to her lips.
“Have you ever known me to say something I don’t mean?” Trenna was half done with her amazing cocoa while Jill had just started. She made herself keep her cup on the wooden picnic table while her friend drank. It had snowed the previous evening, and the town of Marietta was utterly charming as always, with its profusion of decorations and window displays. She and Jill had decided to do some Christmas shopping and grab lunch, but instead they cheated and ducked into Sage’s Chocolate Shop for an amazing treat, which they followed up with to-die-for cocoa. There was a lot to be said for death by chocolate.
“You said you weren’t relieved about Mark not showing up for the group thing the other night, and I know for a fact you were.” She smiled at Trenna. “I can read you, my friend.”
Trenna widened her eyes and stared at Jill. “Read this.”
Jill laughed. “You mean it when you say my mom and sister can use your apartment over Christmas?”
“It isn’t like I don’t have another place to stay. I’m happy to do it, and I know that the hotels fill up rapidly.” Which was why Jill’s mom needed a place to stay. Jill’s apartment was filled to capacity, and with no rooms available, she’d been at her wits’ end as to how to handle her mother’s last-minute announcement that she no longer had to work a holiday shift as scheduled and was coming to Marietta, too.
“What about Jay?”
Trenna waved a hand. “I’m not worried about him. I think he’s done all he’s going to do.” She smiled as she relented and raised her cup to her lips. “Besides, I have a secret weapon.”
“Reed?”
Trenna’s chin jerked to her chest. “No. Why would you say that?” Jill hadn’t moved to Marietta until well after the Reed years, and while she knew he and Trenna dated, and that he was back, she had no reason to think that he was once again part of Trenna’s life. “Bruno. My neighbor’s scary dog. I’m babysitting him over the holidays. Something about no kennel wanting to take him…” She sipped again. “I feel safe.”
