Page 9 of Due North
“Dolly? As in—”
“Parton,” Penny said on a snort. “Anyway, she’s legally yours, so where do we go from here?”
“I need to call my boss. I didn’t buy a horse, but if you’re sure she’s ours, then I’ll take her to the barn for now.”
I didn’t know if Dolly was ours, but there was no way I was letting her go without a fight. Not when I had wanted one since I was a kid. This horse was like a Mickey Mantle baseball card for me. I wasn’t letting her out of my sight.
Penny helped me get the horse unloaded and then walked toward the gate, opening it for me to walk the horse through. “I’ll have her paperwork transferred to the owner once you get that sorted out.” She handed me her card.
“Oh, trust me, we’ll work it out. This girl will fit right in here at Heavenly Lane. We’re a ranch full of one-offs and misfits.”
Her laughter filled the air before she spoke. “I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. You both look smitten with each other already. If you decide it’s a mistake, call me, and I’ll pick her up.”
I waved my hand in the air. “It might be a mistake, but I want the horse. As long as you’ve been paid, we’ll sort the rest out on our end.”
She gave me a thumbs up and a wave. “Good enough, Tex. Once you have it all figured out, send me an email, and I’ll forward the paperwork. All my info is on the card.”
Tobi walked up just as Penny pulled away from the ranch. “Wow, she’s beautiful, Tex.”
“Right? She’s supposedly ours, but I have no idea what’s going on.”
“I guess you better call Heaven and try to sort it out.”
Tobi grabbed Sundance’s reins, and I grabbed Dolly’s lead, and we headed toward the barn. I didn’t know what was going on, but there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in a Wisconsin summer that I was giving this horse back.
We passed the riding ring and paused. I wondered if the expression I wore showed the frustration I felt inside.
“Something on your mind, boss?”
I guess it did.
I turned to Tobi and eyed her. “I’ve been thinking about something for a while now. I was hoping you’d be interested in helping me.”
We started walking again, and she nodded. “You know I’ll help in any way I can, but I don’t know if I’m qualified to do the job.”
“You are,” I assured her. “It’s about how we use the horses here on the ranch. You have a soft touch with them, which is why I put you in charge of them rather than any of the other hands.”
“Well, as you know, I hold a degree in equine studies. I’m all ears if you’d like to talk it out.”
I nodded once. “I do, but I need to get some thoughts down on paper first, and then we’ll get together and go over it?”
“Absolutely, boss,” she agreed. “I’m always ready to help move Heavenly Lane forward.”
“I know, which is why I think you’re the perfect partner for what I have in mind.” I noticed Cecelia walking toward the house when we neared. “Cece,” I called, and she turned, waving until she saw both horses.
“Well, hello, Caleb and friends,” she said with a laugh.
Damn, it was good to hear her laugh. I understood her tears, but hearing her laughter lifted the black cloud just a little bit.
“Hello,” I said, stopping in front of her. “Where’s your friend?”
She pointed behind her at the house. “Being rocked by a certain grandma.”
I squeezed her arm, still holding Dolly’s reins in the other. “That’s good, right? She’s letting you out of her sight now.”
Her head bobbed just a hair, and she gave me a sad attempt at a smile. “She knows Amity’s caring touch means she’s safe. You and Amity are the only two she trusts when I’m not there.”
I couldn’t help it. I beamed. A rough and tumble cowboy was beaming because a baby liked him. What was wrong with me?
