The Rancher's Homecoming by Arlene James

Author:Arlene James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Rex’s Diamond lived up to his name. Callie couldn’t help admiring the animal. His black mane, tail and four black stockings set off a deep red coat relieved only by a small, white, diamond-shaped blaze on the forehead. His prancing gait proudly proclaimed that he knew he was beautiful, but he was just as beautifully behaved. The butternut sorrel stud by which Wes set such store, aptly named Soldier, was a taller, heavier horse, but age had mellowed his disposition. Unfortunately, Bodie literally screamed to go with Rex, holding out her arms and opening and closing her fingers in a grasping motion. Rex good-naturedly consented to parking her in front of him and allowing Callie to tie them together with the paisley shawl she’d brought for that purpose.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered to her daughter as she knotted the cloth. “How did you get so spoiled?” Bodie just kicked a foot complacently and rammed her fingers in her mouth, the chinstrap on her helmet being too restrictive to allow her to get her fist in. Rex snickered, and Callie sent him a quelling glance. “You’re not helping.”

“Is it my fault if I’m irresistible?”

Callie rolled her eyes and went to mount her own horse. If he’d had any real idea how truly irresistible he was, she’d be in deep trouble. Bodie squealed with delight as they started off. Leaning forward, she grasped the saddle horn with both hands and tried to shake it. Rex kept an arm wrapped around her. She bucked and kicked and waved her hands, either trying to hurry things along or just enjoying herself. Then suddenly, several minutes into their ride, she seemed to look down and realize how far from the ground she sat.

Her little eyes went wide, and she fell back against Rex’s chest with such force that he grunted. Her tiny fingers dug into his forearm.

“Ow. Her fingernails are sharp.”

“Stop. She’s scared.”

He immediately brought the horse to a halt. Callie rode the bay up close to them and reached over to pat her daughter on the knee. Earlier, when Rex had donned a rather battered straw cowboy hat, he’d offered Callie an old baseball cap, which she now wore with sunglasses, her chin-length hair tucked behind her ears. She wanted to tell him just how well he wore his hat, but she didn’t dare. Instead, she pushed back the cap and shifted the glasses to the brim before addressing her daughter.

“It’s okay, baby. Mama’s here. It’s okay.”

She caught Bodie by the hand and started her horse slowly forward, Rex nudging his mount along with hers. Soon Bodie relaxed. Before long, she was kicking and squirming and grasping the saddle horn again. They rode to the first barn and found it tightly packed. Rex told her that the seasoned hay had been shifted to the front and the new cutting was stored in the back. They dismounted there and sat in the shade of a tree, sharing drinks and conversation.

“So how do you really think Dad’s doing?” Rex asked after a few minutes.

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