A Rancher's Pride(62)



He’d missed Kayla more than he should have this week.

He’d missed Becky, too. Every night, he made sure to talk with her before bedtime, at least as much as he could with his limited vocabulary. Though he now spent his evenings in the office, thumbing through the sign language dictionary, the solitary study sessions weren’t enough.

And not nearly as much fun as learning from Kayla.

As he approached the house, she came to the back door and looked at him through the screen. She nodded shortly. “You’re later than usual.”

“Had to hoist a lost calf out of an arroyo,” he said. “Filthy job. I showered out in the bunkhouse.”

“Do they get lost like that often?” she asked.

“Often enough.” He braced one booted foot on the second step and leaned against the railing. Delaying, just as he’d done with the shower.

“Time for Becky to come in and wash up yet?” he asked.

“Yes. She’s over by the barn. But—”

“I’ll get her.”

“Sam, wait.” When he stopped, she hesitated, then continued. “She’s playing with Pirate.”

“Don’t I know it.” He could tell he’d surprised her with the news. Did she think he didn’t know what went on around here? “I’ve seen the mutt hanging around every night when I come home.” Turning back, he headed toward the west side of the yard. He’d only made it halfway to the barn when Becky ran from around the corner of it. The dog bounded at her heels.

Before he could say a word or do anything to chase the animal off, Becky raised her hand and tapped her thumb against her chin. She held her first two fingers in a V near her cheek, forming the sign he’d once playfully used with Kayla.

“Daddy, see.”

His chest swelled with emotion, and hell, with a little pride, too. He could understand his daughter. He could talk with her.

“Okay,” he signed, and waited.

She turned and clapped her hands, and the dog sank to his haunches.

Next, she raised her hands in the air, palms skyward, and the puppy sat up and begged.

Finally, she swung one hand in a huge circle, and that darned pup rolled over on his back in the dirt and lay there till she’d given him a belly rub.

Becky’s laughter almost drowned out the sound of the puppy’s barks.

Sam shook his head. “All right, that’s it.”

He turned abruptly and nearly crashed into Kayla. He’d been so caught up in the performance, he hadn’t noticed she had come down from the porch and moved to stand almost beside him.

Her eyes wide, she said urgently, “Pirate’s the only friend Becky gets to play with out here. I know you don’t like Porter, and with good reason. Very good reason. But that doesn’t mean you need to cut Becky off from playing with the puppy.”

Nodding, he waved Becky over to him. When she came to his side, he took her by the hand and led her to his pickup.

“Sam?” Kayla came up behind them. “Where are you going?”

He gave her a long, thoughtful look before replying. “Why don’t you come along and see?” he asked. “Instead of jumping to conclusions?”



KAYLA WATCHED SAM SETTLE Becky in the backseat of his truck. Then, to her surprise, he opened the tailgate and allowed Pirate to jump onto the flatbed. He probably wanted to make darn sure the pup went back to his own home.

Unless he planned to take him somewhere else and drop him off.

Her heart told her he wouldn’t do a thing like that. But obviously, he also didn’t plan to give Kayla an explanation. And he didn’t plan to wait. If she wanted to know what he was up to, she would have to go along for the ride.

After a word to Sam, she ran into the house to let Sharleen know they were leaving, then she dashed back out to the truck.

They made a short, quiet trip to the neighboring ranch. She spent most of it looking over her shoulder, watching her niece sign to Pirate through the back window of the truck’s cab.

When they reached Porter’s house, Sam let the dog out.

Pirate barked and jumped up and down beside the truck, trying to get to Becky, who was struggling to unfasten her seat belt. Kayla shook her head at Becky. Who knew what would happen between Sam and Porter, and she didn’t want her niece anywhere near them.

She lowered her passenger window so she could hear whatever went on.

A moment later, the front door swung open and Porter came out onto the porch, glaring at Sam. “What do you want?”

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