Summer Nights (Fool's Gold #8)(34)

“I’d love to.”

Montana carefully picked up her daughter and handed her over. Annabelle took her gently, supporting her head and cradling her body.

Skye was bright-eyed, with a perfect rosebud mouth and tiny little hands. She was small, barely weighing anything at all. “She’s so precious. I would spend my whole day staring at her.”

“I do,” Montana admitted with a laugh. “I’ve become one of those annoying women who only wants to talk about her child. To me, she’s a miracle. Simon is just as crazy about her. He races home to see her. Cece, our poodle, is totally in love with her, too. Skye gets greeted first when Cece comes in with Simon.”

Annabelle knew that Cece was more than a pet. The toy poodle was also a service dog who worked with children receiving medical care at the hospital. Because of her lack of dander and ability to be kept clean, she was allowed in the burn ward, where Dr. Simon Bradley worked his magic.

“You have the perfect family,” Annabelle murmured, gently rocking the little girl. Big green eyes stared up at her.

“I do.” Montana relaxed back against the sofa. “Simon and I are so lucky. We both want to have more kids, but first we’re going to enjoy every second we have with Skye.”

Annabelle lightly touched the baby’s perfect, tiny hands. “How could you not instantly fall in love with her?”

“Feeling the twinge?” Montana asked. “I’ve been getting that from a lot from people.”

“Some,” Annabelle admitted. “I was married before and I figured we’d have kids. When the marriage ended, I was glad we didn’t. But now…”

“Would it be tacky to ask about Shane? I’m hearing rumors.”

Annabelle hoped she didn’t blush. “There’s nothing much to say. We’re friends. He’s teaching me to ride for the Máa-zib ceremony fundraiser. The Dance of the Horse.”

“He’s a good-looking cowboy. That’s kind of irresistible.”

Annabelle smiled. “Maybe. A little.”

He was also an excellent kisser and sometimes, when he looked at her like she was the last woman on earth, her knees went more than a little weak.

“He would be an easy guy to fall for,” she admitted.

“Is that bad?” Montana asked.

“I don’t know. He has issues, but then, so do I.”

“Love is worth the risk.”

“So speaks the woman who has it all.”

* * *

“TROUBLE IN PARADISE?” Rafe asked.

Shane stared at Priscilla. He wasn’t much of a pachyderm expert, but if he had to guess, he would say she wasn’t happy.

“I don’t know,” Shane admitted. “She’s not interacting with the pregnant mares anymore.”

“Maybe it was a fling.” Rafe chuckled.

Shane narrowed his gaze. “You want to be responsible for her? Because I’m happy to tell Mom you volunteered.”

Rafe raised his arms in a gesture of surrender and took a step back. “No, thanks. You’re doing a great job.”

“I figured you’d say something like that.” He turned back to the trailer, where not one, not two, but four horses were being unloaded, and held in a groan. As promised, Mayor Marsha had come through with animals suitable for riding.

He’d tried to get out of the purchase, but when he’d balked, his mother had simply written a check. Now the horses and gear were being delivered. Horses he didn’t want for him to teach little girls he didn’t know how to ride.

“You’ll be fine,” Rafe assured him.

“I don’t think so.” He squinted as a fifth animal was led down the ramp. “Hold on a damn minute. What the hell is that?”

Rafe glanced toward the trailer and chuckled. “Looks like a pony to me.”

“I said no ponies. I hate ponies. Mean-spirited little shits.” He stalked toward the guy leading a small brown pony down the ramp. “Stop. There’s no pony. I didn’t buy a pony.”

“I know,” the driver said cheerfully. “You’re getting him for free.”

“I don’t want him.”

“He’s actually a pretty good guy. Name’s Reno.”

Shane assumed the guy meant the pony rather than himself. “No ponies,” he said between gritted teeth.

The driver grunted. “Okay. If you insist.”

“I do.”

The man tied Reno to the fence and walked toward the other four horses. “Where do you want them?”

“Over here. I’ll keep them close to each other while they get settled.” He’d prepared four stalls in the barn.

Rafe joined them. It didn’t take long for them to get the horses settled. Shane compared the items delivered with the invoice and carefully crossed off the line about Reno being “thrown in for good measure.” He and Rafe then waited while the truck driver called his office.

“You got to admit, the pony’s funny,” Rafe said.

“Not to me.”

“Good thing Mom’s not here. She would insist he stay.”

“Then I’m glad they left for Tahoe this morning.” He glared at his brother. “She’s not to know about this.”