Predictably, Katie said, “I want to do that.”
“You can.” If she was still here when the fair rolled back into town. He swallowed thickly at the thought. “But you can trust Roddy with Mike. He knows how to care for animals.”
Katie nodded, glancing toward the barn where Roddy saddled an old ranch horse while Evie watched. “I know how to raise animals too. When we lived with Daddy, I had a hamster. I gave it to my teacher when we moved away.”
“I bet you gave that hamster lots of love.” Hayden stood and patted the top of Katie’s cowboy hat. “My grandfather used to say you can learn a little something from everyone, if you just listen.”
Katie nodded. And then she skipped off toward the barn.
“Where are you going?” Hayden called after her.
“To ask Roddy if he’s ever raised a hamster.” Katie pumped her arms and legs in a fast, determined skip-skip.
Hayden hefted the saddlebag and carried it the rest of the way to the barn.
“’Bout time you showed your face,” Rhett teased. He took the saddlebag and strapped it behind the cantle of his saddle. “I was about to send Eve to wake you up.”
“She let me sleep in.” More likely, she was still feeling the awkwardness of sharing a bed and had snuck out. Hayden moved to his horse. “But I’m here. Ready to beat you in a horse race.”
“Red has never beaten Fudge.” Rhett tested the straps on the saddlebag. “Not once when we were in Texas.”
“There’s always a first time,” Hayden warned.
“We’re not racing.” Evie didn’t state it as a question. “Promise me we’re not racing, Hayden.”
“We’re not racing,” Hayden parroted, recalling Gran’s words about Evie being nervous. “This is a beginner’s ride up to Clover Creek.”
“I thought you were going to Homestead Hollow.” Gran joined them, bringing a familiar, large red-and-white-checkered blanket and giving it to Rhett.
“Homestead Hollow. That’s a good two-hour ride, Gran.” Hayden nodded toward Evie. “We’re taking it easy this trip. It’s less than an hour to Clover Creek.” He planned to keep a lead rope on Katie’s horse, for safety purposes.
Gran’s expression clouded as if with disappointment. “Either way, best get a move on.”
*
I can do this.
When Eve had looked into the mirror this morning, she’d felt like a cowgirl in her blue jeans and her borrowed cowboy boots and hat. Now, she wore a riding helmet rather than a cowboy hat, as did Katie. Although Katie’s cowboy hat fit atop her helmet precariously, held on by a string threaded through her cowboy hat crown and tied beneath her chin.
Eve rode a tall, dark-brown horse with white whiskers called Happy.
Before they left, Roddy had told her the old gelding was a plodder. “Slow as molasses. Can’t hardly get him to break into a trot or a gallop anymore.”
“He’ll follow the herd,” Hayden had reassured Eve too. “He likes to mosey.”
He did indeed. They brought up the rear.
Katie rode a smaller brown horse named Star. Star looked like she’d been spoiled with too many oats. Hayden and Roddy had told Eve several times that the mare was perfect for Katie, since nothing startled her. Katie didn’t care what she rode. She was ecstatic to be in the saddle, smiling as if it were Christmas and Santa had spoiled her rotten.
Ahead of Eve, Hayden turned in the saddle. He held a lead rope attached to the horse Katie rode. “How are you doing back there?”
“Peachy,” Eve assured him.
Hayden faced forward and said something to Katie, making her laugh.
He was good with her. Patient and kind, as if Katie was important to him.
Eve hadn’t considered Katie’s feelings when she’d negotiated this marriage to Hayden. Her little girl was going to be crushed if time expired on their nuptials and Hayden hadn’t fallen in love with Eve.