“The lighting guys are reworking the living room right now,” he explained. “The scene they shot the other day wasn’t quite what they wanted. They’re shooting a small portion again this afternoon.”
This whole new world of filming was so foreign to her, but the process was rather fascinating. “I plan on heading into town and picking up some feed later,” she told him. “I guess I’ll miss watching that.”
And more than likely miss seeing Ian again—which was probably for the best. She needed space after that simple dinner and arousing kiss last night. He hadn’t been by the stables and she hadn’t seen him around the grounds, so he was probably working...which was what she needed to concentrate on.
“I thought I’d take Emily with me and maybe run her by that new toy store in town,” Cassie went on. “She’s learning to walk now and maybe I can find her something she can hold on to and push around to strengthen her little legs.”
Damon laughed. “Once she starts walking, she’ll be all over this place.”
Cassie smiled. “I can’t wait to see how she looks in a saddle.”
Tessa came around Don Pedro and started brushing his other side. “Why don’t you take her for a ride now? I’m sure she’d love it and it’s such a nice day out. We’re done for a while anyway.”
The idea was tempting. “I still need to get feed, though.”
“I’ll send Nash to get it,” Damon spoke up. “He won’t mind.”
Cassie leaned her head against her father’s strong shoulder. “Thanks, Dad.”
Patting her arm, Damon placed a kiss on top of her head. “Anytime. Now go get my granddaughter and start training her right.”
Excited for Emily’s first ride, Cassie nearly sprinted to the main house and through the back door to the kitchen, where Linda was washing dishes.
“Hey, Linda.” Cassie glanced over the island to see Emily in her Pack ’n Play clapping her hands and gibbering to her animals. “I’m going to take Emily off your hands for a bit.”
“Oh, she’s no trouble at all.” Linda rinsed a pan and set it in the drainer before drying her hands and turning. “I actually just sat her in there. We’ve been watching the action in the living room. She likes all the lights.”
Cassie scooped up her girl and kissed her cheek. “I’m sure she does. She’d probably like to crawl all over and knock them down.”
Laughing, Linda crossed to the double ovens in the wall and peeked inside the top one. “I’m sure she would, but I held on tight. The cranberry muffins are almost done if you’d like one.”
Yeah, she’d love about six warm, gooey muffins dripping with butter, but she’d resist for the sake of her backside.
“Maybe later. I’m taking Emily for her first ride.”
A wide smile blossomed across Linda’s face. “Oh, how fun. She’s going to love it.”
“I hope so,” Cassie said. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
When Cassie stepped back into the barn, Tessa had already saddled up Oliver, the oldest, most gentle horse in the stables. Cassie absolutely couldn’t wait to see Emily’s excitement as she took her first horseback ride.
“He’s all ready for you,” Tessa exclaimed, reaching for Emily.
Cassie mounted the horse and lifted Emily from Tessa’s arms. Settling her daughter in front of her and wrapping an arm around her waist, Cassie reached for the rein and smiled down to Tessa.
“Get a few pics of us when we’re in the field, would you?”
Tessa slid her hand into her pocket and held up her phone. “I’m set. You guys look so cute up there,” she said, still grinning. “My niece already looks like a pro.”
Cassie tugged on the line and steered Oliver out of the barn and into the field. The warm late-spring sunshine beat down on them and Cassie couldn’t help but smile when Emily clapped her hands and squealed as the horse started a light trot.
“This is fun, isn’t it, sweetie?” Cassie asked. “When you get big, Mommy will buy you your own horse and he will be your best friend.”
Cassie didn’t know how long they were riding, and she didn’t really care. Memories were being made, and even though Emily wouldn’t recall this day at all, Cassie would cherish it forever. She thought of her own mother and held Emily a little tighter. Her mom lived in her heart and there was an attic full of pictures and mementos to remember her by.
Turning Oliver to head back toward the front fields, Cassie swallowed as new memories overtook her. That attic wasn’t just a room to store boxes and old furniture. Now the attic was a place where she’d given herself to a man...a dangerous man. He made her feel too much, want too much.
And what was with him wanting to eat dinner with her and Emily? Not that she minded, but having him in her house just once was enough to have her envisioning so much more than just a friendly encounter.