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Jena looked at her daughter’s big smile and was so happy that she could be a real little girl for the first time. The running was finally over. Kimmie would get to have a childhood.
“How are you doing, Jena?” Doc Ryder came up beside her.
“I’m doing great. Never better.”
“This must be your lovely mother,” he said.
Sean put his arm around her mother. “Mom, this is our local doctor, Dustin Ryder.”
“But everyone in town calls him Doc,” Matt chimed in.
“These two set up an appointment for you tomorrow,” the handsome doctor said to her mom. “I want to look at all your injuries to make sure you are healing properly. I got your records from Albuquerque this morning. I must say, knowing all you’ve been through, you look fantastic.”
“It’s the makeup, Doctor,” her mom said with a wink.
Doc’s brother came up with an older-looking gentleman with a distinct resemblance. Apparently the men in the Ryder family got a double dose of handsome genes.
“Mick, you remember Jena,” Doc said.
“I do,” the man said. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but my Uncle Gary wanted to meet you.”
The Ryder’s uncle took her mom’s hand. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Mrs. Taylor.”
“My name is Janet. May I call you Gary?”
“Of course you may. I would love to have a cup of coffee with you.”
“I would like that,” her mom said.
Jena could see the sparkle in her mother’s eyes she hadn’t seen in a very long time, and that made her happy.
“My nephews told me a little about what you did in New Mexico. I’m thrilled to meet such a strong, heroic woman.”
“I’m sure you understand you would do anything for your children.” Her mom pointed to Kimmie. “That little redheaded beauty is my granddaughter.”
“Mom, Kimmie is having so much fun she doesn’t know we’re here. Do you see that lady on the floor with all the kids?”
Her mother nodded. “She’s got to be my age.”
“Actually, she’s quite a bit older, though you’d never know it. She’s Gretchen, a fixture in Destiny and in the Knight’s home.”
“Who’s the lady that is stacking all the presents?”
“That’s Ethel, Mom,” Matt told her. “She’s the county judge.”
“I’m sure you three will be good friends,” Sean said.
“I hope we can be friends, too, Janet,” the Ryder’s uncle said with a smile.
“Let’s see how the coffee date turns out first, Gary.”
“Absolutely, but I’m glad you called it a ‘date.’ It gives this old man some hope.”
As the party moved into full swing, Jena sat between Sean and Matt, watching Kimmie having the time of her life. All the children, including the early arrivals for the new boys’ ranch Amber Stone was building with her three husbands, were playing with big smiles on their faces.
Kimmie ran up to her. “Mommy, Miss Gretchen said it was time to open my presents.”
“She did?”
