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“We could give him one.”
“Maybe.” Rush decided to change the subject. “Do you have any pets at home?”
“I can’t have a pet. Andre’s allergic.”
“That’s too bad.” Rush remembered how she’d loved the small pets that had come to his clinic.
“Will Bucket be happy to see me?”
“He will. He’s a friendly dog. But he’s not a little dog. He’s more like middle-sized. He gets dirty, so you won’t want to hold him. But he loves to chase sticks, and he’s really smart. He even helps us herd the cows and horses.”
“Do you have snow . . . ?” She spoke through a yawn.
“Sometimes.”
“Can we have music on the radio?”
“Sure.” Rush found an easy listening station that played Christmas music. The strains of “The Little Drummer Boy” drifted from the speakers. He kept the volume low.
The next time he glanced in the rearview mirror, Clara was asleep.
Chapter 5
It was almost twilight when Rush turned off the highway south of Branding Iron and drove down the narrow lane toward home. The last rays of sunset gleamed on the snow as they drove through the ranch gate. By now, Clara was wide awake. She bounced and squirmed in her booster seat, looking out the window and peppering Rush with questions.
“Are we here?”
“Where are the horses? Where’s Bucket?”
“Can we play in the snow?”
“Where will I sleep?”
Tired as he was, Rush answered each question as patiently as he could. But the last one had him stumped. Before leaving, he’d had no chance to get her a bed. Unless his partners had taken care of the problem, he would spend the night on the sofa, while Clara slept in his bed. “We’ll see,” was all he said.
As he pulled the Hummer up to the house, the porch light came on. He climbed wearily to the snowy ground, retrieved her suitcase from the back of the vehicle, and came around to open the door and help the little girl out of her booster seat. She clung to his coat with one hand, clasping Snowflake with the other.
“Oh!” She gazed at the snow, seeing it up close for the first time. “It looks so soft and fluffy. Can I touch it, Daddy?”
“Hang on.” Setting the suitcase on the porch, Rush scooped a handful of snow off the railing and held it for her. She let go of his coat and poked it with a small, pink finger.
“It’s cold!” She giggled, pulling her finger away, then poking it again. “Does it taste good?”
“It tastes cold and wet, like ice, and it might not be good for you.” Rush tossed the snow away, put Clara down, and picked up her suitcase. “Come on, let’s go inside and meet my friends.”
“Are they nice men?”
“Very nice. Come on.”
She shrank shyly against Rush’s legs, holding Snowflake close as he opened the door and ushered her inside. Travis and Conner were waiting in the kitchen. They greeted her with friendly smiles. “Howdy, Miss Clara.” Conner was all Texas charm, melting away her shyness. “Welcome to the ranch. I’m Conner. Did you have a nice trip?”
“Uh-huh. But it was long.” Clara looked him up and down. “Are you a real cowboy?”
Conner grinned. “I’m as real as they come. Travis here is still learning but he’s co
ming along. Would you like to be a cowgirl?”
“Uh-huh. But not tonight. I’m kind of tired. Where’s my room?”
