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Ruby’s little forehead crinkled further, and Macie bit back a sigh. Arguing with a three-year-old never ended well.
“Then you’re the same age as our black pony, Sammy,” Holt said.
This changed Ruby’s expression in an instant. “Can I ride him?”
He didn’t hesitate. “If you can learn the rules.”
Ruby was riveted, and Macie was pretty focused as well, wondering what rules Holt could possibly be talking about.
“What rules?” Ruby asked, her eyes going wide.
“Rule number one, listen to your mom,” he said.
Holt wasn’t even looking at her, but Macie’s neck warmed at his reference to her.
Ruby gave an enthusiastic nod.
“Rule number two, learn how to take care of the pony,” Holt continued. “Then you can ride him.”
“Well, I can do that.” Ruby set her hands on her tiny hips.
Macie held back a smile.
“I’ll bet you can, little darlin’,” Holt said. “You’re almost four, after all.”
Macie knew that they were in Texas, and endearments were a way of speech, so there was no reason for her to tear up when Holt called her daughter little darlin’. Just because Ruby had never experienced a father figure in her young memory, didn’t mean that Macie had to go all melty around the first male relative to give her daughter some attention. Right now wasn’t the time to remember that Knox hadn’t seen his daughter in nearly a year.
“We’d better get to the ranch, then,” Holt said. “Sammy’s getting hungry about now, and I can show you how to feed him.”
Ruby looked like a little girl who’d just been told she was a real princess.
Holt lifted the booster from one of the suitcases, then picked up the second suitcase and set off toward the exit, Ruby skipping alongside him.
Macie stared for a few seconds, then realized they were nearly to the exit, and she was still rooted to the ground. She hurried after them, pulling the remaining suitcase with her. Maybe coming to Prosper for the summer had been the right decision after all.
