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“Do you all have something you should be doing? When I leave you in charge, I expect things to run smoothly,” he barks as he takes off down the hallway toward the kitchen.
Hudson goes after him, I guess to try to smooth things over.
I grip Olive in my arms, and she begins to stir and get upset.
“Oh, don’t worry, gorgeous girl. He’ll come around,” Mabel whispers before looking up at me. “She’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing her home to all of us, so we can enjoy her as well. I’m happy to take her when you want to work with the horses.”
“Thanks.” I smile. “I might need that help. She’s so used to having me with her all the time. I think it’s good for her and me to have a little separation sometimes, but right now, I think I need to get her fed and down for a sleep. Did she sleep in the car, Isla?” I turn to my friend.
She shakes her head. “Like I said, she’s been unsettled.”
“That’s okay.” I nod to the bags Dad dropped on the floor when he arrived. “I’ll get this set up, give her a bottle, and put her down.” I hoist Olive on my hip and move to grab the cot, but Harley beats me to it.
“I’ll help. After all, I’ve already missed out on a year of her life. I don’t want to miss anymore.”
“She’s not one yet… she will be in a week.”
“Oh, my goodness, we can throw her a party,” Sybil announces, and they all murmur their agreement. “Maybe Tally will bake her a cake.”
It’s then I notice her back in the doorway. Our eyes connect, and she gives me a tight smile and nods.
“Thank you,” I say. “Now, let’s get her to bed, or she will be horrible later on.”
After finally getting Olive to settle, I ask Sybil to keep an ear out for her so I can go down and check on the horses. She was more than happy to. I forgot how good it is to have family surrounding me. I walk past Isla, who’s walking with Hudson. She’s flirting with him—I wonder if he even notices it. She’s paying too much attention to what he’s saying and giggling while playing with her hair.
“Hey, Isla, what are your plans?” I inquire. She says something to Hudson and then heads in my direction.
“Hey,” she greets me. “I think I’m going to head back. If you need me, I’m always a phone call or a message away.”
I pull her into a hug. “Thanks so much for being my constant support and friend over the years. Most friends would’ve abandoned me long ago. I appreciate your friendship.”
She squeezes me. “I’ve got your back. Always have, always will.”
We release each other. “When will you leave?” I ask.
“Now seems like a good idea, I think.”
“I’m just heading down to the horses. So thanks again for everything. I’ll message and let you know how things go.”
Her eyes brighten. “And you need to keep me informed if anything happens with the spunky racer guy, Sebastian.”
I shake my head, smiling. “Nothing is going to happen there.”
Her hands go to her hips, and she gives me a pointed glare. “Just see what does or doesn’t happen. Be open to possibilities.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” We say our goodbyes, and she climbs in her car and heads off. I turn in the direction of the little barn.
With my head down, I make my way to the stall where I left the three beauties we picked up this morning. Their whinnying sounds off as I approach. I still need to go and see Holly. Knowing her, she’ll probably nip me to tell me she’s mad at me.
Cute giggles catch my attention, and I follow the sound. Before I can catch myself, I have a little girl wrapped around my legs.
“You’re the horse lady,” she states perfectly. Her hair is in two braids on either side of her head—it has changed since I last saw her chatting with Olive.
“Oh, hello, you.” She clings to me, so I maneuver my way out of her embrace and squat down to her level. “What are you up to?” She wraps her arms around my neck.
“Rylee, you probably shouldn’t do that to strangers.”
My chest flutters as Sebastian comes to a stop in front of me. I take him in from knee height. He grins down at Rylee and me while clutching a wiggling Ruby in his arms.
