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She hadn’t gotten any presents yet, but everyone she’d seen that morning at Pony Power had wished her a happy thirtieth. She didn’t need a lot of gifts anyway, but she knew her siblings would have something for her. They hadn’t missed a year of her birthday while she’d been off learning how to shoe horses, barrel race, and work ranches.
She glanced toward Pony Power, but Mike’s footsteps approached from the other direction. She nearly dropped the bowl of peas at the sight of him, but thankfully, she caught it before it fell.
He wore dark jeans, a bright blue polo, and that deliciously black cowboy hat. A belt looped around his waist, and the buckle wouldn’t pass muster in the rodeo, but for a family farm, it did just fine.
Mighty fine indeed.
“You ready?” He kept his hands in his pockets as she put the bowl aside and stood.
“I guess,” she said. Denver got up too, did a big stretch that made her smile, and trotted down the steps to greet Mike.
“Hey, buddy,” he said, leaning down to scrub the golden retriever around his ears. “You keepin’ Gerty company, huh?” He smiled, and Gerty loved how he interacted with Denver. She’d always thought she could tell a lot about a person by the way they acted around animals, and she felt herself falling for Mike in that moment.
He looked up at her, those dark eyes asking her so many questions. She went down the steps and right into his arms.
“Happy birthday, baby doll,” he whispered in her ear.
Gerty smiled against his chest. “You got any presents for me?”
“Just this right now.” He leaned down and kissed her, and a floaty, out-of-body feeling encased Gerty. She also felt grounded here with Mike, and she held onto each moment, memorizing it and how she felt.
He pulled away finally, and whispered, “We’re already late.”
“Whose fault is that?” she teased.
“All mine.” He draped his arm around her and grinned toward the big red administration barn. “I’m sure your daddy is goin’ crazy.”
They started the walk toward the barn, and sure enough, Gerty did see Amy open the door and peek out. New, quiet excitement built inside her.
She’d find everyone she loved—and those who loved her—in the barn, and shewasstarving.
“I did get you something,” Mike said about the time they passed the walking rings. “But we have to drive to it.”
Gerty’s mind raced. “Drive to it?” She slowed her step and looked up at him. “Explain that.”
He grinned and took her hand, tugging her along. “After work,” he said.
“Mike,” she protested. “Tell me.”
“You’re late to your own party.”
Gerty knew then that he’d come to get her late on purpose. He’d waited to mention this mysterious gift until they were steps away from the barn. She pulled her hand away. “I’m not happy with you.”
He only laughed, and that ignited the fire in her chest. “Mike.” His name almost sounded like a whine.
He faced her, his grin glorious and complete. “Gerty, you have to let me surprise you sometimes.” He took both of her hands in his, and she nearly melted right then and there. “I just didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten or didn’t get you anything.”
“No one could’ve forgotten,” she grumbled. “Daddy sent about five hundred texts.”
Mike burst out laughing, and any woman who heard him would surely fall head over heels in love with him. Gerty smiled, because his joy was so complete.
He swept a kiss along her hairline. “Come on. Let’s enjoy your party.”He opened the door to the barn, and the scent of sugar and burning candles met her nose. It wasn’t a surprise party, so Gerty heard chatter and laughter coming down the hall before she even made the turn.
She walked past the offices at the front of the building, including where her mom worked, and into the front entrance.
“There she is!” Daddy boomed. “Everyone, one, two, three!”
The crowd assembled there began to singHappy Birthday, and Gerty grinned around at each of them. Keith and Britt stood right beside the desk—and the huge, pink-frosted birthday cake. As un-girly as Gerty was, she did love pink frosting for some reason.
