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Matt nodded, and he looked over to the pair of them. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders, Boone. She’ll figure it out.”
Yeah, she would. Boone knew that too—intellectually. His father’s heart still worried that she’d be hurt in the process, and she’d already been through something terribly painful. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and keep the world out for just a little while. Just until she remembered how amazing she was.
He’d known she hadn’t wanted this birthday luncheon, but Mike had told him it would be great.Gerty will come around, sir, he’d said.
He’d been right, of course. Boone’s chest burned with a feeling that he’d had trouble identifying at first. He knew it now. Jealousy. He was actually jealous of Mike Hammond, because he got to spend so much time with Gerty, when time was all Boone wanted.
No, he told himself.What you want is for your daughter to be happy.
As she laughed with Mike and Walt, she sure looked happy. Cord sat down next to them, joined in with their conversation, and Boone felt his jealousy ebbing away. It didn’t make sense to him, but Cosette said she understood.
They’d been so thrilled to hear Gerty’s voice telling them she was finally leaving Montana and coming back to Colorado. They’d waited for her all day, each leaving work early to be home when she arrived.
Cosette had spent time and energy baking her favorite cookies, and Boone had picked up barbecue from her favorite place. She’d said little when she’d arrived, less during dinner, and then run off the moment she could.
She’d returned very late, and since then, all she’d been able to talk about was Mike-this, and Mike-that.
He told himself that wasn’t true, because she talked about her horses a lot too, and Pony Power, her riding lessons, and Denver. The therapy dog had taken a shine to her, and Boone thought that only testified of her broken spirit and how much it needed mending.
He got up to help Amy and Cosette start to pile the presents in front of Gerty, the thought that perhaps Mike was helping Gerty heal faster than she would’ve otherwise. He’d never felt that way before, but he let the idea swim around in his head while the rest of the gifts got brought out.
Amy ran the presents, and Boone stayed out of her way. He’d been in charge of getting Gerty there, and he’d asked his wife to be in charge of the food, Amy to be in charge of presents, and Walt to be in charge of the animals.
He’d once bought Gerty a horse for Christmas—her very first horse—and she’d loved that animal endlessly. This year, he’d gotten her another pony, as well as a dog of her own, and he couldn’t wait to present her with them. They’d both come from a farm on the brink of collapse, rescued by an operation Boone had been volunteering at for several years now.
Mike had asked him about his service there every other Saturday, and Boone had told him about Rescue Ranches and the work they did. This was the first time Boone had brought any of the animals who’d been rescued from a farm or ranch in the west back to the Hammond Family Farm, but he’d gotten permission from Gray, Molly, and Gloria before anything had been final.
They’d been here on the property for about three days now, and the fact that Gerty didn’t know yet was a miracle all its own. Boone had sworn everyone to secrecy, and he’d worked here longer than Gerty. Otherwise, he was sure they’d have spilled the beans by now.
“This is the last one,” Amy said, shooting Boone a huge smile that everyone in the near vicinity saw. Gerty too looked at Boone, her eyebrows high.
She took the package, which wasn’t much bigger than a shoebox. He’d put a collar with an un-engraved tag, as well as a bridle with room for a name on the side of it, in the box, wrapped that, and hoped she’d be excited.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Open it and see,” he said with a smile.
He glanced over to Mike, who knew about the horse and the dog. He’d been the only other one besides Boone and the kids who’d been taking care of them. In fact, Mike had been late bringing Gerty over tonight, because he’d been putting a bow on the horse and dressing the pup in a sweatshirt that saidHappy Birthdayon it.
So Boone clearly didn’t dislike the man. He was simply worried about his daughter—and no one could tell him to stop doing that. He’d talked through everything with Cosette at least twice, and she’d be a liar if she said she wasn’t a little nervous about Gerty picking things up with Mike so fast.
In the end, however, Cosette said she trusted Gerty to know how she felt and what she should do, and they must too. Boone was trying. He was just a lot slower at such things than his wife.
The paper came off, and Gerty opened the lid on the box. She removed the collar, her brow puckering. “This is for a dog.” She looked up then, her eyes bright and round. “Daddy.”
“There’s more in there,” he said, leaning over as if he needed to check. “Isn’t there?”
Gerty didn’t dive back into the box. “Did you get me a dog?” She held up the collar, which was blue, white, and green. “It looks like a boy dog.”
“Maybe,” he said evasively.
She got to her feet without even looking in the box again, and Boone knew—heknew—he should’ve done two presents. It wouldn’t have mattered. Whichever one she’d opened first would’ve stolen all of her attention, just like the collar had.
“Where is it? What breed is it?”
“There’s more in here.” Boone picked up the box and shoved it back at her.
Gerty practically growled at him, and both Keith and Mike chuckled.
