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“My grampa’s gonna get me one,” Trey asserted for the umpteenth time.
“Well, this is an unexpected turn of events,” Monte said, clearly at a loss over what to do next. “It would seem my grand surprise has turned out to be a bit of a flop.”
Before Jessy could say anything, Laura spoke up, “Can I ride him, Mommy?”
“Of course you can.” Jessy immediately picked her up and set her on the pony’s back. Laura automatically grabbed a handful of the pony’s flaxen mane, her expression alight with eager anticipation.
“It seems someone here apprecia
tes you, Sundance,” Monte murmured to the pony and led it away from the trailer.
Around and around the ranch yard they went, mostly at a walk but occasionally at a jogging trot that made Laura giggle. It was at times like this that Jessy was convinced a love of horses was the only thing her daughter had inherited from her.
An unusually subdued Trey watched his sister in silence. Glancing down, Jessy noticed the touch of envy in his expression.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to go for a ride on the pony?”
It was obvious he was tempted to change his mind. Still he hesitated. “Would Tom or Jobe ride him?” he asked, referring to two of the ranch hands he particularly admired.
“I’m afraid they are too big to ride Sundance. But when they were your age, I’ll bet they would have.”
While Trey was mulling over her statement, Jessy’s father, Stumpy Niles, drove into the ranch yard and pulled up near the trailer. Letting the pickup engine idle, he poked his head out of the driver’s side window, an arm hooked over it.
“Hi. I didn’t expect to see you this afternoon,” Jessy said in greeting.
“Just came to pick up some things at the commissary for your mother,” he replied, his attention shifting to Laura and a proud smile lifting his mouth. “Laura is sure a picture on that pint-sized horse. Look at that. Her hair’s about the same color as that pony’s mane.”
“It is, isn’t it.” But Jessy was quick to notice the sudden glumness of Trey’s expression. She suspected it was the phrase “pint-sized horse” that caused it—thus confirming his own opinion of the pony.
“I’m gonna get my rope, Mom,” he said and took off for the house.
“What’s wrong with him?” Stumpy frowned in surprise. “He didn’t even say hello.”
“I think he’s disappointed. Monte bought the pony as a surprise for Trey, but Trey wants a real horse,” Jessy explained. “I have been meaning to call and ask you to see if there was a horse gentle enough for him in our own string.”
“Yeah, it breaks my heart the way he keeps sayin’ how Chase is gonna get him one. I’ll ask around and find out if the boys know of one,” Stumpy promised. “Is everything else all right?”
“Fine,” she assured him.
“Then I’d better get a-goin’ before your mother has a fit.” He sketched her a wave and drove off toward the ranch commissary.
His departure coincided with Monte’s return with Laura and the pony in tow. “Did Poppy see me?” Laura asked, her brown eyes glittering with excitement.
“He certainly did.” Jessy lifted the girl into her arms. “He told me that you and Sundance looked beautiful together.”
“I know,” Laura replied without a trace of modesty, then bestowed her sweetest smile on Monte. “Can you bring Sundance back tomorrow so I can ride him again?”
“Actually, Sundance is a present for . . . you and your brother.” His hesitation was fractional, but Jessy caught it.
“He is?” Laura all but squealed the words then explained to Jessy, “He’s a present. That means we can keep him, Mommy.”
“It certainly does.”
Laura wiggled to be put down. “I gotta go tell Trey.” The instant Jessy set her on the ground, Laura ran for the house, any thought of decorum temporarily forgotten.
Monte watched, a wry amusement lacing his expression. “At least the pony is a hit with your daughter.”
“I’m sorry about Trey,” Jessy said in all sincerity. “He’s at that age where he wants the exact thing that his older cousin has. He refuses to be satisfied with a smaller version of it. Calders can be single-minded that way. When they get a notion in their heads, it’s hard to get it out.”
