some food on the ground near her.”
Cara did as Ansley instructed, smiling the whole time.
“Now we have to fill up their little trough here.” Ansley reached for the water hose. “Here, Cara. Do you want to give them some water? Just pull the trigger and point it at their water bowl, like this.” Ansley demonstrated, and Cara took the hose and filled the metal bowl like she’d done it a hundred times.
“They were thirsty.” Cara spoke slowly and clearly.
Darlene glanced at Dave. He didn’t even look like the same man, his mouth now curled into a full smile. Most of the time, the two lines between his eyebrows were deep, which made him look angry. The result of too much frowning, she assumed. But the lines were faint now.
“That’s amazing,” he whispered to Darlene without taking his eyes off his daughter. “She’s just like . . .”
He didn’t have to finish. Darlene knew what he was thinking. “She’s a beautiful girl, Dave.”
Dave turned to face her. “Well, Ansley is wonderful,” he said. “Look how good she is with Cara.” He smiled again. “It must run in the family.”
Darlene felt her cheeks warm. “Ansley’s never met a stranger.” She could feel Dave’s eyes on her, but she kept her gaze on the girls until she heard tires rolling onto their dirt driveway. “Oh, good. You’ll both get to meet Brad. He’s early.” She glanced at her watch, then lifted her hand to her forehead to block the sun. In the distance, she could still see Layla riding in the far pasture.
Cara and Ansley were tossing more feed to the chickens when Brad walked up. Darlene walked to meet him, then kissed him. “Hey. You’re early.” They turned and walked toward Dave. “This is Dave Schroeder. He’s Cara’s father.”
Both men exchanged pleasantries as they shook hands.
Her husband towered over Dave, who was still considerably taller than Darlene. Brad’s hair was dark, his eyes brown, and her husband had managed to retain his boyish good looks even as his forty-first birthday approached. He had the body of the high school quarterback she’d fallen in love with, and he had classically handsome features. She smiled to herself. Sometimes he still acted like that high school boy. Brad liked everything to balance out at home and at work, but he had a playful side that made him seem much younger than he was.
Darlene figured Dave to be about Brad’s age. Cara had his green eyes, which flecked in the sunlight as he talked with Brad. His olive skin stretched over high cheekbones, and one side of his mouth lifted higher than the other on the rare occasion when he smiled. He always stood straight like a towering spruce, and his massive shoulders filled the green polo shirt he wore. He was a nice-looking man, but . . . uptight. That was the word that came to her mind. She’d been hoping Brad could meet someone here in Round Top to maybe hang out with or play some golf with, but she doubted Dave was going to be that person.
But when she tuned back into their conversation, she was surprised to hear Brad suggesting a round of golf.
“I appreciate the offer,” Dave said before he glanced at Cara. “But it’s . . . well, hard for me to get away.”
“Mom can watch Cara,” Ansley said as she and Cara locked up the chicken coop. “She was always the neighborhood babysitter in Houston.”
“It’s true,” Darlene said as she smiled. “And I don’t mind watching Cara if you and Brad want to go play golf one day.”
Dave immediately shook his head. “You watch Cara all day long during the week. I don’t want to be a—”
“Dad.” Cara tugged on Dave’s arm as she pointed back at the bird cage. “Chickens.” A smile came to Dave’s face. He might be uptight, but it was clear that he loved his daughter.
“I see.” He put an arm around her, and Cara nestled against him. He turned to Brad and extended his hand. “It was nice to meet you. I’m going to let you get back to your family.” Then he turned to Darlene. “And thank you for letting Cara come see the chickens.”
“You are very welcome.” Darlene waved. “Bye, Cara. See you tomorrow.”
Brad put an arm around Darlene’s shoulder and whispered, “Seems like a nice guy.” He held up a hand and yelled, “And let me know about that game of golf.”
“I will.” Dave and Cara got in the car and