will,” Tessa vowed. “When your mom and dad say it’s okay.”
“That’ll be never,” Sherrie grumbled, her lower lip protruding unhappily.
“‘Never’ has a way of coming back to haunt you,” Tessa said. “Sometimes when you least expect it or don’t want it.” How many times had she promised herself she would never fall in love with Denver McLean again?
Sherrie regarded Tessa mutinously, as if her special friend had turned coat and joined the enemy camp.
“I should have called you,” Tessa said to Nate. “Brigadier’s got a bruised sole. Cassie Aldridge looked at the hoof and told me it would be fine if we kept up the poultices and let him rest, but if you’d rather wait—”
“No way. Just let me take a look at him.”
Tessa’s heart nearly dropped to the ground. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how much she wanted Nate to change his mind—or at least put off his decision.
In the stallion barn, Nate examined the rather spirited Brigadier and laughed when the stallion tried to nip him.
“He looks fine to me,” Nate drawled as they walked outside and stood near the fence next to Sherrie. He reached into his inside jacket pocket and withdrew a check. “Have we got a deal?” he asked.
Tessa felt numb inside, but shoved her worries out of her mind. “We will as soon as we sign the papers. Everything’s in the house.”
“I want to stay out here,” Sherrie declared as her father turned toward the front door. “With my Red Wing.”
“All right, dumplin’,” Nate replied. “Just make sure you stay on this side of the fence.”
“I will.” Clucking her tongue softly and calling to Red Wing, Sherrie climbed the rails and peeked through. Aside from the flick of her pointed ears and the swish of her tail against a few bothersome flies, the mare didn’t move.
The house was cool inside. Tessa led Nate to the study and sat behind the desk so recently vacated by Denver. She could smell his after-shave in the air.
Nate scribbled his signature on the bill of sale for each horse. “So where’s McLean?” he asked, pushing the paperwork across the desk.
“In Helena,” Tessa replied. “He should be back soon.”
“How much longer is he planning to stay around here?”
“I—I don’t know,” Tessa answered quickly.
“Probably not too long. He couldn’t wait to move away from here before. The fire just gave him a head start.”
“I suppose,” Tessa said woodenly.
“Well, this should make it easier for him,” Nate said, thumping the paperwork with one thick finger. “Now that you’ve got the down payment on the ranch, he can take off for the bright lights of L.A.”
“Right.” Tessa wasn’t about to think of impending departure. Not today. Not when she was giving up Brigadier and the mares for the sole purpose of buying a ranch Denver had no use for.
By the time she and Nate returned to the paddock, Len had loaded the mares into the trailer and Brigadier was being led across the yard by one of the younger hands. Brigadier nickered when he noticed Tessa and tossed his magnificent head as he pranced up the incline to the trailer. He barely favored his right foreleg.
Tessa’s throat grew hot and thick and her eyes misted. Feeling like a traitor, she turned toward Sherrie just as Curtis hobbled across the yard.
“Howdy, there,” he called to Sherrie. He tipped his hat and his weathered face cracked into a broad smile.
Sherrie squinted up at him. “Who’re you?” she demanded.
Curtis chuckled. “Well, now, I could be askin’ you the same question, couldn’t I?”
“I’m Sherrie!” the little sprite said proudly, folding chubby arms across her chest.
Curtis glanced up at Nate. “You must be proud of this one.”
“I am,” Nate agreed, his gold tooth flashing as he scooped Sherrie from the ground.
“I want to ride Red Wing!” Sherrie cried.
“Later,” her father said.
“That’s what you always say,” Sherrie pouted, staring longingly at the mare.
“You’ll have plenty of time.” Nate turned to Tessa. “You come and visit the horses anytime you like.”
“And teach me to ride!” Sherrie commanded.
“I will,” Tessa promised.
“Thanks a lot,” Nate said, clasping Tessa’s hand, “and good luck.”
“You, too. Take good care of them,” Tessa replied, despite the fact that the back of her eyes burned and her throat seemed nearly swollen shut with hot tears.
“I will.” He nodded at Tessa’s father. “See ya around.”
Nate climbed into the cab of his truck and rammed it into gear.
Standing in the middle of the yard, Tessa watched as the rig carrying her precious horses rolled slowly down the