learned early on that love was the most useful element of all.
She spent some time in the barn, showering the horse with affection and slowly felt the air rise and charge around her.
She turned. Owen stood framed in the doorway, watching. His long legs were spread apart, hands fisted at his hips, gaze locked on hers. He wore faded jeans and a simple black T-shirt that stretched across his broad chest. His hair curled messily across his brow, reminding her of when he was young.
Since she’d agreed to come to the farm, he’d given her space, spending most of his time out at site visits or the courthouse. Seeing him in his element made a shiver race down her spine and slowly spread, warming her body more than the muggy heat.
“I knew you’d come to the barn first,” he said, his lips quirking in a hint of a smile. “How’s your girl doing?”
Chloe’s Pride let out a whinny, sensing more company to demand affection from.
They laughed. “Thriving, but I heard she missed me. Have to get out here more. Plus, when I do ride, it’s like the world makes better sense around me.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” he said. “I just peeked in on Flower and promised her some exercise this weekend. Want to check in at the house and then ride?”
“Sounds good.”
She followed him out of the barn, but suddenly he stopped short, jerking back and almost sending her stumbling. “Ah, crap, he did it again! Scared the hell out of me.”
Chloe peeked around and there he was, blocking their path.
Hei-Hei.
The giant Polish chicken looked monstrous up close, with heavy, fat jowls, beady eyes, and a bunch of crazy white feathers sticking out of his head like a crown. The chicken let out a shriek at the sight of Owen and began clawing the ground madly with his hooked feet. Owen made a low noise of distress, and Chloe bit back a giggle.
Owen and Hei-Hei had a complicated relationship.
“Get away from me, you crazy chicken,” Owen commanded, trying to intimidate the creature by pulling himself to full height.
“Umm, Owen, I don’t think you should—”
“I won’t let him intimidate me any longer!”
“But—”
The chicken cocked his head, considering the command.
Then charged.
Owen let out a low yell and Hei-Hei began pecking at his feet, moving his body side to side in some type of bizarre dance. Chloe tried to stop it, but Owen seemed to want to protect her, even though she’d always been able to control the chicken. Hei-Hei only listened to Chloe, Ethan, and of course, Mia.
Suddenly, a female voice whipped out and echoed in the air. “Hei-Hei! How dare you treat Owen like that—he’s a friend.” The chicken stopped his insane pecking and regarded his mistress. Mia wagged a finger at him in warning. “I mean it. Now go back to the house and if you don’t behave, I’ll let Evie play with you again.”
Hei-Hei rushed away from Owen and began rubbing his feathers against Mia’s legs, as if begging her to reconsider the punishment. Chloe imagined playing with a one-year-old wasn’t high on the chicken’s list of fun things. “I don’t know why he’s always been so naughty with you, Owen,” Mia said, shaking his head. “He must’ve snuck past me in the commotion back at the house.”
Owen cleared his throat. “No problem. I was handling it okay.”
Chloe bit back the giggle that threatened and headed over to Mia. “Hei-Hei just likes to make a dramatic entrance,” Chloe said with a grin, giving her honorable aunt a huge hug. “Sorry we got caught up with the horses.”
“You both always do. And each other.”
Heat flushed her cheeks, but Chloe ignored the comment. Mia practically glowed with health and happiness. Her trim figure was fashionably dressed in linen shorts, a lacy white blouse, and white sandals. Dark hair curled under her chin in a blunt, stylish cut. Her amber eyes gazed back with her usual frankness, boldly studying the two of them to decipher exactly what was going on. Chloe knew she’d be grilled by everyone the moment they got her in private. Mia might be the owner of one of the most successful PR firms that handled her father’s campaigns, but underneath, the woman still adored good gossip.
“I cannot believe we’re celebrating Evie’s first birthday,” Chloe said, grabbing Mia’s hands. “How did a year go by so fast?”
“With little sleep,” Mia quipped, squeezing her hands. “But worth every moment. Ophelia’s making dinner for everyone tomorrow night with a