allowing him to relax and enjoy the sunlight streaming through the window.
It was amazing how much light there was for so early in the day. Seth glanced at the clock. He blinked once. Then blinked again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept until eleven. It had to have been back in college. Before he had responsibility for the ranch and a child, and now an injured dog.
A dog that was probably wide-awake and ready to be let out of his crate.
Seth pulled on his clothes in record time, but when he reached the stairs, he slowed his pace. He’d learned it didn’t take much exertion to bring on the coughing. By the time he cleared the bottom step, his breath was coming in shallow puffs. He rested with one hand on the banister until he heard voices coming from the back of the house, and he followed the sounds to the kitchen.
He found his daughter seated at the table, a premade pizza crust in front of her, along with bowls heaped with cheese, pepperoni, green peppers and chopped-up mushrooms.
Lauren stood at the counter, studying a jar of pizza sauce. With the sunlight streaming through the window caressing her silvery-blond hair, she looked as close to an angel as he’d ever seen.
“You’re awake,” Ivy called out. “Hooray!”
Seth shifted his focus to his daughter. Was there anything sweeter than a child’s welcoming smile?
“Happy New Year, Seth.” Lauren set aside the sauce and moved to the coffeepot. “One cup of your favorite Colombian blend coming right up.”
“You don’t have to wait on me,” Seth protested.
“You’re still recovering,” Lauren’s tone was matter-of-fact. “You were up late. You deserve a little pampering.”
“The coffee smells wonderful.” Seth inhaled the rich aroma. “Before I do anything, I need to check on the collie.”
“He’s right there, Daddy.” Ivy pointed to the large kennel in a far corner of the kitchen. “Miss Lauren and Mr. Swenson brought him inside.”
“I hope you don’t mind.” Lauren poured the steaming brew into a cup and brought it to him. “It was snowing hard this morning. I thought having him in the house would make it easier for you to monitor him.”
“Thank you, Lauren.” Seth wrapped his hands around the mug and took a sip. He glanced down at the cup. “I bet I’m not the only one who’s thirsty. I need to get him water.”
“We gave him some already.” Ivy grinned. “He drank and drank and drank. He was a thirsty boy. Then we, well, Miss Lauren took him outside so he could do his business.”
Seth smiled at her enthusiasm. The love of animals was something he and Ivy shared.
“Sounds like you took good care of him.” He shifted his gaze to include Lauren. “Thank you.”
Her cheeks pinked in a charming blush, just as they had when he’d kissed her.
“I read to him,” Ivy advised. “He likes Junie B. Jones as much as I do.”
“Ivy is a good little reader,” Lauren told Seth, shooting Ivy a wink. “She’s also a great help. She read to our injured pup while I got the ingredients together for the pizza.”
“We make a good team.” From the way Ivy made the pronouncement, Seth had the feeling she was repeating what Lauren had said to her.
Ivy looked so proud and content that his heart swelled with emotion. It was amazing how much happier his daughter had been since Lauren had come to live with them.
“I told Bailey you’d make sure he healed up real good,” Ivy added.
Seth took a seat at the table and lifted a brow. “Bailey?”
“That’s what I named him,” Ivy told him. “Miss Lauren said it suits him, whatever that means.”
He smiled. “It means she thinks he looks like a Bailey.”
“You will make sure he gets better, won’t you, Daddy?” Ivy’s earnest blue eyes focused on him. “You made all the other animals better.” Ivy lifted a hand and counted them off. “The raccoon, the robin, the baby calf, your horse—”
“I’m impressed,” Lauren said.
Seth shrugged off the compliment.
“My daddy is the bestest vet ever.”
“I’m not a vet, Ivy,” Seth reminded her. “Just someone who likes animals.”
“You could be, you know.” Lauren spoke in a low voice when Ivy shifted her attention to Bailey.
“How could I take time away from her and the ranch to go back to school?” Seth shook his head. “At this point in my life it’s not feasible.”
Lauren just looked at him.
“It’s important not to bite off more than you can chew.” Seth wondered why it felt so much