As it would have it, Auggie didn’t see fit to fill the silence. Instead he instructed Dash as we headed down the hill to the trail and towards the stables.
We saw my dad first, but Doug McPhee was hard to miss. He was a gentle giant, standing 6’4 and weighing in at almost 300 pounds, with a full beard and a fuller smile. He wasn’t smiling as he watched our approach, but it was only because he was stunned to see his youngest child leading one of his bigger horses. “Well, look at you.”
Dash beamed at Dad. “Dad, look!” he said, as excited as he could without raising his voice and startling the horse.
“I see,” Dad said, peering between Auggie and me to piece together this puzzling new development. He took the reins from Dash.
“Dad, this is…,” I started, but words failed me as I glanced at him. How does one introduce an actual prince?
“Auggie,” he filled in, smiling big at my dad as he reached out a hand.
“Auggie?” Dad repeated, then his eyes opened wide. “Auggie!” he exclaimed, causing Dynamite to rear back his head with displeasure. Dad calmed him with a loving stroke from his massive palm.
“He’s a prince,” Dash explained without any trouble at all.
“I know,” Dad nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Please,” Auggie said, waving away the formality. “Just Auggie is fine.”
“What brings you to our neck of the woods?” Dad asked, the Texan coming out of him.
Auggie looked at me. “Still ironing out the details of the job offer I’ve made to your daughter.”
“Mighty generous,” Dad said. “I’d say she’s worth every penny, but I’d be lying. She’s worth more.”
“Dad,” I said, embarrassed.
“I agree,” Auggie said. “It’s one of the things I wanted to discuss, actually.”
My gaze swung back around to him. What was he saying?
“Then I’ll leave you to it,” Dad grinned. “Come on, Dash. Let me show you what to do with your horse after you ride.”
“But I didn’t ride him,” Dash said, a little disappointment lacing his tone.
Auggie knelt to face him. “You didn’t need to ride, Dashiell. You just needed to know fear wouldn’t stop you if you did. It didn’t. And it never will again.”
Dash nodded with a big smile. After about a millisecond of consideration, he threw his arms around Auggie’s neck. I gasped and reached for my brother, mortified that we’d broken all kinds of protocol, but Auggie simply hugged him back.
“Thank you, Auggie,” Dash said.
“Come on, Dash,” Dad said, and they left us to ourselves.
“That was amazing,” I said.
He shrugged. “He just needed to know he can do it all on his own. I think we could all use that reminder from time to time.
“Maybe,” I agreed with a nod. Then, “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
He smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Nine
If you think the McPhees behaved any differently just because a prince had come to dinner, then you really don’t know the McPhees. Dash and Dallas still argued over the last breadstick. Dad still told corny jokes. Fern still poked me in my side every time she thought I might have forgotten there was freaking royalty at the table. And my mother kept asking all the most inappropriate questions that went against all the rules Audra had taught me.
It had started simply enough. “Tell us about Aldayne, Auggie,” she urged, using the name he insisted we use.
His smile natural and easy. The love he had for his country was obvious before he even opened his mouth. “It’s beautiful, have you never been?”
Both parents shook their heads. “We lived in a castle in Scotland once,” Mom said, referring to one of their many caretaking gigs. “Raised alpacas for some insufferable Duke of Snootyshire.”
Auggie laughed. “I can’t say we’ve met. But I’m sure I know him.”
Mom chuckled.
“To answer your question, Aldayne is gorgeous. I’m horribly biased, of course, but it’s the truth. Rugged landscapes, waterfalls, green pastures as far as the eye could see.” I could hear the Irish influence on his accent come alive as he described his homeland. “Almost 400 miles of shoreline, pristine beaches all around.”
“I’ve heard there’s one secret beach where the sand is black.”
Auggie nodded. “Charlie’s Cove,” he answered. “Named after old Grandpa Charlie. And it’s not just black. It’s black and purple.”
Mom’s eyes widened. “Is that a fact?” He nodded. Her brow furrowed. “Who’s Grandpa Charlie?”
“Charlie is Mount Charlemonde.”
Her eyes widened more. “The volcano!” He laughed and