Page 76 of Roping My Rival

She slams into my legs with a giant hug, and I laugh before scooping her up to lay kisses all over her face. “Hey Maise girl. You keeping Grampy busy out here?”

“He made us bubbles! And I fed Lewis!”

“That sounds like fun.” I walk back to the horse trailer, where Dane already has Trigger backing out. “Do you remember Dane? He’s my partner at the rodeos.”

Maise has never been a shy kid. She waves to Dane as he walks Trigger by. “Hi!”

“Hi. Would you like to pet my horse? Her name is Trigger.”

I step closer with Maise in my arms, and she pets the horse’s neck.

“She’s nice, right?” Maise nods. “Maybe you can ask Dane if she can have a carrot later.”

She smiles and places a tiny hand on my cheek. “Can I sit on Petey?”

“Yes, but just into the barn, okay? You’re not wearing pants, and you’ll be itchy.”

My dad has already joined us at the trailer, probably expecting Maise to ask for a ride, and he’s backed Petey out. “I warned her if she wanted a ride, she should’ve had pants on.”

“Grab that blanket, Dad.” I motion with my chin to an extra one I stuffed on the side of the trailer, and he drapes it over Petey before I settle Maise on his back. She grips fistfuls of his mane, and he stills. He might be a rodeo horse and used to working, but he’s also used to Maise up there, and I trust him to be patient.

“Hi, Petey. Good boy.” She pats his neck, and he looks at me to confirm he’s a good boy.

“He is. The best.” Clucking my tongue, I grab his halter and take her for a slow circle in the ranch yard.

“Daddy said I’m big enough for a pony.”

“Did he?”

“Yep. He said we can look cuz Grampy will take care of it here while I go to school.”

“Wow. You’re super lucky.”

She keeps stroking Petey’s neck, and my heart bursts for my niece. She loves animals and especially horses. It was only a matter of time before she wore down Jesse to get her a pony, and I know my dad has been dying for this day to come. She’ll have no shortage of help, that’s for sure.

“Okay, kiddo. End of the line. Petey has had a long day and needs some rest.” She slides into my arms, and I let her pet him on the nose since she’s careful before she walks back to my dad.

“We’ve been holding dinner waiting for you two to get here, so come in as soon as you get the horses settled. I’ll let Gabe know you won’t be long.”

“Thanks, Dad. Sure thing.”

Leading Petey through the barn, I get to his stall and find Dane leaning outside of it. “It’s all set for you. I saw you were busy with your niece…Uncle Bunny.” He snort-laughs as I close the gate to Petey’s stall. Dane wordlessly hands me a carrot, and I raise an eyebrow.

“Is this because you were thoughtful and brought Petey a carrot, or because she calls me Uncle Bunny?”

“You decide.”

His lips tilt in a mischievous grin, and I shake my head as I offer Petey the carrot.

“Fine. It’s you being super sweet.” Curling my fingers into his shirt, I pull him closer to me for a kiss. “And dinner is almost ready, so we need to get inside.”

Dane melts against me, and his kisses don’t stop. When my back bumps into the stall door, I push back with a soft laugh. “We can’t go in there looking like we were making out in the barn.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“Have you told your parents anything?”