A soft breeze wrapped around Mandy as she grabbed Delanie, dressed in her tiny denim jeans, T-shirt, and cowgirl boots, from Trace’s arms and settled the little girl in front of her on the saddle. Willow had stood still, as if sensing the precious cargo entrusted to her. The psychologist Trace had found with Ty’s help must have made some difference, as Delanie now allowed her father to hold her. Such a simple thing, yet so complicated for one so young.
Trace touched the brim of his hat and whirled around the quarter horse he’d brought over in a much-used trailer, to face the herd milling in the open field. The cattle swirled up dust as they moved, and their lowing filled the air.
Trace had insisted on paying the going rate, but Mandy and Tucker had agreed that Trace should get a discount. As if they really were family.
She wished it were so. But Ty’s inability to see beyond the dollar signs on a page made any happily ever after unlikely, however much she was attracted to him physically, however much she admired his business acumen—though not when it came to Prescott Rodeo. Of course, if he agreed to a child, he would be part of her life, part of her child’s family forever.
It was a risk. She’d seen glimpses of promise in Ty—but the substance remained elusive.
She was looking forward to this mini roundup, watching Delanie, and hosting a barbeque for those helping out. She was happy the occasion had coincided close to the start of the Cheyenne rodeo occurring that weekend. It meant Tucker could participate. And Libby’s husband, Chance, had offered to help when Mandy had invited them to the midweek barbeque. Libby would meet up with her husband at the barbeque, after the dealership she managed closed. Cat would be coming also, with Jake. She was anxious for both her friends to meet Ty, and little Jake might prove to be the perfect playmate for Delanie.
She nuzzled Delanie's hair, breathing in the fresh baby-shampoo scent, careful not to crush the cowgirl hat hanging off the back of the child’s head by the chin strap. Mandy had bought it for her along with a cute little sundress for later. She hadn’t been able to resist.
Delanie waved as Ty maneuvered his new horse, Paddy, toward them.
She’d been amazed at what he’d paid for the horse, whose full name was Paddy’s Four Leaf Clover. It was sired by a champion cutting horse out of Texas. It was the kind of horse that would have been home in the arena. But Ty had wanted the best for his work horse, and he’d paid top dollar for it. Since he wouldn’t be staying for good, Mandy could only imagine he would use the animal as an investment, eventually leasing it out to some lucky rider.
“Unky Ty,” Delanie called.
The smile that lit her husband’s face at the title touched Mandy’s heart. Who would have thought this calculated businessman would go soft for a little girl.
“Hey, peanut,” he called affectionately. “You watching?”
She nodded as Ty waved and then rode away.
“Where is he going, Aunt Mandy?”
She could get used to being this little girl’s aunt for real.
“Your father and Uncle Ty are going to go into the herd, and when they see a heifer your father likes, they are going to bring it out of the herd. It’s called cutting, but it has nothing to do with anything sharp. They are just going to maneuver the animal to the edge of the circle, and then the cowboys, with the help of their horses, will get it to that pen over there.” She motioned to one of the holding pens. “Whatever heifers they put in that holding pen will be delivered in trailers to your house tomorrow.”
“They need all these cowboys to do that?” she asked, sitting up straighter, as if on alert. There were about a half-dozen mounted men who ringed the herd, including Chance Cochran and her brother. A few more sat on the railings of the holding pen, watching. Delanie was tense, a reminder that the little girl still had a ways to go in the trust department.
“Those cowboys are there to keep the rest of the herd together,” she explained, hoping to ease any worries. “See,” she said, pointing to Ty, who had moved toward one of the cows. "Uncle Ty’s on one side, and your daddy is on the other side. Let’s see if they can do it.”
Mandy frequently applauded with Delanie as the brothers worked rather deftly together for two men who hadn’t been in the same pasture for years. Only if she looked closely could she spot a bit of sibling rivalry. Though Ty worked his horse expertly, Trace showed more experience in maneuvering the cattle.
A half hour later, Delanie was getting fidgety, so Mandy headed her horse back to the ranch house, where her mother could fuss over the little girl.
“This may be the closest I’ll get to a grandchild,” Sheila grumbled as she helped the child change into the new pink polka-dot sundress. “I’m going to enjoy her while I can.”