Constantly helping. Constantly aware of others—
“It’s turned out to be a good evening,” Luke said, coming forward to shake Yvette’s hand. “Thank you.”
Yvette dipped her chin. “Glad I could help.”
Alex moved forward as well, hand outstretched. “That was wonderful to see.”
She eyed his hand as if expecting a joy buzzer, then shook it firmly as well. “Thanks.”
It looked as if Alex would say something else, but Tucker stepped in. Exhaustion was written all over Yvette. “Come on. I’ll get you home,” he offered. “Alex will drive your truck for you.”
Yvette blinked. “Oh, no. That’s fine.”
But when an enormous yawn escaped her, Tucker held out a hand and tugged her forward. “Don’t fight it. I’d offer Josiah the same deal. Honest.”
Which meant instead of finding Ginny, Tucker finished the evening by acting grateful chauffeur to one very tired but thrilled veterinarian.
She laid her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes, sighing softly, the sound happy and content. “That makes it all worth it, you know? The moments when you’re not sure things will work out, the mental questions if you’re doing the right thing, and even the fear.” She glanced at him quickly. “Don’t tell Josiah I said that. About being afraid.”
Tucker snorted. “He’d understand completely. No way any of us on the ranch get through a day without being afraid of something. Not when we’re really trying to live to the fullest.”
She nodded and yawned again. “Pretty little fillies. I’m glad they’re going to make it.”
On the trip home, Tucker and Alex sat in silence until they were nearly in sight of Silver Stone.
“I’m an idiot,” Alex offered.
Tucker wasn’t even sure what the big picture problem was between Yvette and Alex, but he didn’t need to know, not to share one bit of advice.
“Maybe,” Tucker replied. “But knowing you’re the problem is more than half the battle.”
Alex snickered, then nodded. “Yeah, pretty much.”
A peaceful quiet resumed, and Tucker breathed deep.
It was a solid ending to a good day.
14
Saturday was warm enough that when Ginny crawled out of bed and looked outside, she decided it was time to take a page out of her sister Dare’s book.
She made herself a cup of tea, bundled up, and went to sit on the porch as sunrise slowly stretched golden fingers over Silver Stone.
Last night had been amazing, and she’d only been on the periphery of the magic. Watching Yvette at work reminded Ginny what the woman had said about finding what she wanted to do for the rest of her life that made her happy.
It was clear Yvette had not only chosen well, but she was also making others happy because of her choice.
Two beautiful animals that might not have survived, three possibly, considering their mama had been in danger as well, were all safe and sound in the warmth of the barn.
Ginny held onto her mug a little tighter. She had no skills like that. Nothing that could truly make a difference, and that lack tugged places inside.
But as her nieces poured out of the homestead and headed for the nearby hill, toboggans in hand, Ginny pushed aside her momentary blahs. Enough moping. She was blessed beyond belief and able to enjoy some pretty sweet choices.
Somewhere along the line she’d find a way to make a difference.
Meanwhile, she needed to spend a little time dealing with the puzzle. If she didn’t, Dare would be poking at her with another reminder like the one she’d gotten the previous night.
Dare: I love you, Truth. Solve any puzzles lately?
Ginny: I love you, Dare. Go away, you’re annoying.
Dare: This is your subconscious speaking. Send me a copy, girl. Don’t make me come over there.
Ginny: Like that’s a threat. The door is always open.
Ginny reached into her pocket and pulled out the folded paper covered with cryptic drawings.
She thought at first it was something like a rebus puzzle. But while she was usually smart enough to solve those, this one still made no sense.
Twelve different images, including the one with some sort of equine animal—it was unbelievable to think it was a horse because surely her father could draw better than that.
She tried writing down what each symbol made her think of at first glance. Then she tried her own hand at drawing them in stick figures to see if any of that turned into letters or words.
A half-dozen attempts later, her tea was cold and she was no farther ahead than she’d been at the start when a small voice interrupted her.
“What are you doing, Auntie Ginny?”
Ginny glanced up in surprise to discover Emma standing at the base of the porch. “Hey, kiddo. You snuck up on me.”
Emma shrugged, the pom-pom on her pink toque bouncing as she wiggled on the spot. “You were reading your book.”
“I suppose I was,” Ginny admitted. She glanced around. “Where’s Sasha?”
Her niece looked at the ground but didn’t answer.
“Emma?” Ginny repeated, more sternly this time. “Is Sasha somewhere she’s not supposed to be?”
Emma nodded, still staring at the ground.
Drat. But also hurrah that the kid was willing to squeal on her sister.
Ginny put her things down and held out a hand to her niece. “Come on. Show me where she is, so we can maybe stop her before it’s too late.”
The little girl spoke softly, the teeny bit of the flashback to the hesitancy she’d had so many years ago. “I don’t want to get Sasha into trouble.”
“I know, sweetie, but sometimes we get people we love into a little bit of trouble to keep them out of even more.” Ginny squeezed little fingers as Emma tugged her toward the barn. “It’s in the sister rule book. Honest.”
“Did you ever get your sister into trouble?”
The first time Dare had decided to hold a wake for her family flashed to mind. Ginny had made a choice and called Luke to squeal before her sister could get too drunk to walk. The same night, coincidentally, that Ginny had gathered her courage and seduced Tucker, which meant the memory was all the sweeter.
She jerked back to attention and nodded seriously at her niece.
“All the time. Even now, when we’re all grown up,” Ginny said. She grinned at the shocked expression on her niece’s face. “Because I love her very, very much, you know.”
Which pulled a giggle from Emma before she added seriously, “Sasha wanted to see the baby horses. Papa said he would take us after lunch, but she said she wanted a quick peek now.”
They should’ve realized the draw of two foals would be too much for Sasha to resist.
Thankfully, while Sasha had chosen to disobey the standing order to stay out of the horse barn unless she was accompanied by an adult, she’d done it in the smartest way possible. Ginny spotted her ponytail poking up over the edge of the loft as she stared into the horse pens from a safe distance. Well away from the traffic of the ranch hands, and nowhere near enough to spook Strawberry Delight.
Ginny took Emma up the old side ladder to the loft. They paused, looming over Sasha until she rolled and gasped in surprise.