“So I want you to start right away on the indoor riding ring.”
Tory thought about her other wish and wondered if Slade could help her with that one. Her fear had been with her for so long she was afraid it wasn’t possible.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Do you—think—Dad-dy—will—let me go to—” Mindy scrunched up her face and thought for a few seconds “—sch-ool?”
Tory shifted the bag of clothes from one hand to the other in order to open the truck door for Mindy. The child pushed her walker away and lifted herself into the front seat. “Do you want to go back when school starts?”
Mindy screwed her face up into another thoughtful expression. After a minute, she nodded. “I—miss my—” she searched for the right word “—friends.”
Tory closed the door and folded up the walker to put in the bed of the truck. Remembering the battle she’d had that morning to get Mindy to use the walker brought a smile to her mouth. By the end of their trek through the mall the little girl had been leaning heavily on the walker. Even though she doubted Mindy would say she was glad she’d insisted they take the walker, Tory was sure Mindy was thankful. She hated admitting she still needed occasional help, especially if she was going to be doing a lot. She still tired easily and didn’t want to take a nap when she needed to. Gus had changed that. He’d declared one day how important his catnaps were to him each afternoon. Since then Mindy had taken her “catnaps” without complaint. Slade and his daughter were a lot alike, Tory was discovering. Slade didn’t think he needed any help, either. But he was hurting, and she intended to help him any way she could.
After stowing the walker, Tory slipped behind the steering wheel and started the truck. “Then we’ll just have to convince your father how important going to school is to you.”
“Let’s—go see—him—now,” Mindy said, in all the eagerness she was known for.
Tory checked the clock on the dashboard. “It’s close to lunchtime. We could take him out to eat.”
“Yeah! Sur-sur—” Mindy struggled for the word and ended up frowning.
“Does your dad like surprises?”
“Yes! Sur-prise—him.”
“Then that’s our next stop before we go to speech therapy.”
Mindy smiled, displaying the new gaping hole where her loose tooth had been the evening before. She dug into her purse and produced her five-dollar bill from the tooth fairy. “I’ll—buy.”
Tory headed toward the company headquarters about a mile from the mall. “I’ve got a better idea. Let’s get your dad to treat us.”
“Oo-kay. I—can—get—can-dy—la-ter.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of ice cream before we head back to the ranch.”
“Yes!” Mindy clapped.
When they arrived at Donaldson Corporation, Mindy hurried ahead, her fatigue forgotten in her haste to see her father. Tory quickly followed, never having been to Slade’s headquarters. She glanced up at the four-story building and had visions of running around lost in the large place. One of the security guards waved at Mindy as she made her way toward the hallway off to the left.
“I’m with Mindy,” Tory said to the guard.
“You must be Mrs. Donaldson.”
Hearing her new name sent a rush of excitement through her. She really hadn’t thought much about her being Tory Donaldson. It had only been two weeks since their marriage. “Yes, I am.”
Mindy disappeared through a door at the end of the corridor. Tory quickened her pace, eager to see Slade in his work environment. The company was so much a part of him as her riding stable was a part of her.
When Tory entered the outer office, the secretary behind the desk smiled at her. “Mindy’s inside with her father, Mrs. Donaldson.” The older woman stood and extended her hand. “I’m Mrs. Hardmeyer. I’m sorry I couldn’t make your wedding.”
After greeting Slade’s secretary, Tory approached the double doors that led to his office. When she stepped inside, she found Mindy sitting on his lap, giggling. “We came to steal you away for lunch.”
“Lunch? Already?” Slade glanced down at a gold clock on his desk. “I’ve been so busy I’d forgotten the time.”
“Then you’ll let us take you out.” Tory scanned the large office with a bank of windows behind Slade’s massive oak desk, littered with stacks of files and papers. Off to the left sat a cozy area for conversations with a long brown leather couch and two comfortable-looking plaid chairs. Bookcases were along the other side of the room. The office reflected Slade’s personality.
“Plee-ze, Dad-dy.”
He grinned, his eyes gleaming. “How can I refuse an invitation from two lovely ladies?”
“You—can’t.” Gripping the desk, Mindy slid off her father’s lap and stood next to him. “Rea-dy.”
“I guess I am.” Laughter laced his voice as he rose.
“One day when we have more time I’d like a tour of your company.”
“Just let me know and I’ll set aside some time.”
“Me—too.”
Slade ruffled his daughter’s hair. “You, too, sweetheart. We’ll make it a family outing.”
“Like—uh—lun-ch.”
Walking toward the exit with Slade and Mindy reinforced the feeling of family that was growing in Tory. She settled into Slade’s car, parked near the entrance, and let him pick the restaurant while Mindy told her father about their shopping trip. With Gus at the stables, she could afford to take some time off and enjoy this outing with Mindy and Slade. She didn’t have to worry like she used to about what she had to do at the ranch.
“I—got—new—dress—for—chur-ch.”
“I bet you look pretty in it.”
“Will—you—come? In play—Sun-day.”
Slade shot Tory a narrowed look. She raised her eyebrows and shrugged.
“I’ll see, sweetheart.”
“Plee-ze,” Mindy said from the back seat.
With tiny lines creasing his forehead, Slade maneuvered his car into a parking space next to a hamburger joint. “I’ll be there to see you. What part are you playing?”
“Hor-se.”
“Horse! What’s the play about?”
“Noah’s Ark. Mindy’s representing the two horses. She wanted to since she rides them. Different pairs of animals are being played by
