She caught Slade’s attention and mouthed, “Can I help?”
He shook his head, stroking his daughter’s back. “Sweetie, Mommy’s gone. But I’m here for you.”
“It—it—” Mindy struggled for her words. “It—hurt.”
“I know, baby. But you’re safe now.”
Slade’s eyes slid closed, but not before Tory saw their glistening sheen. Tears clogged Tory’s throat and misted her own eyes. She blinked, trying to get a grip on her emotions that careened out of control.
Mindy shuddered and Slade clutched her tighter. “Mommy’s watching over you, baby. Taking care of you. She’ll always be with you in here.” He laid his hand over his daughter’s heart.
Helpless, Tory drew in deep breaths after deep breaths but still she ached for the pair. She felt as if she had intruded on a private family moment and should disappear. She would give anything to take the child’s pain away, but from experience knew that was something another couldn’t do.
Mindy pulled back, sniffing and wiping her nose. “I—” she sucked in a huge gulp of air “—know, Dad-dy.”
He cupped his daughter’s face in his large hands. “I love you, sweetie.”
She sniffled again. “I know.”
Slade brushed the pads of his thumbs across Mindy’s cheeks, erasing all evidence of her tears. “Are you ready to show Tory a good time?” Tenderness marked his expression as he peered at his daughter with eyes a soft azure. “I thought we would go to your favorite restaurant.”
“Goldie’s?”
“Of course. Is there another?”
“No!” A grin split Mindy’s face.
Slade kissed his daughter, then slipped from the back seat. When he settled behind the steering wheel and started the engine, he threw Tory a glance that caused her heart to flip over. Sadness mixed with a look of appeal for understanding. She slid her hand across the console, almost touching Slade in reassurance. At the last second she pulled back and smiled at him instead.
“I love Goldie’s hamburgers and onion rings,” Tory said to Mindy, trying to ignore the heat of a blush she felt creep up her face at Slade’s intense regard.
“Me, too.” Mindy clapped, her left hand curled so that her palms didn’t meet.
“With everything on it, even onions.”
Tory caught Slade’s look. The smile that glinted in his eyes warmed her. Her blush deepened. Aware his gaze was still riveted to her, she shifted in the leather seat, crossing and uncrossing her ankles. Uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny, she searched for something to say. Silence dominated the small confines of the car. Nothing she thought seemed appropriate so she let the quiet reign.
Fifteen minutes later Slade drove into the parking lot next to Goldie’s. After he assisted Mindy from the back seat, they all headed into the restaurant, decorated in homespun décor, reminiscent of a farmhouse, with the scent of baking bread and coffee saturating the air.
Tory sat across from Mindy and Slade in the booth along the large front window that overlooked a pond. Geese and ducks swam in the water, which drew the little girl’s attention.
“Look—” Mindy frowned, her brow wrinkled in thought “—bab-ies.”
The fluency of the little girl’s speech had improved over the months since Tory had known her, but still the child labored to put her words together, to find the correct word to say. Tory wanted to hug her for her perseverance.
“The last time Mindy and I were here, the geese were sitting on their nests. They’re three couples and it looks like they have all had their babies. Now she’ll want to come back every week to keep track of them.”
“I have a pond, Mindy, on my property. We’ll have to ride there one day and have a picnic.”
“Dad-dy, too?”
Tory’s gaze slid to Slade’s. “Do you ride?”
He laughed. “Sort of.”
Tory arched one brow in question.
“The last time was in high school, so it’s been years since I’ve been on a horse. Is it like riding a bicycle?”
“Sort of.” Tory downed a large swallow of ice water, her throat suddenly parched.
“Well, then, yes, I do ride—or let’s just say I know how to fall gracefully when the horse bolts.”
“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity. What happened the last time you rode?”
“I had leaned over to open the gate into the pasture when my horse got spooked by a rabbit darting in front of him. He decided to take off, leaving me dangling from the gate.”
Mindy giggled. “Oh, Dad-dy.”
“I’ve fallen a few times, too, and I can’t always say they were graceful falls.” Tory took another long sip of her water, relishing the cool liquid.
Slade started to say something when the waitress approached to take their orders. After she left, he grinned. “When I fell, I landed in a mud puddle and was covered from head to toe. It was a big mud puddle.”
“When can—we—do it?” Mindy asked, eagerness giving her face a radiant glow.
“How about this weekend? I’m free after church on Sunday.” Tory glanced from the little girl to Slade.
“Only if you allow me to bring the picnic.”
“This is my treat. I invited you.”
“Then let me bring the dessert.” Determination marked his expression.
Tory shrugged. “Fine.”
“What do you like?”
“Oh, just about anything with chocolate. Surprise me.”
“I’ve gotten the impression you weren’t someone who liked to be surprised.”
“Not usually.” Tory clasped her hands in her lap to still their trembling. Control and order were so important in her life, the threads that held it together. “I don’t like to take risks, either, but I think I’ll be safe with you bringing the dessert.”
“Isn’t your Bright Star Stables a financial risk?”
“Yes, but then some things are important enough to risk. I saw a need and wanted to do something about it.”
“And this parent is grateful. If I can help you with anything, please let me know.”
Tory thought about her low bank account, but pride kept her from saying anything. For many years she had done everything on her own. She was used to that and would somehow make the therapeutic riding program a success. When her aunt’s
