“I’ll check the barn,” Marissa said. “You go back through the main house and the buildings behind it,” she encouraged. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
Florence nodded lifting her chin. “I’m probably overreacting,” she said as they walked down the front steps and headed back toward the main part of the ranch. “I haven’t been her mother very long, and honestly, she probably knows this place better than I do since her father works as a wrangler on the Broken J.”
“Who’s your husband?” Marissa asked trying to distract Florence from her obvious concern.
“Hunter Tate,” Florence said a smile breaking across her face like the morning sun. “You know before I moved here I had no idea they still made men like him.”
Marissa studied the other woman’s face. “They have some odd ways around this place,” she admitted.
They had almost made it back to the house when a lean cowboy stepped out of the barn leading a little girl by the hand. Marissa noticed that they both wore matching braided string bracelets.
“Elsie,” Florence cried hurrying toward the pair. “Why did you wander off like that?” she asked squatting before the girl who pushed her oversized glasses up her nose with her free hand.
“I saw dad go past the barn and didn’t want to miss him,” Elsie said. “I wanted him to know you were here and come say hello.”
Florence looked up at the cowboy, her bright green eyes sparkling. “I was worried,” she said pulling the little girl in for a hug. “Next time make sure you tell me. You know I’m not as comfortable around horses as you are.”
“If you say so,” Elsie said hugging her back. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
Marissa watched as Florence stood only to be pulled into a hug by the cowboy. “She’s alright,” his deep voice rumbled. “You didn’t lose her.”
Florence sank into Hunter’s warm embrace and Marissa turned to walk away. She had seen the love and worry mingled on the redheaded woman’s face, but the joy and relief that had come when she found her family made Marissa’s heartache. She was more positive than ever that the option Trace had given her was the best one she was going to get.
“Hunter, I want you to meet Marissa,” Florence’s words made Marissa stop in her tracks and head back in her direction. “Marissa was helping me look for Elsie.”
“Hi,” Marissa said walking up to the cowboy. “I’m glad Elsie was with you.”
“Did you marry a cowboy too?” Elsie asked, “or are you a guest?”
“I’m neither,” Marissa said placing her hands on her knees and bending low to meet the little girl’s gaze. “I’m visiting my sister Michelle.”
“Did she take you for a ride in the pony cart yet?” Elsie said enthusiastically. “She’s the best driver on the ranch,” she finished with a delighted giggle.
“Yes, she has,” Marissa said. “I even got to drive it myself the other day.”
“My dad says I’m not big enough yet, but when I am he’ll teach me to drive. For now, I just ride my pony at home.”
“What’s your pony’s name?” Marissa asked with a grin. She guessed that the little girl was only six or seven but she was very petite for her age.
“Moxie,” Elsie said. “She’s gray and has a long white tail.”
“Thank you for your help today,” Hunter said his smile conveying his appreciation as he stood with one arm around Florence.
“I didn’t do anything,” Marissa said. “I’m just glad everyone’s okay.”
“I won’t run off like that again, Dad,” Elsie said looking up at the tall cowboy as the sun glinted off her thick lenses. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll let you all get on with your day,” Marissa said with a smile. Taking in the vision of a happy family and hoping that someday she could have that.
She didn’t know the story behind the trio she was now walking away from, but the fact that they were a blended family, gave her hope.
Chapter 12
“Are you going to be here for dinner?” Michelle asked as Marissa came down the stairs later that afternoon.
“No, I’m going to do the cattle drive with Trace tonight,” Marissa said. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I won’t worry if you’re with Trace,” Michelle said. “I don’t know him well, but Kade speaks highly of him. Did you have a good day,” she finished placing the teakettle on the stove and nodding for Marissa to join her.
“I met a lady named Florence,” Marissa said slipping into a chair and letting Michelle make tea. “I take it Kadence is sleeping,” she added with a smile.
Michelle’s giggle was contagious and they both laughed for a minute thinking of how Kadence always protested naptime but could never stay awake after lunch.
“Do you have any other plans this week?” Michelle asked placing two steaming cups on the table before grabbing a tin of oatmeal cookies.
“Not really,” Marissa admitted. “I have a load to sort out in the next few days,” she admitted giving her sister a hard look. “I don’t want any backtalk from you either Michelle,” she added cutting off her sister’s words. “You’re the one who ran off and married a stranger without even telling Mom and Dad,” she said lifting her cup while staring her older sister down.
Michelle shook her head. “I just don’t want you to make a mistake you can’t live with,” Michelle said.
“I know you worry about me, but I think everything is going to work out. Trust me, big sister.”
Michelle nodded her eyes still troubled. “I’ll try,” she said. “I want you to know you can come to me if you need me though.”
Marissa smiled. “I know,” she said reaching for a cookie and sipping her tea.
***
By five o’clock, Marissa was dressed for a cattle drive and wearing her best boots. She was looking forward to spending the evening with the handsome cowboy, and she hoped he wouldn’t
