Michelle, snorted making Marissa turn back to her with surprise. “Sweet little Megan is a tyrant,” she said. “She doesn’t seem to know night from day yet, but Phil’s happy.”
“Are you sure?” Marissa asked, surprised at her sister’s reaction. “She looked exhausted.”
“Phil’s made of stout stuff,” Michelle said. “She’ll survive.”
“I can’t believe you said that,” Marissa said. “She’s your best friend and you think it’s funny.”
“Marissa,” Michelle said zipping her son into his PJs, “Women have been doing this for a very long time, and Phil has Chase or pretty much anyone of us around the Broken J if she needs help. She’ll call when the time comes.”
Marissa smiled and nodded. Yes, the people of the Broken J were like family even if they came from a dozen different situations. When someone needed something, they would all be there to help.
Chapter 5
Marissa walked the fence line behind Michelle’s house the next morning, following the wooden rails toward the big barn further down the ranch compound. Young horses frolicked in the fields while their dams cropped the summer green grass, and she smiled at their awkward movement.
The Broken J was peaceful as most guests were either off on an excursion or in the dining area sampling some wonderful concoction the ranch cook, Mrs. Wade, was serving. For a moment, Marissa considered heading over to the ranch house and grabbing a couple of cowboy cookies, but she didn’t feel like fighting through a loud crowd of holidaymakers.
Resting her hand on the top fence rail she dropped her chin on her hands and gazed out across the field smiling at the antics of the young horses, many of whom still didn’t seem to know how their legs worked.
“Cute, aren’t they?” a deep voice said, and Marissa turned to look at the cowboy she had met the day before.
“Yes, they are,” she agreed, offering a smile.
“Are you having a good stay with your sister? Trace asked grinning when she started and turned back to him. “I asked Chase who you were,” the tall man said with a hint of color tingeing his cheeks.
Marissa rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m Michelle’s bratty little sister,” she admitted. “I’m sure he told you that I used to drive Phil crazy as a kid.”
“You did?” Trace asked. “Chase didn’t say, but I’m sure Philomena Haven could hold her own against a bratty little sister, a corporate mogul, or a herd of stampeding buffalo for that matter.”
Marissa laughed and the feeling seemed to shake away a layer of the stress she had been feeling recently. “Phil is one tough cookie,” she agreed, “but that tiny bundle she was carrying to the house yesterday seems to be giving her a run for her money.”
Trace chuckled, a warm, happy sound that trickled over Marissa like the sun breaking through on a cloudy day.
“She’ll make do,” Trace said turning and studying the soft line of the dark-haired girl’s face. She was mighty pretty to his thinking. “I told Chase he should get someone to watch Meg for him if he decided to take Phil out for a night on the town. I didn’t volunteer, but he knows I’d do it if he asked.”
“Really?” Marissa asked surprised by the cowboy’s offer. “I didn’t know people who worked on the ranch were expected to wrangle babies as well as cows, horses, and giggling guests.”
***
Trace pushed his hat back on his head of short-cropped strawberry blonde hair. “We wrangle whatever comes our way,” he said with a grin. “I’m used to babies,” he continued. “My sister was a premature baby, and now she helps others that need a good start in life.”
Marissa turned away thinking of the card the cowboy had given her the day before. Even if the place was his sister's business, her life wasn’t any of his business.
“When I was a kid, my mom left right after Daisy was born so I helped dad as much as possible. We didn’t know if she was going to make it in the beginning, so it was a lot of work. Little Megan is opinionated about the world, but she’ll adjust,” the cowboy continued with his explanation.
Marissa couldn’t help but laugh at the man’s words. Opinionated is not the word she would have used to describe the precious but loud little girl.
“That sounds nice,” Trace said smiling in her direction.
“What?” Marissa asked, looking around as if for a bird or other animal.
“You laughing,” Trace said. “You were looking mighty serious a minute ago.
Marissa shrugged but didn’t respond. It was nice standing here with this handsome stranger. He didn’t know her, and she didn’t know him, so what she said or how she behaved didn’t seem to matter.
“You like horses,” Trace asked catching her by surprise with his change of subject as he leaned against the fence.
“Yes,” she admitted. “Michelle and I never had much to do with livestock of any kind, growing up in the city, but now that I’ve been around them more, I love the horses.”
“How about a ride?” Trace asked peeking out from under the brim of his hat.
Marissa turned away from the fence looking up at the man. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“I’m working a split shift,” Trace said with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “I’m off until five when we do the mock cattle drive and campfire meal.”
“You don’t want to take me riding when you spend your whole day escorting guests and working horses.”
“That’s exactly why I do want to take you,” Trace said his dark eyes soft as he studied her face. “I don’t get to take a nice slow ride on my own much anymore, and besides, Phil’s horse could use the exercise.”
Marissa looked toward the barn, remembering the pretty mahogany bay mare that Phil often road. Amethyst Rose was a real beauty.
“Come on,” Trace urged touching her elbow, “You’ll be doing me a favor.”
“Alright,” she finally said pushing off the fence, “but
