“Thank you, Angel. I needed this. You are my greatest treasure, Delaney.” Anika sniffs and jerks at a noise behind them. Delaney’s eyes fly open wide when she realizes that the Ward family surrounds them.
Allen, Daisy, Savannah, and Glenn all watch quietly.
“Mama, look!” She says with tearful joy. “We have a new family, now.”
Daisy clutches Allen’s arm and turns her face into his arm to hide her tears.
“That’s right, you do,” Allen declares hoarsely.
Glenn is stricken by the child’s words as if God shot them straight into his soul. He realizes how selfish he has been. Anika looks at her daughter and smiles.
“God is Good, isn’t he Delaney?” Anika whispers.
“Yep. I’m ready to go home now.” Delaney says.
“Yes, let’s go home.” Glenn offers her his hands to help her stand up as Savannah teases Delaney and races her back to the wagon.
Allen and Daisy watch as Anika takes his hand and they smile when Glenn doesn’t drop it until they get back to the wagon.
“God is good,” Daisy whispers.
Chapter 14
“Watch, Mama!” Delaney calls and waves from the back of a pony.
Anika smiles and waves back calling out, “That's my girl.” Allen is leading her around, for her lesson just as Glenn and a customer exit the barn near them.
“I’m thrilled, Glenn. She will be a fine addition to our stables.” Dayton Patrick shakes his hand just as Allen calls out to her.
“Just a few minutes more, Anika and she is free to go.” Allen leads Delaney and the pony back into the barn to start the cooling down process.
“I’ll wait here.”
“Good morning,” Anika smiles at Glenn and his handsome friend. Dark hair, well dressed, in denims and a wide brim hat, he bows slightly.
“Anika, I’d like you to meet Dayton Patrick, he owns Patrick Plantation in Kentucky.”
“Not the Patrick Plantation, home of Survivor?” she gasps. Dayton grins and pushes his hat back on his head.
“You know of Survivor?”
“My Daddy used to say that he was the only horse that could take several thousand people on a ride at the same time if you were lucky enough to see him race.”
Dayton laughs along with Glenn and stares at the young beauty. “Your father sounds like my kind of man,” he teases.
“Thank you, he was an avid horseman.” Delaney runs up and throws her arm around her mother’s waist interrupting them.
“Mama, did you see me? Mr. Allen says I can learn to trot next!”
“I did see you. You’re a natural. Delaney, this is Mr. Patrick.”
Delaney curtsies, “It’s nice to meet you. Mama can we have lunch now?”
“Of course. Excuse me, gentlemen, it's time for lunch. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Patrick.”
“Who is that?” Dayton asks after they walk away.
“Anika Coltrane, a widower, and my current nanny.”
Allen watches from the door of the barn and steps out, “Why don’t you stay for lunch, Dayton and we can over the final details.” Glenn glares at his father when Dayton replies with a laugh. “I’d love to.”
Daisy sets an extra place at the table and hurries upstairs to tell Savannah that they have a handsome guest.
“Really, Mother. I’m a little old for you to play matchmaker.”
“Old? Please, you’re beautiful and smart. Any man would be lucky to marry you. Now change and join us for lunch.”
Anika laughs and takes the now sleeping baby from her. “I'll be right down. Don't wait for me,” Anika calls out hurries to help Delaney get cleaned up. When they enter the dining room, she's surprised to see a seat next to Dayton. He stands up quickly and waits for her to sit down. Delaney glares at him and moves to take the place next to Savannah who covers her grin with her hand.
“You didn't have to wait for us,” she sits quickly. Glenn offers thanks before they begin passing the food around.
Dayton holds the bowl of rolls out to Anika, “Where are you from Mrs. Coltrane?”
She hesitates and glances at Glenn who avoids her eyes. “Virginia.”
“Call me Dayton, please. Virginia? I thought I caught an accent,” he teases. “Do you ride?”
“What kind of Virginian would I be if I didn’t?” She laughs.
“My mama is the best, especially when she wears her denims,” Delaney declares causing Anika to blush and the family to laugh.
“Savannah can ride as well,” Daisy intercedes and nudges her with a foot under the table.
“Tell us, Dayton, which horse are you looking at buying?” Savannah asks, taking the hint from her mother.
“Starlight has potential, but I'll have to come back in a few months and see how she is growing.”
“You're buying my pony?” Delaney asks in a heartbroken voice.
“I,” Dayton hesitates and looks at Anika in surprise.
“Delaney, Starlight isn’t yours, she belongs to the Wards,” Anika explains. Delaney glances down at her plate and sniffs. Daisy hugs her close and stares at Allen with a glance of concern.
“We breed horses to sell, Delaney, we can’t keep all of them, sweetie,” Glenn tries to explain.
“Yes, Mr. Ward,” she replies without looking up.
“Delaney, do you remember the story of Survivor, the pony from Kentucky?” Anika asks.
“Yes, Mama,” her eyes light up as she looks at her mother.
“Mr. Patrick owns her, and he's looking for a new horse to train. Is that right?”
“Absolutely, but it takes time to know if a pony is going to show the traits of a racehorse.”
Delaney claps her hands together in excitement, “Oh, Starlight is fast, Mr.
