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“Yep. I have trouble focusing on the good sometimes too. It’s not easy, but you’re doing a great job.”

“Thanks.” Abby rubbed the back of her hand over her eyes. “Can I sleep with you?”

“Well, Uncle Colt is going to be sleeping with me from now on, so how about I tuck you back in with Bun Bun?”

“That’s okay. Bun Bun needs me to sleep with him anyway.”

Remi and Abby passed Colt in the living room on their way to her bedroom. Remi gave him a warning glare, daring him to laugh in front of Abby.

He made a show of zipping his lips, but he looked like he was on the verge of bursting. At least Abby’s appearance had moved the mood into safe territory before bed.

Chapter28

Colt

“Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!” Abby sang as she skipped toward the dining hall. Small flurries rained down to land on the foot of snow already on the ground.

Ben stepped up onto the porch, climbed onto the railing, and jumped off. His acrobatics were getting more daring by the minute.

Remi leaned closer to Colt as they walked. “I know I’ve seen you jump off that porch dozens of times, but I lose a year of life every time Ben does it.”

Colt chuckled. He knew the feeling all too well. Who would have guessed they’d both be carefree in their early years only to be overly cautious with their kids?

Their kids. The thought never ceased to light a fire inside him. Happiness tingled from his toes to his nape.

“Are you saying you don’t care as much about my welfare as you do Ben’s, Mrs. Walker?”

She shoved his shoulder and huffed. “You know I don’t mean it like that. He’s just—”

“He’s just going to have to figure out his boundaries on his own. I learned that from a parenting book.”

Remi laughed so sharp and loud that it cut through the whipping wind. “I told you that years ago when you didn’t want to take that one kid on a trail ride because he always got into trouble.”

She had a good memory. Hopefully, she’d learn to overlook his faults. The thought of disappointing Remi was enough to keep him on the straight and narrow most of the time.

“Russell was the bane of my existence. He’s nothing like Ben.”

“Um, I remember he did a backflip off a boulder by the creek and spooked the horses. Sounds more like a daredevil than a menace.”

Why did she have to be right all the time? “Yeah. Maybe I need to have a talk with Ben. If I’ve learned anything in my old age, it’s that we only get one body, and if you abuse it, you have to lie in the bed you made.”

Stella drove up and parked beside Colt’s truck. Both of the kids retraced their steps to greet her with a hug.

“Those kids are good for all of us. I hope somebody loves me like that in my old age.” Remi sighed, and the gentleness in her words was new. Becoming a guardian had no doubt softened her heart. Though, he’d suspected she’d always had a tender heart. She’d just worked non-stop to hide it.

Colt wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “The good news is we’ll have someone to take care of us when we’re old and grumpy.”

“Are you bad-mouthing me, Mr. Walker?” Stella said as she walked up the porch steps.

“I wouldn’t dare. I was talking about my retirement plan.”

Stella let out one sharp laugh. “Retirement is overrated. What in the world would you do with all that time?”

Colt ran through a list of things he’d like to do instead of work. All of them included Remi and the kids. Going back to the rodeo wasn’t even on the list. “You ever thought about retiring?” he asked Stella.

“Not once.” She waved a hand in the air. “I never worked when Charles was alive. I did all my social calling in my younger years. Work here feels more like settling down.”

Colt gently nudged Remi with his elbow. “You could take up dating. I’ve heard online dating is like a competitive sport these days.”