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“And Mommy says I can start learning to ride the horses this year. I want to ride the little ones. The big ones scare me.”

Thea nodded. “I get that. I was scared of the big ones at first too. But horses are all different. Sometimes, the little ones are tougher to handle than the big ones.”

“That’s what Daddy said.” Abby leaned over and lifted a hand to whisper in Thea’s ear, but the whisper wasn’t very quiet. “Colt and Remi aren’t our real Mommy and Daddy, but they said we can call them that.”

Thea’s eyes widened as she looked up at Colt and Remi.

Brett leaned over to whisper in Thea’s other ear. “They’re Colt’s brother’s kids. He and his wife died in a car wreck about six months ago.”

Thea gasped, then quickly controlled her expression. The wreck and the kids had been a shock for all of them last September, but the kids seemed happy to be at the ranch with Colt and Remi.

They’d all done their best to make the kids feel at home. It couldn’t replace their parents, but Colt and Remi adopted the kids just before Christmas. Ben and Abby didn’t miss out on any love, that was for sure.

Remi pulled out her phone and read something on the screen. “Miss Stella is on her way to pick you up. Take your plates to the trash if you’re finished,” she said pointing to the kids.

Abby jumped up, dragging her plate with her. “I gotta go, but we’ll have more fun tomorrow, right?” she asked Thea.

“Definitely. Thanks for introducing me to everyone.”

“I’ll let you meet Miss Stella later. We’re in a hurry ‘cause we have cookies to make tonight.”

Thea waved. “Sounds like fun. I’ll see you soon.”

Remi leaned forward with her elbows propped on the table. “I think we’re going to play some trivia in a little bit. Are you in?”

“I am!” Hadley said quickly

Brett looked to Thea. “You feel up to it?”

Thea shrugged. “I don’t think I’ll be any good at it.”

“You never know. I’d pick you to be on my team anyway.”

Colt scoffed. “What are you talking about? You gave everyone the silent treatment for a full day after you lost at Pictionary.”

Remi put a hand up beside her mouth. “Brett is a sore loser.”

“I am not! There’s nothing wrong withwantingto win.”

Thea held up her hands. “Maybe I can just be the judge or the host.”

Brett bumped Thea’s shoulder. “I’m a little competitive, but I’m mostly competing with myself. I just like to get better all the time, and if I don’t win because I messed up a lot–”

“You get moody,” Remi said.

Brett threw his hands in the air. “Okay, maybe I get moody. I’d still like to be on your team.”

Everything was better with Thea by his side. Games, work, life–it was all a little brighter when she was around.

Thea glanced back and forth between Brett and Remi. “Okay, I’ll play, but I don’t want any complaining when we lose.”

“Shh. Don’t say that. We’re not going to lose,” Brett said.

“What’s the prize for winning?” Thea asked.

“Bragging rights,” Colt said. “I think Jameson and Ava want to play too. Jess said she might come, and she could be on Hadley’s team. I’ll let them know we’re ready.”

Everyone tossed their scraps, and Brett picked up a rag. He wiped the tables before going back to help put away the leftovers. Thea was talking to Vera, the main cook, and helping cover everything with foil.