Page 60 of A Rancher's Heart

“Amen. That’s definitely what my sister needs—”

There was more, because the women were still laughing, but Tamara couldn’t hear them because she was marching across the floor, feet propelled by anger.

Oh, she had her issues with the man, but to hell with other people talking about him as if he was a stud for hire. And Emma—

Tamara took a deep breath and slowed her step, casually making her way to where the ladies were chatting madly. She pretended her goal was the lemonade, smiling as sweetly as she could at the group.

The laughter hushed as she’d approached, all three offering exaggeratedly friendly faces.

“Are you enjoying yourself at Silver Stone?” Joleen asked.

It was tempting to respond with something snappy and rude, but Tamara held herself in check. She did have to live in this town, and in spite of these being some of thenoxious weedsshe had to deal with, there was no use in burning everything the first time they faced off. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s a big place to have to take care of.” Carrie leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “You must be exhausted.”

Okay, she hadn’t expected that. “Why?”

The woman blinked. “It’s a lot of work to take on two little girls when you haven’t done that before. And the house, and taking care of Caleb.”

Tamara laughed. “Oh well, there’s one of your mistakes. Caleb doesn’t need to be taken care of.”

“But it must be tough dealing with Emma.”

Her banked fury escaped a little around the edges, but she pulled it back to a reasonable volume and attitude. “Emma? That sweet little thing? Well, in a way you’re right, because between her and her sister I have to stay on my toes. They’re so smart I’m working overtime to make sure their environment is challenging. No use letting all that potential go to waste.”

The women’s mouths opened and shut in a lovely fish imitation, as if she’d caughtthemoff guard.

Tamara pressed her advantage. “And in terms of Caleb, I suggest you not worry about him. The man is more than capable of looking after himself and his…needs. I doubt there’s a woman alive who could resist him.”

She finished pouring another couple glasses of lemonade, balancing all four precariously as she returned to the colouring table.

Hanna eyed her as she accepted two of the glasses. “What was that all about?” she asked in a soft tone.

“Just people being catty.”

Her new friend’s lips twitched. “That’s why they look as if you squirted them with a water bottle.”

Tamara snickered, turning toward Emma who had laid a hand on her shoulder even as Crissy crawled into her mom’s lap.

“Yes, sweetie?”

Emma held up her finished work proudly. The goat was accurately depicted in his debonair grey and white, with a bright red bow newly drawn on the page—the same one Emma had attached around the little creature’s neck the day before.

“Beautiful. That looks like Eeny.”

The little girl’s enthusiastic nod was a reward all in itself.

A moment later, Tamara found herself smiling even harder. Emma glanced at her friend in her mom’s lap then peeked over her shoulder to check where Sasha was. Discovering her sister was still hard at play with the older girls, Emma tugged Tamara’s arm out of the way and proceeded to crawl into her lap.

Emma picked up her glass of lemonade and drank it as if her seating arrangement was the most natural thing in the world.

Something not right with the child? Baloney. Emma was smart, just like Tamara had claimed. Whatever reason she had for not speaking it was a deliberate choice not a mental issue.

It was too easy to put an arm around her and cuddle her close, the sweet scent of little girl making Tamara feel all sorts of emotions she hadn’t expected.

She cared about the girls, no question about that. But something seemed—

Different.