Page 25 of A Rancher's Vow

Still, she held back because Ivy obviously meant well. “I think he’ll be fine, but yes, I’ll be there for him. Like I said, we’re friends.”

Ivy smiled. “I’m glad.” Her gaze went to the main window, and she tilted her head toward the garage. “He’s here.”

The convoluted escape continued. Dustin pulled into the garage and closed the door behind him. Ivy and Charity met him there.

He took the bag from her and put it in the back seat of the truck. “This all you got?”

“I’m a micro-mini-minimalist packer,” Charity shared.

“Oh, wait. One more thing,” Ivy insisted, pressing the supper bag into Dustin’s arms then turning. “I’ll be right back.”

Dustin opened the passenger door for Charity. “Up you go.”

In the back seat, Dustin’s dog, Patchwork Annie, thumped her tail vigorously as Charity climbed into the cab. “You brought her. Hi, Annie. Who’s a good girl?” Charity reached between the seats to scratch the dog on the head. “You are. Yes, such a good girl.”

Dustin chuckled as he climbed back behind the wheel. “She won’t let me out of her sight. Not that I want to take her back to Pincher Creek, but leaving her behind isn’t an option. She’d try to track me all the way there.”

“Ah, she loves you.”

“A little too much. Pain in the butt.” But Dustin also ruffled Annie’s head.

Ivy had returned, a pair of cowboy boots in her hand. “Here. They should fit.” She passed them through the window to Charity then leaned to the side to speak to Dustin. “Kelli said you’re to give Charity riding lessons while you’re gone.”

“Riding lessons? Why would—” His gaze snapped up to Charity’s. “You can’t ride?”

“And on that note, I’m off. Drive safe, and I hope this all passes quickly.” Ivy blew them both a kiss. “Charity, you might want to duck down until you guys are on the highway. Just in case.”

She opened the garage door then vanished into the house.

Charity leaned her seat back and slid below window height. “This good?”

Dustin glanced at her as he backed out of the driveway then turned the truck toward the highway. “You’re going to get a kink in your neck.”

“Who cares? Anyone following you?”

“Not that I can see. Now let’s discuss your riding lessons. As in the need for them.”

“I don’t need them. I don’t need to ride,” Charity said firmly.

“Because you don’t think riding is important if you work at a ranch?”

She snorted. “No. It’s really hard to do paperwork while on a horse.”

“Not that you know for sure, because you don’t ride.”

“It’s a logical conclusion.” Although, she wasn’t sure why she was arguing.

Dustin adjusted his grip on the wheel, turning them onto the main highway. “Well, just so you know, I’m happy to teach you if you want lessons.”

Charity sighed. “I sort of do want them now. Kelli rode with me to the ranch house. It was weird, but in a good way.”

“A glowing recommendation.”

“Shut up, Stone.”

“I mean, if riding was weird in a bad way, that would be…bad.”

“I’m going to kick you,” Charity warned.