Page 94 of A Rancher's Vow

It was like watching a dance. Emma lifted ropes and leads off the wall, stepped forward, and immediately caught the desk percher. She tugged lightly, and he jumped down with a grumbledmahhh.

“That was simple.” Emma handed Charity the lead. She twisted, caught the ear of the chair goat, slipped the rope over his head, then rolled the chair, goat and all, toward the filing cabinet.

Goat three jumped to the side, directly where Emma stood. A moment later, he too was on a leash.

Emma grinned across the room at Charity. “And now we walk them back to the pen and try to block the holes so they don’t get out for at least a day.”

“You were amazing.” Charity concentrated on keeping her fingers tightly wrapped around the rope she’d been given. No way did she want to let the creature slip away at this point.

“I’ve been well-trained,” Emma said back as they crossed out of the barn toward the wire enclosure Charity had seen before without knowing what it was. “We’ve had the beasties for a while now. There’s not a lot of mischief that we haven’t dealt with over the years.”

“Well, you did great. Thank you.”

Emma eyed her a little harder as she pushed open the gate. She chewed on her lower lip, obviously thinking about something.

Once the goats were safely let loose and the pen completely sealed up again, Charity stepped to the side and leaned on the railing. She admired the enclosure and smiled as the three goats immediately sought high spots to glare down disapprovingly at their jailers.

“Charity…” Emma stalled out.

Charity had dealt with children too many times during dance classes to not read the signs. “Did you have a question?”

The young girl considered again then nodded. “It’s just, you and Dustin.”

Hmmm. Time to tread carefully. “Yes?”

Emma lifted her chin. “He’s special. I know he’s our uncle, but he’s always kind of been like a big brother, and I just…”

“Just want to know that he’s okay?” Charity guessed.

The girl laughed. “He’s more than okay. He’s happier than I’ve seen him in ages. I just wanted to tell you that I’m grateful you did so much to make things easier for him when the media stuff hit. And that I’m really sorry your apartment was broken into.”

Charity stepped closer, delighted by the conversation. “Thank you for that. It was not pleasant, but a lot of people, including your mom, helped me. And here’s a secret.” She lowered her voice. “Your big brother-slash uncle—bruncle?—there we go. Yourbruncleis easy to be nice to.”

“Oh my God, that’s perfect. Bruncle Dusty.” Emma grinned, and her beautiful blue eyes flashed bright with mischief. “He was teasing Papa the other day about how people have many names. That’s going to be his from now on.”

Charity made a little curtsey. “Thank you for your help with the goats. Now I should get back to work.”

Emma nodded then wiggled on the spot. “Can I give you a hug?”

God. “Of course, sweetie.” Charity opened her arms and accepted the warm embrace.

It had been four years since she’d met the girl for the first time, and the difference couldn’t be more stark. Young Emma had fought for words, hidden from the spotlight, and been happy to stand back and let her sister be the one to speak to their dance instructor.

To see how much she’d bloomed was a treasure.

Charity squeezed her one final time. “Now, I need to work, or they’ll put me in the pen with Meany.”

“Bruncle Dusty would break you out,” Emma teased, waving her fingers as she sauntered away with a bold whistle.

Dustin got a kick out of the story that night as they shared dinner. “They’re good kids, Sasha and Emma. I’m glad Tamara came along when she did, but Caleb did his best. And Ginny and Dare helped a ton after their mom left.”

“I heard Dare arrived today. Fun name.”

“Short for Darilyn, if you hadn’t heard that yet. You’ll get to meet her tomorrow night, if not earlier.”

At the girls’ night out at Ginny’s place. “I can’t believe Ginny is hosting a gathering on the day she’s due.”

“Distraction is a good thing right now. So I hear.”