Page 11 of Rocky Mountain Home

“There. There, see?” The helpful and talkative Sasha burst into the hallway leading another woman into the room.

Dark-haired, her brilliant green eyes were filled with a great deal of curiosity. “I see him.”

“I told you he was a cowboy.” Sasha pointed straight at Jesse’s waist. “He even has a buckle. Not as big as Uncle Walker’s, though.”

The woman pushed the child’s fingers down. “Be polite, please.”

“He’s strong, Aunt Ginny. Maybe as strong as Daddy,” Sasha piped up, waving at Jesse as she offered a gap-toothed grin.

Ginny made some noncommittal noise as she all but stripped him with her gaze before turning to Dare. “This him?”

“Yeah.”

“Niiiiiiiice.”

Jesse grinned. They’d obviously talked about him at some point. “Thanks.”

Dare gave Sasha a pointed look. “I thought you were having a bath and doing your homework.”

Sasha’s eyes widened, then she twirled and ran from the room.

Dare caught his hand in hers and tugged, speaking to Ginny as they moved. “Since you’re home, we’re going to my place to talk.”

“I’ve got dinner. And the kids. Oh, and I’ll set an extra place at the table.”

His wild child took a deep breath. “Ginny, I don’t think—”

“I’m taking Dare out,” Jesse cut in. Family dinners with little tykes were okay, but his main agenda for the evening involved adult-only entertainment.

Ginny shrugged. “Text me if you change your mind.”

Dare guided him outside. He figured she would drop his hand the instant they left the porch, but she kept a firm grip, leading him away from the main house and the barns.

He whistled for his dog who came running from where Jesse had told him to stay in the shade on the other side of the house. “Remember him?” Jesse asked Dare.

She glanced at the golden retriever, a smile sneaking out. “Morgan, right? Hey, boy. Good to see you again.”

She held her free hand to Morgan without slowing her pace. The dog sniffed her fingers then put on a burst of speed to race ahead of them to the next field to sniff and explore.

“He’ll behave,” Jesse assured her.

“Our dogs are good too. There’s about a half dozen all told. If they spot Morgan, they might do a little jostling to figure out who’s most dominant, but if you’re comfortable with bringing him, I’m good with it.”

The gathering by the barn was still there, a few horses being put through their paces in the arena. “Nice-size spread.”

“Silver Stone? It’s… Yeah, it’s okay.” She gestured to the group. “Family from Lethbridge area sent up a group of new hands, and they’re getting the welcome spiel.”

A big enough operation to need extra hands—Jesse slowed to try and get a better look while Dare all but hauled him across the lawn toward a small cottage with a porch.

Their rapid-fire trip across the yard didn’t go unnoticed. A sturdy young man separated himself from the group and headed their direction, jogging at first, then picking up speed as he set what was obviously a line to intercept.

“Expecting company?” Jesse asked.

Dare swore and jerked on his hand, damn near making them run. “I’ll explain in a second, but we need to get inside, stat.”

It went against Jesse’s instincts to hide, but they were already up the steps and into the house. She pulled the door shut on his heels.

The banging started a moment later.