Page 34 of Something Tangled Something True (Rosa Ranch #1)
RANCH DADDY
In the last few days, my fatigue has lessened, and I’ve been able to accomplish a bit more around the ranch, broadening my daily tasks from feeding the cattle and calling dance studios to helping Ryder in the greenhouse, working on some of the experiments he’s been running to see which bioavailable fertilizer produces the best tomatoes, Swiss chard, and bell peppers.
It’s nice to see his education being put to work, and it loosens the tight knot in the pit of my stomach now that I’m making myself useful.
It’s also been satisfying to see the barn coming to life with every hour we put into it.
It’s still a long way from perfect, but it shouldn’t be long before it’s good enough to run a few trial classes.
Maybe if I weren’t so worried about something going wrong, I’d quit calling around to other places.
I don’t even want to dance anywhere now that my dream of owning my own studio is at the tips of my fingers, but I can’t give up the idea of stability and a fallback plan either.
And as usual, Ryder all but demands I take the afternoons off to spend time with Mayte, Isabela, and Mami when she’s around. It’s that selflessness that I have to thank for my ability to be sitting here on Mayte’s sofa, about to witness my niece taking her first steps.
“That’s it, Isa. You can do it!”
“Yes, yes! Just one big step for Mami !”
“Come on, mija, you’ve got this!”
“ Dale, que tú puedes, muneca! ” Mami shouts at Isabela, clapping her hands.
My niece stands on her chubby little legs, wobbling as she stares straight ahead at Mayte. She hesitantly picks up one foot, balancing on an unsteady leg, and manages to take her first step!
Her first freaking step!
“You did it, mamá ,” Mayte tells her daughter proudly, holding her arms out for her to waddle to where she’s crouched a few inches away.
When she makes it into her mother’s arms, I lose it.
My heart cracks wide open, and the floodgates cannot be controlled.
“ Mi bebé , what’s wrong?” Mami asks, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.
I suck in a breath between sobs and manage to stifle the tears.
Sniffling, I wipe my nose with the tissue Mayte thrusts into my hand and clear my throat.
“I’m just so thankful to be here,” I tell them, my voice quivering.
“If I’d have married Russ, I wouldn’t be here for this. I’d miss all these precious moments.”
I’ve already missed out on so much, and I know I’ve made the right decision to stay.
No matter what Lemmon does, being here and not missing another second of my family’s lives far outweighs whatever challenges she plans to throw my way.
A few creepy messages and bitchy monologues won’t deter me. She won’t get rid of me that easily.
“Oh,” Mayte says, crushing me in a hug of her own. “I’m so glad you’re here too. Now, let’s go eat ice cream and watch Siempre Bruja .”
By the time I get home, Ryder is already in bed. He left the porch light on, as well as all the lights in the house, with a note saying he didn’t want me to trip. I chuckle as I read it. This ridiculous man.
I turn out all the lights, and when I get to the one in the hall that separates our rooms, I realize he’s left his door cracked open too. Just in case he can hear me, I pop my head in and whisper, “Goodnight, Ranch Daddy .”
I hear his bed creak, and a moment later, “Goodnight, Ranch Mami. ”
My shoulders shake with the quiet laughter, and it isn’t long before I’m dressed for bed and blissfully asleep.