Kip rolled her eyes, even knowing it might cost her. Maybe even hoping it would. “You are fun and lovable, but also bossy. I’m never sure when you’re teasing.”
His grin didn’t falter. “I seem to remember you saying that. These pups are Great Pyrenees, and you will love them.”
Weren’t those white? And huge? “Don’t they get hard to see in the snow? I don’t want them sneaking up on me.”
Boone leaned in, eyes gleaming. “Kip, you’ll be fine. Just remember, dogs can smell fear. And glitter. Don’t wear glitter.”
“Glitter, what has glitter got to do with it?”
“Well, these dogs aren’t really into glitter. When it gets on their fur, it drives them crazy trying to get it off. Pyrenees and glitter are not a good combination.” He looked directly at Tildi. “Right, Tildi?”
Tildi blushed a deep red. “No comment. Nobody saw me, and there’s absolutely no proof. It’s innocent until proven guilty, Daddy. Besides, I thought we were talking about the food. Shouldn’t we be toasting our guest properly?”
Nobody at the table missed the obvious change of subject amid the resulting laughter.
Chance raised his glass. “She does have a point. To Kip, may your first ranch sunrise involve more bark than bite.”
Tanner clinked his fork against the glass. “And may Trace’s vet kit have Band-Aids shaped like tiny cowboy hats.”
Kip gasped. “I’m going to need bandages?”
Ruby reached over and patted her hand. “Honey, you’ll be fine. I’ll pack you an extra slice of cake for a snack. Just never share chocolate cake with the dogs. It’s for Little girls and cowboys only.”
Kip smiled. “Thank you, Miss Ruby.”
“No need for titles with family, sweet girl. You can just call me Ruby.”
Plates emptied and second servings were passed, the banter flowed like the Wild River in fall: easy, loving, unbreakable. Forks scraped and stories flew.
Kip especially enjoyed Dutch recounting Griff's infamous mud-wrestle with a bison who used to be named Ironside but was now called Bullwinkle for some reason. But the most intriguing stories centered around Dodger. She learned that Dodger was not a ranch dog at all, but an independent, very intelligent wolfdog that sometimes lived on the ranch and sometimes in the wild.
As she pondered the mysteries surrounding Dodger andlistened to the other stories, the world beyond the ranch faded away. For once, Kip was able to forget about mysterious phone calls and scary customers. The Daniels family reminded her of her own family. Opinionated and loud in their teasing of each other, but it was all in fun. Their love for each other was unmistakable.
Even though it was selfish, she’d give anything to be part of this family. The problem was that their reward for all their kindness was almost certainly bringing trouble right to their front door. It was getting serious. She had to leave Wilder and Wild River Ranch. For all her worry, she worried most that she might not be strong enough to go.
CHAPTER 6
The lodge was quiet. That Santa and his elves on Christmas Eve kind of quiet. Even after six months in Wilder, Kip hadn’t gotten used to the silence. No big city hum of streetlights. No sirens blaring. The low crackle of cedar in the fireplace and the soft hush of a cold wind rattling cedar shingles lulled her into a peaceful drowsiness.
She hadn’t intended to remain for the night. She might have been able to persuade her Daddy to take her back to her apartment after dinner. But it was the first day of December, and the girls had convinced her to stay.
Kenzie had grabbed Kip’s hands, hopping with excitement. “You can’t leave yet, Kip. If you leave, you’ll miss it! Tonight is the first night we get to open a box from the Advent house. You have to stay for that.”
“You do!” Tildi chimed in. “It’s really fun, and the Daddies always fill the boxes with cool stuff.”
Kip tried to free her hand. She didn’t mind staying a little longer if it would make her friends happy. Would it put Trace onthe spot, though? “I’d love to watch, but no one knew I would be here. I wouldn’t expect you to have enough for me.”
“And why not, little fox? Don’t you trust your Daddy to take care of you?” She stared at him, speechless. Something in the box was for her? Warmth flooded her chest. She felt an overwhelming urge to throw herself into his arms and kiss him silly. He’d thought of her. Without anyone telling him to or reminding him.
“I don’t know what to say.”
He pulled her into his arms, giving her a perfect place to hide her face. It was a good thing because her composure was gone. She wasn’t going to cry. She wasn’t!
Squealing with excitement, the girls grabbed Kip and pulled her toward an extra-large dollhouse with twenty-five numbered doors on the front.
“I think since this is Kip’s first Christmas with the family, she should open the first door,” Tildi said. All the girls agreed and led her to stand in front of the first small door. She opened the door, and four tiny boxes sat in the first room, each with a small tag bearing a name.
Kip held them out and waited. Tildi took the box for Bluebell. Joy took the box for Gyspy. Kenzie grabbed the box for Tiger. That left the one labeled Foxy for Kip.
