“One more bite, Little Mouse,” Trent said, pointing at Maggie’s plate.
She stuffed another bite of toast into her mouth.“Now?”
Trent leaned in close to her.“Do we talk with our mouths full?”
She scowled at him, chewing her food before swallowing it down.“Now, may I?”
“Yes.Go with Mrs.Baird and get dressed.”He lifted her down and she ran for the door, but then she stopped and turned back.
“Are you coming to see my surprise too, Mantha?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
She skipped to Mrs.Baird and took her hand.
“Thank you for indulging her.”He wiped his hands and mouth before placing his napkin on the table.
Did he think perhaps she didn’t want to do these things?That couldn’t be further from the truth.“Thank you for allowing me to participate.I suppose I should have asked where this surprise is, considering I can hardly walk.”
“The surprise is in the stables.But the good news is, I still have two working legs, so you don’t need to concern yourself with how you’ll get there.”
“In the stables?She is lucky to have a brother who spoils her so.”
He laughed and shook his head.“It’s not from me.It’s from Uncle Ash.And he certainly does spoil her.”
“If she’s your sister and he’s your brother, why is he Uncle Ash?”
Trent shrugged.“They don’t actually have any relation at all, but he insisted on it.He says he’s too old to be her brother, and she’s never known him as Lord Ashdown.”
She smiled meekly.“Neither have I.”
“He prefers it that way.”
She was beginning to see Ash through different eyes, up here at his estate with his brother and Maggie.Perhaps before, she’d just been too afraid to see his kindness.
A short time later, Trent carried her out to the stables.It still felt strange to have him transporting her everywhere, but at some point, his warmth had become comforting rather than unsettling.
Maggie ran ahead in her excitement.She raced into the paddock, unleashing a squeal of delight, causing the horse to panic.Samantha’s heart stopped, and Trent sucked in a terrified gasp next to her ear.But just as the mare kicked out, Brennan scooped Maggie up, the hoof missing her by inches.
“Maggie, you can’t do that,” Trent called as he set Samantha down.The shout wasn’t a scolding, it was born of terror.
Brennan shook his head.“She’s alright.She didn’t know.”He turned to Maggie.“We have to be quiet around horses, so we don’t startle them.”Maggie’s eyes were as wide as saucers.“You don’t want to scare her do you?”
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head.
“I know you’re excited.You should be.She’s a beautiful mare, and you’re a lucky girl to have such a gift.”
She nodded, a smile returning to her lips.“She’s from Uncle Ash.”
He settled her on his arm and carried her to the front of the horse.“Do you want to give her some gentle pets?”
Maggie nodded and Brennan showed her how to stroke the mare’s muzzle.There was something incredibly sweet about the picture.Was this how men were supposed to be?
Trent exhaled.“Thank God,” he whispered.
There was something incredibly sweet about that too.That little girl would never know how lucky she was.And not because of the gifts, even if that gift was a pony.Because of the love and protection that surrounded her.
“Are you alright here for a few minutes?”Trent asked her.
