The front door opens, and Ruby walks out, holding her teacher’s hand. The second she spots my truck, she lets go and comes flying down the steps like she’s been shot out of a cannon.
“Daddy!”
I laugh and step out of the truck. She slams into me, arms going around my legs.
“Hey, kiddo,” I say, crouching to hug her back. “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
She pulls back as Cheyenne exits the truck and walks around to join us, eyes curious, cheeks a little pink from the cold.
“Ruby,” I say gently, “this is Cheyenne. She’s your mommy’s sister.”
Ruby’s eyes go wide. “Aunt Cheyenne,” she whispers.
I explained to her what that title meant, and she was overjoyed to know that she had someone who connected her to her mother, even if she didn’t quite grasp the concept.
Cheyenne kneels down, smiling through tears she’s barely holding back. “Hi, sweetie.”
Ruby doesn’t hesitate. She launches herself at Cheyenne, wrapping her little arms around her neck. Cheyenne lets out a shaky sob and hugs her tight, burying her face in Ruby’s hair, like she’s been waiting her whole life for this moment.
It hits me right in the gut.
“You’re pretty,” Ruby says as she beams at Cheyenne.
She brings her hand up and lightly touches Cheyenne’s long blonde hair. It’s the same shade as Candy’s, and I can see the flicker of recognition in Ruby’s eyes.
Cheyenne taps the tip of Ruby’s nose. “Not as pretty as you.”
The three of us load up, and Ruby talks Cheyenne into riding in the back seat with her. Our first stop is the cabin. Ruby chatters the entire way, telling Cheyenne everything about her day care, the ranch, her bedroom, her pony and barrel racing, all without taking a single breath. When we get there, Cheyennedrops her bag in Ruby’s room, and Ruby immediately starts the grand tour.
“This is my bed,” she announces proudly, pointing to the white-framed bed with a draping pink canopy Nana helped her pick out. “And these are my dolls. This one’s Princess Bethany. And this one’s Princess Stephanie. She’s a barrel racer. This is my stuffed pony, Larry.”
Cheyenne giggles, and her questioning eyes come to me as she mouths,Larry?
I grin and shrug.
“And this is my favorite book. Daddy reads to me at night,” Ruby continues.
Cheyenne listens like every word is sacred.
“Well, thank you for letting me sleep in your room.”
“You’re welcome,” Ruby says. Then she leans over and whispers, “I like sleeping with Daddy some of the times.”
Once Cheyenne is settled and has a chance to freshen up, we head out to Ironhorse so she can see where Ruby spends her days. Momma and Pop greet us, and introductions are made with hugs and a lot of emotion, courtesy of Priscilla Ludlow.
“We’re so happy to meet you,” Momma says as she embraces her tightly.
“I’m happy to meet you guys too.”
Momma and Ruby take Cheyenne down to the stables to show her the horses, leaving Pop and me in the living room.
I sit across from him, rubbing my hands together. “Thanks for flying Cheyenne in.”
He nods. “Ruby needs her family right now.”
The words hang heavy between us.
“Yeah, it’ll be nice to have us all here for her first Thanksgiving. She’s been learning all about the holiday in school, and she’s excited. I don’t think she and her mother ever had a place to celebrate it.”
