Page 116 of Wilde Flame

“I hope it’s a girl.”

My heart tripped in my chest. “You do?”

He smiled. “I don’t know why, but I’m hoping for a little girl.”

“I thought for sure you’d want a boy to follow in your footsteps with the ranch.”

“Nothing says a girl can’t run this ranch. Especially a Wilde.”

I leaned my head back and smiled. “I think you’re right. Since she’ll have your blood running through her, she’ll make a wonderful rancher.”

I felt him looking at me. “You’d be okay with that? I mean, if we had a girl and she grew up wanting to do what I do?”

Lifting my head, I studied him. His gaze was back on the road. “Of course I’d be okay with it. I’ll be okay with whatever she—or he—wants to do in life. My parents allowed me to follow my dreams, and I want that for my child as well.”

“I feel the same. Boy or girl, I’ll never pressure them in any direction. My father and mother have always let me know they’d support whatever dreams I have.”

We pulled up to the barn as Emeline was walking out. Her smile lit up like a Christmas tree.

I got out of the truck and made my way toward her. “Hey! How are you feeling?”

“I’m exhausted. Like, all the time. I actually fell asleep at my desk yesterday. My mother had to wake me up. And the worst part of all—I can’t eat my Swedish Fish!”

Caden laughed.

“What do you mean, you can’t eat them?”

“Last week I opened up a bag and the smell instantly made me feel sick. I swear, if this pregnancy makes me hate my favorite snack, I don’t think I’ll ever recover.”

It was my turn to laugh. “I think it’ll pass. I was actually craving bacon this morning.”

“You were?” Caden asked.

I nodded. “Yep. Bacon on a biscuit with a slice of cheddar cheese and peanut butter. I was just thankful we had everything for me to make it.”

Caden gagged. “Lili, that is disgusting.”

“I was on board until you said peanut butter. That’s a hard pass,” Emeline agreed.

“You love peanut butter,” I said.

Emeline screwed up her face. “Not with bacon and cheese!” She shuddered and then looked at Caden. “That favor you asked of me?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s taken care of.”

Caden hugged his sister. “Thank you.”

“You owe me.”

He kissed her cheek. “I know I do.”

“Marshall has a couple of horses saddled up for you two. Just be careful with the icy patches out there. I wouldn’t run them.”

At that moment, Marshall walked up with two stunning horses I’d never seen before.

“Oh my gosh! These horses are beautiful.” They were both paints, both mares, and clearly both feeling feisty.