Page 23 of Dusty Spur Ranch Cowboys

A blur of blonde curls and pink cowboy boots barrels through the house.

Emmett barely manages to set the bowl on the table before Sadie launches herself at him. He catches her without missing a beat, one arm wrapping around her while she practically climbs him like a tree.

“Hey, doll.”

“Daddy, guess what happened today?”

The words come out in one breath, stacked on top of each other as if she’s worried one might escape before she gets it out.

Emmett lets out the sigh of a man who knows he’s already lost control of this conversation. “What happened today?”

“I found a frog.”

“Well, that’s exciting.”

“I named him Kevin.”

“Of course you did.”

Sadie nods solemnly. “Then I lost him.”

Emmett winces. “That’s rough.”

“It wasn’t my fault. Kevin made a choice.”

I nearly choke on my drink. “A bold choice, apparently.”

Sadie points at me. “Willy understands.”

“I understand Kevin saw an opportunity and took it.”

“Exactly.”

She says it with such conviction that Emmett gives up arguing entirely.

Then Sadie notices Arizona.

It’s almost funny watching it happen. One minute she’s talking about Kevin’s great escape. The next she’s completely frozen, staring across the room.

I’ve seen that look before.

Sadie makes decisions about people fast. Faster than most adults. She’ll spend twenty minutes debating between chocolate ice cream and strawberry, but she can figure out whether she likes a person within seconds.

Arizona smiles at her. Sadie studies her right back.

Then her gaze drops to the guitar resting beside Arizona’s chair. “You’re a singer.”

Arizona glances down at the guitar. “Yes, I am.”

Sadie inches closer, curiosity written all over her face. “Can you play it?”

“I can.”

That’s all the encouragement Sadie needs. “Will you play for me?”

Straight to business.

Arizona laughs. “We’ll see.”