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Her and her big, honest mouth.
It was always getting her in trouble.
CHAPTER 17
“I’ve got it! I have the one!” Brand held the doll up in the air.
Was he aware he was acting like a crazy person?
Yes.
Did he care?
No.
Jolie giggled at him from where she sat on the sofa. Four days had passed since he’d walked into Rawhide Ranch, and she’d been getting more color in her cheeks and coughing less every day.
He’d intended to open all the dolls as soon as Liam delivered them. But that had taken more time than expected. Plus, his girl got distracted easily.
Right now, she was coloring in a picture of a baby lion playing checkers with a baby giraffe.
It was cute.
“The one, Daddy?” she asked.
“The one. I present to you, the ultra-rare doll.” He held up a small doll with bright orange and black hair and big blue eyes.
“Ooh.” Her eyes lit up as she took it from him. “I can’t believe you found it!”
“Such little faith in your Daddy.” He gave her an injured look.
“Sorry, Daddy. It’s just you’ve been doing this for a while. How many dolls did you have to unpackage?”
He looked around the mess he’d made, feeling a bit foolish. “Uh, maybe fifty or sixty.”
“Daddy, you’ve made a terrible mess and I hope you’re gonna pick it all up.” She waggled a finger at him.
“I will after I put you down for your nap.”
“I’m not napping today,” she announced.
He turned to give her a look. “I’m sorry?”
“I’m not napping today.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Daddy, I feel good. I don’t need no nap. In fact, I was thinking of going for a walk. I haven’t even seen anything of the Ranch.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You need to take it easy.”
“But we leave soon after the concert and I won’t have done anything except sit in this room.”
He studied her for a long moment. He hated seeing her so sad. And when she was upset, he wanted to fix it.
Moving over to her, he tilted her chin up so she was looking at him. “I tell you what. I’ll talk to Nurse Beverly when she comes to check on you and see if she agrees on a small outing tomorrow.”
She clapped her hands. “Really, Daddy?”
