Page 14 of In Full Bloom
Olivia closes the door behind her. “Sadie doesn’t ride,” she says, her voice low.
“Why not? She’s plenty old enough to be learning.”
“She just doesn’t ride, okay?”
“Okay, sorry,” I say, holding up my hands, but not really feeling all that sorry. That kidlovedher five minute ride on Scout. “I didn’t know it was a problem. Dallas didn’t say anything.” I narrow my eyes. “He said something to you, didn’t he? Told on me to the boss?” Ugh, this is so typical of him.
“No, he didn’t,” Olivia says, leaning against the bath and running her fingers through the end of her ponytail. “Sadie told us. Luckily Dallas is okay with it—this time. But please, not again. We need him.”
“I won’t. I didn’t realise it was a thing. But, Liv, she loved it. She’s old enough to ride. It doesn’t make sense not to let her when she has the opportunity right in front of her.”
“Yeah, but it’s not my call. If Dallas wants her to ride, one of us will happily teach her, but he doesn’t want her to, and as her dad, that’s his call.”
“Fine,” I say, but I still think it’s ridiculous. “You’re not going to make me apologise to him are you?”
“No,” she says with a smile. “I’ve done it on your behalf this time.” Her expression shifts. “Sorry I couldn’t introduce you properly, or see you at all since you’ve got back.”
“It’s okay, Liv. I understand.” I reach out for her and she steps into my arms, leaning her weight onto me.
“I’m so exhausted,” she says, her voice a soft whisper in my ear.
“I know, Livvie. But you’ve got the dream team now. Me and that cowboy will have everything sorted in no time.”
She pulls back from our hug and raises her eyebrows at me. “Cowboy?”
“Yup.”
“You hate cowboys.”
“Yup.”
“Oh, god, what have I done?” She groans and drops her head back onto my shoulder. “Be nice to him,” she mutters.
“I’m always nice.”
I can almost feel her roll her eyes at me. "You are not.” Her voice softens. “I need him, Katie.”
“Don’t worry, Liv. I know exactly how much he can handle.”
8
DALLAS
I race home,have the fastest shower of my life, throw on jeans and a clean shirt and head back to the main farm house in time for dinner.
Sadie and I live in the farm cottage across the paddock from the main house. It’s tiny, has draughty windows and I’m convinced it’s haunted, but it’s the closest thing we’ve had to a stable home in a long time.
I step through the front door of the main house right as Katie and Olivia are descending the stairs. Olivia’s wearing the same jeans, floaty pink blouse and cardigan as when I left, but Katie is like a whole different person.
Her filthy jeans and top are gone and she’s wearing a pastel blue dress with wide straps, a square neckline and a full skirt with a cardigan pulled on over it.
It was easier to forget about last night while we were toiling away in the dirt, her dressed like she’s spent her life on the farm,but wearing this, it’s a solid reminder of the girl I went home with last night. It stops me in my tracks.
Olivia gives me a smile as she walks past and heads for the kitchen, but Katie stops on the last step, so she’s closer to my height.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.
I swallow, not sure if she’s going to like my answer. “Violet invited us to stay for dinner.”
