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She gives the mare a quick once-over before turning back to me. “Is that the new horse?”

“Yep. Isn’t she pretty?”

Rue grins. “Yeah! Can I help you feed the sheep later?”

“Of course you can.”

Her whole face lights up. “Yay!”

My attention bounces from my niece back to my big brother. “When are you flying back home?”

“Tomorrow. Got some business I need to take care of.”

I nod, knowing it’s the kind of business they always keep from me. It used to feel strange being the only one left out of all the shady shit this family does, but I guess I’m used to it now.

“I don’t want to go,” Rue says, the excitement from a second ago slipping into a pout as she looks up at him.

“Why not?” he asks. “Gran and Grandpa want to see you.”

She glares, her arms crossing over her chest in that stubborn little way she’s perfected. “They saw me last week.”

“But they’re your grandparents, and they love you and wanna see you all the time,” I add. “’Cause you’re sweet as pie.”

Rue narrows her crystal blues, considering it, before her shoulders lift in a tiny shrug. “Okay…I guess you’re right. And I do miss Skittles.”

This girl loves her horses. She’s got one here called Snickers, and Skittles back home in Texas.

As I get to my feet, she steps right up to me and wraps her arms around my middle.

I hold her close, my eyes drifting shut. “I’ll see you later, yeah? And you make sure you’re a good girl for Daddy.”

“I’m always a good girl.” She flips her hair back and gives me a little eye roll, and my poor brother groans.

I have to give him credit. Raising a daughter by yourself isn’t easy. Rue’s mom died when she was just a baby. She was on her way to get diapers and never made it home. Breaks my heart for them every day. Life isn’t fair sometimes.

Rue grabs her daddy’s hand and tips her face up to me. “Don’t forget about the sheep, Auntie Thora.”

“I won’t forget. Promise.”

“Don’t let her boss you around too much,” Jace says, glancing down at his daughter.

“Who, me?” She gives this innocent little jerk of her head toward her shoulder.

“That’s right, you. Troublemaker.”

She huffs, throwing a palm across her chest. “Now I’ll be⁠—”

“I swear, I’m going to get grays one of these days.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Well, you’re forty, so it’s coming soon, big bro,” I remind him.

“Don’t say that shit to me. I’m not ready.”

Rue clicks her tongue. “You owe me a dollar for my swear jar.”

A resigned sigh leaves him. “You’re right, baby.”

Her grin turns triumphant as they start to go.