Montana Sky
heart. I like her very much.”
Her brow knit as she turned to look at him. “Do you really?”
“Yes. When I was teaching her to ride, she fell off, several times. She would get up, brush off her jeans, and climb right back on.” With a look on her face, he remembered, that was the mirror of the one Willa wore when she was fighting to conquer a new problem. “That takes courage anddetermination. And pride. She makes Lily laugh. She makes me laugh. And I’ll tell you something she doesn’t know.”
“Secrets?” Grinning, Willa nudged her horse closer to his, dropping her voice, though there was no one for miles. The sun was easing down toward the western peaks, softening the light. “Tell all.”
“She’s fallen for the horses. She doesn’t know it, or isn’t ready to admit it, but I see it. The way she touches them, talks to them, sneaks them sugar when she thinks I don’t see.”
Willa pursed her lips. “We’ll be into foaling season soon. Let’s see how well she likes birthing.”
“I think she’ll do well. And she admires you.”
“Bullshit.”
“You aren’t ready to see that, but I do.” He squinted, gauged the distance back home. “Race you to the barn.”
“You’re on.” With a whoop, she kicked Moon into action and hustled back at a dead run.
S HE WALKED INTO THE HOUSE WITH COLOR IN HER cheeks and a gleam in her eye. No one beat Adam on horseback, but she’d come close. Damn close, and it had lifted her mood—which plummeted immediately when Tess came down the stairs.
“There you are. Upstairs, Annie Oakley. Party time, and your eau de sweat won’t do for tonight.”
“I’ve got two hours.”
“Which may be barely enough time to transform you into something resembling a female. Hit the showers.”
She’d intended to do just that, but now her back was up. “I’ve got some paperwork.”
“Oh, you can’t.” Lily came up behind her, hands fluttering. “It’s already six.”
“So? Nobody’s coming that I need to impress.”
“Nobody’s coming you need to offend either.” With a sigh, Tess took her arm and began to haul her up the stairs.
“Hey!”
“Come on, Lily. This is going to take both of us.”
Biting her lip, Lily took Willa’s other arm. “It’s going tobe so nice, really it is, to see people. You’ve been working so hard. Tess and I want you to enjoy yourself.”
“Then take your damn hands off me.” She dislodged Lily easily enough, but Tess tightened her grip and steered Willa into the bedroom. “Five more seconds, and I deck you if you don’t—” She broke off, staring at the dress laid out on the bed.
“What the hell is that?”
“I went through your closet, and as there’s nothing in it remotely resembling party wear—”
“Hold on.” This time Willa jerked free, spun around. “You went through my clothes?”
“I didn’t see anything in there to be proprietary about. In fact, I thought I’d stumbled into the rag bin, but Bess assured me it was indeed your wardrobe.”
Though her palms had gone damp, Lily stepped between them. “We altered one of Tess’s dresses for you.”
“Hers?” With a sneer, Willa looked Tess up and down. “You’d have had to lose half the material to make that work.”
“True enough,” Tess shot back. “And all in the bust. But it turns out that Bess is very clever with a needle. It’s possible that even with your toothpick legs and flat chest you might look oddly attractive in it.”
“Tess.” Lily hissed the word and nudged her older sister aside. “It’s a beautiful color, don’t you think? You’d look so dramatic in jewel tones, and this shade of blue is just made for you. It was so generous of Tess to let it be altered for you.”
“I never really cared for it,” Tess said carelessly. “One of those little fashion mistakes.”
Lily closed her eyes briefly and prayed for peace. “I know I’m putting you to a lot of trouble with this party, Will. I appreciate so much that you’d let me plan it, and all but take over the house the last couple of days. I know it’s an inconvenience for you.”
Done in, Willa dragged a hand through her hair. “I don’t know who’s better at getting to me, but the hell with it. Just get out, both of you. I can manage to shower and put onsome stupid hand-me-down dress all by myself.”
Accepting victory, Tess took Lily’s arm and urged her toward the door. “Wash your hair, champ.”
“Go to hell.” Willa kicked
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