“And then Mrs. Hannah said that everyone who’d finished all their assignments could have extra time on the computer. I picked the Art Studio so I got to draw a picture and print it out and everything. Then she put it on the board because she said it was excellent.”

While Kayla chattered about her school day, Michael continued to water brush his mare’s mane. Kayla had fallen into the habit of visiting him, and he’d discovered that if a day passed without her poking her head into the stables, he felt deprived.

Her mother, on the other hand, was keeping her distance. He hadn’t seen her in three days, since the night of the country club dance.

“Mama’s going to get me drawing lessons, and that’ll be fun because I like to draw pictures. I can draw you one if you want.”

“I’d like that.” He sent her a quick smile. “What would you draw for me?”

“A surprise.” She beamed at him. Big people didn’t always really listen, Kayla knew. Mr. Fury always listened, even when he was busy. “Do you have time to teach Bongo a trick?”

“I might.” Michael tapped the dampened water brush in his palm as he studied the pup, who was currently sprawled on the brick eyeing one of the cats. “I’ve got to put this lady through her paces first, though. Got somebody coming by to look at her.”

Kayla’s bottom lip poked out as she reached up to smooth the mare’s glossy flank. “To buy her?”

“Maybe.” Understanding, he crouched down. “She needs a good home. Like Bongo did.”

“You’re a good home.”

He didn’t think this called for an explanation of business, the profit-and-loss ledgers that often made him cross-eyed. So he kept it simple. “I can’t keep them all, honey. What I do is take good care of them while they’re here and look for people who’ll take care of them when they’re not. And your mom’s the one who found these people. You know Mrs. Prentice?”

“She’s nice.” Kayla gnawed on her lip as she considered. She did like Mrs. Prentice—she had a fun laugh. “Her daughter rides horses. Mandy’s fourteen and has a boyfriend.”

“Does she?” Amused, Michael tousled Kayla’s hair. “If they like the lady here, and she likes them, she’ll be their horse. Do you think Mandy would take good care of her?”

“I guess so.”

“Let’s take her out to the paddock, you and me.”

“I’ll get her blanket. I’ll get it.”