To her surprise Sonny nodded without an argument. “I’ve been thinking about that. How about you do whatever vet business we need done for free while you live on the ranch? But only your time is free. Whatever you have to use in the way of medicine or vaccinations will be billed to the ranch.”

“That’s a pretty good deal.” Mia brought in one of the twins. “Can we add that I get to assist you with whatever that is?”

“Yes, you can, and thank you, Sonny,” Stevie said. “That’s a very generous deal.”

“On whose end?” Cody chuckled. “Dad might figure out a way to keep you here through calving season and the spring vaccinations.”

“If I can’t, I bet Mia or Addy can help me out.” Sonny laughed out loud.

“I won’t let you down, Poppa,” Mia giggled.

“And you can depend on me,” Addy added as she put the second twin in a high chair.

Fate had to be playing out a hand, Stevie thought, and wondered what she would be dealt next. She glanced over at Cody to see him grinning so big she hoped that, whichever way the cards fell, things didn’t get awkward between them.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

The church parking lot was sparsely occupied that Sunday morning when the Ryan family arrived in three vehicles. Stevie had ridden with Cody, and even though he had said they would be going shopping for a new truck next week, she kind of hated to give up the old work truck with the wide bench seat.

“Penny for your thoughts.” Cody parked between Addy’s and his mother’s SUVs.

“They’re not worth that much.” Stevie smoothed the front of her knee-length dark green skirt. “I was thinking about Tex not being able to ride in the front seat with us when you get a new truck. These days they all come with consoles and bucket seats.”

“And here I was hoping you were thinking about sharing a hymn book with me,” he teased.

“Do you know what that means to the old folks?” Stevie asked.

“Oh, yeah!” he said. “What do you say…love? Shall we make this a date even though we can’t go out to dinner and for a long drive on dirt roads?”

“Why not?” She shrugged. “If this is a date, then we’ll get to that fourth one faster, and we can get a Sonic burger.”

As usual, Cody got out of the truck and rounded the front end to open the door for her. That morning, he wore starched and creased jeans and a plaid shirt with a Western-cut suede jacket over it. His black cowboy boots had been shined and his hat dusted off. He wouldn’t be anyone’s stereotypical idea of a doctor, but most people would think he was a rancher.