The young girl guided the horse around the barrels, determination in every movement. Cole stood with his arm around Darci’s waist, fighting the tears that threatened to fill his eyes. “I never thought I’d see this day.”

Darci squeezed his hand in her excitement. “She’s good, Cole. Really good. I think it’s time to look into a better horse for her.”

Cole frowned, the old fears still hovering too close to the surface of his thoughts. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

Darci framed his face with her hands, pulling his head close enough to press a kiss on his lips. “Let her go, Cole. The doctor said she was completely healed, that she’s just like any other young lady who will get all the bumps and bruises of growing up. Let her live her life the way she needs to. What happens, happens, and we’ll deal with it then. We’ll deal with it together.”

“But Mandy hasn’t been walking that long. I thought I was being the ultimate parent by letting her ride. And barrel racing was another major step forward.”

“She’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. Let her grow.”

Cole sighed, knowing that once again, his wife was right. He couldn’t wrap Mandy up in cotton and keep her safe any more than he could Darci. It was hard letting go, letting life happen, but he was learning.

The mailman pulled up, disrupting their discussion. “Just one letter today, Mrs. Blackmore. See ya tomorrow.”

Darci took the envelope, turning it over to view the return address. “It’s from my mother.”

Cole pulled her closer. “Do you want me to open it?” He couldn’t resist the urge to protect her from at least this. They’d had no communication with Anita Blackmore for six months, but he knew how the woman could hurt Darci with just a few choice words.

Darci sighed. “No, she’s my mother.” Hesitating, she finally tore open the seal and pulled out an ornate card. “Oh, my.”

“What?”

“It’s a wedding card, congratulating us on our marriage. Cole, I think she’s finally accepted us, accepted everything that’s happened. This is her way of making an apology.”

Planting a kiss on her lips, Cole resisted the urge to carry his wife into the house. “I love you, honey.”

“Good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Will you still love me when I’m fat?”

His hand traced over her slim hips as he raised one eyebrow, an unexplained excitement flaring through him. “Care to explain that comment?”

“In about seven-and-a-half months, I’ll be elephantsize. Will you still love me then?”

Fire lit the love smoldering inside him. “You won’t get rid of me that easily. I’ll love you forever.”

She reached up for another kiss, whispering sweet words against his lips. “Little girls’ dreams really do come true.”

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