We all dug in.
“Madison, will you ride the horse with me?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Well, Grant, I kind of stink at horse riding.”
I stood. “Come on, you two ride, and I’ll lead the horse.”
Zoey smiled. “I want to ride a horse, too.”
Daisy pointed. “Austin, help her with Hannibal Lecter.”
We headed over past the fence where the horses were, when Austin grabbed the reins. “Zoey, have you ridden before?”
“A few times.”
“Do you want me to help you?” Austin walked the horse closer to her.
She looked at Madison and laughed. “He thinks I’m fragile. That’s adorable.”
Austin grinned. “She’s not fragile like a flower. She’s fragile like a bomb.”
I knew it wasn’t his line, but the look on her face was priceless.
Once Madison and Grant were on, I led them around as they debated whether hot dogs were a sandwich or not. Riveting.
After a bit Zoey yawned. “Okay, I’ve been up since four this morning. Pretty soon, the bags under my eyes will be bigger than my boobs. I need a nap.”
Madison cleared her throat. “Zoey, watch the language. Grant is here.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” She motioned at Grant. “I’m going to really try to make sure I don’t talk shitty anymore.”
Madison shook her head as Grant laughed.
* * *
Everybody headed to Daisy’s house. Austin and Jim were going to check the cattle, and Zoey went to take a nap.
“Madison, I’m going to catch up on my beauty sleep, too. See you all later.” Daisy disappeared into her room with a wave.
After everyone went their separate ways, Grant clapped his hands and pointed at me. “Come on, Madison, we have something to show you.”
“What are you guys up to?”
Grant was beaming. “We made you something yesterday.”
“You did?” She looked over at me. “Ahh, so that’s what the tools were about. Why am I a little afraid right now?”
After a speedy walk over the hill, we arrived at the shed, and Grant pulled open the door. “Surprise!”
Her mouth dropped open when she stepped inside, with Grant and me following. I stood in the corner, taking in her reaction.
Grant clapped his hands. “It’s your very own she-shed!”
She looked at him as if he were speaking Russian, and then her eyes continued to travel over the loveseat, powder blue chair, and rug below our feet. Those emerald eyes stopped at the little table in the corner, where a white microwave sat, topped with cans of SpaghettiOs piled in a pyramid.
She turned to me, her hand covering her heart, and a small grin weaved its way across her rosy lips. “You both did this for me?”
I nodded as Grant took her hand. “My teacher, Ms. Hobbs, said that sometimes grown-up girls like to put themselves in a time out and be alone. Now you can stay in Montana, and when you want to be alone, you have your own place.”
