Page 68 of Catching Mr. Right

She raises an eyebrow at Mandy’s hand wrapped in mine. Then she says something that makes the officer halt in his tracks as she comes closer. I reach Soldier first. Letting go of Mandy’s hand, I grip his halter and press my face to his. “Is this what you wanted? You want to go home now? You’re done with me? Done babysitting me?”

“Casper, are you going to hand my horse over without problem, or do I need to press charges against you? You’ll have no one to blame but yourself if you’re arrested tonight.”

“Cas?” Mandy calls out my name, and I glance back at her.

She smiles at me.

“So what do you think?” I address Soldier.

He walks past me, his shoulder knocking me aside as he moves to Mandy and mouths her hair. Then he swings his big head and gives me a baleful look.

“Casper? Are you relinquishing my horse or not?” Moira demands.

Scratching my jaw, I start to grin. “You’re not going to believe this, but I think I am.”

“Officer, I…” Moira gapes, flustered. “Wait. You’re actually going to hand him over to me without any more fight? After all this time? You’re willing to let go of my daughter’s horse?”

“It’s time to go home, huh?” Mandy says to Soldier, stroking his neck. “I’ll miss you. We’ll miss you, but I’ll look after Cas now. We’ll look after each other. You don’t have to worry. You go and meet a nice female horse and fall in love and make babies.”

“I’m not sure that’s quite how it works,” Moira says.

“Do you need me to put him back in his stall, Moira?” I join Mandy and Soldier. “I assume you’ll need to arrange for transportation.”

“No, I can take him,” she says. “I want to spend some time with my horse.”

“Okay.” I reach out one last time to pat his warm, smooth muzzle. “I guess this is it then. You take care of yourself. Don’t give Moira too much grief. I know how much you love to think you know best.” I move closer to him, right up so I can whisper in his ear. “Maybe you do know more than you’re supposed to. Maybe I should thank you for being so stubborn.”

“What he’s trying to say is thank you,” Mandy says, slipping between Soldier and me. “You can make the grumpy man fall in love, but you can’t teach him to express himself.”

“Can’t you?” I take Mandy’s hand as Moira squeezes my bicep and then takes Soldier’s rope and leads him away. At some point I’ll call her and ask about him and we’ll talk how we used to when I was with Juliette, but tonight there are more important things for both of us. I’m saying hell yes to a future I didn’t hope to ever have, and she’s reconnecting with memories of her daughter.

“No. I don’t think so.” Mandy shakes her head playfully and backs away as plump drops of rain splatter the dust. “Once a grumpy caveman, always a grumpy caveman.”

“I can express myself just fine.” I scoop her up and walk toward the truck. “I love you, and I am taking you home to the ranch. That’s where you belong, by the way, until we find somewhere to live. In my kitchen and in my bed with me. Is that expressive enough for you?

“Yes, I think it is.” She presses her forehead to mine and grins. “It’s just right.”

“Right,” I agree. “That’s me.”

I’m the guy. The right guy.

Her Mister Right.

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