Page 39 of Snowed in with the Rancher

“I think we could find something for her.” Jess gave Olivia an up and down look. “You're not too big, so my guess is Tate'll put you on one of the mares.”

Tate nodded in agreement, looking between Olivia and a dark brown saddle with white accent stitching.

“We have a really pretty little quarter horse named Matilda,” he said. “She doesn't go out to work much right now because she's too small for the guys on staff. Back when Robbie Junior was working for us, she was the perfect size for him.”

Jess chuckled. “You mean back before Robbie Junior had his growth spurt.”

Tate laughed and agreed.

“I really don't need my own saddle,” Olivia protested. Following the line of her eyes, Tate saw she was looking at the price tag with a frown.

“Sure you do,” he said in a voice that indicated he wasn't open to discussion. “That way, you can go with the girls on the trail that goes around the home pastures. Trust me, when summer comes, you'll love it.”

Olivia simply looked at him.

He turned back to Jess. “I'll take all three saddles, two curry kits, and three helmets.”

Jess nodded and took the saddle with him up to the front counter to join the smaller saddles for the twins.

* * *

Tate looked far too satisfied as he climbed in the truck after Jess had loaded the purchases in the truck bed.

“I'm thinking the girls could take the saddles with them to my dad's after they unwrap them, and I could get them up on the pony right away.” He started up the truck and pulled away from the curb.

Olivia's jaw tightened as she debated what to say to the world's most clueless man.

“I think Jackie's really going to love all that fancy silver on hers, don't you?”

She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I think we should have discussed all that a little more before you went and spent nearly two thousand dollars on saddles and accessories for four-year-olds who've never ridden.”

He glanced at her before returning his eyes to the road, his brow furrowed in apparent confusion. “Are you really that worried they won't want to ride?” he asked.

Olivia shifted in her seat, wondering when this roller coaster her life seemed to be on was going to end. She was starting to wonder if moving to Montana had been a mistake.

“I don't know, Tate, and neither do you! You haven't brought up the topic with the girls at all, or with me.” What she added in her head was that he seemed to have no problem dropping money, but getting five minutes of his time was like prying a pearl from an oyster.

Tate stiffened in the face of her criticism. “So, I have to clear all my gifts to the girls through you?”

Her stomach turned sour in an instant. “I didn't say that—”

“You pretty much did,” he countered. “If you want to see my financials, I'm happy to show you that two grand isn't anywhere near a hardship.”

Whoa. This had gone south fast. “I'm not questioning your financial position—”

“But you are questioning my capacity to choose gifts for my daughters. Riding is special to me, and it's something I want to share with them. Is that really such a terrible thing?” His voice was sad now, and Olivia suddenly felt like a jerk.

“It's not that…” She paused as they slowed down for the last traffic signal before the highway. “It just felt like you want to throw money at them, when you haven't spent any real time to get to know them.”

Tate's expression shuttered, and he shifted away from her on the bench seat of the truck.

“Yes, well, I suppose you know them better than anyone.” His voice had gone flat, and he paused as if he was picking the right words to say next. “You've also been the one in charge for four years. You never had to share that with anyone. Never had to deal with someone doing something with them that you didn't choose. Never had to trust that someone else might have something to offer them that you didn't.”

Ouch,Olivia thought,that hurt. Especially because he wasn't wrong. “Okay…I admit I haven't had to compromise with anyone about the girls, but I don't think that changes the fact that you'd rather spend money on them than spendtimewith them. I can tell you right now which one matters more.”

Tate nodded, and though he kept staring straight ahead at the road, she could see his expression was stony. “Well, I guess that makes it pretty clear. I wouldn't want to be that dad—the one who tries to buy his kids' love. I'll return the stuff first thing in the morning,” he said quietly.

Dammit.She rubbed her temple as she stared out the window at the cold, dark night. “You don't have to do that,” she answered, her own voice barely above a whisper.

---