Chapter 42

“Yes, Papa?”

“Come along. We’re going on an outing.”

His son’s eyes lit up. He patted Sunrise’s neck, raced to the paddock fence, and bounded up and over it.

George knew what they were about to do, and he’d been good about keeping it a secret.

Tom had borrowed a buggy from Hudson, and once they were all seated in it, he snapped the reins over Outlaw’s brown and white rump.

“Where are we going, Tom?”

He smiled down into her eyes. “We’re going to get you a birthday present.”

“But my birthday’s past.”

“And we missed it. So George and I are going to remedy that.”

George wriggled in his seat, grinning so broadly Tom thought his face would split.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“That’s why it’s a secret.” Tom knew his grin was pretty broad, too.

It didn’t take them long to get to their destination, and when they did, Olivia let out a breathless squeak.

“The horse fair!”

“Yes. I’m hoping they’ll have a horse with a flaxen mane and tail for you.”