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Chapter One

“And that’s e moved here and I know my daddy is very excited He can’t buy me a pony yet but maybe one day He did promise he’d buygood but I know a pony has to coet it, I do Do you think I should have a pony?” Katie asked

Ann Adahter Katie Bruce had been co to her house for randoo

“Do you think you’re ready for a pony?” Ann asked

She didn’t know her neighbor’s plight, or his situation Only the few run-on conversations she had with his daughter Ann adored the young girl Katie was a sweet kid, only five, and they’d n of a mom In fact, Katie never even spoke about her

As Katie swath of the pool, Ann kept an eye on her

The young girl had appeared in her bathing suit, and Ann kneithout even asking that she’d been watching her froether The day she hbor, Eli Bruce

Tall, sexy, but not handsome in a classic way Froh The kind that would make a woman feel safe, protected, war about those arms, but they were already on her mind

Every single ti a tight shirt and jeans

He did lookIn an older, more mature kind of way She didn’t have a clue how old he was, and the truth was, she didn’t care Age was just a number

“But ponies are cute,” Katie said

Ann laughed “I know, but you forget you have to care for them, don’t you? Clean up after them, muck their stalls out, feed them, make sure they’re happy”

“I could do it”

“Well, how about a dog? I bet a dog would work”

“I don’t want a dog”

She chuckled “I love dogs When I can, I’ to adopt one”

“You are?”

“Yes”

“Can I come and pet it? What if it’s vicious and wants to bite me?”

She adored this kid “No, it won’t bite you, I pros had it in them to bite anyone

“I don’t want a biter”

“You won’t get a biter” Again, another promise

The sound of ahis throat drew her attention toward the fence, which was tall, but seeing as he was over six feet, he looked over it easily