“Papa!” a high voice shouted.
He turned toward the sound, not at all surprised the mere thought of his little love sent her to him. She ran toward him with her arms outstretched, her black curls flying out behind her.
“Missy,” he said, scooping her up in his arms. “Whyever are you in such a hurry?”
Michelle Elizabeth Reed, named for both his mother and hers, stared up at him with big blue eyes.
“I missed you, Papa,” the little girl replied, her tiny brow furrowed. “Didn’t you miss me?”
“I wasn’t gone for very long, sweet,” he teased. “Surely you haven’t driven your mother mad in my absence?”
“Very nearly,” Betsy replied, trailing in the child’s wake. “One would think you were gone for a year rather than a fortnight, the way she’s been carrying on.”
Michael ran his gaze over his wife, finding her still as beautiful as the first time he’d seen her in the stables at the Derby.
“And what of you, wife?” he asked. “Did you miss your husband?”
Betsy came up to him, placing her hand on his cheek.
“Sorely,” she returned, brushing his lips with hers.
“We have to see the little horses, Papa,” Missy said. “They’ve missed you too, I think.”
Michael chuckled. They did indeed have quite a few foals to see to, a fact that promised an excellent return in a few years should the offspring prove as fast and strong as their sires. Betsy updated him on the horses’ fine condition and the two of them began discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the one-year-olds in their possession.
“Mama said you would take me riding when you returned, Papa,” Missy cut in. “Will you take me riding, Papa? Right now?”
Michael laughed. “All right, Missy.” He set her down on her feet. He and Betsy shared a look. He fixed his eyes on his daughter once more. “Can your mother come along?”
“Oh yes!” Missy giggled. “I do so love to watch Mama ride.”
The three of them walked toward the stables, hands clasped. Betsy mounted first, soon riding over the grounds in her usual manner. Her long, thick chestnut braid, bounced and soared behind her as her mount fairly ate up the ground. Michael lifted Missy up and placed her on his shoulders as the two of them watched her.
His mind went back to that dark time before she came into his life, a time when regaining his fortune and holding stubbornly to his self-reliance was of the utmost importance. Betsy had changed all that for him. He’d once likened her to a breath of fresh air, one that brought new life to him. He now knew she had come into his life with much more force than that.
“Ooh, look at Mama ride!” Missy said, breaking through his reverie. “What’s a lady fox called again?”
Michael knew where this was headed. Since before Missy was born, he’d teased Betsy with the nickname, but he hadn’t thought Missy aware of it.
“It’s called a vixen, sweetheart.”
Missy nodded. “Right. Fixin.”
“Vixen.”
She nodded again. “Uncle Philip showed me the fox at the hunt last week, Papa. Mama’s as fast as that fox.”
“That’s very true, sweet,” Michael said with a grin.
Betsy was as quick as a fox, and she certainly was a vixen. His vixen. She was sharp and determined and the very best woman he knew.
Betsy reined in her horse and gracefully dismounted. He took her hand and said a silent prayer of thanks as he kissed her. She was his vixen and his love. She was his everything.
And he was ever grateful that she’d been determined to have him.
About the Author
JoMarie DeGioia is a bestselling author of Historical and Contemporary Romance. She’s known Mickey Mouse from the “inside,” has been a copyeditor for her tiny town’s newspaper, and a bookseller. A hybrid author, she also writes Young Adult Fantasy/Adventure stories, New Adult Romance and Paranormal Romance. She gets lost in DIY projects around the house and works out plot ideas during long runs. She divides her time between Central Florida and New England.
Discover other books by JoMarie DeGioia
The Bridgewater Brides series, including
The Heir’s Treasure
The Viscount’s Vixen
The Earl’s Beauty
The Gentlemen Undercover series, including
A Hero and a Gentleman
The Shopgirls of Bond Street series, including
That Determined Mister Latham
The Dashing Nobles series, including
More Than Passion
Pride and Fire
Just Perfect
More Than Charming
The Gentlemen Undercover series, including
A Hero and a Gentleman
The Cypress Corners series, including
Finding Harmony
Taming Jake
Loving Cassie
Winning Ben
Showing Jessie
Seeing Shannon (Barefoot Bay Kindle Worlds Novella)
Dreaming Eli
Giving Chase (Barefoot Bay Kindle Worlds Novella)
Kissing Bree
The Gifted YA Fantasy/Adventure Trilogy, including
Gifted
Braunachs of the Dell series, including
Luke’s Gold
Patrick’s Promise
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