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her best efforts to keep them at bay. “She didn’t deserve to die like that.”
    She dropped her fork on the brightly colored paper plate then buried her head in her hands. Tears slipped down her cheeks.
    Though she hadn’t heard Josh get up he was suddenly sitting beside her. “You’re right,” he said. “She didn’t deserve to die like that.”
    “I’m sorry. I thought I’d cried myself out last night.” Reaching into her pocket, Stacie pulled out a tissue and blew her nose. “I just feel so empty inside.”
    A family spilled into the park. The kids scurried to the play equipment while the parents plopped an overflowing picnic basket on the table. The man waved to Josh and the woman cast a curious glance at Stacie.
    Stacie wiped the remaining wetness from her cheeks with the tips of her fingers. “Let’s go before your friends come over.”
    Josh’s gaze searched her face, two lines of worry between his eyes. “There’s a place on my ranch. I don’t know if it has good cosmic energy or what, but I always feel better after I’ve been there. Best of all, it’s completely private.”
    Stacie didn’t think there was a single place on earth that had the power to lighten her heart. Still, going back to the house and crying in her room held little appeal. “Would you show it to me?”
    “Of course,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. A slight smile lifted his lips. “Trust me—when you get there, you’re going to say ‘Josh Collins, you are so smart. This place is just what I needed.’”
    “I suppose you’ll expect a kiss, too.”
    She wasn’t sure who was most surprised by the words, but the slow grin that spread like molasses across his face told her he liked the idea.
    His gaze dropped to linger on her lips and they immediately began to tingle.
    “Kissing,” he said softly, “will be entirely up to you.”

Chapter Seven
    A fter dropping off the picnic basket at Anna’s house and changing into a pair of jeans—at Josh’s insistence—Stacie hopped into his truck.
    Excitement nudged at her melancholy. But it wasn’t until she rolled the window down and let the clean, fresh air rush in that a smile touched her lips. It helped that Josh continued to keep the conversation light. Time passed quickly and soon the cross timbers announcing the Double C ranch came into view.
    Just as the truck turned into the long lane leading up to the house, Bert burst from a grove of trees into view. The dog ran alongside the truck, barking and wagging her tail, the entire length of the lane.
    The minute the vehicle stopped, Stacie jumped out and gave Bert a big hug, receiving a doggie kiss on the cheek in return. When she learned Josh expected her to ride a horse to his mysterious location, she almost balked. But the clouds had disappeared and the sun now shone high in the sky. It seemed like a sign. As did the fact that Josh gave her a mare so gentle a three-year-old could ride her.
    Brownie only had one speed: slow and easy. Stacie liked the horse more with each plodding step.
    Josh’s mount, a shiny black stallion named Ace, chomped at the bit, but Josh kept him in check. As they left the yard, Bert and several of the puppies came running.
    They were a good ten minutes from the house when a couple of the pups took off in another direction. Worry bubbled inside Stacie as they disappeared from the sight. “Should we go after them?”
    “No need,” Josh said. “Blue heelers are smart and the young ones are old enough to do some exploring. They’ll find their way home.”
    Stacie cast another look at the ridge where she’d last seen the puppies. “If you’re sure…”
    “Positive,” he said in a reassuring tone, and she knew he’d heard the worry in her voice. “How are you and Brownie getting along?”
    “I’m starting to feel like a real cowgirl.” And that wasn’t a bad thing…as long as it was temporary. Stacie patted the coarse brown hair on Brownie’s neck. “You’re right. She