The Rancher's Daughter (12 page)

             
“Ok, you two that’s enough.  You will both play nice and take turns or you won’t get to hold the baby at all.” Hilary s
aid.  She took the baby away from both of them.  “Well
Josey
, what did you decide to name our sweet precious baby girl?” she asked.  “We named her Elizabeth Lynn.” “Oh, that’s pretty, I like it.”  Hilary cooed to the baby girl, “
well
my pretty little Elizabeth, I don’t think you are going to stand a chance in this family.  Grandpa and Pappy are going to have you spoiled rotten.”

             
“Mommy
,
can I have a pony?” “Elizabeth L
ynn Jenkins, eat your dinner and we will discuss a pony later,”
Josey
said.  “But Mommy
, I’m thr
ee years old.  G
r
andpa said
you had a pony when you were thr
ee.” 
Heath walked in on that note, “He did, did he?  Did Grandpa also tell you, that pony tried to bite her and he sold it after a wee
k?”  “No!” she said.  “No, what,”
Heath scol
ded.  “No, sir,” Elizabeth said, propping her chin on her fist.
 

             
There was a knock at the door and Heath yelled for them to come in.  J.W walked through the door and asked them to come
outside
.  “Sam and I have something for Liz.” He said.  Heath and
Josey
exchanged looks and got up from the table. 

             
They stepped outside and Sam stood holding the lead rope of a small palomino gelding, complete with a brand new saddle and tack.  Elizabeth ran out the door in all her excitement and nearly tripped and fell down the porch steps. 

             
“A pony,” she screamed.  “Whoa, there munchkin, you never run up to a horse, yelling.  You could
get hurt.” Sam said.  “Sorry, Pappy
, I’ll walk real slow, and be extra careful.” 

             
Sam reached down, picked up his granddaughter and put her in the saddle.  He adjusted the
stirrups and
lead
her around
.
  She squealed with excitement.  “Daddy, look at me!”  Heath smiled at his daughter. 
“I’m watching sweetheart.”  He wrapped his arms around
Josey
, and whispered in her ear, “
she
has them wrapped around her little finger.”

             
Hilary joined
Josey
and Heath on the porch.  “I can’t believe how fast she’s grown.  Those two have been spoiling her rotten since the day she was born.”

Elizabeth sat in the saddle, with a natural seat. 
She’d
been on horses since she was a baby but always with an adult.  The ranch hands gave her rides every chance they got.  On her birthday each year she got
everything
she wanted.  “Dad
, her birthday party is this
evening
,
y’all couldn’t have waited until the party?” 
Josey
asked.  J.W shook his head and said, “We didn’t want anyone to get mad at us for showing them up by getting her the best present.  You know how the men make it a competition each year to outdo the other.”  He smiled. 

The party that night consisted of the ranch hands and their families, and a pile of kids.  Elizabeth received gifts that ranged from new boots to a kids lasso.  She got a new hat, new clothes, and a pink grooming kit for her new horse.

Even the cake was horse themed.  Hilary made and decorated it herself.  It was a green cake with a fence around the side and horses on
top,
complete with bushes, and rocks. 

Hilary went overboard on the party.  There were cookies,
cupcakes, homemade ice cream, and chips and dip.  There were chilidogs, burgers, and even steaks.  The yard
was decorated
with birthday decorations and there was even a pony ride. 

Still Elizabeth was not happy.  She wanted something else all together.
  She wandered into the house where
Josey
was washing dishes.
  “
Mommy
, I didn’t get what I really wanted.”  “What do you
mean,
sweet heart? You got the horse you wanted.” 
Josey
said.  “
I know Mommy,
but what I really want is a baby brother.”  That threw
Josey
for a loop. “A what, oh honey, it’s not as simple as that.  Mommy and Daddy, have to make a baby, and then it takes a whole nine months, before a baby gets here.”  “Well make one, please,” Liz said. 
Josey
was scratching her head.  Sometimes kids did that to you.  They
would stick you with a question that,
you just
didn’t
know how to answer.

“I tell you what, I’ll talk to Daddy about it, ok.”
  “Ok, Mommy, I can’t wait” she ran outside and shouted, “Mommy and Daddy’s
gonna
make me a baby brother!” 
Josey
sighed.  “Oh Lord,” she said.