Chapter 9
The Bar Orodeo was as dusty and dangerous as the Triple H rodeo hadbeen.
At least this time, she felt a little prepared. She had the official Texas uniform on. Jeans and boots that'd been appropriately worn-in.
She was more than a little freaked out. Her kids were getting ready to head into thatarena.
Over the past month, she'd seen Dan a handful of times. She'd taken him up on his offer to rodeo-train the kids. When she'd seen him, he'd been friendly and courteous. He'd never brought up thekiss.
She couldn't stop thinking about it. His tenderness. His need, communicated so clearly through his touch, a need he never allowed himself to speakaloud.
Or maybe she was fooling herself. Maybe it had just been a great kiss, easily forgotten tohim.
"Aunt Megan, do you see Dan anywhere?" Julianneasked.
The three of them were wedged between a two horse trailers on the back side of the ranch rodeo grounds, a side of the rodeo Megan hadn't seenbefore.
Carrie and Scarlett Markson were unloading Peanut, a task Megan felt completely unsure about. Tad already stood nearby, tied to thetrailer.
At Julianne's question, Brady looked up from where he'd been stroking the animal'sneck.
Megan hated to dash their hope. "Remember, he never promised to come, you guys." She didn't want them to be disappointed. When she'd brought it up during their s'mores ride, he'd had valid reasons for not wanting to leave the TripleH.
As Scarlett led the pinto down the ramp, Brady sidled up to Julianne and whispered something Megan couldn't hear. Julianne lit up, sending a not-so-covert glance atMegan.
Those two. Thick as thieves, even after she'd given in and agreed to therodeo.
She'd started seeing a therapist after her breakdown when Brady had nearly choked. Through counseling, she’d discovered that Dan had been right. She did have lingering effects from the trauma of losing Emma and Riley. She'd been working on calming techniques to help her focus on what was real when her mind wanted to spin off into what-ifs.
She'd also put the kids in a group grief-counseling session for children. Brady had balked at first, but she'd only agreed to let him compete in the rodeo if heattended.
His reluctant attendance had turned into quiet acceptance. The sessions had helped. The kids talked about their parents more. Talked about theirgrief.
And sharing had opened a new facet to their relationship with Megan, and for that she wasthankful.
Maybe she would be able to make this parenting thingwork.
She was studiously avoiding thinking about the upcoming teenyears.
And the man who had changed everything for her had all but disappeared from herlife.
She was in love with Dan. He saw what no one else did. When he saw a need, he took action. And he kissed like adream.
But apparently, he didn't wanther.
Megan slipped one arm over Julianne's shoulder, catching the top of the pink sequined vest that had been a gift from Scarlett. "You're going to do greattonight."
Julianneshrugged.
That was an unusually subduedreaction.
Megan squeezed hershoulders.
"What if I fall off?" Julianne asked in a tinyvoice.
"You've only fallen off once," Megan reminded her. She'd nearly had a cardiac event, but Julianne had popped right back up, corral dirt smudging her face. "If you fall off, you get back on and tryagain."
"I see Miles!" Brady waved over hishead.
