Okay, sure. He could admit that the old desire had awoken inside him. But he wasn’t here to woo her back.
Yet.
Aw, shoot. He needed to delete that from any mission parameters. It would only complicate things. Rock him off his game.
“Morrie called. He’ll be a little late.” She flipped the bacon. “I need to bring Huck in for some rodeo training this morning. The Junior Buckaroos are having a practice today in prep for the rodeo next weekend.”
“And Huck is in it?”
“Yeah.”
He set down the mug and turned to face her fully, his hand gripping the counter edge. “I’d like to go. If that’s okay.”
Sierra’s eyebrows rose, her spatula freezing mid-flip. “You sure? It’s not exactly exciting. Just kids learning to rope.”
“I’m sure.” Rowan set down his coffee mug.
She narrowed her eyes a moment, then, “Okay.”
Okay. He sort of wanted to pump his fist with an Oorah. Except…“Although maybe I should stick around here. Make sure?—”
“No one burns the house down?”
His mouth opened. “Um.”
“I was sort of kidding, although I guess that’s not funny.” She sighed. “Morrie will be here.”
Morrie. Yeah, the guy who wasn’t her husband.
He quelled another fist pump. “So, what’s Huck hoping to accomplish with the rodeo?”
“There’s a grand prize of five hundred dollars for the junior division winner. He wants to use it to buy a horse.” Sierra’s voice carried a mix of pride and worry. “Been saving every penny he can get his hands on, but a good horse costs more than a kid can earn doing chores.”
“He’s got his eye on a particular animal?”
“Raol Martinez has a quarter horse gelding. Gentle enough for a kid but smart. Good bloodlines.” She cracked eggs into the bacon grease, the whites sizzling and bubbling. “Huck’s crazy in love with the horse.”
“Sounds like he’s got good taste.”
“Gets that from his great-grandfather, I suppose. He loved horses.” She sighed and pain flickered across her features, quickly masked but unmistakable.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
She glanced at him. Frowned. Then, “Oh. Yeah. Me too.” She stirred the eggs.
“Elway was a good man.”
“The best.” Sierra’s voice caught slightly. “I still expect to see him coming up the driveway for Sunday breakfast. Still make too much coffee because he always drank three cups.”
“I miss him too.”
The simple words seemed to unlock something in Sierra’s carefully controlled expression.
She turned away.
It was everything he could do not to cross the room, take her in his arms.
And stop.
