Turning to the children, Chloe asked, “Cooper, Austin, and Abilene, can you say hello?”
“Hello,” the three children all said at once.
“Hello,” Tracy said to them. Overwhelmed by thewarmest welcome she’d ever had, it made her eyes sting with happiness. Being raised as an only child, these siblings, siblings-in-law, nephews, and nieces of Cash’s exuded an inner circle family closeness she’d never experienced in her life. “It’s an honor to spend the Fourth of July with you.”
Chase carried Courtney as her big brother, Colton, told the cousins how he had seen their swimming pool from up in the sky. Cooper said he’d seen Colton waving to them on the way to the barbecue. Then the boys ran ahead with twins Austin and Abilene hot on their heels.
Watching them, Cash said with a chuckle, “I love those kids.”
“I’d like to have a couple someday.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Tracy felt a red-hot blush heat her cheeks. She had said it quietly but didn’t dare meet Cash’s blue eyes.
“Me too,” Cash said before turning to the others. “Tracy hopes her editor will allow her to extend her magazine article to include Triple C-Central and West by mentioning all of you, including photos of you and your ranches.”
“Really?” Chloe asked with interest.
“Free advertisement,” Derek commented as the others agreed.
“Yes, that’s what I thought too,” Tracy replied. “My editor’s name is Gerald Moles. He arrived a little while ago and I think being here is a sign he might approve the idea. ButRanchers and Rangesowner, Kirk Devereux will have the final say.”
The Coopers were well aware of the magazine. Thus, the article was the topic of discussion on the walk from the helicopter to the barbecue. They found Cooper, Colton, and Austin grouped in front of Coop at a picnic table with Abilene on his knee and a dog at his feet.
“Happy birthday, Tracy!” Coop called.
“Thank you, Coop,” Tracy said.
“Meet Crockett,” Coop said in reference to the dog.
“Hi Crockett.” Tracy leaned over and petted the cattle dog’s head. “I have a German shepherd named Dude.”
Coop said, “Crockett and I need to meet Dude.”
Wishing that could really happen, Tracy said, “Dude would love this ranch.”
As Coop spoke to the rest of his family, Cash said to Tracy, “If your editor allows you to continue working on the article, you’re welcome to stay with me.”
“Thank you, Cash,” Tracy replied, her heart racing at the idea. “But I’m due to pick up Dude at the doggy daycare in the morning. They stay booked up and won’t have room for him on such short notice.”
“Stay here tonight and we’ll go get Dude in the morning,” Cash said casually. “We can bring him to the ranch for a visit.”
Tracy said shyly, “I miss him, and I think you’d like each other.”
Practically stomping her way toward them, Donna came to a stop and said, “You’d best get over to Gerald before he leaves, Tracy. He’s not happy.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“What’s not to be happy about?” Winston Smith demanded.
With a scruffy beard, needing a haircut, and overweight he stood with his hands clenched in Tammy Dalton’s small living room. The diminutive lady with gray hair and sharp, bluish-green eyes glared at him from the sofa, where she sat with her swollen foot propped on a pillow.
“Everything!” Tammy snapped. “I can’t drive a stick shift with my injured foot and even if I could, I can’t walk to my truck, Winston. You won’t take me to the hospital in Colorado Springs and I can’t call 9-1-1 because you claim to have misplaced my cell phone.”
“I make scrambled eggs every morning for you from the chickens I provided. I cook for you every evening,” Winston shot back. “I told you there’s nothing to be done for a sprained ankle. It wasn’t my fault you tripped over that rug.”
“My foot could be broken and not just sprained. I need to have it x-rayed,” Tammy argued. “I didn’t know that rug was there until I slipped and fell in the middle of the night,” she reminded him. “Why was it all crumpled up between my bedroom and the bathroom anyway?”
“I bought a nice rug for you, but of course you don’t appreciate anything I do, Tammy.”
“Winston, you being a friend started out all right, but being my caregiver is not working well,” Tammy said. “I think I’d be better off on my own. You should leave.”
