Page 17 of Home to the Cowboy

Sam was another one of the regular cowboys working on the ranch. “I could probably get them around twelve—will that work?”

“It’ll be perfect, thanks, Dylan. I appreciate your help.”

Carson joined Dylan as he left the house. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Carson grinned. “Maybe if you don’t snarl the words, it will be more convincing. Woman trouble?”

Sighing, Dylan rubbed his face. “What the hell do I know about women and relationships? I obviously have no idea what I’m doing.”

“I don’t know you as someone who gives up easily,” Carson said.

“Well, she’s not interested.”

“Okay, so you won’t mind if I make a move?”

Cussing under his breath, Dylan marched to his truck, Daisy at his heels. Carson’s laugh followed him all the way.

*

It took much longer to tell her story, because the kids had some hilarious and sometimes marvelous ideas to add. By the time June was nearly finished, some parents were already waiting at the door to the children’s section.

“That night,” June said, “Pepper looked up at the stars again, but this time he whispered, I like being me. And from that day on whenever Pepper’s tail knocked over something, he would just laugh and say, oops! because he knew …” Stopping, she looked expectantly at the children.

“An awkward dragon could be just right!” they shouted.

Laughing, June nodded. “That’s right!” Getting up, she motioned to the people at the back. “I think your parents are here to pick you up.”

As she smiled in the general direction of the parents, her eyes met a pair of familiar blue ones fixed on her. Dylan. Her breath hitched somewhere in her throat. Oh, my. With his hat on, his arms crossed, showing off some impressive muscles, he had her knees just about buckling.

“Thank you, June!” the children called out as they were leaving, thankfully distracting her.

The little boy who hadn’t wanted to listen to another story about fairies, rushed up to her. To her amazement, he hugged her legs. “That was awesome,” he smiled. “I’m Clayton and I like stories. I hope you write Pepper’s story.”

Touched, she crouched down. “Thank you, Clayton. You will be the first person to get a copy.”

Beaming, he turned around and ran toward Dylan. Lucy and two other children were standing next to Dylan. It couldn’t be his kids, could it? Hadn’t someone used the word bachelor recently when referring to him?

Dylan was waiting at the door.

June slowly followed the little boy. Was Dylan waiting for her? Or just for the kids? Dylan smiled down when Clayton reached him.

“Everyone here?” he asked.

“Yes and my mom,” Clayton said, taking his mother’s hand.

“My truck is outside,” he said to Susan. “I need to talk to June, but I won’t be long.”

With a wink in June’s direction, Susan steered the kids out.

As the last of the parents also moved away, June was aware of heads swiveling in their direction.

“The kids?” she asked to fill the silence.

He shook his head. “They belong to the families on the ranch. No kids for me, I’d probably scar them for life. You’re very good with them.”

She smiled. “I love books and so do they. A common interest. Thank you for the mechanic’s telephone number. I … I was going to text you back …”