Twins for the Rebel Cowboy (The Boones of Texas 2)

She remembered visiting him in the hospital then. “You were in so much pain.”

“Your lemon bars helped,” he answered, with a wink.

“I imagine the pain meds did, too.” She shook her head.

“Ma’s l-lem-mon bars are great,” Cody agreed.

“Totally.” Ryder nodded, sitting at the table. “And, since you’re asking so nicely, I’d love to stay for dinner.”

“Ma,” Cody sat. “Can I take T-T-Tom for show-and-tell?”

“Tom, huh?” Ryder asked, serving Florence some spaghetti.

Cody nodded, watching Ryder.

“Good name.” Ryder nodded at the boy.

And, just like that, her son was grinning from ear to ear. She loved to see him smile like that, as if he was a carefree five-year-old. “We can’t take animals to school, baby.” She grinned at him, cutting up Grandma Florence’s spaghetti. “But you can take in a few pictures if you want.”

Cody nodded. “’Kay.”

“Lady Blue’s ready. Parts came earlier this week,” Ryder said around a mouthful of spaghetti. “She’s purring like a kitten—” He winked at Cody. “Good as new.”

“Great.” She poked at the pasta on her plate. If Lady Blue was ready, then so was the bill. She still had almost twenty thousand to pay off on Grandma Florence’s last hospital stay. But she’d figure something out. She always did. “Guess it’s a little harder to work with an injured hand?”

“Not really. I’m good with both my hands.” His words made her warm all over.

“How’s Mags, Teddy?” Grandma Florence asked Ryder. Teddy was Ryder’s father, Mags his mom.

“She’s fine, Flo.” Ryder didn’t miss a beat.

“You tell her I’m still waiting on her chicken pie recipe. That recipe...” Florence sighed and shook her head.

Dinner conversation flowed. Ryder had funny stories from his latest rodeo stint, how his cowboy hat had a hole “clean through it” after getting hooked by a bull. Somehow he managed to make his almost serious injury into a comedy. Cody could hardly wait to show Ryder the model car he was building. And Grandma Florence told them that there was a flasher running around the retirement home.

Sunday nights were her favorite. She didn’t let herself think about the next day, the stress she was feeling—she tried not to.

She’d spent the past year being the principal Stonewall Crossing needed, and hopefully that was enough for the school board. But try as she might, she couldn’t ignore that her assistant principal Ken Branson knew the right people, had money, and a wife and kids. He was the total package. And serious competition for the job—if he applied.

She realized Ryder was watching her and shrugged off her worries. Her worries would keep until the company was gone and Cody was in bed.

She stood, clearing the table while the others chattered on. When that was done, she pulled out the apple pie she and Cody had made earlier that day. The scent of cinnamon and sugar filled the air and soothed her nerves. She loved baking. She loved cooking. There was something about preparing a meal and feeding friends and family that made her happy.

She cut two decent pieces for Cody and Grandma Florence and a larger piece for Ryder.

He nodded at her when she put the plate in front of him, his blue eyes lingering on her face a little longer than normal.

“You got your momma’s gift in the kitchen, Annabeth.” Florence reached for Annabeth’s hand.

Annabeth took it, kneeling by her chair to savor her grandmother’s moments of clarity. “She said she learned everything from you.”

Tears filled Florence’s eyes. “’Course she did. It’s a momma’s job to train her daughter in the kitchen. What sort of a wife and mother would she be if she couldn’t take care of her menfolk?” She winked at Ryder and smiled at Cody. “She’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become. Your daddy, too.”

“I’m trying.” Annabeth smiled.

“I know, Annabeth.” Grandma Florence shook her head. “You work too hard sometimes.”

“I do what needs to be done.” Annabeth kissed her cheek.