Cowboy Lullaby (The Boones of Texas 6)

“I’m happy.” He smiled at her.

She nodded, patting Pearl’s back. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Lunch.” She climbed into her little car and drove down the driveway.

Click stood there until there was no sign of her taillights or dust kicked up on her exit. She was gone. He could finally breathe. His heart slowed, but the dull ache was there. Nothing was resolved, not yet.

Pearl yawned, reminding him it was past her bedtime. “Nighttime, snuggle bunny,” he said, loving the way she curled into him. “I’m sorry you’re feeling bad,” he said, kissing Pearl’s head.

Pearl shook her head. “Tadee sing.”

Click nodded. “Maybe. Let’s ask. Remember to say please.” She’d stay, for Pearl. But he wanted her to stay for him—for them. He hoped like hell that was why she wanted to talk to him.

Pearl nodded, grinning. “Peez.”

Tandy was in the kitchen, elbows deep in dishwater. A quick glance around the kitchen told him she hadn’t been watching out the window. No, she’d been scrubbing down the kitchen. “Did she leave?” she asked, nervously looking between them.

He nodded. “For now.” His words were thick.

“Sing peez?” Pearl asked, reaching for her. “Tadee?”

Tandy nodded, her eyes searching his. “Yes, ma’am.” She wiped her hands on her apron and took Pearl’s hand.

She was close—close enough to touch. Her scent rolled over him. It was hard not to reach for her, hard not to pull her close. “Kitchen looks nice. I appreciate it. And you coming out here. I know it’s not...what you wanted.”

Her brow furrowed. “Click...that’s not true.”

“Tadee, mew-sik,” Pearl said, tugging her earlobe.

He stared at her long and hard, noting the flush of her cheeks. Hope washed over him—so much hope. “We’re going to talk,” he said to her. “But I need to make a quick call first. So there’s nothing hanging over my head.” He needed Kevin Glenn’s counsel. It might make things easier if the man joined them for lunch tomorrow. He headed onto the back porch to make the call.

“How can I help you this evening?” Mr. Glenn asked.

“Georgia’s here. She’ll be coming out tomorrow for lunch to talk. I figured I’d touch base with you before that happened.”

There was a pause. “Is she alone?”

“She was tonight.” His gaze wandered along the fence line. Domino was at the water trough. Blackjack was dozing several feet away.

“You say she’s coming for lunch?” Mr. Glenn said. “Maybe I’ll stop by?”

“Sounds good. See you tomorrow,” he said, hanging up.

Tandy played the piano, with Pearl’s help from the sound of it. It brought a smile to his lips.

He patted Banshee’s head, eager to hear what Tandy wanted to say—and terrified. “I’m hoping it’s good news,” he said to the dog. If he had Tandy at his side, he could handle whatever life threw at him.

Chapter Eighteen

Tandy rocked Pearl, rubbing a cool cloth across her fevered forehead. Poor Pearl was fighting sleep, her little fingers tugging on her right earlobe before she dissolved into a puddle of tears. After another vapor bath and a long lullaby-filled cuddle, Pearl had dozed off. But as soon as Tandy had laid her in her crib, Pearl had started to cry.

“I thought she’d be doing better.” Click was pacing. He’d been pacing since she started crying again. “What’s the point of making her take medicine if it’s not going to help?”

“Her fever is down,” Tandy tried to reassure him. “It’ll take some time.”

He sighed, slumping into the recliner opposite her rocking chair, one long leg stretching out. His boot caught on the strap of her purse, dumping its contents all over the floor.

“I’m sorry.” He crouched, only to have Banshee come nose-to-nose with him. “Come on, Banshee.” But every time Click moved, Banshee moved with him—thinking it was a game.

Tandy giggled, muffling her mouth with her hand.