It Takes a Cowboy
Page 67
He nodded. “I don’t want to go to Scott’s ranch now.”
“Then we won’t go. Now, wash your face and play with Belle while I make the call, and then I’ll start dinner.”
“Can we have macaroni and cheese?”
“If that’s what you want.”
He nodded. “It sounds pretty good.” He wandered out of the room, his little shoulders slumping.
Blair turned and slammed her fist into a sofa pillow.
*
BLAIR TUCKED JEFFREY into bed that night and bent to kiss his forehead. He was still subdued, but seemed to have gotten over the first crushing blow of disappointment. “Are you thinking about what you want to do tomorrow?” she asked.
He nodded against the pillow. “I still haven’t decided.”
She smoothed his hair. “There’s no rush.” She straightened then. “Good night, Jeffrey.”
“Aunt Blair?”
“What is it, sweetie?”
“I really wanted to see Scott tomorrow.”
Her throat tightened. “I know you did, Jeffrey. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
“I thought he liked us.”
“I’m sure he does like us.” He simply liked his freedom better, she thought sadly. “There were things he had to do tomorrow.”
There she was defending him again, even though he didn’t deserve it. She told herself she was doing so only for Jeffrey’s sake.
“Aunt Blair?”
“Yes?”
“Do you still like Scott?”
She had to swallow hard before answering. “Of course. We shouldn’t forget that he’s been very nice to us, even if he disappointed us this time.”
And if she ever saw him again, she might very well throttle him.
“Aunt Blair?”
“Yes, Jeffrey?” she asked patiently.
“Is Scott sort of like my dad? You know, he doesn’t let anything tie him down?”
She wanted to hit something again. Preferably Kirk. Followed, of course, by Scott.
“I don’t think Scott is exactly like anyone,” she said, settling on an answer that neatly begged the question.
Jeffrey pulled the covers to his chin. “I’m pretty mad at both of them.”
“So am I, sweetie. So am I,” she muttered as she left the room.
*