It Takes a Cowboy

Jeffrey scratched his chin and looked speculatively around the ranch. “Are we going to live here?”

“We’ll have to work out the details later,” Scott admitted. “Your aunt has a business in Lightning Creek to consider. We may have to spend part of our time there and part of our time here, something along those lines.”

“What about Belle?”

“Belle is part of the deal,” Scott assured him with a grin.

“It’s okay, then,” Jeffrey pronounced with a nod. “But do we have to go home now, Aunt Blair? Can’t you take tomorrow off?”

She rolled her eyes. So much for the grand reaction to her engagement. Jeffrey was taking up the argument exactly where he’d left off. “We have to go home now,” she replied. “And that’s the end of it. Belle’s going to be wondering where you are. I’m sure she likes staying with Aunt Wanda, but I’ll bet she really misses you.”

He sighed heavily. “All right. But this stinks. I wanted to ride Mercury again.”

“You’ll have plenty of time to ride Mercury later,” Scott replied, opening the back door of his Yukon and ushering Jeffrey inside. “After all, he’s your horse.”

“Mine?” the boy squeaked as Scott closed the door and headed for the driver’s seat. “Mercury’s mine?”

Scott climbed behind the wheel, winking at Blair, who’d just belted herself into the passenger seat. “That’s what I said. Mercury’s been needing a boy for a while. I went out and found him one. I thought it was very clever of me.”

“Oh, man.” Jeffrey sank back into the seat, looking dazed.

“You know, of course, that there’s a long list of conditions involved here.”

“There always are,” the boy replied dryly. “But it’s worth it. Thanks, Scott. I’ll take really good care of him.”

“You bet you will, or you’ll have me to answer to.”

Blair noticed that Jeffrey didn’t look notably worried.

Scott reached out and took her hand during the drive to her house, giving her a loving, wicked-edged smile. She wondered if it was possible to be any happier than she was at that moment.

And then she worried that maybe she was too happy. Wasn’t she just inviting disappointment by letting herself want so much?

Telling herself she was being both paranoid and pessimistic, she made herself stop thinking along those lines and simply enjoy the moment, her fingers curling around Scott’s as he and Jeffrey kept up a teasing give-and-take during the remainder of the drive.

She was afraid her fears had been justified when she, Scott and Jeffrey entered her aunt’s house a while later to find her brother, Kirk, waiting for them there. He stood and grinned at them, his handsome face creased with his usual careless smile. “Hi, Jeffrey,” he said, looking immediately toward his son. “Daddy’s home.”

*

SCOTT WAS WATCHING Blair when Jeffrey ran across the room and threw himself into his father’s arms. She looked devastated, he thought, beginning to scowl. And the expression on her face made him hook his thumbs in his belt, spread his boots and narrow his eyes. His first instinct was to protect. He turned to look at her brother, who was giving his son a casual hug.

Blair cleared her throat. “Scott, this is my brother, Kirk Townsend. Kirk, I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Scott McKay.”

“Fiancé?” Keeping his left arm loosely draped around Jeffrey’s shoulders, Kirk extended his right hand. “This is a surprise. Nice to meet you, Scott. I’m Blair’s shiftless older brother, as I’m sure she’s told you.”

“Not in so many words,” Scott answered smoothly. “But I have heard quite a bit about you.”

“Fiancé?” Wanda clapped her hands together, looking pleased. “When did this happen?”

“Yesterday,” Scott answered, smiling fondly at Blair’s aunt.

“That’s wonderful,” she said sincerely, kissing his cheek and then hugging and kissing her niece. “I’m so happy for both of you. I knew you made a good couple.”

Jeffrey pulled away from his father to scoop up his cat, who’d come running to greet him. “Dad, this is Belle. She’s mine.”

“Yeah? Cool.” Kirk turned to Blair then. “Looks like you’ve been taking real good care of him, sis. I appreciate it.”

Blair cleared her throat. “I’ve enjoyed having him. Um, how long are you in town for this time, Kirk?”