To Tame a Cowboy

Piper sighed. That young girl who lived inside her, the one who’d grown up with a single mother, wanted to throw her arms around the man, take him at his word that he wanted to be part of her life, and forget all that had happened in the past.

But she was not only older now, she was more skeptical.

“It’s not that easy. I want it to be—you don’t know how much I do,” she told him. “But that hurt, that pain that settled in when you left for good, it won’t just go away because you were sick and saw the proverbial light.”

God, she sounded harsh. She truly didn’t mean to be, but how many times could she let her heart lay on the line only to have someone toss it aside for their own self-centered needs.

“I’m not asking for a miracle,” he explained, his dark eyes searching hers. “I’ll do what you need, go as slow as you like, to see if we can repair or even start fresh with a father-daughter relationship.”

“Are you staying in Royal?”

“I’m staying at the small hotel just outside of town,” he told her, sliding his hands into his jeans’ pockets. “I checked in before I came here.”

Piper was torn in so many directions, but she knew there was no way she could in good conscience let her father stay at a hotel. He’d extended the olive branch and now she had to decide whether or not to grab hold.

“We won’t be able to get to know each other if you’re at a hotel,” she said, offering a small smile. “I have a spare room and it’s even been freshly painted.”

Piper couldn’t believe big-time rodeo hotshot Walker Kindred’s eyes misted as a smile spread across his face. Hope speared through her at the thought that this might just work. Her father might finally be ready to be part of her life. Time would tell.

As it would with Ryan.

She sighed. One man at a time.

“I’d really like that,” her father told her. “But I don’t want you uncomfortable.”

Piper shrugged. “I’m not uncomfortable.”

“Did I ruin any plans for the night?”

She laughed. “Yeah, I was going to get drunk. Care to join me?”

“I’d love to, but I can’t with the meds I’m taking.” He smiled. “But I’d be happy to keep popping your tabs for you and work on a beer-amid out of your cans.”

Piper laughed as hope spread through her. Maybe they could reconnect and maybe he’d stick through the holidays. Having her father for Thanksgiving would be an awesome gift.

* * *

A loud crash sounded through the house. Piper sprang out of bed, her bare feet slapping against the hardwood as she moved into the darkened hallway.

“Dad?” she called.

“I’m fine,” he yelled back. “Sorry I woke you.”

She followed his voice and found him coming to his feet in the living room. She flicked on the dimmer switch and left it turned down low so the glare from the bulb wouldn’t blind them.

“What happened?” she asked.

He laughed, shaking his head. “I was trying to get to the kitchen for some water to take a nausea pill and I tripped over the sawhorse.”

“God, I’m so sorry.” She glanced at his plaid pajama bottoms and navy T-shirt. Nothing appeared torn. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“I’m fine,” he assured her, placing his hand on the wall for support. “I’ve taken harder hits falling off angry bulls.”

Piper smiled. “Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll get that glass of water. Do you have your pill?”

He held up a large white pill. “I didn’t lose it in the fall.”

Laughing, Piper went to get a bottle of water from the fridge. She knew her father was weak from his treatments. She still couldn’t get used to seeing him like this, almost frail and, well, older. The once-black hair was now silver and thin from the chemo, the wrinkles around his eyes deeper. The man had lived an entire life without her and now he was here to make amends.

One part of her was thrilled to have her dad back; another part was still skeptical he truly wanted a relationship with her. She couldn’t hold back the excitement of getting to know her father again. If he decided to leave, she would be utterly crushed...again.

She honestly believed Walker was here because he loved her and wanted to work at a relationship.

Piper took the water back into the living room and grabbed a seat beside him on the couch.

“Here you go.”

After taking his pill, he took another drink and screwed the cap back on. “Sorry again for waking you.”