Grumpy Cowboy (Single Dad Collection)

Leah smiles at Joey and laughs out loud at something she says before reaching down and playfully pulling at one of Joey’s sweet pigtail braids. Obviously done by Leah this morning before they left the house, it’s a hairdo dream come true for my little girl.

I’ve tried to braid her hair before, but it’s never quite turned out. I don’t know if my fingers are too damn big or if I’m just not doing something right, but seeing her beaming like she is now makes me think I need to give it another try.

After all, I’ll be the only option once Leah’s gone back to the city.

I rub at my chest, tight from the stress of the day, I’m sure, and smile as the girls finally make it over to me.

“Well, what do we think? Are we a horse person or a hamster person?” I ask with a laugh.

Joey giggles, and Leah smiles. “The horse wasn’t so bad. I’m willing to give it another try, just to see if the abject terror lessens.”

“Riding Saunders is like riding a Cadillac. You can’t tell me he didn’t take care of you.”

“He did. You’re right. But we’re still in the ‘getting to know you’ phase. No man I’ve ever met is the same on date three as he is on dates one and two. Only time will tell how Saunders and I are going to get along.”

I chuckle. “Makes sense, I suppose.”

“It does.”

“When you’re crazy,” I add, and she sticks out her tongue, which makes Joey laugh again.

“Come on, let’s get over to the bleachers. If we don’t, I don’t think there are gonna be any seats left.”

Joey reaches up for Leah’s hand with her right hand and then does the same with mine on her left. Together, as a group of three, we make our way over to the side of the arena where the opening ceremonies of the exhibitions are beginning.

It hits me then, how much has changed in a month. Not only have I gone from avoiding Leah like the plague to purposely spending time with her, but my Joey almost looks like a new little girl, there’s so much light inside her.

I look over her head to Leah and smile.

“I didn’t get to mention it before, but I like your boots. Never thought I’d see the day you put ’em on,” I comment with a chuckle.

She sticks out her foot and turns it from side to side jauntily as we walk, almost like she’s doing some sort of line dancing jive. “I know! They’re your mom’s. She said she had a spare pair she never wears and then just gave them to me when we stopped there this morning to get a fresh outfit for Joey. I seriously can’t believe how nice your family is sometimes.”

“They’re only nice when they like you,” I correct, and that makes a smile the size of Texas bloom on the surface of her face.

“You think they like me?”

“More than they like me, darlin’,” I tease, making both her and Joey laugh.

“Daddy!”

“I’m just teasin’, baby,” I correct before mouthing over her head to Leah, “Not really.”

Leah laughs again but tries to smother it with her free hand. I try not to watch, but I can’t help myself. Her face is alive and free and alight with humor—all things I never expected it to be when she first arrived here.

She’s beautiful always, but today, it seems like there’s something magical in the combination of her dark chestnut hair and midnight-blue eyes.

Which is probably why I’m caught off guard when a hand presses into my chest to stop my forward motion. I’m officially tired of being touched by people without giving my permission, and my temper swells and bubbles under the surface when I look up to meet the eyes of the offender.

Worn gray hair and weathered skin around hazel eyes, Clay Walker looks to be every bit of who he is—Chase Walker’s daddy, and the man whose bronc started this whole damn story.

July 3rd, Saturday

Leah

A second ago, we were walking. Now we’re not, and a man I don’t know has his hand on Rhett’s chest.

There’s tension in the air, and I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Joey, however, upon looking up to see who it is, is unfazed.

“Mr. Walker!” she shouts, which prompts him to move the hand from Rhett’s chest and hold it down low so Joey can give it five instead.

“Well, hello there, Josephine. How’s everything? Did ole Tex put you in charge of the ranch yet?”

She giggles, and at the sound of it, the rocks in my shoulders finally give way. There’s a hint of contention here—the way Rhett is still looking at him with a touch of uncertainty assures it—but at the base of it all, this is a good guy. The high five and cute talk with Joey have proven it.