Shoulda Been a Cowboy (Rough Riders 7)

“Yes. I know you’re surprised.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“It’s taken me time to adjust. Maybe you should’ve kept me in the loop as far as what legal steps you were taking alone, with the help of Ginger Paulson, on lining up Anton’s adoption.”

Her face flamed. “You knew?”

“Only because I saw her bill on your desk at Dewey’s. Were you going to tell me?”

“Maybe. Probably. I guess I wanted to see if you’d change your mind.”

“Princess, I’m damn stubborn. Once I set my mind to something, I don’t change it. Since you’ve been sick and I’ve been hanging out with Anton I had an epiphany of sorts. I realized I really like the kid. I also understood that for the last two months I tried to get along with Anton for your sake. That’s unfair, not only to you, but to me, and most of all to Anton.

“It’s scary shit being entrusted with the care of a child, but you’ve bucked up to the challenge so can I. Anton deserves better than my half-assed attempt at being a father figure. He needs a real father and I intend to be one to him if he’ll let me.”

Domini closed her eyes. She was half afraid if she reopened them she’d find this was all some kind of cruel dream. One of those where everything she’d ever wanted was within her grasp and as soon as she reached for it, it’d vanish into mist and she’d wake up.

“Domini? Say something.”

“Am I dreaming?”

“No baby, this is as real as it gets.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Everything Domini said, everything that’d come out, gave Cam an unbelievable sense of relief their marriage was real—and finally on the right track. When Domini insisted on helping his mother clean up, he’d been grateful for a few moments alone. Not that it’d last long. Sure enough he heard, “Cam?”

He glanced up at Jack Donohue’s approach. Cam tried not to scowl at the man his sister hated, who was also his brother’s best friend. “Hey, Jack. What’s up?”

“Not much. I’m looking for…” Jack jammed his hands in his pockets and scowled at his shoes.

Cam knew who Jack was seeking out, but no way would he point the man in Keely’s direction. But he would let the poor sucker off the hook. “You looking for Carter?”

“No, I know where Carter and Thane are. They’re partnering up for the games. Are you joining in?”

His mother loved games. Which meant she subjected her children to games, even as adults. “I haven’t decided. Why?”

“I saw Anton sitting by himself on the porch swing.”

His eyes narrowed. Did Jack’s tone sound a little judgmental?

“Jesus. Do all you McKays practice that fiery death stare from the cradle?” Jack demanded.

“Yep.”

“Awesome. I’d hate to think that foul-mouthed cowgirl cornered the market on dirty looks in this family.” He sighed. “Anyway, I just thought you should know about Anton.” Jack sauntered off.

Cam headed for the front of the house, discreetly rubbing at the top of his socket. He was sweating like crazy and the damn thing itched today.

When he saw Anton with Gracie’s head in his lap, the dejected look on the kid’s face released a flood of emotions, none of which he knew how to handle.

Figure it out.

“Why so glum chum?” Cam asked from the bottom of the stairs. “Why aren’t you playing games with the rest of your—” cousins, but Cam amended it to, “—buddies?”

Anton didn’t look up. “I don’t know how to throw a rope. How to hook something with a rope. How to tie something up with a rope. I don’t know how to do any of that ranch and cowboy stuff.”

“That’s all they’re doin’?”

“No. There was a foot race. I got third. Colt got first and Ky got second.”

Cam bit back a groan. Colt’s competitive streak would never go away. “Third is damn good.”

Anton finally looked at him. “You really think so?”

“Sure. What other games does Grama have planned?”

“Some pin chaps on the cowboy for the little kids and a three-legged race.”

Cam’s stomach did a loop-de-loop. Anything but that. He managed, “Do you want to enter that one?”

“Yeah, but Domini’s sick and she can’t do it.”

Don’t say it. Don’t even think it. You will fall on your ass and embarrass yourself in front of your entire family.

But Cam’s mouth opened anyway despite the warning of self-preservation. “We could partner up for it.”

“It’s okay. I know you don’t wanna do it and you’re trying to be nice to me.”

The kid’s dead-on assessment of his attitude stung. “Why would I offer if I didn’t mean it?”

Anton shrugged. “All grownups say things they don’t mean.”

The truth left shame coiling in his gut. Cam had sworn to Anton he was nothing like his father. But he acted just like Rex—he ignored the boy the same as Rex had done.

Hellfire and damnation. Cam wished he could erase the last two months. But since he couldn’t, the best he could do was to start fresh.

“Look, I could feed you full of crap, offering excuses on why I’ve kept my distance since you moved in with us. I could make promises about how everything will be ponies and puppies and sparkling rainbows from here on out, but you’re a smart kid. You’ve been burned by those lies before.

“So I’ll just tell you I’m sorry. I will do better, not try to do better, but I’ll actually be part of your life. Every day, not just at family picnics or when I’ve got no other choice because Domini is working. It’ll take time to prove to you I’m in this for the long haul, but luckily for us, neither of us is going anywhere any time soon.”

Anton ruffled his fingers through Gracie’s fur.

“I understand if you don’t wanna partner up with me, bein’s I have a peg leg and all, but I used to whup butt all the time in races when we were kids.”

That caught Anton’s attention. “You’re serious about being in the three-legged race with me?”

“Yep. We’re the ringers, no one expects us to compete so I think we’ve got a shot at winning.”

Anton smiled. Shyly. “Maybe we do.”

“Come on. Let’s go.”

The area in front of the pickups had been cleared. A section of orange rope was used as the starting line. The course curved and ended by the old outhouse. His family members had already paired off and were tying orange ropes around their “third” leg. Cord with Ky, Colby with Gib, Carter with Thane, Kade with Eliza, Buck with Hayden. Colt and Jack were helping Colby’s second son Braxton, and Carter’s second son Parker, get set up.