A Son for the Cowboy (The Boones of Texas 5)

“Ma, can we get pancakes and bacon?” Rowdy asked, drawing her attention.

“Sure,” she agreed. “Sounds good to me, too.”

“Make that three,” Mitchell joined in. “Extra pancakes. And bacon.”

Rowdy laughed, using Mitchell’s favorite joke. “Gotta fill up both legs?”

“You know it,” Mitchell agreed.

Poppy watched the two of them with a smile.

Mr. Stephens returned, his pen hovering over a small notepad. “What’ll it be?”

“I want some grapefruit,” Dot piped up. “Or a cantaloupe and cottage cheese.”

Carl Stephens scratched his head. “A grapefruit I can do—I think.”

Dot sighed, dropping her menu on the

table.

“You want a grapefruit over pancakes?” Otis shook his head. “Not me.”

Poppy grinned, watching Dot’s expression waver. Why was she pushing so hard? Determined to be so damn disagreeable?

“The pancakes are real good,” Mr. Stephens said. “And we’ve got some fresh strawberries I can put on top, if you like.”

Dot looked at the older man, smiling slightly. “Yes, thank you.”

Poppy breathed a sigh of relief, finishing their order.

“Oh, and coffee,” Mitchell added. “Lots and lots of coffee. Please.”

“I can do that.” Mr. Stephens smiled, collected the menus and headed back to the counter.

“Well, everyone seems nice enough,” Mitchell said, nodding at the two men at the table opposite them.

Poppy nodded, trying—and failing—to dismiss Renata Boone’s connection to the Boone family. It had been seven years, give or take a few months. It was possible Toben had finally met someone he wanted to settle down with.

She glanced at Rowdy.

For all she knew, Toben was married with kids. Rowdy might have brothers and sisters. She and Toben needed to talk. “When are you thinking of opening the store?” Mitchell asked, effectively redirecting her line of thought.

She shot him a grateful smile. “The sooner, the better. With the Fourth on the horizon, makes sense to have the place open. It’s in decent shape, really. I can take you over—”

“Not again.” Otis sighed. “We spent hours there yesterday.”

“You’re playing your game, anyway,” Rowdy pointed out. “You can do that anywhere.”

“I’d like to see the shop,” Mitchell said.

But Poppy had made her son a promise and she made a point of never breaking them. “Maybe. After we take the horses out for a ride.”

Dot and Otis moaned, but it didn’t matter. Rowdy was smiling ear to ear.

* * *

TOBEN NODDED AS his cousin Renata slid a big box of pastries onto the long table. He poured himself another cup of steaming coffee and sat in the break room off the ranch offices. Considering the ground he had to cover today, he needed more coffee—and some of whatever Renata just carried in.