The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles 1)

Luisa looked behind her. "Where’s Jack?"

"Jack? Why would he be with me?"

Holly craned her neck and peeked behind Luisa into the kitchen. A smiling Sam—his right leg in a full-length blue cast—struggled forward on crutches.

"Holly!" his little voice piped.

"Sit back down, mijo," Luisa scolded. "You must take it easy for the first few days. Remember what the doctor said."

Holly rushed past Luisa and knelt in front of Sam. "I’ve been worried sick about you. Are you all right?"

"I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt so much anymore. Daddy gives me pills." He leaned against her and held out one of his crutches. "Aren’t these things neat?"

Holly nodded, a tear forming in the corner of her eye. "Yes, Sam. They are very neat." She pulled the little boy into her arms and gave him a gentle hug.

"So where’s Daddy?" Sam asked.

Strange. Luisa had asked the same thing.

"I don’t know, sweetie."

"But he went to get you."

A wave of joy swept through Holly. "To get me? What for?"

"To bring you home, he said. Said he’d be back in time for supper, too. Luisa’s makin’ enchiladas."

Bring her home? Did that mean…? Could she have passed him on the highway?

Her fingers glued to her lips, she turned to Luisa.

"He’s right. Jack went for you."

"I didn’t think... I mean, he didn’t answer any of my calls."

"He didn’t get any calls, Holly," Sam said. "But that’s kinda my fault. I threw up on his cell phone. One of the pills made me sick. He had to throw it in the garbage."

Holly burst into a giggle. Poor little Sam, sick to his tummy, puking on his dad’s cell phone. She stared at his rosy cheeks and big brown eyes. Thank God he was fine now.

Still, Jack could have called her. On the other hand, he’d been busy with Sam, who had no doubt needed his full attention. But one little phone call....

Stop it, Holly. He was focused on his son and you could have come clean long before you did. He wouldn’t have gone for you if he didn’t care.

"Do you remember what happened that day, Sam? Why you fell from the roof of the barn?"

"Yeah. One of the kitties was on the roof crying. I had to get him."

"Goodness me," Holly said, hugging him again. "Your dad told you to go in for lunch."

"I know but—"

She smiled into his curly dark hair. "It’s okay, Sam. All that matters is that you’re okay now."

"I hope Daddy gets back soon."

"I do, too." Holly kissed his ruffled curls. He smelled like fruity shampoo and little boy. A ripple of motherly love surged into her. She loved this child. She wanted to protect him and take care of him.

"He’s driving up now," Luisa said, looking out the front window.