Cowboy Lullaby. Sasha Summers
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He glanced back, knowing it was a mistake, knowing he’d regret it later. Later. Not now. She took his breath away.
“We’ll be fine...thanks.” She hesitated, her gaze finding his.
Damn if he wasn’t caught, held tightly by his love for this woman. “Night, then,” he murmured.
“Night,” she repeated, heading toward the waiting truck.
He made his way inside, taking the beer Brody offered him and sitting at the bar.
“Something about the Boone women,” Brody said, shaking his head. “Once they get under your skin, you can’t get them out.”
Click grinned. “I’ll drink to that.” Loving Tandy had been the greatest gift of his life, something he’d known he didn’t deserve but couldn’t bring himself to point out. It had been his greatest secret, one he’d protected for most of his youth. Hadn’t she known she was better than him? He’d almost told her again and again. Until the summer she’d kissed him and he’d stopped caring. Seventeen and bold, fearless and desperate—that she’d felt the same had blown him away. That was the last summer Tandy had come to Fire Gorge. Uncle Woodrow had made sure of that.
“How’s India?” Click asked. All the years he’d been carrying a torch for Tandy, Brody had been pining for Scarlett’s sister, India. Not that Brody had ever acted on it. Or India Boone had the slightest idea.
Brody’s laugh was startled. “Moved back not too long ago.”
“That so?” Click stared at the man. “See her yet?”
He shook his head, taking a long swig off his beer.
“She still has no idea?” Click asked.
Brody’s narrow-eyed look said it all. “Nobody does.”
Click chuckled. “Can’t decide if that’s better or worse. Having her and losing her or...” He shook his head. “Never having her.” He shrugged. “Cuts both ways I guess.” As much as he regretted the loss and hurt they’d experienced, he couldn’t regret the love they’d shared. In the short time Tandy had been his, he’d loved a lifetime. All the dreams and plans they’d shared were gone, but not forgotten.
Now he had something new to dream and plan for. He had Pearl. And his little girl deserved all the love and dreams and attention he could give her.
“It’s so good to see you.” Aunt Evelyn leaned around the table to hug her awkwardly, again. “When Uncle Woodrow said you were coming, I cried.”
“She did,” Scarlett agreed.
Tandy smiled, taking a bite of her pancakes.
“I hated parting with you that way,” Aunt Evelyn sniffed. “Hated not having you girls all together for the summertime.”
Tandy kept her smile firmly in place. That summer had changed everything. She’d been sent home, embarrassed, because of her inappropriate relationship with Click Hale. If being sixteen and kissing a boy she was sweet on was inappropriate. Her mother had never let her forget how humiliated she was by Tandy’s behavior. Or how lucky she was her uncle stopped things from getting out of control.
“Let it go, Evelyn,” Uncle Woodrow snapped, patting her hand gruffly. “Tandy’s grown up. She’s got a good head on her shoulders now.”
Tandy didn’t let the now get to her. “Guess I’ll drive into town today, meet Dr. Edwards and see the clinic.”
Woodrow frowned. “It’s Saturday. Closed up.”
“Saturday and Sunday?” she asked, stunned. Weekends were emergencies only at the veterinarian hospital in Stonewall Crossing, but it was normally pretty busy.
“His nephew takes care of the boarders through the weekend. Don’t see much point in you making the drive into town.” Woodrow sat back, dropping his napkin across his plate.
“You’ll have to stay in one of the hunting cabins for now,” Woodrow continued. “They’re still updating the wiring in the Garden Cottage. Hope to have it ready in a week or two.”
“How was the funeral?” Aunt Evelyn asked.
“Good turnout,” Scarlett said. “Brody came, but his father didn’t.”
Meaning her aunt and uncle hadn’t come to the funeral because they didn’t want to run into Mr. Wallace? Tandy took a sip of her coffee, eager for breakfast to be over.
“Lynnie Hale was an amazing woman,” Aunt Evelyn said.
“She was stubborn,” Uncle Woodrow mumbled.
Tandy bit back a grin then. She remembered how frustrated Woodrow got with Lynnie the few times his cows brought down her fences or when she’d let him water his cattle at her spring—on her terms.
“She had to be.” Aunt Evelyn sipped her tea. “To hold her own with the men hereabouts.”
Tandy agreed. From Scarlett’s nod, so did she. She wished Renata was here. She made conversation seem easy. But Renata’s hangover had other plans, like staying in a dark, silent room in bed.
“Breakfast was wonderful,” Tandy said, ready to get the day started. “Guess I’ll head out to the hunting cabin and start unpacking.”
“Take her to the south field. Best shape,” Uncle Woodrow said, not looking up from his coffee.
“When he says best shape, that’s not saying much,” Scarlett whispered.
Tandy laughed. “I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Good, good.” Uncle Woodrow nodded. “Dinner is at six, around the campfire. Booked solid, so join us.”
“Thanks for the invite.” Tandy smiled.
Both of her uncles ran successful guest ranches. Most of her summer holidays and school breaks were spent at one of the two places. She knew hard work was required to keep things successful. Uncle Teddy’s Lodge was more a large-scale bed-and-breakfast. They offered low-key excursions like birding and wildlife walks, horseback rides, hayrides and the occasional campfire.
“Bring your guitar, too, Tandy. Nothing says cowboy like a serenade under a sky full of stars,” Uncle Woodrow added. “Should be a clear night.”
“Will do,” Tandy agreed. For some reason, singing to strangers was always easier.
Unlike Uncle Teddy’s Lodge, there was nothing low-key about Fire Gorge Dude Ranch. The large-scale ranch brought people from all over the world to experience the Wild West firsthand. They had over-the-top theme nights, a mock cattle drive, dances and overnight trail expeditions for those who really wanted to “rough it.” The last few years, Uncle Woodrow added upscale dining, yoga and fitness classes, and a spa for those “city folk willing to spend big money for mud baths and fancy food.” It seemed to be working—business was definitely booming.
Tandy suspected the dude ranch existed mostly to keep Evelyn happy. Her aunt loved talking and meeting new people. Her uncle hated travel almost as much as he hated strangers and lengthy conversations. The fact that the dude ranch kept his wife happy and brought in a pretty penny was a bonus her uncle surely appreciated. But their real wealth came from the oil they’d discovered some years back. That and the cattle Uncle Woodrow kept.
“If you need a thing, you let me know,” Aunt Evelyn said.
“I’m sure it will suit just fine.” Tandy smiled.
Scarlett trailed behind her from the dining room, speaking only once they were out of earshot. “Something’s up.”
“I sort of got that,”