No Ordinary Cowboy. Mary Sullivan

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      HANK PACED the length of the stable’s center aisle from front to back and back to front again.

      Time to be honest with himself. This whole situation rattled him. She rattled him. He remembered the way he’d stood over Amy, trying to make her take back what she’d said about selling the ranch. He never used his size to intimidate people, ’specially not women or children.

      Whether or not the bank said there was nothing wrong, she and Leila could sell the ranch out from under him and he wouldn’t have a speck of power to prevent it.

      He pounded his fist against the wall.

      “Damn you, Dad. It should have been mine.”

      Hank knew the truth, though, knew exactly why Dad hadn’t left the ranch to him, and he hung his head, choked by shame. Once that woman got to the books, she would know, too. In a matter of time, the whole world would.

      He leaned his forehead on the rough wood and breathed heavily, hot air hitting the wall and bouncing back to bathe his face. He’d lived with his problem all his life. He would live with it for the rest, but Lord help him, he needed to do it here, on this ranch, where he felt strong and capable. And of value.

      The sound of his fist hitting the wall again reverberated in the cavernous room.

      Stop, he warned himself. Pull yourself together.

      No. He wasn’t losing this land that was more precious to him than his own life. He was not abandoning those kids, who needed this place with every breath they took.

      He threw back his head and yelled, “I’m not leaving this ranch!”

      “That’s the spirit.”

      Hank spun around at the sound of Willie’s voice. The older man stood silhouetted in the open doorway of the building. Was it a trick of the sun that made him look shorter? Willie stepped into the cool interior and Hank noticed for the first time how stooped his foreman was becoming.

      “Feel any better after that outburst?” Willie’s tone held reproach. He walked closer and stood with arms akimbo.

      Hank ran his fingers through his hair and his anger abated. “Can’t believe I got mad enough to yell where the children would hear me.”

      “I think the next county heard you,” Willie said. “Haven’t seen that since you started bringing the children here.” Willie’s voice wavered, thinner than it used to be. A lot of things were thinner about Willie these days. He was getting old. Hank would have to lay him off if he lost the ranch. Where on earth would Willie go at his age?

      Hank would lose the best friend he’d ever had. He’d had a stronger connection with the foreman than he’d ever had with his own father.

      Nope. Wasn’t about to happen. He was losing neither the ranch nor Willie.

      “If things got really bad, we might have to sell.”

      Willie dropped his arms to his sides. “It’s that close?”

      “I don’t know.” Hank scuffed a boot in the dirt. “I kind of forced her to tell me the worst that could happen.”

      Dust motes drifted in a sunbeam that shone through a high window.

      Willie set his foot on a bale of straw and rested his elbow on his knee. “Sounds like you aren’t gonna take this sitting down.”

      “I plan to fight back,” Hank answered.

      Willie’s white mustache curled up at the corners. He looked at Hank with gray eyes. “Glad to hear you say that.”

      “I shouldn’t have made a scene in front of the kids.”

      “Nope. But you did, so move on. Should have a little talk with them. Reassure them everything’s all right.”

      Hank nodded. “Yeah. I’ll do that.” He straightened. “Now.”

      Funny how the sound of those kids chattering across the yard gave him hope. When they’d gotten here two weeks ago, they’d been the saddest, quietest bunch of tots he’d seen in an age.

      “Can you help Haley and Rich watch the children for a while?” Hank asked.

      “Sure can. Whatcha have in mind to do?”

      “I’m going to keep her out of that office,” Hank said.

      “You sure that’s wise? Why not let her in and get it over with?”

      Hank shrugged. “Just can’t let her in there.”

      “Don’t forget, you catch more flies with honey.” Willie laughed. “Sweeten her up.”

      Hank smiled and it felt strained. He knew kids. He didn’t much know women.

      Time to learn.

      Fast.