Heart of A Cowboy. Margaret Daley

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      “We need to talk in the car.” She didn’t want others to overhear their conversation. She was determined to get to the bottom of what was happening to Nicholas.

      Five minutes later with the air-conditioning cooling the interior of the car, Jordan sat behind the steering wheel in the parking lot of Key Elementary, Nicholas in the front seat next to her. “What’s going on at school?”

      “I don’t understand the other guys’ fascination with video games and football.”

      Well, neither did she but that didn’t solve the problem her son had. He was more comfortable with adults. “Are they making fun of you?”

      “I’m supposed to play dumb.” Nicholas looked directly at her. “I can’t do that. If some of them would do their homework, they could answer the teacher’s questions. I’m bored and miserable.”

      “How about the enrichment class?”

      “It meets twice a week for an hour. I need more. Randy was telling me about being schooled at home. May I try that? That way the class won’t hold me back. I can learn at my own rate.”

      And going up another grade wasn’t an option. “I’ll think about it. I’ll even go to the Helping Hands Homeschooling meeting tonight and see what they have to offer.” Jordan pulled out of her parking space and headed to the street running in front of the school. “Because, Nicholas, I’ll need help, and I want to make sure I can have opportunities for you to socialize if I homeschool you.”

      “I don’t think like kids my age.”

      “You seem to like Randy, Jana and Ashley.”

      “Yeah, they’re different.”

      Maybe if she could get Nicholas to socialize outside school, it would work better for her son. She was glad the HHH meeting was that evening, but she needed to know more before she committed to homeschooling. Was that the best option for her son? Could she provide him with the needed academics as well as opportunities to be with other kids?

      Would Zachary be there? He’d said something about going because he was involved in the planning of an HHH Junior Rodeo Event at the ranch. She’d tried calling him several times since Saturday to set up a meeting with him, but each time she’d hung up before the phone had even rung once. The thought of seeing him that evening sent her pulse racing through her body. Should she even go?

      When Jordan and Nicholas arrived at the Tallgrass Community Center where the Helping Hands Homeschooling group’s meeting took place, the first person she saw was Zachary standing near his older sister, Becca.

      “Mom, I see Randy. He told me to join him when I came.”

      “Fine.” She couldn’t take her eyes off Zachary.

      He lifted his head and fastened his gaze on her. For a brief moment she was swept back to the time he’d approached her after a football game for the first time. Her heart reacted as it had then—tapping a fast staccato against her rib cage.

      Something akin to that look they had exchanged all those years ago flickered into his eyes. Then suddenly he banked the fiery gleam. Even from across the large room she saw the tensing of his shoulders, the hardening of his jaw as though he gritted his teeth.

      She tore her attention away. Not far from her, Alexa stood with a tall man who wore wire-rimmed glasses. Plastering a smile on her face, Jordan headed for the young woman she’d met at the ranch. Maybe she could work her way toward Zachary and casually find out about his work schedule.

      Because her mother was right. She couldn’t postpone this discussion concerning Nicholas much longer. If she told him, she needed to do it soon. The longer she waited the more she would have to explain.

      “It’s great seeing you at the meeting. Are you thinking of homeschooling?” Alexa asked after introducing Ian to Jordan.

      “I’m thinking about it. I wanted to find out what re sources were available to someone like me who doesn’t have any training in teaching.”

      “Dr. Nancy Baker, the founder of HHH, is a professor at Tallgrass Community College. She has a lot of materials and books available that you can access.”

      “Before you two talk shop, I see Zachary. I need to see him about the HHH Junior Rodeo Event. Nice meeting you.” Ian nodded toward her, squeezed Alexa’s hand, then weaved his way through the throng toward Zachary.

      For a few seconds Jordan’s gaze followed Ian’s path until he reached Zachary, who caught her looking. She quickly averted her eyes. “I’d like to check into homeschooling. Nicholas isn’t doing as well as he should at school right now. He’s so bright, but his potential isn’t being met. I’m not sure, though, I can do any better. He’s been studying algebra on his own with some help from me, but it’s been a while since I did it. I’m having a hard time keeping up.”

      “Ian is starting his second math group involving algebra for homeschoolers next week. We have a medical doctor in this group who teaches a different science course every three months—human anatomy starts in September, too. Those courses are part of the co-op classes some of the kids tap into.”

      “So I don’t have to teach every subject? Because there are a few I’m not good at.”

      “No one is. If you have some kind of expertise, you might want to offer a course for the group, but it’s not a requirement.”

      “My job is a computer graphic designer. It might be fun doing something with that. I’ll have to think about it.”

      “Let me introduce you to Nancy before the meeting begins.” Alexa searched the large room. “Ah, I see her talking to Ian and Zachary.” The young woman started for them.

      Jordan braced herself with a deep breath and followed Alexa. Maybe no one else sensed the tension flowing from Zachary as she and Alexa joined the small group with Ian and Nancy, but Jordan did. That tic in Zachary’s jawline jerked.

      “This is Jordan, Nancy. She’s thinking about homeschooling her son.” Alexa stepped next to Ian, who slipped his arm around her shoulder.

      Nancy shook Jordan’s hand. “Great. If you need any help, there are plenty of us to ask.”

      “I wondered if I could come look at your materials. Nicholas needs a lot of enrichment, and I want to make sure I can give it to him.” Jordan shifted from one foot to the other, conscious of Zachary next to her. Only inches from him, her arm prickled as though there was a physical connection.

      “Fine. How about we set up a time to talk, and then you can look through the resources? Say tomorrow morning at eleven?”

      “I appreciate that. I don’t want the situation at school to go on too long.”

      “Then I’ll see you at eleven. Now if you all will excuse me, I need to get this meeting started. We’ve got an HHH Junior Rodeo Event to plan for in October.” Nancy walked toward the front of the room.

      “What’s going on at school?” Zachary’s deep voice, with a husky edge, broke the momentary silence.

      Suddenly Jordan faced him alone because Ian and Alexa moved off to sit in a row not far СКАЧАТЬ