Come Home, Cowboy. Cathy Mcdavid

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СКАЧАТЬ Summer and Teddy. They were at Summer’s car, parked in front of the stable. Teddy sat in the rear seat, a quilt thrown over him and covering his face. Summer crouched inside the open car door, softly reciting a nursery rhyme.

      Cara had seen this before. The weight of the quilt and the darkness, along with the sound of Summer’s voice, calmed Teddy. After a few moments, he stopped struggling and quieted. Summer slowly stood, strain showing on her face.

      “Sorry about that.”

      Cara dismissed her with a wave. “As if you have anything to apologize for.”

      “He’ll be okay now.”

      “What can I do to help?”

      “Nothing.” Summer smiled weakly. “But thanks.”

      “Here.” Cara tugged her friend around to the rear of the car. She also knew from experience that Teddy would remain where he was. “Relax. Breathe deep.”

      “He’s been agitated more than usual lately.”

      “Any reason in particular?”

      “Hal came by earlier this week.”

      “Oh.” Cara nodded.

      “He hasn’t seen Teddy for months. Then, boom, he shows up out of the blue, deciding he’s going to be a father.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “I wish I’d never agreed to visitation.”

      “You could go back to court.”

      “No, thank you!” Summer lifted her chin, visibly composing herself, then promptly changed the subject. “At least Josh is trying to be a good father.”

      Cara made a face. Couldn’t they talk about something else? “The man’s impossible.”

      “He’s taking responsibility for his kids and giving them a secure home. That says a lot about a person.”

      Cara waited until the pain in her chest subsided. “I hate it when you’re right.”

      “Give him a chance. I get that it’s hard for you to think about someone else living in the apartment you shared with Javier. Someone with children. But it really is best for them.”

      “I thought he’d keep the guest suite and his brother Cole would move out.”

      “You hoped.”

      “He wants Hurry Up for his children.”

      “Aren’t they a little young to ride?”

      “Yes.”

      Summer smiled. “But you’re going to let him adopt the horse.”

      Cara shrugged one shoulder. “Sponsor the horse. For a monthly stipend. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll take Hurry Up back.”

      “Sounds like a good compromise.”

      “He wants the black stallion, too. He didn’t tell me, but I overhead him talking to Cole. I’m less inclined to agree.”

      “Because?”

      Cara groaned in frustration.

      “Let him sponsor the horses, Cara. You’re always looking for good homes. What better home is there than Dos Estrellas?”

      Right again. This was getting old.

      “Muh, muh,” Teddy called from inside the car.

      Summer glanced over her shoulder. “I’d better go. He’s getting restless.”

      At the driver side door, the two women hugged. Summer tucked a lock of Cara’s hair behind her ear in an affectionate gesture.

      “You’re stronger than you think,” she said. “You can handle this.”

      Maybe. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

      Rather than return to the house, Cara walked through the horse stable. It wasn’t Hurry Up that drew her, but the apartment stairs. The next thing she knew, she stood on the landing.

      Her hand reached for the knob and turned it. The door wasn’t locked, and she slowly entered, her bootsteps soft on the braided area rug. Josh and the children weren’t due for several hours.

      Like a ghost, she silently walked across the small living room, down the hall and to the bedroom. Her heart lurched at the sight of the crib set up in one corner and the changing table beside it. She’d furnished the room similarly. The only difference was the youth bed in the opposite corner.

      Summer had been wrong. Cara wasn’t strong at all.

      She noticed the covers on the electrical outlets were still in place, as well as safety locks on the windows and doors. An inspection of the closet yielded a baby gate tucked in the back.

      Josh would need that. Stairs were dangerous for toddlers, though that wasn’t where Javier had fallen. After all her worrying and diligent watchfulness, something as seemingly harmless as the laundry room was the site of his fatal accident.

      She rested a trembling hand on the crib railing. “Oh, mijo. I miss you so much.”

      Distant voices distracted her, and she quickly withdrew her hand. The voices were accompanied by the sound of someone climbing the stairs. Who was here? Her mind had barely asked the question when she heard the unmistakable sound of Josh’s voice.

      “Come on, buddy. That’s it. Grab the railing.”

      “I firsty, Daddy.”

      “We’ll get you some water in a minute.”

      Cara panicked and searched frantically for an escape route. There was none. Josh was going to catch her in the apartment. What would he think? What excuse could she offer?

      She dashed toward the living room, preferring to be caught there than in the bedroom. Her mind emptied the moment Josh entered the apartment.

      He held the hand of a young boy bundled in a warm jacket and knitted cap, and with the same striking blue eyes as his father. In his other hand, Josh held a baby carrier. From beneath the rainbow-colored blanket, a chubby face peeked out, rosy-cheeked and sucking on a pacifier.

      Both children were incredibly beautiful, and Cara’s heart lurched anew.

      “I, ah, didn’t mean to intrude,” she stammered and brushed self-consciously at her damp eyes.

      Josh strode forward. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I could use some assistance.”

      “From me?”

      He smiled, and she wished he hadn’t. This was hard enough for her, and she didn’t need him being nice.

      “Can you hold Kimberly for a minute? Nathan’s thirsty, and I promised him some water.”

      Without waiting for her answer, СКАЧАТЬ