Page 42 of Cowboy Wolf's Secret Baby

“It was at first, but then I realized that she looked exactly like Mom did when Mom was a little girl, except that Taryn has red hair.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I do know that I want to be a part of Taryn’s life.”

“Do you feel any of the same love for Beth as you did before?”

“I don’t know. I can remember feeling a profound love for her. It’s so weird because I remember her. We’ve made love a couple of times, and I remember how it felt in the past. At the same time, though, it’s like she’s a familiar stranger.” He groaned. “I don’t even know how to describe it. I don’t know if the intensity of what I’m feeling is real or just memories.”

“The good thing is that you don’t have to figure it out today. Take your time. Get to know her again. Feelings are going to be different anyway because neither of you are the same people you were eleven years ago.”

“You’re right,” Conner said. “I guess I’ve felt a little rushed because, in my mind, I’m on a two-week time schedule. However, I don’t have to leave with the rodeo. Even if I do, I can always schedule in time to go back to Wyoming.”

“Yes,” Micah said.

“Thanks for the ear.”

“No worries. I can’t imagine going through what you’ve gone through.”

“I doubt if it’s over.” Conner described being thrown by the bull and how Matilda had to have had something to do with it.

“She’s dangerous. Watch your back,” Micah said. “She’s not someone you want to trifle with.”

“No, but short of leaving town, there’s not much I can do to stop her. I’m between a rock and a hard place.”

“It sure sounds like it,” Micah said.

They talked a bit about things going on in Angel’s Creek and with Micah’s family. When Conner got off the phone, he felt a little better because he had the chance to talk to someone about Beth and Taryn, but he was still frustrated that he had no answers.

After a long shower, he put on a movie and fell asleep.

The next morning, Conner called Beth. “I’m bringing over some donuts. Is there any particular kind that you guys like?”

“We both like maple glazed donuts and cherry cream cheese Danishes,” Beth said.

Taryn was smiling when he got there. “Mom never lets me have junk food for breakfast.”

“Junk food?” Conner said, putting his hand over his heart in mock agony. “How can you call these delicious morsels junk food?”

“Because they are full of sugar and carbs and have no nutritional value in them,” Beth said, taking a donut.

“What do you mean? They have flour, eggs, dairy, and other healthy ingredients.”

“And sugar, more sugar, and then with some sugar slathered on top.” Beth laughed.

“You take the fun out of everything,” Conner teased. “If you want, I could take Taryn to the rodeo grounds today, and you can join us later when it’s time for the rodeo to begin. We’ll hang out at the fair for a while again and see if she can win the rest of the prizes.”

Beth nodded. “Sure. I can catch up on some paperwork at the shop.”

Conner could tell that his being a part of their lives was just as new to Beth as it was to him. She had to get used to sharing her daughter with another person. That couldn’t be easy.

He slid his arm around her and said, “Don’t worry. I promise that I’ll take good care of our daughter.”

She smiled weakly at him and nodded.

Taryn made a beeline for Pegasus when they got to the rodeo grounds, while Conner checked on Zephyr.

“How’s it going?” Gideon asked. “That was a hell of a tumble you took yesterday.”

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