Page 59 of Cowboy Wolf's Secret Baby

“Mom, why are you torturing me like that? I’ve been a good girl,” Taryn called as she walked into the kitchen.

“I’m happy,” Beth said.

“Then why are you trying to make my eardrums explode?”

“You are exaggerating. My singing isn’t that bad,” Beth said.

“Yes, it is,” Conner said, walking up behind Taryn. “This time I’m siding with our daughter. “Your singing could be categorized as a weapon of mass destruction.”

Beth groaned, rolled her eyes, and shook her head. “I don’t care what you think. I like to sing when I’m happy, so I shall sing when I’m happy.”

“Oh, no,” Taryn said. She looked up at Conner and asked, “Do you want to know what the best part of breakfast is?”

“What’s that?”

“She can’t sing with her mouth full,” Taryn said.

“Laugh it up, you two. Keep it up, and I’ll just add a pinch of ghost pepper to your food.”

“That’s better than your singing. The pain doesn’t last as long,” Taryn teased.

Beth stuck out her bottom lip and pretended to be sad.

“Let’s quit teasing your mother,” Conner said. “A happy mother makes a happy house.”

“True. I haven’t seen her happy enough to sing in a long time, so I guess if you want to sing, you can.”

“No. You’ve already hurt my feel-goods.”

As they ate, Conner welcomed the feeling of contentment and satisfaction. They were a family. He was going to make it official as soon as he could make it to the jewelry store to get a ring.

“How about if Taryn and I go to the grounds this morning, and you can hang out and relax for a while,” Conner said.

“Actually, I’ll go to the store and catch up to you guys later.”

Taryn hugged her mom. She was delighted when she saw Conner hug Beth and kiss her, a little more than just a peck.

On the drive over, Taryn asked, “Do you love Mom?”

“Yes, I do,” he said.

“Good. I know that she sure loves you. You should have heard the way she’s always talked about you. It made her both happy and sad at the same time.”

“I’m going to do my best to make her happy, now, although I’m pretty sure I’ll make her angry and sad.”

Taryn nodded wisely. “I understand. Mom and I love each other, but sometimes we make each other mad and sad.”

They took care of the horses and headed to the rides. “Aren’t you getting tired of this by now? We’ve gone on all the rides and toured the fairgrounds at least three times.”

“How can you get tired of fun?” Taryn asked. “Besides, I have to stock up on rides and games, because they’ll be gone in a couple of days and everything will go back to normal.”

“I’ve never thought of it that way.”

They hung out together, laughing, talking, riding rides, and playing games.

“That was fun, but now I’m ready to have more fun kicking butt,” Taryn said.

“Who taught you to talk that way?”

---