Page 23 of Cowboy Wolf's Secret Baby

“I want to talk to him,” Taryn said. “More than just to say hi.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Beth said. “There is no way to tell him about you. If I tell him the truth, he would think that I’m nuts. If we suddenly say that you’re his daughter, he’ll think that we’re trying to scam him.”

“Please,” Taryn said. “I just want to see what he’s like. I promise that I won’t tell him anything.”

Heaving a heavy sigh, Beth ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. He’s not going to be around long. Once this event is over, he’ll be gone. He won’t remember either of us.”

“I understand that, but I’ll remember him.”

Against Beth’s better judgment, she said, “Okay. We’ll figure out a way.”

That afternoon, at the meeting, Beth and Taryn walked over to Conner and stood next to him. Taryn climbed up on the fence and sat on the top rail next to him. He smiled at her.

After the meeting was over, Conner asked, “Are you ready for this evening’s events?”

“Yep,” Taryn said. “Pegasus and I understand each other. Plus, he was trained by my friend’s parents. Jenna’s family has been training barrel racers and roping horses forever.”

“I must say that you are an extremely talented young lady. Your mom tells me that you are using the prize money to save up for college.”

“Yep. I want to be a veterinarian. I love animals and I want to help them.”

“That’s a very noble career,” Conner said. “I can’t stand the sight of blood, especially my own. I don’t do needles either, so I could never do that.”

Taryn laughed.

“What are you giggling at?” Conner asked, pretending to be mad. It didn’t work, though, because the huge smile on his face gave it away.

“You’re a big rodeo hero. You ride some of the meanest bulls in this country, and you’re scared of a needle. Those bulls can hurt you a lot more.”

“I know,” Conner said. “Believe me, more than one of them has tried to kill me. But there is something about that tiny, shiny, sharp thing that doctors want to stick me with.”

Taryn giggled. “I guess that’s fair. I was afraid of clowns until I started with the rodeo. Even now, if I see one outside of the rodeo, I get scared.”

“Why?”

“Pennywise,” she answered.

“Your mom let you watch It?” he asked, looking at Beth.

“No. I read the book. I checked it out of the library. I learned to read when I was three and read a lot of different things.”

“I like to read, too,” Conner said. “I started reading when I was young, and I read almost everything but spy and war books. I really like mysteries.”

“Me, too,” Taryn gushed.

Beth listened while Conner and Taryn continued talking. He didn’t condescend to her like some adults tended to do to kids. He spoke to her with the same respect as he would give any adult.

She could tell that Taryn really liked him.

He checked his watch and said, “We have some time before the rodeo starts. Do you want some funnel cake?”

“Yes,” Taryn exclaimed. “Mom?”

“More sugar?” Beth asked with a smile.

“Yep,” Taryn said.

They went to the fairgrounds and Conner treated them to funnel cakes. Taryn chattered away about animals, books, scary movies, and everything else she could think of saying. Beth realized that Taryn was trying to get a lifetime of information in a single setting. She knew that it was because Taryn knew that she might not get another opportunity. Even though Conner didn’t know that she was his daughter, Taryn wanted to share her life with her father. He might not realize it and wouldn’t likely remember the afternoon, but Taryn would for the rest of her life.

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