Page 10 of Cowboy Wolf's Secret Baby

“I’m your mother. Besides, I knock sometimes.”

“Ugh.”

“I want you to come to the coven meeting tonight. Please.”

Beth knew that it took a lot for her mother to say that word. She still had no intention of going.

“I’ve told you a million times, Mother. I’m not interested in your group. Besides, Taryn has the rodeo tonight.”

“How dare you turn your back on your heritage,” Matilda raged.

“Your type of magic isn’t my heritage,” Beth said with a sigh. “Can you go now?”

“No. What type of terrible mother are you to allow Taryn to fool with that rodeo nonsense? She is a witch and has no business barrel racing or any of those other events.”

“She enjoys it and she’s good at it.”

“Your daughter is going to end up just like her no-good father. I should have taken care of her before she was born.”

“Get out.” Beth’s voice was hard as steel.

Matilda started to say something else, but Beth just pointed to the door. The older witch left, slamming the door behind her.

“She just doesn’t like me, does she?” Taryn said.

“Don’t worry about her.” Beth sighed, pulling Taryn into a tight hug. “She doesn’t like anyone or anything that doesn’t fit into her little narrative of how her world should be.”

“Shouldn’t you have said that she likes me fine and is just confused or angry?” Taryn grinned as she wriggled out of her mother’s grasp.

“I guess I could have, but I’m not one to lie, especially when it wouldn’t do any good. Not only do you have the ability to read people’s thoughts, but you are too smart to buy a story like that.”

Taryn grinned at her mom for a second and then she became serious again. “It’s because I’m a shifter and I look like him.”

“Yes, Baby Girl, that is exactly why.”

“Her loss. I’m wonderful.” Taryn laughed.

“Well, Wonderful, let’s get you to the rodeo grounds. Pegasus is probably waiting for you.”

Taryn grabbed a pear and went out the door.

Pegasus was a pure white horse that adored Taryn. It probably helped that Taryn and Pegasus could communicate telepathically. Not only was Taryn a shifter, which allowed her to communicate with other animals, but her magical gift was the ability to communicate with animals, calm them, and heal them. A raging bull would be a gentle kitten around Taryn.

Taryn was extremely excited. She was registered for all of the barrel racing and breakaway roping. She knew that her mother didn’t want her riding the bulls so she agreed to sit that event out, at least for now.

Beth sat in the stands and watched Taryn. Her heart swelled with love and pride as she won prizes in both events. She was screaming, clapping, and smiling. The older couple next to her was laughing.

“I take it that you know that particular little girl,” the woman said.

“That’s my baby,” Beth said.

“She did well. You should be proud.”

“I am. So proud.”

Then Beth’s heart stopped and her stomach tightened into a knot. She closed her eyes, counted to ten, and slowly opened them again. Her breath caught in her throat. There was no way that she was hallucinating. Conner was at the rodeo.

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