Page 19 of Love Me, Cowboy

“I’m sorry about the other day,” he said, sliding his hands into his coat pockets. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.”

“I’m sorry, too,” she said.

An awkward silence fell between them, broken by the sound of clanging dishes in the back.

“I’d better go.” Tyler backed away before he dragged Claire off her stool and kissed the concern out of her eyes. “I hope your night gets better.”

The bells jingled once again as Tyler stepped onto the sidewalk. He couldn’t resist a glance through the window. Her back was to him. She was probably embarrassed by what he’d said. That’s what he got for letting his heart do the talking.

Maybe someday he’d stop being an idiot around her. Tyler only hoped that day would come soon.

* * *

Claire was thankful for the excuse of the early morning parade for not returning her mother’s phone calls. The voice mails started as disapproving, rolled into demanding by the third message, and shifted into an extensive dressing down by the fifth.

According to her mother, Claire had made a completely unnecessary scene, disgraced the family name, and most predictably of all, embarrassed her mother. The woman even had the audacity to claim Claire had insulted Greg Reddington, who would likely never have her now.

No question about what Greg had done to prompt her abrupt departure. No concern over her daughter’s whereabouts or emotional state. Not that Claire expected anything different, but hope did spring eternal.

As the parade got underway, Claire preferred to think about the more positive development of the night before.

Tyler.

What he’d said about the kind of guy she deserved ignited a spark of hope in Claire’s chest. Those were not the words of a man who regretted the night they’d spent together. If anything, he felt quite the opposite. Which made Claire even more of a fool than her mother claimed her to be.

Not that she was ready to reveal her feelings. She had hope, not certainty. But hope was more than she’d had in a long time where Tyler Holly was concerned. Claire had smiled as she’d thanked Belinda for the pie but let her know she didn’t want it after all.

She’d also smiled all the way home and was still smiling as she waved to the citizens of Holly Hills, who were packed along the parade route. At least in the rare moments when her attention wasn’t focused on keeping everyone on the float. Twenty-nine ten-year-olds amped on sugar and packed onto a moving vehicle was more than a little stressful.

Mrs. Noble, her fellow fourth-grade teacher, hovered on a hay bale at the head of the float, near the sign the children had made with Tyler’s help, while Claire took watch from the back. This way they could keep them all in their sights and stop any misbehaving before it got out of hand.

So Claire had three things to focus on—waving to the spectators, monitoring her students, and casting occasional glances toward a certain cowboy in the group behind her float.

By sheer luck or coincidence, Claire wasn’t sure which, nor did she care, the representatives of the local ranchers’ association were positioned right behind the Holly Hills Elementary float in the procession. She’d spotted Tyler atop a gorgeous chestnut mare when they lined up near the warehouse. He’d touched the brim of his cowboy hat in acknowledgment, but they’d been unable to speak to each other.

Not that Claire knew what she would say. She knew what she wanted to say, but whether she’d have the courage to let the words pass her lips was still up in the air. For now, she could enjoy the sight of the lanky cowboy cutting a fine figure high in the saddle. She’d never shared George’s weakness for a cowboy, but Tyler had always been the exception.

Shortly after breaking up an elbow-jabbing match between Johnny Baker and Caleb Stone, Claire noticed a toddler dart into the street beside their float, chasing bits of candy the students were tossing. The little one appeared oblivious to his surroundings, intent on collecting the sweet treats.

As the float rolled on, the boy trudged farther from the curb, his eyes intent on the candy treasure. Claire glanced back at the approaching riders. They were waving to the crowd and unlikely to see the little one so low to the ground. As her heart skipped a beat, Claire scoured the crowd for any sign of a parent who would pull the toddler back, but no one seemed to be paying him any mind.

Claire couldn’t wait. She had to do something.

Jumping off the back of the float, Claire ran for the child and scooped him into her arms. A second later, a body pressed close against hers, pushing both her and the boy toward the curb. The scent of horse leather and a familiar cologne hit her senses as Claire’s knees hit the ground.

* * *

Tyler had been watching Claire for several blocks, having to remind himself to wave to the locals lining the parade route. The ponytail high on her head made him remember how she looked as a teen, when she and George would spend weekends at the ranch with Bug, laughing in the kitchen or painting each other’s toenails while they hogged the TV.

He’d been the annoying little brother back then, but Claire would sneak him snacks when the others weren’t watching. Or convince Bug to let him watch the scary movie with them. In high school, she’d helped with his homework and watched him break his first horse.

Claire had always been a part of his life. Within arm’s reach, but still untouchable. And then he’d touched her and everything changed.

Somewhere around the halfway point of the parade, Tyler noticed Claire watching something along the side. She wasn’t smiling or waving. He squinted to see her face and recognized concern etched around her hazel eyes.

Then she was leaping off the float. Tyler scanned the street to figure out what she was after, then he spotted her target. A small, blond toddler gathering candy into his pockets. He’d ventured far beyond what was safe. Looking for his parents, Tyler spotted a man and a woman searching the sidewalk behind the crowd. They looked frantic, and he had no doubt they were searching for this little boy.

They wouldn’t see him over the spectators, and Tyler’s fellow riders wouldn’t see him either. Pulling his mount out to the side, Tyler dropped out of the saddle and hit the street at a run. Claire reached the little one seconds before he did, but they were still too far into the street. With as much control as possible, he threw his weight behind Claire, wrapping her and the boy in his arms.

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