Page 25 of Mistletoe Cowboy

“We’re out here, sprout!” he called. “Ready to go?”

Teddie came barreling out the front door, dressed to ride. “Yes! I’m so excited!”

“We’ll take it slow and easy the first time,” he told her, grinning, although he was churning inside about what had almost happened. He managed to get himself together in the small space of time he had while Teddie rushed toward the stable.

He turned and looked at Katy, who was standing up, looking all at sea and guilty.

He went back to her, towering over her. “It’s okay,” he said softly.

She swallowed. “I’m . . . I mean . . . I think . . .” She looked up at him with her face taut with indecision, hunger, fear, guilt.

He touched her cheek gently. “We’ll take it slow and easy, Katy,” he said huskily. “No pressure. Okay?”

She took a deep breath. “Okay,” she agreed, and her eyes grew soft.

He smiled in a way he never had. “Suppose I pick you and Teddie up on Halloween night and drive you around to the venues for candy?”

She hesitated just a second too long.

His face tautened. “Or is that a bad idea? You’d rather not be seen with me in public . . . ?”

She went right up to him and reached up to touch his hard cheek. “You know me better than that already. I know you do!”

He let out the breath he’d been holding. “Sorry,” he bit off. “Life is hard sometimes when you’re a minority.”

“I’ve never been like that,” she said. “I’d be proud to be seen with you anywhere. I was just worried about, well, gossip. Small towns run on it. You might not like being talked about. . . .”

He actually laughed. “I’ve been talked about for years. I don’t mind gossip. If you don’t.” He hesitated. “That lawyer’s coming out here next month, isn’t he?”

“He’s a pest,” she said shortly. “He invited himself and I can’t convince him that I’m not interested.”

“No worries, kid,” he teased. “I’ll convince him for you.”

She smiled slowly. “Okay,” she said.

He chuckled. “I’d better go help Teddie saddle Bartholomew before she ends up in a pile of something nasty.”

She smiled from ear to ear. “She’ll love riding. Until she gets off the horse,” she added, because she knew how sore riding made people who weren’t used to it.

“You could come, too,” he invited.

Her eyes were full of affection and something else. “Next time,” she said.

He nodded. “Next time.”

He turned and went toward the stable.

* * *

“Mom got all dressed up and let her hair down,” Teddie said as she and Parker rode down the fence line, she on Bartholomew and he on Wings.

“I noticed. Your mom’s pretty.”

She laughed. “She thinks you’re awesome, but don’t tell her I told you.”

“She does?” he asked, astonished.

“It was the cat,” she volunteered. “She’s keen on brainy people.”

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