Page 40 of Mistletoe Cowboy

He made a face. He sipped coffee. “I guess it’s not a bad idea.” His dark eyes met hers. “So long as he keeps his hands off you.”

Her heart jumped. Her lips parted. “Oh.”

Both dark eyebrows lifted and he smiled wickedly at her expression.

She threw a napkin at him and laughed.

“As it happens,” he said dryly, “I’m not kidding. If he makes a move on you, he goes on the endangered species list. I have squatter’s rights.”

Her whole face became radiant. “Really?”

He cocked his head and studied her. “I hadn’t planned on getting involved with anybody, ever again, you know.”

“Actually, neither had I.”

His big hand reached across to hers and linked fingers with it. “Life goes on. Maybe we both need to look ahead instead of behind.”

She beamed.

“I have a few things to do at home before we leave for the theater. But I’ll be back around six. That okay?”

“That’s fine.”

He stood and drew her gently up out of her chair. His dark eyes looked down into hers, warm and soft. “They say it’s a great movie.”

“Teddie will love it.”

He bent and kissed her very softly. “So will we. See you later, pretty girl.”

She smiled with her whole heart. “Okay.”

He winked and left her standing there, vibrating.

* * *

Teddie came bouncing into the living room when her program was over. Her mother was sitting on the sofa reading, but she was alone. “Oh, Parker’s gone,” she exclaimed. “Aren’t we going to the movies, then?”

“Yes, we are. He had a few things to do before we leave. Sit down, honey.”

Teddie didn’t like the expression on her mother’s face. She dropped down into the armchair across from the sofa. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

Katy nodded. “Dr. Carr called while you and Parker were out riding.” She sighed. “I hate having to tell you this,” she added sadly.

“They let Bart’s owner go, didn’t they?” Teddie asked.

Katy nodded. “And he wants his horse back.”

“No!” Teddie exclaimed. “Oh, we can’t let him take Bart back! He’ll kill him!”

“I know that. He’s not getting him back. But he has a big-city attorney from Denver who’ll be representing him. We don’t have any such person in Benton who can go up against him.”

Teddie looked unhappy. “What are we going to do?” she wailed.

Katy made a face. “I called Maryland,” she said.

“No,” she said miserably. “Not him!”

“Honey, if we want to keep the horse, we have to fight fire with fire. We need somebody who’s formidable in court, and Ron Woodley is. He’s practiced criminal law for ten years and he’s only lost one case. He started out as an assistant district attorney. He knows what he’s doing.”

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