Page 37 of The Cowboy's Justice

“Well, hello there,” she exclaimed, leaning down and petting the happy dog.

“You were sleepin’ like a baby. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

Jerking her head around, she saw Devlin ambling towards her.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile. “What time did you get up?”

“Around seven. What do you like for breakfast?”

“Just oatmeal, if you have it. With blueberries, walnuts and chopped bananas.”

“The oatmeal and bananas I can do, but we’ll have to go shoppin’ for the walnuts and blueberries,” he retorted with a grin, then abruptly pulled her into his arms. “Sure is nice to have you here.”

“So I’m officially forgiven for hitting your truck?”

“Nope, not yet, but I’ll find a way for you to make it up to me.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“In the meantime I’ll cook up your oatmeal and see you in the kitchen.”

“Devlin…?”

“Yeah, darlin’?”

“I’m sorry about the accident, but I’m not sorry about anything else,” she said softly.

“Me either,” he murmured, then turned her around and swatted her butt. “Don’t take forever.”

* * *

As she let out a squeal and hurried through the bathroom door, Devlin broke into a grin. She could be both spunky and sweet, and she had totally stolen his heart. Returning to the kitchen, he cooked up the oatmeal, making enough for both of them, but when she walked in and sat down he could see something was on her mind.

“I need to go back to the house,” she declared before he could ask. “I left a couple of things behind.”

“Are they important things?”

“For one thing, my daytime sunblock moisturizer. My face will burn if I don’t use it, and a couple of other bits and pieces as well. Plus, there are blueberries in the fridge, and I have an unopened package of walnuts. I sprinkle them on just about everything.”

“Ah, okay. My first lesson is at ten. After we finish puttin’ the horses into their paddocks, I can run you over there real quick.”

“You don’t need to. I can walk. There’s that trail that runs behind my neighbors.”

“With that creep William on the loose I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“He wouldn’t go back to my place, and even if he did he wouldn’t be able to get in.”

“Shoot, look at the time,” Devlin muttered, glancing at his watch. “Sorry, but I need to get to the barn. Join me down there when you’re done.”

“Okay, and I’ll clean up before I do.”

“Thanks, darlin’,” he said, pushing back from the table, then leaning down, he pecked her on the cheek. “You two, keep her company,” he added, petting his two dogs. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

As he left, Jethro and Jezebel moved across to the cabinet where the milk bones were kept, then sat down and stared at her.

“Okay, okay,” she said with a laugh. “I can’t say no.”

After giving them their treat, she finished her breakfast and cleaned up, then left for the barn. But as Jezebel and Jethro trotted down the porch steps, they abruptly turned and ran towards the hill.

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