Page 10 of The Texas Cowboy's Rescue

Kenzie listened to her prayer and then watched her daughter dive into the food on her plate.

“Okay... what gives? Where is my daughter and what have you done with her?”

Brooke looked up. “That’s funny, Mama. I’m right here.”

“You ran right up to your room when we got home. What were you doing? You usually watch your favorite cartoon while I fix dinner. And you were waiting for me when I pulled up, where I usually have to tell you to get into the car two or three times before you finally make it.”

“I wanted to make sure my room was all picked up and fixed right because I won’t have time tomorrow because we’re meeting Mr. Deke for my first diving lesson tomorrow... remember?”

“I see. Yes, I do seem to recall that it is on the schedule. And it seems to have motivated you.”

Brooke nodded quickly. “I love swimming, and I can’t wait to dive like Lacy and the other big kids. I’m going to practice a lot. Do you think Mr. Deke will bring Ranger along? I feel sorry for Ranger, having to stay home when we’re having fun. I really like him. He’s so smart. You can really teach him a lot of things because dogs are really smart, and they can learn lots of things and even keep people safe too.”

“And this is you trying to persuade me into thinking about the subject of a dog coming to live with us again, isn’t it? I know that Ranger is an exceptional canine. However, not all dogs are like him. His training took years and was done by experts in the military. Regular people like us don’t have access to that level... not without lots of money.” And there was that crestfallen look clouding her daughter’s expressive face. Kenzie tried to present a solid front to it, but it was hard to ignore such things. But she didn’t need to let Brooke know there were soft spots in her wall of determination on the subject of having a dog join their little family.

“I know how much you would love to have a pet. And when the timing is better, we’ll seriously look into it. But a dog will take time and a lot of work, and we need to be better prepared for one. I promise you I haven’t forgotten how much you would love to have one and, one of these days, we’ll talk more about it. Deal?”

“Okay. I’ll just keep asking for it in my prayers and keep thinking of what kind we should get.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Do you like Mr. Deke?”

The question came straight from left field at high speed. It was a moment or two for Kenzie to process it. She eyed her daughter. She looked innocent enough, but what was the context? “What makes you ask that question?”

“I was just thinking. He’s awfully nice. And you work with him. And he really doesn’t have any family... just Ranger. I bet he gets lonely sometimes. Maybe we could invite him and Ranger to come to dinner. I bet they’d like that.”

“Well, that’s nice of you to think of doing something like that. Maybe we’ll have them come to dinner one day to thank him for your lessons.”

Brooke beamed a wide smile. “That would be super!”

“So finish your dinner and you can then choose which swimsuit you plan to pack in your bag for tomorrow, along with your towel and swim shoes.”

“Don’t forget to pack your bag too. You can learn to dive with me. I bet Mr. Deke will teach you too.”

“I think I’ll watch tomorrow. I have a book I’ve been trying to read for a couple of months, so maybe I’ll do that while you work hard.”

*

“So maybe Ishould have rethought sitting and reading a book,” she murmured the next afternoon. The water looked very inviting. Even more so since the temperature had climbed to triple digits. She slathered sunscreen on the legs not protected by the cuffed denim shorts that fell to mid-thigh and on the arms not protected by her sleeveless eyelet shirt, the pale blue matching the wide ribbon circling the crown of her cream straw hat, the broad brim shielding her face from the harmful rays. Dark-lens sunglasses gave her a bit of license to take in Deke’s tall figure as he exited the Jeep and took out a backpack from the back seat. Ranger jumped down from the passenger seat.

“Ranger’s here, Mama!” Brooke’s enthusiasm rose a couple of decibels. She and the dog met each other halfway down the path to the pool. Deke shook his head as he approached the empty lounge chair next to Kenzie’s, set his pack on the deck beside it.

“I guess her sprinkle buddy has been relegated to number two behind the furry friend now.” He smiled as he reached up, grabbed the dark-red material of his tee shirt, and drew it over his shoulders and head. It dropped onto the chair. He bent to retrieve something from his bag. Kenzie kept what she hoped was a neutral smile on her lips as she moved her gaze to focus on the words on the first page of the book in her lap. She couldn’t help the image that came to mind just then of what her staff would have to say about a Deacon Hayes, sans shirt and in slim-fitting swim trunks, the abs rock hard, biceps rippling, and long legs replete with muscled thighs.Geez. What was she doing? Ogling a man. Like the nurses she chided for doing the same thing.

“Yes, it would seem Ranger is indeed the star now. Like me, we’ve been relegated to just the entourage.”

That made him toss a grin in her direction. “Yes, but I might step ahead of you in line. I am the one who will be teaching her to dive, not my dog.”

“I see your game plan. My money stays on the dog maintaining the top spot... sorry.”

“Are we going in the water now, Mr. Deke?”

“And the lady beckons you. Brooke, come get some more sunscreen on you while Mr. Deke is doing the same.” Kenzie reached inside the bag on the table and then sat up while Brooke settled on her knees in front of her, back first.

“The lotion is a little cold, Mama.”

“Sorry, sweetheart. I’ll hurry.”

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