Page 44 of A Family With the Cowboy

Willow laughed. “Okay, that’s a valid excuse. What about you, Becket? What do you do with yourself when you don’t date? I see you scribbling in a little notebook every now and again. Have you taken up drawing again? I still have the cards you made me when we were still at school. They’re gorgeous.”

Shrugging, Becket took a swig from his beer. “I’m taking a break from dating for the moment. Yeah, sometimes I still scribble.”

Willow angled her head. “What you do is way more that scribble, and you know it. Why don’t you let me—?”

Becket shook his head. “We’re supposed to be having fun. Stop asking so many questions.”

“Sorry.” She grinned, clearly without any remorse. Her blue eyes turned toward Hayden. “You haven’t stopped looking at Laura since she and Tanner Olsen walked in. You obviously have a thing for her. Why don’t you do something about it?”

Becket also turned to look in Laura’s direction. “Word is Olsen’s looking for a wife. He wants to settle down, have kids. Laura is a good choice.”

A few ranchers they knew came over with beers, and Coop and Becket got up to talk to them. Hayden nodded in their direction, but stayed seated. He didn’t want to talk to anyone.

Willow leaned closer. “I wish you’d listen to your heart. You want to be with her. Anybody can see that.”

Shaking his head, he crossed his arms. “I’ve had my turn—”

“Yes, you have,” Willow interrupted him. “But there is nothing that says you can’t be happy again.”

Rubbing his face, he sighed. “How can I be happy again when…when Walker won’t ever experience the joy of loving someone? And I’m the reason he’s not around.”

Willow frowned. “How can you say that? If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I’m the one—”

“I was driving, Sis. And then there’s Madeline. What about the promises I made when I married her?”

Sighing, Willow moved back. “You’re looking for excuses because you’re scared of getting hurt again. I understand that. Why don’t you talk to Maddie and Walker? Tell them what you’re feeling?”

Hayden glared at his sister. “In case you’ve forgotten, they can’t hear me. They’re dead.”

“Just because they’re not here doesn’t mean you can’t talk to them,” Willow said as Cooper and Becket sat down again.

Hayden finished his beer. His plate was also empty, so he could go home. Not that he’d really tasted anything. “I’m heading back. You’ll drive safely?”

Cooper nodded.

*

Tanner escorted Lauraright up to her front door.

“Thank you for a lovely night. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

“Thank you for joining me. I should be finished with the cupboards by next Friday and can bring them on Saturday if it suits you? If there’s enough time, I can also paint the wall.”

“That sounds perfect, thanks. School starts on Monday, but I’m usually at home on a Saturday.”

Smiling, he briefly touched her arm before he turned around. “Good night.”

“Good night!” she called before she opened the front door. From the direction of her bedroom came Molly’s plaintive yelps.

On her way to the bedroom, she took off her coat and pulled the pins from her hair. Shaking out her head, she opened the door. Molly shot past her, barking joyously as she charged toward the front door.

“So, what happened?” Laura laughed as she kicked off her boots before she followed Molly to the front door.

Molly kept barking excitedly.

“Earlier, you didn’t want Tanner to be here and now…”

Molly was scratching the front door, jumping up and down, and barking nonstop.

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