Page 8 of A Family With the Cowboy

Amber eyes rested on her for a mere second, but she could feel it down to her very soles. This was going to be the longest hour of her life.

*

It was nearlytwo hours later before they all finally sat down around his mother’s kitchen table. Everyone had a plate of food in front of them and the adults, a glass of wine. Luke had milk.

Hayden watched his mom as she lifted her glass. “To Laura. May your stay in Marietta be everything that you’ve hoped for.”

Laura smiled as she also lifted her glass. “Thanks to all you Westons, I’ll probably be able to finish unpacking by tomorrow. Thank you, thank you.” She smiled at everyone around the table, except at him.

Luke had made sure he sat right next to Laura. His eyes were drooping, and he’d probably fall asleep soon.

“Luke and I are just going to eat and leave, Mom,” Hayden said.

“Can’t I stay with Grandma?” Luke asked sulkily.

“You have school tomorrow, big guy,” his grandma said. “But we’ll arrange a visit soon.”

“’Kay,” Luke muttered. “Can I read when I visit, Grandma?”

His mother frowned. “Of course, you can read when you visit. And I sincerely hope you’re able to read anytime you want to.”

“Dad yells when I read.”

Laura glared at him and everyone else looked stunned.

Hayden swore under his breath. “That’s not what—” he tried.

“Hayden, please tell me you don’t do that?” his mom interrupted him, her eyebrows raised.

“He’s neglecting his chores,” Hayden said.

His mother smiled slowly. “I see. So, he’s reading instead of doing his chores?”

“That is not something to smile about,” Hayden snapped, ignoring the snickering coming from the direction of his brothers.

“Indeed,” said his mother, her eyes full of mirth. “I do recall, though, another time when another little boy was caught reading behind the barn instead of doing his chores.”

Luke’s eyes widened. “Who, Grandma?”

His mom patted Hayden’s shoulder. “This guy, Luke. Your dad. He loved reading—”

“That was a long time ago,” Hayden interrupted his mother. “Eat up, Luke. We have to leave soon.”

“Yes, Dad,” Luke muttered, casting his eyes down.

Laura leaned and murmured something to him. Luke flashed her a smile before he began to eat his food.

Ignoring him, Laura smiled in the direction of his brothers. “So, tell me about your ranch. As I drove here, I saw wide-open spaces on either side of the road. I assume the land belongs to ranchers?”

Becket grinned. “Yes, you’d be right. We’re, for instance, the fifth-generation Westons on this ranch. Hayden took over when Dad died and when Walker, Coop, and I finished our studies, we joined the family business.”

Hayden glared at Becket. Why the hell did Becket have to mention Walker?

Laura frowned. “Who is Walker?”

Becket’s smile slipped.

“He was my second oldest,” their mother said softly. “We lost him five years ago in an accident.”

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