Page 29 of A Family With the Cowboy

Except, she hadn’t been able to forget about any of it, even for a second, over the past week. He’d haunted her dreams and every waking hour.

With a soft groan, she grabbed her bag. It was Friday. Cooper had promised to pick her up, and she had to persuade a dog to like her.

Luke was waiting outside her door. The little boy slipped a hand into hers. “I’m also going home with Cooper.”

“That’s nice.” She smiled down at him, and for a few minutes, they walked in silence. “You want to tell me what’s wrong?”

Luke was silent for another minute. “I miss my mom.”

“Oh, sweetie, I know.” Laura crouched down and hugged him. “I’m so sorry.”

He pressed his face against her shoulder. “Dad put her picture away.”

Laura hugged the little boy tighter, carefully considering what to say. “Have you asked him why he did that?”

Mumbling, Luke shook his head.

“Everyone handles grief differently, you know,” she said, stroking his small back. “I’m sure he has a reason. Talk to him.”

“He’s been shouting a lot this week.”

Swallowing her sigh, Laura got up. Cooper’s truck was pulling up. “There’s Cooper. Let’s go.” She’d thought Luke would run toward the truck, but his hand slipped into hers again. “Maybe your dad is worried about the ranch or something,” she tried.

Amber eyes, so much like his dad’s, looked up at her. “He likes you. But he doesn’t want to. That’s why he put Mom’s picture away.”

Before she could close her mouth, he was running toward Cooper.

Stunned, Laura followed slowly. Where in the world would Luke get an idea like that? There was no way Hayden would ever think something like that, let alone tell his son about it.

“Hi, Teach!” Cooper smiled as he walked around his truck to help her in. “Everything okay with Luke?” he asked below his breath.

She shook her head.

“He’s not been himself all week,” Cooper said under his breath as he helped her into the truck. “Any idea why?” He gave a lopsided smile. “Nobody is talking to Hayden this week. He’s in a filthy mood.”

“I…you’ll have to ask him,” she said softly.

Nodding, he closed her door before moving to his side of the truck. “Molly is excited to meet you,” he said as he started the truck. “A little bit apprehensive, but excited.”

“How do you know?”

“She’s told him,” Luke said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Smiling, Laura turned around to look at the little boy. “Don’t tell me you also talk to animals?”

He rolled his eyes. “They don’t talk-talk, Miss Anderson, but I know what they say.”

Intrigued, she looked at Cooper. “So, how does it work?”

He shrugged. “It’s different for everyone. We’re all born with the ability to understand animals, but most people lose that sense along the way.”

Hesitantly, she turned around to look at Luke again. Could she ask him if he read people’s minds, like his Aunt Willow?

The little boy smiled fleetingly at her before he looked out of the window. Blinking, Laura settled back into her seat. She was imagining things. Probably because of the lack of sleep.

*

“Where’s Cooper?” Haydenasked as he sat down for dinner on Friday evening. He sounded irritated, he knew, but damn it, surely it couldn’t be that difficult to be on time for meals?

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