Page 4 of The Cowboy's Miracle Baby

“No…” Cami said quickly. “I’m—we’renot saying anything of the kind. It’s just that this unfortunate incident wasn’t one sided and perhaps they can just shake hands and move past this.”

Several of the other parents skirted around their little cluster of disputes, sending Cami sympathetic looks of support on their way out the door.

“She may have broken my son’s nose!”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s not—” Eloise’s father began.

“What? Areyoua doctor?” Mrs. Deitmore asked.

Cami bit her lip.

“Heactually is,” Luke said, pointing at his brother. “A doctor.”

All eyes turned to his brother. A frown replaced the bewilderment on his face. “No, I—I am, but I’m a—”

The woman shoved her son close to him. “Here, then you can tell. Is his nose broken?”

With a frown, Eloise’s father checked the boy’s nose and gave it a quick gentle feel. “I don’t believe so, but you should check with your own physician in the—”

“Oh, we will be,” she said, as Trina reappeared with the ice.

She gently placed it against the boy’s nose.

“And we’ll be expecting that apology.” She turned and sent a searing look in Cami’s direction before stalking off with her son out the church doors.

A pregnant pause followed as Cami and Eloise’s father and uncle turned back to one another. “She’ll be writing an apology note tonight.”

“But—” Eloise began to protest.

“No buts. You can tell me your side on the way home. But you’re writing it regardless.”

“I really am sorry about all this,” Cami said, holding out her hand to him. “I’m Cami Hardesty. I don’t believe we’ve actually met.”

“August Claymore. Gus to most.”

“Wait.” Cami blinked. “As in… Gus Claymore the large animal vet my brother keeps raving about?”

He looked surprised. “The same. And you’re Liam’s sister, Cami.” This wasn’t a question. He seemed to already know who she was.

“Guilty. And so,” she went on, “theChloeEloise mentioned who was having a baby is actually a—”

“Cow.”

She bit back a laugh, imagining Claire Deitmore’s reaction when she figured it out. “I see. So little boys’ noses are not actually up your alley.”

“Give me a good horse or cow muzzle any day.” One corner of his mouth went up. “Chloe’s one of Bing Driscoll’s—you might know him—one of his prized Scottish Highland cows. She was having a bit of trouble this afternoon, but it all worked out. She’s got herself a pretty little heifer calf.”

Which would explain the speckles of blood on his shirt collar and the way his slightly long hair was sticking out at the back.

Well, well. Gus Claymore.

Liam had never said anything about him being gorgeous. A little Justin Hartley-ish, with a side of deep, brown eyes and an intriguing dimple that came and went on his left cheek when he wasn’t paying attention to his scowl.

She turned to watch Eloise wander down the church aisle in an apparent deliberate attempt to avoid any more discussion on the topic of Harrison. “Look,” Cami said, “I’m sure Harrison will be fine. The whole thing was not entirely Eloise’s fault.”

“She’s a good kid. With lots of opinions.” He grinned at that admission.

“A girl with opinions is a girl who’s going places. In my opinion.”

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