Page 33 of The Way to a Cowboy's Heart

“Boys,” Sarah said, rolling her eyes. “Do you have brothers, Emily?”

Liam saw that question trigger something in her eyes. Sadness?

“Yes, one,” she admitted. “Older than me, but quite stuffy. But… I have a sister, too. And she’s always the life of the party and the best photographer I know. I hope one day she’ll come out to see this beautiful ranch, as well.”

Shay said, “She’s welcome any time. We could use some photographs of the ranch, actually. Tara, here, is working on our website. She’s a wonder.”

Tara, the nineteen-year-old single mom the Hardesty clan had adopted over the Christmas holidays last year, blushed at the praise as she bounced her baby, Lolly, against her shoulder. “I wouldn’t go that far,” she said, brushing her blonde hair from her eyes. “I just like doing that stuff.”

“Lucky for us.” Cami, the youngest of the Hardesty siblings, gave Lolly’s cheek a brush with her fingers. “Plus, she loves to cook. I hear you’re a whiz in the kitchen, Emily.”

“Oh, that’s lovely,” Emily told her. “Good to start young. And I do love cooking, as well. It’s the thing I do to stay sane when all around me is chaos. Speaking of good cooking, Tara will have a good teacher in you, Mrs. Hardesty. This meal was delicious. And that banana pudding—I’m sorry, it was to die for.”

“Thank you, darlin’. Liam’s raved about your flourless chocolate cake. I’ll give you my recipe if you’ll share yours with me? Because he won’t stop hounding me.”

Liam groaned. “Mom—”

Emily couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course. Besides, I promised him I’d bake him one if I came out.” She turned to Tara. “Perhaps we can make it together.”

Tara’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really?”

She nodded. “I’ll just need a few supplies.”

“I probably have them on hand. But don’t worry about that now,” Sarah said.

Will rubbed his hands together. “This is sounding better and better. Just tell us when and we’ll be back to taste test.” Everyone at the table agreed.

“Do you ride, Emily?” Shay asked, changing the subject. “Because we have wonderful ranch horses who would love an outing if you’re game.”

“I used to ride as a girl,” she said. “We had several horses, one for each of us. But I was the only one who loved riding. And horses. I’m afraid it’s been a long time for me.”

Cooper shrugged. “It’s like riding a bike.”

Sarah, who had never been a rider, shook her head. “Don’t feel pressured, dear. We have plenty of things to do without risking life and limb.”

“Oh, I’m not afraid of horses. Truly. I’d love to ride. If”—she turned to Liam—“you’ll go with me.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” he said.

“Maybe tomorrow?”

He shook his head. “No. Tomorrow I have something else special planned.”

“Ooooh! Do tell!” Cami said, leaning forward on her hand. Emily raised her brow, intrigued.

“Nope. Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

“Whatever it is, can I come?” Ryan piped in from beside him.

“You’ve got school.” Liam scrubbed a hand in his hair—to which Ryan pushed him away with an embarrassed laugh. “Besides, this one is just the two of us. But when we take the horses out, you’re more than invited.”

Emily turned to Ryan. “Liam tells me you’ve been training that pretty dun out there in the paddock. I’m quite impressed by your skills. When I was your age, I was still figuring out which curry brush my horse preferred.”

Heat rose to his cheeks. “Cooper’s been teaching me. He’s the one who has the magic touch with horses.”

“And he gets none of that from me,” Cooper’s father Ray said, joking. “But I will take credit for his good looks.”

Cooper play-punched his father’s arm.

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