Page 54 of The Cowboy's Surprise Return

“She didn’t want a fling, and yet here the two of you are.” April gave him an intrigued look, one he ignored.

“It’s not a fling.”

“So you two are looking at marriage?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?”

April’s tone told him she was very much being Jackie’s protective friend at the moment. Which was good. It was what he wanted. And yet he was still grateful—possibly for the first time in his life—to see his great-uncle Henry pull up.

“Something in between,” he muttered. “Sorry, gotta help unload the stallion.” He tipped his hat and headed toward his uncle’s truck and borrowed horse trailer.

“We’re not done talking about this,” April called.

“Talking about my girlfriend is now officially off-limits.”

“Treat her right or I’ll be forced to give you a knuckle sandwich, Cole!”

He nodded, then shook his head, glancing over his shoulder to watch April retreat to the stable.

“I heard about the two of you,” said a voice hardened with age.

“Hello, Uncle Henry,” Cole said. “I prepared the stall for the stallion. Need help unloading?” He really didn’t need another hint from someone that April was moving on.

“Jackie’s a nice girl.”

“I know she is.” Cole was instantly wary. He clasped the back of his neck with his right hand, wondering if he could refrain from telling his uncle to mind his own business, because he was no doubt going to lay into him about dating Jackie.

“So you thought you’d mess up her life?”

“No, sir.”

“She’s as sassy as a summer day is long, but she doesn’t have much for family. You hear what I’m saying?” Seeing Cole’s hesitation, Henry lowered his voice. “Her father’s forgotten who most everyone is, and her mother passed a few years ago. There’s a reason she’s at the Wylder dinner table on holidays, and it’s not because she’s pining away for you. That was nothing but a distraction, a smokescreen for what she really wants.”

“What’s that?” Cole held his breath, afraid his uncle wouldn’t answer.

“Jackie will tell you eight ways to Sunday she’s fine, but she’s on the thin edge of things.” Henry inhaled through his nose, then sighed as if he was carrying a great burden. “It’s not my business, but I thought you should know before you carry on as if she’s as strong as she looks. This family is all she’s got right now.”

So she wanted family? His family?

Cole met his uncle’s eyes. For an old curmudgeon, he wasn’t so bad, his caring side lending a welcome insight. “I appreciate the heads-up.”

He’d ensure that when they broke up she was blameless.

He paused for a second, a small thought whispering through his mind that if he wasn’t careful, he’d end up leaving the family ranch to give another ex ”space.”

“Don’t run off when things go south with this one,” Henry said, getting in one more lick, as was his habit. “We’re honorable men.”

“Things won’t go south,” Cole said tersely, his patience gone. “And as for leaving town when I did? I left because I was asked to.” He lifted his head. “I did the honorable thing, and I’m sorry to see you’ve judged me negatively for listening to my family’s wishes.”

He turned, leaving Henry opening and closing his mouth like a Guadalupe bass trapped in the bottom of a fishing boat.

* * *

“I think I’ll move to San Antonio,” Jackie said, joining Cole at the edge of the riding ring. Reaching him, she balanced a clipboard on top of a nearby post.

He jolted as if in surprise, the paintbrush in his hand jerking. Panting beside her was the ranch’s growing menagerie of dogs, which had barked when she’d come around the side of the stable.

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