Page 126 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Tanner and Wade weren't here yet. Ford had deliberately arrived a little earlier than they'd arranged. The rest of them were coming after school, and Ford felt like Nat and Hunter would be better off if they were here first. Maybe it was just his way of looking at things, but he felt like the three of them already being settled in a booth when the others arrived would be easier. Nat and Hunter were walking into a whole new life here. If the only solid ground he could give them was a booth to sit in where the others came to them, then he'd do it.

He was relieved to see that the bakery was mostly empty. There was a table of tourists in the middle of the room, two older couples sitting by the window, and he lifted a hand in greeting when he spotted Monique Remington sitting with Jean Davenport – two of the matriarchs of the valley. They smiled and waved, and the older couples turned to study him and the kids. They were locals, and Ford knew that news of this visit would be all around the valley before dinner time. It didn't matter. In fact, it was probably a good thing.

"Hey, Ford," Spider called from behind the counter. He smiled at the kids. "And you must be Nat and Hunter, right?"

Hunter nodded, and Nat glanced up at Ford. "How does he know? Did you tell him we were coming?"

"I did. I figured Spider and ..." He jerked his chin when Rocket appeared next to Spider behind the counter "… Rocket there might be people you’d want to have a chat with."

"Why?" Nat asked, looking suspicious.

Hunter surprised Ford when he let go of his hand and went over to the counter saying, "Because they're cool. Look at those tattoos."

Spider grinned and Rocket gave Ford a chin lift. Ford had spoken to him yesterday about bringing the kids in. Not only did he want to avoid too many questions when they first arrived, but he believed that Nat and Hunter might get something out of talking to him and Spider. The two of them had grown up in foster care. They'd had it tough, from what Ford knew. And even besides that, they'd come to the valley as outsiders. They'd grown up in LA, and with all their tattoos, Spider's mohawk, and Rocket's massive size, and the way they dressed, there was no mistaking them for cowboys.

Hunter had already reached the counter, and Rocket was grinning at him. "What can I get you, little man?"

Hunter just stared at him for a few moments, and Nat hurried to join him with Ford in tow. Spider greeted her with a smile. "Hi. It's nice to meet you."

She nodded at him but didn't speak. Rocket grinned at her. "I'm Rocket, and this is Spider. Welcome. And I'm guessing from the look on your face, you feel about the same way I did when I first arrived here."

Nat frowned at him and Rocket laughed. "I'm from LA. Grew up in the system." He jerked his head toward Spider. "We both did. This place is a lot to take in at first, isn't it?"

Nat still didn't speak but Hunter piped up, "I like it. I like the mountains. And the air’s not so wet here."

Spider chuckled. "You came from Florida, right?"

Hunter nodded. "The air’s always soggy, even when it's not raining. But here..." He looked up at Ford. "The air’s silky here."

Ford rested his hand on the kid's shoulder. "You've got a point there. I like this silky air much better than that humidity." He turned to Nat. "Do you?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"What can we get you, then?" Spider asked. "Do you want to choose now, or do you want to grab a booth in the back and take a look at the menu?"

Ford cocked an eyebrow at Nat, and she said, "Let's go sit in the back."

Hunter surprised him when he shook his head. "I want to stay here."

Nat sighed.

Rocket came around the counter and said, "Want me to help you choose, little man?"

Hunter nodded eagerly and stood on his tiptoes, trying to peer into the display case to see the pastries. Ford knew it had been the right call to bring them here when Rocket looked at Nat questioningly before he asked Hunter, "Want me to pick you up so you can see better?"

Nat gave him a slight nod when Hunter said, "Yes, please."

Spider smiled at Ford as he and Nat went to sit in a booth while Hunter and Rocket chatted happily about which cookies were the best. Ford's heart sank as he listened. Rocket was saying that white chocolate chip and macadamia were his favorite – Hunter had never heard of them. It seemed that everything Rocket pointed out was something new and unfamiliar to the kid.

"Mom never had money to spare for things like cookies," said Nat.

Ford pressed his lips together.

"When you look all pissed like that, it's because you're angry, isn't it?" she asked.

"No... well, not always... sometimes I'm mad, like right now. I'm mad at life for the way it's treated you guys. I'm mad at whatever mistakes were made that after your mom passed, no one tracked Amelia down. I'm mad that Hunter has never had a cookie."

Nat gave him a small smile. "He has. It's not like he's never had any. It's just that Mom could never take us to places like this where they have fancy flavors."

---