Page 12 of Wounded Cowboy
No. I need to talk to you in private. There, that should give his grandmother something to think about.
Then he texted Autumn.Hey, sis. Any chance you can watch the girls tomorrow?
What’s up? I heard you hired Kelsey.
Fuck, he thought, typing furiously in reply.You heard wrong. That was Grandma A’s idea, and she left me out of the loop. You know how she is when she makes a Plan.
Yeah, I know. But it’s not a bad idea, especially with Mom and Dad gone for the summer.
Autumn, please.
Dammit, he hated begging. But he knew Summer worked long days at The Yummy Cowboy every single day during the summer, and Winnie and Nick were busy filming their TV show,Reviving Snowberry Springs.
Fine. Just this once. You’re lucky I was planning to be at the ranch anyway to film Daisy. The girls can help me with that.
Spring breathed a sigh of relief.Thanks, sis. You’re the best.
∞∞∞
The next day, Abigail opened the door with a big smile. Her eyes widened at Spring’s angry expression, and her smile vanished.
“Spring, dear, is everything all right?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.
“No, everything isnotall right,” he snapped. “I didn’t appreciate you hiring Kelsey behind my back after I nixed the idea.”
“I see.” Abigail stepped back.“Well, this isn’t a discussion to have on the porch, where everyone on the ranch can hear us. Come inside.”
Her living room looked like a time capsule from his childhood. The walls were adorned with floral wallpaper, and the furniture—a combination of plush sofas and wooden rocking chairs—was upholstered in various shades of hunter green and burgundy. A large honey oak entertainment center dominated one wall, housing a TV and a collection of VHS tapes. Dried flower arrangements and brass candlesticks graced the surfaces of end tables, giving the space a cozy, if dated, feel.
As Spring took in the familiar surroundings, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, momentarily softening his annoyance.
His grandmother’s kitchen was painted a soft yellow, with a floral wallpaper border running around the breakfast nook just under the ceiling.
He smelled tomato soup simmering on the stove and saw the fixings for grilled cheese sandwiches laid out on the countertop next to her vintage cast-iron griddle… all his childhood favorites.
Yeah, she’s going to play dirty.Well, two can play that game.
“Have a seat, my dear.” Grandma Abigail had set the breakfast nook table for two.
“Let’s talk first,” he replied.
Grandma Abigail turned to face him. She looked the same as she ever had, her lips firm under her pink lipstick, her wavy silver hair neatly styled and her bright blue eyes alert.
He crossed his arms and gave her the same stare he gave the girls when they misbehaved. He’d copied that stare from his boot camp drill sergeant.
She spread her hands and gave him a look of entreaty.“I know you’re annoyed with me, but I was just trying to help,” she began.
Spring stared at her incredulously.“By going behind my back after I already said no?”
She sighed.“Everyone can see you need help. It’s okay to admit that you can’t do everything all the time.”
“I’m doingfine,” he gritted.
Her finely shaped brows drew down in a frown.
“You’renot,” she countered in a sharp voice. Then her expression softened. She put a hand on Spring’s arm.“My dear, I can see how hard you’re working. And how many hours. Remember, I watched your Grandpa Frank do your job for years. And then Bob.” She patted his sleeve.“It’s not a failure to admit your daughters need someone to watch them while you’re working so they don’t get hurt again.”
At the mention of his daughters’ recent accident, Spring felt a fresh wave of guilt wash over him.
