Page 5 of Rodeo Cowboy
I snatch it away. “Where did you get this?” A fire of anger reignites inside me.
“From my stash.” McKenna’s hands disappear into her jeans pockets.
“What stash?”
“If I told you, you’d take them away.” Her sly and cunning nature is a force to be reckoned with.
“No lighters,” I repeat as if it’s necessary and mentally make a note to check her bags when we settle into our temporary home. “We don’t have a house because ours went up in flames.”
Sammy takes the lighter and sticks it in his back pocket.
“I told you it was an accident.” McKenna’s unapologetic attitude is evident.
I don’t know where we’d be staying if it wasn’t for Sammy offering his ranch house.
“An accident that could’ve been prevented had you not had a lighter.” I don’t know why I need to remind her.
“Pyro.” Willow finally joins us. “So this is where you grew up, new Daddy Sammy.” Her gaze moves over festive decorations, lively music, and colorful lights.
“Maybe don’t call him Daddy Sammy.” This is why I told them to stay in the truck.
“Uncle Sammy,” Bode suggests.
“Or Uncle Les,” McKenna chimes in, reminding us that the handsome cowboy of a husband has been lying to us for two months.
I bend down to the kid’s level. “Listen, here’s the game plan. We will stay for a half hour.”
“Yes!” Bode lets out a loud whoop and pumps his fists in the air.
“Willow will take you two to pick out a couple of clappers and a plate of food. Try to keep to yourselves while Sammy and I talk to his folks. Then we’ll ring in the new year together and go home.”
“Home to Uncle Les—I mean Uncle Sammy’s—ranch.” McKenna is enjoying teasing Sammy a little too much.
“Yes.” I straighten and send an encouraging smile to Sammy.
The furrow between his eyebrows has deepened again. We hadn’t planned on involving the kids, but then the house went up in flames, and here we all are.
“It’s going to work out.” I squeeze his forearm, and heat rushes through my veins.
Gosh, darn it!
I wake up tangled in the sheets with him once, and suddenly, heat rushes through my veins. For a cowboy? A rodeo cowboy to boot. I don’t think so.
I snatch away my hand.
“And if we’re stopped, Sammy is our new uncle, and the two of you are deeply in love.” Willow bats her eyes. “We got the memo.”
“It’s like we’re characters from one of my books.” Bode’s whole face lights up as he plucks his Harry Potter book from under his arm. “We each get to play a part, and I’m going to play my part the very best.”
My nephew has been lost in the pages of books since the night his parents died. Meanwhile, McKenna has taken a liking to fire, and Willow refuses to acknowledge she was on her way to becoming a world-champion barrel racer.
Not only were their parents victims of the T-bone collision, but my parents as well—their grandparents. The tragedy ripped apart the fabric of our family, leaving the four of us struggling to cope with the sudden and devastating loss. Sammy swooped in two months ago and saved me in more ways than he knows. I owe him a little fabricated white lie.
Willow leans close to Sammy and me. “You two are butchering the part. You look terrified, not in love. Hold a hand or wrap your arm around her waist. Do something. Anything.”
I feel the warmth of Sammy’s arm around my waist.
“Come on, guys.” Willow pulls her siblings close, wrapping her arms around them.
