Page 73 of Protective Cowboy

“Mommy, I don’t wanna leave.” Tears welled up in his big blue eyes. “I want Matt to be my new dad.”

Guilt squeezed Autumn like a python’s coils. “I know change is hard,” Autumn said, hugging him. “But sometimes, life takes us places we never thought we’d go. And that’s how we find good things we never expected.”

“Okay.” But he didn’t look convinced.

As they walked hand in hand to The Yummy Cowboy Diner, Autumn couldn’t help but take in the sights and sounds of her hometown. Her months here had been so healing after the traumatic end to her wounded marriage.

She wouldn’t just miss her family and Matt. While working to publicize the town, she’d grown to appreciate everyone here and the powerful sense of community they all shared. The future looked bright for Snowberry Springs, and she regretted she might not be around to see what happened next.

“Tell you what,” she said, giving Jayden’s hand a gentle squeeze. “You know I’ve taken lots of pictures of everyone, right? What if I put together a memory book of our time here in Snowberry Springs?”

“That sounds good,” he agreed in a lackluster tone.

“And we’ll be back for Thanksgiving and Christmas at the ranch with Grandma and Grandpa and everyone else.”

“But it won’t be the same!” Jayden pointed out.

Autumn sighed. “I know. But I’m sure you’ll find a lot to like about Seattle. As will I.”

He nodded, but silent tears began rolling down his cheeks.

Guilt settled around her shoulders like a cape made of lead. She wondered if she’d just become a super-villain in Jayden’s universe.

They reached the diner a few minutes later. As she opened the door for Jayden, she plastered on a sunny smile for her sisters.

“Hey, you two!” Summer greeted them with a warm hug. “Winnie’s already here. She told me we have lots to talk about!”

“We sure do,” Autumn replied as they settled into their seats.

Over the past nine months, the three of them had gotten together for a monthly Sisters’ Dinner. She was going to miss doing this with Winnie and Summer.

But I can’t afford to turn down this offer. Not if I want a better life for Jayden.

“Jayden, do you want your usual?” Winnie asked, trying to distract him from his tears.

“Uh-huh,” he nodded, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

“All right, one kids’ burger and fries coming right up!” She waved at Terri, who waited tables after class and during high school vacations.

After they placed their orders, they chit-chatted while Terri brought their drinks and a printed paper cowboy placemat with a box of crayons for Jayden.

As Jayden began coloring in the cowboy’s horse, Summer told them about their planned dining room expansion to the building next door.

The project had been bogged down in a construction permit kerfuffle for months, but was moving forward at last. Last week, she and Brock had met with an architect, who presented three different ideas for the new space.

Winnie vented about the tile warehouse who had delivered someone else’s order to them, and delivered their order God only knew where, setting back the tiling work in the bathrooms and kitchen by at least two weeks.

“Ooh, and here’s dinner! Served by my very own yummy cowboy,” Summer announced with a wicked grin as Brock emerged from the kitchen balancing three steaming chicken pot pies and a plate with a kid’s cheeseburger and fries.

Autumn’s throat tightened at the sight of the pot pies.

Was it just last week when she’d made them for Matt?

She’d felt so content in that moment, like they were a real family. Not just her and Jayden, but Matt, too.

Now, it seemed she’d ruined everything. Their breakfasts together had cooled to an awkward chill over the past two mornings.

“You keep flattering me like that, and I’ll be forced to comp dessert for you three lovely ladies,” Brock told them as he slid the dishes onto the table. “The handsome young man here is already getting his very own ice cream sundae.”

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