Page 17 of The Rancher's Secret Son

Cody sent him a questioning look and then turned to Claire, who nodded. “Go ahead and open your presents.”

The first one was a book that Cody opened carefully, but when he saw what it was, he smiled and held it up for Claire to see. “Mama, look at this.”

“One of your favorites that you’ve been wanting,” she said, smiling at Nick who was relieved that the first gift had been something Cody really wanted. Claire had sent him a list, but he still had felt uncertain.

Cody turned to him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Cody.”

Cody set aside the book and pulled another bigger package out of the sack and tore it open to show Claire a box of Legos. “I don’t have this one. Thank you,” he said to Nick, smiling at him and looking at the box. “Can I do this now, Mama?”

“Open all your presents and then you may play with whatever you want,” Claire said. “Let’s see what else you have in the sack.”

With each gift Cody ripped the paper away faster and with more enthusiasm. He pulled out one that had a stuffed monkey on a spring that he could send flying across the room. He put it on the spring and pulled the lever and the monkey shot into the air, startling Claire and sending the boy into peals of laughter.

“Cody,” Claire said. “Not in the house.”

“Yeah,” Nick agreed. “Maybe we should try that one in the backyard, Cody.”

“Yes, sir,” Cody said, giggling and getting another present.

“Is this more of the same?” Claire asked, eyeing the odd shape of the next gift.

“Close, but it stays on the floor,” Nick replied, looking at Cody laugh with his blue eyes sparkling and thinking he had the most adorable son possible. Cody pulled a long furry toy with black eyes and a smiling mouth. When he pushed the switch the fuzzy toy rolled around on the floor while it growled, which made Cody laugh out loud. He flopped down on the floor beside it to watch.

Charmed by Cody, Nick glanced at Claire and she looked back while she laughed and shook her head. For an instant he felt a bond with her. They had a son, and for the moment they seemed like a family. Gratitude to Claire filled him. Nick had felt grateful to her before, but it was magnified a thousandfold now that he was with both of them.

Cody opened another present. “Mama, look,” he cried, jumping up to take a box to her.

“A child’s computer just for you, Cody. You’ll have such fun with that,” she said, smiling at him as he tried to open the box. While she peeled away tape, he turned to Nick.

“Thank you for my present,” he said, smiling at Nick. Cody pulled out the last box and ripped away paper to hold up a bug collecting kit that included a net.

“Super,” he said. “Look, I can catch some bugs,” he said, taking the kit to Claire.

“You did well, Nick. These are all perfect little-boy gifts. And he loves them all.”

“Thanks. I had help from a long-time friend who has a three-year-old son.” He’d have to remember to thank his close friend Mike Calhoun for the suggestions the next time he saw him.

“Looks like you asked an expert,” she said, smiling at him.

“Can we build this now?” Cody asked, pulling the Lego box out from beneath his other presents and holding it out to Nick.

“Claire, what’s the schedule? Can we start on this?”

“We’ll go to dinner whenever you two are ready. I’m in no hurry.”

Nick turned to the boy. “Okay, Cody, let’s give it thirty minutes and then I’ll take you and your mother to dinner. How’s that?”

“Super,” Cody said, starting out of the room.

“I guess I’m supposed to follow,” Nick said to Claire, who nodded.

“He’s headed to the kitchen table. He’s used to playing with his grandmother. She doesn’t sit on the floor.”

“Come join us.”

“Oh, no, this is male bonding time,” she said. When he didn’t move right away she added, “If you don’t get in there, he’ll be through.”

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