Page 33 of The Rancher's Secret Son

They waited until the sheriff came to the front, and the minute she saw the man’s blue eyes and brown hair, so like Nick’s and Cody’s, she knew he had to be a Milan. This was Wyatt, she realized. His features were far more rugged than Nick’s, who had the appealing looks of a handsome movie star.

Wyatt’s ready smile was as inviting as his brother’s. “It’s really good to meet you, Claire. I’ve heard about you and now about Cody. I’m an uncle. Wow.” He turned to shake hands with Cody, who looked awed by Wyatt’s uniform.

“This is your Uncle Wyatt, Cody,” Nick said. “He’s the sheriff.”

“Cody, would you like to look around?” Wyatt asked. “Want to see the jail?”

Cody nodded, and Claire smiled because for one of the rare moments in his life, her son was suddenly shy. Nick took Cody’s hand. “C’mon, we’ll look at the jail.”

“As thrilling as that is going to be,” Claire said, “I’ll leave the males to tour and I’ll go shopping. Nick, I have my phone and you have my number. Wyatt, where’s a good store for jeans?”

“Try The Plaza. I’m not the best to ask about women’s jeans.” He turned to one of his officers seated behind a desk. “Dwight?”

“The Plaza is a good one. So is Dorothy’s.”

“There you go,” Wyatt said, and smiled. “Dwight will give you directions. When you’re through, meet us at the drugstore across the street next door to the hotel. I’ll get Cody a soda if he wants one and if that’s all right?”

“Yes, it is with me. You can ask him if he wants one.”

She left as she heard Cody say, “Yes, sir.”

All the time she tried on jeans, she was aware she would be wearing them around Nick. On impulse, she bought a shirt to match.

It was over an hour later when she entered the drugstore to find the men and Cody seated at a round table in old-fashioned ice-cream-parlor chairs. A fire burned in a potbellied stove in the center of the big room and a lighted Christmas tree stood in the window. As she walked to them, she was aware of Nick’s steady gaze on her. He came to his feet along with Wyatt.

“Please be seated,” she said. “Looks as if everyone’s had a soda.”

“Best in the West,” Nick said, smiling. “Love these sodas. Can I get you one?”

“I’ll pass, but thank you. Cody, are they really the best?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, licking his lips and everyone laughed. “Mama, Uncle Wyatt gave me a badge.” Cody turned in his chair and she leaned down to look at a gold star that resembled Wyatt’s badge and said Verity Junior Sheriff.

“That’s great. I hope you thanked him.”

“I did,” Cody said as he shot a big grin Wyatt’s way.

She smiled at Wyatt, too. “Uncle Wyatt, you’re already on his favorite relative list, I’m sure.”

“I hope so,” Wyatt answered easily.

“Dad bought me boots and a hat,” Cody said.

“Well, you will be all fixed up with your boots and junior sheriff badge and hat,” she said, certain Cody would love every minute of this trip. Even though Cody’s reasons would be far more simple, was she going to be pressured by her son to marry Nick?

They sat and talked for another half hour until Nick pushed back his chair. “I think we’ll head to the ranch now, Wyatt.”

They walked back to the sheriff’s office and in minutes Nick was driving south out of Verity.

As Nick wound up the drive to the sprawling ranch house, she wondered about his life. “Do you ever stay out here, Nick?”

“Not much. I don’t have time to, but someday I hope to retire early and live here because I love it. Ranching is ingrained in our family. You can’t pry my youngest brother Tony off his ranch. Wyatt loves it and will go back to living on his ranch when his term as sheriff ends. He took on that job as a favor to a lot of people, but that’s not his deal. Madison lives on a ranch now with her husband, Jake Calhoun, but before she married Jake, she lived on the family ranch a good part of the year and painted there. We all love the cowboy life.”

“I’d think you’d arrange a little more time for it, then. If you can’t work this into your life, how are you going to fit Cody in?” she asked, wondering whether Nick was actually going to want much time with Cody when they got right down to figuring out a schedule.

With a quick glance, Nick gave her a startled look. “I’ll try to give Cody top priority,” Nick answered. His voice was quiet, his tone somber. Was he just facing reality about how much time his political career would take away from a family?

She looked at his profile, his firm jaw, prominent cheekbones, handsome features, thickly lashed eyes. Nick was the best-looking Milan of all those she had met. Probably the best-looking man she had ever met at all. Or was she biased because of personal feelings? She couldn’t answer her own question.

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