Free A Cowboy's Heart by Brenda Minton Page A

boys that needed him to focus on their lives, and their well-being. And he had a history of poor choices in the romance department that made him more than a little gun-shy.
    As if she understood, Willow glanced over her shoulder, hersmile real, and not meant for him. “You know what, guys? I think we should eat pizza before we have ice cream.”
    It was that easy for her to shift the conversation away from her, to make it about two little boys. He thought she’d had a lifetime of experience, deflecting attention from herself. She knew how to build walls.
    He had built a few himself.
    Â 
    Willow walked through the door that Clint held open for her and the boys. A wall of cold air greeted them: someone wasn’t afraid to turn their air conditioner on before June. Willow shivered and the boys reached for her hands, one on either side.
    She smiled at the hostess who mumbled something about seating them. A hand waved from across the restaurant. A farmer that had sold her a few cows. She nodded a greeting and then he noticed Clint.
    â€œGreat.” Clint spoke close to her ear. “Here we go again.”
    â€œWhat?” Willow pulled out a chair at the table the hostess had led them to.
    Before Clint could answer, the farmer, Dale Gordon, stood next to their table. He was a big guy, with striped overalls and a wide smile.
    â€œClint Cameron. I’d heard you were back in town. Don’t tell me you’re going to try and make something of that old farm.”
    â€œSure am, Dale.”
    â€œMight as well sell it to me.”
    Now Willow understood. She pretended to help the two boys with their napkins as she listened to bits and pieces of conversation.
    â€œI’m not going to sell something that’s been in my family for over a hundred years, Dale.”
    â€œIt was in my family first.”
    â€œYour granddaddy lost it in a poker game. Tough luck, but I’m not selling.”
    Dale laughed. “You’ve always been hardheaded.”
    â€œSure have and so have you. I think we’re cousins, at least six or seven removed.”
    â€œSomething like that.” Dale patted Clint on the back. “Let me know if you change your mind about the old place.”
    â€œWill do, Dale.”
    Willow smiled up at the waitress who had arrived to take their order. She was a cute girl with blond hair in a ponytail and pale blue eyes that sparkled with sunshine when she smiled at the boys.
    â€œCan I take your order?”
    Clint looked at Willow, waiting for her to order. Now would be the time to tell him she really didn’t like pizza. She smiled and ordered a salad. Clint ordered a large pepperoni pizza.
    â€œHas he always wanted that land?” Willow turned her coffee cup over for the waitress to fill it.
    â€œFor as long as I can remember. There were a few times I was afraid my dad would sell. He always sobered up and came to his senses.”
    She tried to picture Clint as a kid, holding his family together, the same way he was holding it together now.
    â€œIt couldn’t have been easy.”
    His brows arched at that. “What couldn’t have been?”
    â€œYour dad.”
    â€œIt wasn’t all bad.”
    She waited for him to tell her more. But he didn’t share. Instead he moved aside their drinks and the napkin holder as the waitress arrived with their pizza. The boys lifted their plates for a slice, and for the first time in a long time, Willow was tempted by pizza. The crust was soft, and cheese dripped.
    Clint laughed. “You can have a slice. Surely you’re not on a diet.”
    She shook her head. “Nothing like that. I’m not much of a pizza person.”
    Both boys were staring, eyes wide. She felt like she’d just announced something scandalous. Clint laughed again.
    â€œHave a slice, Willow.”
    Pizza, a day with Clint and the boys, and her heart tripping all over itself. Willow didn’t know how much more