Free The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family by Linda Ford Page A

cooperative until now. Tanner hollered again and flicked the reins.
    Old Pat dug in his hooves and stood immobile.
    Thinking perhaps his harness rubbed wrong, Tanner dropped the reins and walked to Pat’s head. In two strides, his heart hit the roof of his mouth and he ground to an abrupt halt.
    â€œJanie, what are you doing?” How had she gotten there without him seeing? She must have slipped past while his attention had been on driving the horse.
    His knees wobbled at the thought of what might have happened if Pat wasn’t so wise. He patted the horse. “Good boy.” Then Tanner squatted in front of Janie. Her face was streaked with tears and dust. He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped her cheeks dry and somewhat clean.
    â€œWhat’s the problem, little one?”
    â€œYou...you...you never said hello. Or goodbye. Don’t you like me?” A tear spilled from each eye.
    â€œI like you fine.” It hurt clear through to think his desire to avoid the family had been misinterpreted by this child. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. From now on I’ll remember to say hello and goodbye. Okay?”
    She nodded.
    He held out his arms and she came to him and hugged him about the neck, practically choking him, not that he’d complain. It felt too good.
    â€œJanie!” Susanne raced across the field.
    Tanner caught his breath, expecting her to trip and fall any moment. At the same time, he set Janie aside. He shouldn’t have hugged her, but he didn’t regret it. The little girl needed his reassurance and he was prepared to give it, even if it would lead to being reminded of his place.
    Susanne reached them, dropped to her knees in the dirt and pulled the child into her arms, rocking back and forth. “Shh, shh, shh,” she said over and over though no one made any other sound.
    After several minutes, she held Janie at arm’s length. “You scared me out of ten years. I thought—” She swallowed loudly and hugged the child again then pushed to her feet. “Off you go to your brothers.”
    The boys stood at the end of the field, their eyes wide.
    Janie plodded to them and the three returned to the yard.
    Now Susanne would speak her mind. Tanner prepared for the dressing-down he expected.
    She shuddered then faced him. “I can’t thank you enough.”
    Did he hear her wrong?
    â€œFor what?” He could think of nothing.
    â€œFor stopping in time.”
    â€œDon’t thank me. I didn’t see her. Thank the horse.”
    She went to Pat, hesitated a good eighteen inches from the animal and wrung her hands.
    Tanner’s thoughts stuttered. She was afraid of the horse. How had she hoped to ever get the crop seeded on her own?
    She remained an arm’s length from Pat and patted his neck gingerly. “Thank you. You’re a good old horse.”
    Tanner grinned. “I’m not sure he knows what all the fuss is about.”
    â€œSure he does.” She studied Tanner.
    Now she’d scold him for hugging the little girl. The little white girl.
    â€œI don’t know how to say this,” she began.
    He stiffened, preparing for the words that he shouldn’t care about anymore, but even after all these years they would sting. They always did.
    â€œJanie adores you. She was heartbroken when you left last night. I don’t care to see her hurt.”
    Those were the words she found difficult to speak? They were like honey to him. “I don’t care to see her hurt, either. I promised her I would say hello and goodbye from now on. If it’s okay with you?”
    â€œI think she would like that.”
    In the awkward silence that ensued, their eyes darted to the half-worked field. Then to the mountains to the west and the clouds scuttling across the sky.
    When he finally brought his gaze to hers, his heart gave a peculiar leap at what he saw...or rather, what he thought he saw. Or perhaps wished