Free The Bull Rider's Brother by Lynn Cahoon Page A

to set her up with some job training that might help her to be more independent when it came to running Hudson’s Hot Springs, but so far nothing had come through. And today after learning that James had found JR alone outside River’s Edge while her dad was inside, Lizzie was no longer sure how she would be able to get that job training if she couldn’t trust her dad to look after JR while she was gone. Torn, she watched the small beam of the flashlight bounce around as James and JR walked around the backyard. Had she done the right thing? JR deserved to know his father and James was here for him. Today. But what about the next time Jesse called?
    Finishing the coffee, Lizzie pulled out the chocolate chip cookies she’d baked Friday. JR would be over the moon. Two desserts in one night. He’d think it was a holiday. Grinning, she turned off the stove and mixed the homemade cocoa mix into the warm milk. There would be enough left over to stir into the coffee for homemade mochas for her and James. Sleep wouldn’t come easy tonight but she didn’t think the cause would be the late-night caffeine hit.
    She went to the front room and locked the door. Now they weren’t the host cabin for her rentals, she should remember to lock up earlier. But old habits died hard.
    And see what the cat drug in tonight.
    She grinned, turned off the television and went back to the kitchen. She’d set out the cups when the boys came in the back door.
    “Mom, did you know there’s baby mice in the pump house? Can I keep one as a pet?” JR pulled off his jacket and dropped it on the floor next to the posts she’d installed by the door for his coats and jackets.
    “Hang that right, buster. And no, we don’t keep mice as pets.” Lizzie poured the hot cocoa into JR’s favorite old NASCAR cup then added the requested marshmallows. “Go wash your hands.”
    “That’s no fair. Sandy has mice and a guinea pig.” JR draped the jacket on the hook. “And a dog. You won’t even let me have a pet that’s free.”
    “Hands, mister.” Lizzie pointed toward the bathroom door.
    JR stomped out of the kitchen.
    “Sorry, I shouldn’t have shown him the mice. I’ll clean the shed out tomorrow.” James nodded to the kitchen sink. “Mind if I wash up in here?”
    “Go ahead.” Her mind raced. He planned on coming back tomorrow? She knew he’d mentioned something when they were fixing the pump, but she thought he’d was being nice. “Look, you don’t have to come back tomorrow. Fixing things here isn’t your problem.”
    James dried his hands on the kitchen towel. “I said I would and I am. So accept my offer and say thank you.”
    “But really, you don’t have to … .” Lizzie stopped when the dishtowel popped her arm. “Ouch.”
    James grinned. “Want another one?”
    “No. I mean thank you for doing this.” Lizzie gave in and pointed to the coffee. “You want some cocoa mixed in?”
    “And ruin the coffee? No thanks. Black is fine.” James sat down at the kitchen table. “You make these cookies?”
    “I did.” She set the coffee in front of him. “Chocolate chip is JR’s favorite. And he can’t stand raisin.”
    James grabbed a cookie and took a bite. “You always did make a mean cookie. There’s so much I missed, isn’t there?”
    Lizzie poured half a cup of cocoa then topped it with coffee. Stirring the mixture, she paused before answering, “Yes. He was a cranky baby, but my mom could soothe him. She said I was too nervous, I moved too fast.”
    “Sounds like you.” James’s voice sounded warm and quiet.
    She dropped the spoon in the sink, looked out the window. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It wasn’t fair.”
    “You did what you thought was best for you and JR. How can I be mad at that?” James stood behind her.
    She felt his breath on her cheek; tears threatened. “I should have told you.”
    James leaned into her and put his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. “You’ve told me