A Little Boy’s Hero

After losing his mother, Annie Ridgeway’s sweet six-year-old nephew thinks he’s an orphan. Turns out the father he never knew is bull rider Colt Holden—the boy’s hero. Before bringing them together as father and son, Annie has to make sure Colt is as good a man as he is a cowboy. When she arrives in Mule Hollow, she finds the handsome, honorable man guarding his burdened heart against caring for anyone or anything. Will a little boy’s devotion be the fighting chance they all need?

“Honey, let go of Mr. Holden,” Annie said to her nephew.

Bright eyes beamed back at her. “But, Aunt Annie, I’ve been waiting for-evvv-er.”

She smiled and gently tugged the little boy’s arm away from Colt’s leg. Looking up, her gaze locked once more with Colt’s alarmed brown eyes.

Ever since she’d found the letter that revealed who Leo’s daddy was, God had laid a heavy burden on her heart. It had taken her house burning down to make her figure out what she wanted to do. And that was to come find out what kind of man Colt was.

She’d been here all of ten minutes and things weren’t looking so good. “I’m sorry about this. I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Annie Ridgeway, and this is my nephew, Leo.”

“Our house burned down and my room is gone,” Leo said, staring up at Colt.

Colt’s brows crinkled in dismay. “Y-your house burned down?”

She didn’t miss the flash of compassion in his reaction.

So the man does have a heart buried in there somewhere.

DEBRA CLOPTON

First published in 2005, Debra Clopton is an award-winning, multi-published novelist who has won a Book-sellers Best Award, an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, a Golden Quill, the Cataromance Reviewers’ Choice Award, RT Book Reviews Book of the Year, and Harlequin.com’s Readers’ Choice Award. She was also a 2004 finalist in the prestigious RWA Golden Heart, a triple finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award and most recently a finalist in the 2011 Gayle Wilson Award for Excellence.

Married for 22 blessed years to her high school sweetheart, Wayne Clopton, Debra was widowed in 2003. Happily, in 2008, a couple of friends played match-maker and set her up on a blind date with Chuck Parks. Instantly hitting it off, Debra and Chuck were married in 2010. They live in the country with Chuck’s two high-school-age sons. Debra has two adult sons, a lovely daughter-in-law and beautiful granddaughter—life is good! Her greatest awards are her family and spending time with them. You can reach Debra at P.O. Box 1125, Madisonville, TX 77864 or at debraclopton.com.

Her Homecoming Cowboy

Debra Clopton

www.millsandboon.co.uk

There is a season for everything,

and a time for every activity under heaven.

—Ecclesiastes 3:1

This book is dedicated to my good friends

Melanie Trant and Joanna Harris...

your hearts of gold and sassy attitudes made me fans from the first moments we met! As they say in Texas, God did “real good” when He ran our paths together. Thanks for being my friends.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

“Well, hi there, Colt Holden, bull rider extraordinaire. My goodness you’re breathtaking to watch on a bull.... Oh, and by the way, I’m here to tell you that you’re a daddy!”

Annie Ridgeway recited the words in her head. Nope, that was certainly not the way to break the news. Though humor did lighten up a hard situation most times, in this case...not so much.

Annie and her sister, Jennifer, had always had very different ideas about life. Following rodeos around and being too friendly with the cowboys who rode bulls and broncs had been, in Annie’s view, a terrible thing. Then again, she and her sister had always been opposites. Jennifer thought Annie was a stick-in-the-mud, and she thought Jennifer was a...well, to put it bluntly, a lot too loose with her affections.

The two sisters had basically disagreed about almost everything right up until the day Jennifer died a year ago.

They had disagreed about everything, that is, but their love for Leo. On loving Leo they had agreed completely.

What was best for Leo—on that they’d remained consistent—disagreeing till the very end.

Annie started over. “Mr. Holden, you don’t know this, but you are the daddy of my six-year-old nephew, Leo. Surprise!”

Groaning, she bit her lip and nibbled on that straightforward approach. It was blunt. But it was the truth.

Six years. That was a long time to keep something as important as this hidden. Whether the rowdy cowboy had wanted to know or not, he should have been told.

That ended today.

Annie had decided today was the last day she was going to be responsible for such a significant piece of her nephew’s life. Having made this monumental decision hadn’t made it easy for her. Oh, no. She’d be lying if she claimed that. It had been down-right hard; in fact, God had actually gotten a little rough with her to get her attention!

She tried again to squelch the need to turn and run. Dread so heavy she could barely breathe settled over her as she pulled her old clunker onto the gravel drive of the Holden Ranch. Squinting against the bright July sunshine, she battled with where to go—the house or the office. The small metal office sat closer to the road and had three trucks sitting in front of it, making it the logical choice.

Continuing to nibble at her lip she studied the simple office building of the Holden Ranch, and then the white ranch house in the distance. The sense of dread wrapped tighter around her, suffocating her...

You have nowhere else to go.

Ha! She could find a way to make it—

This is for Leo.

She closed her eyes.

Everything was for her little Leo.

“Is this where he lives?”

Leo’s question interrupted her thoughts. Pulling herself together, Annie turned to look at her six-year-old nephew. He was sitting in his safety chair in the backseat of the car, beaming with expectations that terrified her.

What if this guy was a jerk?

Even though Leo thought they were going to meet Colt Holden, the man he most admired in all the world, Leo had no idea what this meeting meant to his future.

Forcing a smile and ignoring the rolling of her stomach, she answered, “Yes, I believe it is. This is a great day, isn’t it?” Sick as she felt she couldn’t help being excited for Leo—after all, he was meeting his hero today.

He idolized pro-bull rider Colt Holden. Up until her death a year ago, her sister had told Leo all kinds of bedtime stories about the bull rider. They watched him when he was on television competing in pro-bull-riding events. And Jennifer had posted pictures of Colt Holden all over Leo’s room.

Annie’s mind filled with images of the bull rider’s dazzling smile in many poses and his gritty concentration when he was riding the fierce bulls.

There was no denying that the cowboy was awe-inspiring in that regard. And no wonder that Leo, clueless about who his father was, had grown up adoring the cowboy his mother had painted as the most wonderful man in the world. This should have given Annie a little heads-up on the matter. But it hadn’t.

Whether the man was wonderful, she wasn’t so sure. Even if he was a good man, he’d have a lot to live up to.

“Annie Aunt, is this where he lives?” Leo asked, using the backward term of affection that he’d called her all his life.

“Yes. At least I think so. He’s going to be surprised when he meets you and finds out how much you know about him.”

He beamed proudly at her. “He’s the greatest bull rider in the whole wide world. He ain’t won the championship ’cause he always gets a bad draw on his bulls out there at the big national rodeo.”

She wasn’t sure about all of that, and really had no idea why the cowboy had never won the championship the five times he’d made the nationals.

The man was elite in his field whether he had or hadn’t. “You amaze me, Leo. I can tell you this—that’s one lucky cowboy to have you so crazy about him.”

Leo’s face twisted into a huge smile. “I’m so excited I could whoop!” he exclaimed, and proceeded to do exactly that by exploding with a loud whoop. “Gosh, Annie Aunt, it’s gonna be great!” Rocking his safety seat in his enthusiasm, he said, “He’s gonna like me. And since we’re gonna live in the same town, I bet he’ll teach me to ride bulls and rope—maybe even how to fish.”

Annie’s mouth went dry and the slow burn of indigestion spread across her chest. Leo’s expectations as a fan were huge. How would Colt Holden react to a little-boy fan, so infatuated with him?

Most important—how would he react when he knew he had a son?

* * *

Colt Holden stared at his brothers. They meant well, but right now the last thing he needed was their sympathy. Or their mothering.

“You aren’t sleeping at night.” Luke, his oldest brother, challenged him. The words echoed off the thick wooden paneling of the office and also Colt’s equally thick bad disposition. He scowled.

“I never said that. If this is some sort of intervention, you fellas need to back up.”

“Come on, Colt.” Jess, two years older than him, rammed a hand through his dark hair, worry in his blue eyes. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? You haven’t slept since the wreck. You’ve lost at least ten pounds, too. You’ve holed up out there and haven’t come away from the cabin since you got home.”

“You look bad on the outside and we’re afraid you look worse on the inside,” Luke finished. His brown eyes, so much like Colt’s, were solemn.

Colt rubbed the stubble on his chin with his good hand. He didn’t need to look in a mirror to know what he looked like. These days the less he looked in a mirror the better off he was. The contempt he felt for himself was almost too much to bear. And this sympathy—intervention—whatever you called it, wasn’t helping.

“You’ve got to rein this in,” Luke continued. “You’ve got to move forward.”

“Move forward.” Black emotion swept through Colt. “If this is what y’all called me about this morning, then I’ll be cuttin’ you loose. I just want to be left alone.”

“We get that,” Luke offered, his voice gentling. “But you have to pull yourself out of this hole you’re in. This isn’t going to bring anyone back or change what happened in that car wreck.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Jess finished.

“That doesn’t help me sleep at night,” Colt growled. He was six years younger than Luke and two years younger than Jess. Since he was eight, when his mother left them and their home fell apart, his older brothers had been his heroes. They’d been the ones who’d provided for him and looked out for him when their parents hadn’t. They’d protected him as much as they could and offered as much love as two boys their age could offer. But he was all grown up now, and they couldn’t help him. No one could.

He wasn’t so sure God could help him at this point.

“You have to figure out a way past it,” Luke said. “Give it to God.”

Colt bolted straight out of the chair; every muscle in his strained back protested while his broken collarbone shot fire through him. It was pain he welcomed—pain he deserved.

Memories, like firebrands, seared into his soul. “Fellas, I can’t do this. Not now.” He headed for the door, escape all he could think about. Hell on earth had nothing on what he felt. Jess slid into his path as Luke came around the edge of the desk and flanked him.

“We talked with a specialist,” Luke said. “And he suggested some counseling—”

“I’m not—” Colt stared at his brothers. “I don’t need some guy with a Ph.D telling me I need to get over it.” He gritted the words out. They blew up like fireworks. “Do you think the family I wiped out cares whether I ‘get over it.’ No. They wish I’d had my head on straight that night. They wish I’d have pulled over ten minutes earlier when I realized I was drifting in and out of sleep while my boot remained hard and heavy on the gas pedal!”

“Colt—” Luke tried to break in but Colt cut him off.

“And how about their loved ones? They wish I’d have been off the road where I belonged when the family they loved—” He couldn’t voice it again. Couldn’t look it in the face again—why couldn’t his brothers get that? Some things just cut too deep.

His head pounding, he started for the door. Jess didn’t move. “Colt, we’re worried about you.”

He looked from one brother to the other. “Don’t y’all get it? Y’all can’t fix this. Nothing can.”

Luke laid his hand on Colt’s arm. “God can.”

Like a jagged blade, the words cut deep and ragged. Colt yanked his arm free. “I’d say it’s a little too late for that.” Two weeks ago he’d been racking up the points to compete in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. He’d been hauling hard across the country from rodeo to rodeo, maintaining his position as a top contender in the finals rodeo. He’d been road weary the night the drunk had swerved into him, sending him into the oncoming traffic, where his truck had hit a vehicle head-on.... Even thinking about it drove him crazy. And plunged him deeper into the murky pit he was in.

Stepping around Luke, he pushed violently on the door. It slammed open, banging against the building as it hit full force. Colt stormed outside onto the porch, fully intent on getting back to his isolated cabin, tucked into the woods at the back of their ranch.

Barreling down the steps, running as much from his thoughts as his brothers, he almost ran into the woman standing at the bottom of the steps. If she hadn’t stepped back, he would have taken her out.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted, coming up short. “I didn’t see you.”

“It’s okay,” she assured him, studying him intently with wide eyes that looked pale lavender in the glaring sunlight. She moved her warm blond hair behind her ear and caught her breath. He’d obviously scared her. She was rail thin, and her clothes hung on her as if they were someone else’s.

Luke and Jess stepped up behind him on the porch, and her gaze flitted from him to each of them before landing back on him.

Colt stiffened, going on alert as wariness curled into a ball in the pit of his stomach. He’d learned over the last three weeks that when someone studied him like this, it wasn’t a good thing.

“Hi,” Luke said, taking control of the situation. “I’m Luke Holden. These are my brothers—Jess, and the guy who almost ran you over is Colt. What can we do for you?”

“Well, I’m looking for...” She paused, her gaze probing his. “You’re Colt Holden. The bull rider?” she asked, as if she wasn’t sure from the way he looked.

Colt rubbed his three-day-old beard. Did he look that bad? He glanced down at himself. His own jeans hung loosely on his hips, showing that Jess was right—he had lost weight. And it didn’t take a look in the mirror for him to know he looked older and drawn. He felt every bit of it.

He needed to get out of here, but for the life of him, Colt couldn’t tear his eyes from the woman’s pale eyes. Something stirred inside his chest at the way they searched his face, as if she were trying to look inside his head—which was not a good place for anyone to be searching right now.

“Do I know you?” Something pricked in the back of his memory. He’d feared at first that she might be a reporter. He’d learned the hard way that reporters could look innocent, too, and be as deadly as sharks.

“Um, no,” she replied quickly. “We’ve never met. I...” She swallowed hard, then took a halting breath as her gaze hit the ground before bouncing back to his.

Was she lying? Her body language wasn’t giving him any confidence in her words.

“I’ve actually brought my nephew to meet you. He’s your number one fan. I’m sorry to intrude, but I was wondering if you would take a moment to meet him.”

A child. Colt’s heart jerked at the thought and he shook his head. “I can’t— I mean, I’m not—”

Behind her, the creak of the battered blue car’s door opening drew his attention. His heart sank as a little boy, about five or six years old, peeked out. Colt steeled himself against the slash of guilt that ripped straight through him.

“Colt!” The kid’s big eyes, wide and dancing with excitement, stared at Colt as if he was some kind of superstar. “It is you!” the kid yelled and charged.

Stepping back, Colt wanted to turn and run the other way, but he held his position, glaring at the lady. Her mouth was hanging open as the kid skidded to a halt in front of him, gravel crunching as he came.

“I been waitin’ my whole long life to meet you,” he exclaimed, then joyfully threw his arms around Colt’s knees.

Images of another child flashed through Colt’s thoughts, breaking his heart once again into shattered pieces. Sweat popped across his brow and his heart thundered. It was all he could do to hold his ground as his gaze flew from the boy’s ecstatic, upturned face, then back to the woman. To his disbelief, she looked more terrified than he felt.

Three weeks ago, Colt would have patted the kid on the head and asked him questions, drawn him into a conversation and tried to make a good impression on the boy. Today he couldn’t breathe, his voice clogged in his throat and all he could think about was getting away. Life had changed in the blink of an eye. One minute he’d been on top of the world, chasing the dream reflected in this little boy’s eyes. Today that dream meant nothing compared to the lives lost because of him. How did he move on from that?

How did he deserve to move forward from a tragedy that he could have prevented?

That was the question he was wrestling with.

Looking into the little boy’s eyes, all Colt could think of was getting away.

Far, far away.

Chapter Two

Leo, Leo, Leo. Annie’s heart tugged at his childish adoration. It was obvious Colt Holden was not used to being fawned over by kids. This shocked her. The man was a rodeo hero and there were always photos of him grinning and signing autographs... Please tell me he is not one of those “fake it for the camera” guys.

If he was, she might as well turn her car around and head back home. Why, the man looked terrified...and totally worn out. Deep weariness etched his face.

She was startled by his overall appearance when he’d come barreling out of the office looking fierce and scraggly. He needed a shave and two weeks of sleep.

Very different from the photos Jennifer had hung in Leo’s room. Those were of a very clean-cut, slick-shaven cowboy with an intriguing glint in his eyes and mischief in his expression. This cowboy looked ten years older than the twenty-eight she knew him to be...still unbelievably handsome despite the hair that brushed his collar and the scraggly two- or three-day-old beard.

Getting over her shock, Annie bent to one knee and reached for Leo. His innocent face was a storybook of happiness as he clung to Colt Holden’s legs. He was six and had never latched on to anyone like Colt. Then again, this was a dream come true for him. A dream that was looking as if it had all the potential in the world of blowing up in her face.

The enormity of what she was here to do hit her with new force, and instantly fear for Leo gripped her.

She was a take-control kinda gal. The fact that she’d procrastinated this move for a year showed her fear and worry. It had finally taken a major Godly shove and a hard dose of reality to get her moving. She’d decided to take the bull by the horns, and here she was...feeling really stupid for bringing this child here before she’d checked the man out.

“Honey, let go of—let go of Mr. Holden.”

Bright eyes beamed back at her. “But, Annie Aunt, I’ve been waiting for-evvv-er.”

“Yes, I know.” She smiled, feeling a sense of urgency to extricate him as she gently took his arm and tugged him away. Looking up, her gaze locked once more with Colt’s alarmed brown eyes.

Annie’s heart sank. Ever since she’d learned who Leo’s daddy was God had laid a heavy burden on her heart. It had taken her house burning down to make her figure out what she wanted to do. And that was to come find out what kind of man Colt was.

Did any honor exist beneath that facade?

She’d been here all of ten minutes and things weren’t looking so good. She pushed on, though. “I’m sorry about this. I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Annie Ridgeway and this is my nephew, Leo.”

“Our house burned down and my room is gone,” Leo said, staring up at Colt with big, bright stars in his eyes. “But Annie Aunt told me we were moving here to your town and I didn’t even care anymore.” He cocked his head to the side. “Does Mule Hollow have a bunch of mules?” Prone to ask random questions, it was one of many more to come.

Colt’s brows crinkled in dismay. “Y-your house burned down?”

His words were choked and she didn’t miss the flash of compassion in his reaction. So the man did have a heart buried in there somewhere, Annie thought with a smidge of relief.

Always ready to tell a story, Leo placed his hands on his hips, cocked his little blond head to the side and studied his hero even more intently—if that were even possible. “My Annie Aunt always says life kicks you in the pants sometimes. But you just gotta go with the punches.” He was as serious as a little old man and she could have pinched his sweet cheeks!

“How old did you say you were?” Luke Holden asked, clearly impressed.

“I’m six. Annie Aunt says I came into the world as a twenty-year-old—and that’s real old. I already lost a tooth and everything. See.” He grinned and showed off his missing tooth.

That got a chuckle from Luke and Jess. Even Colt’s lip quirked upward on one side.

“That’s terrible,” he said, his gaze sliding to her. “You lost your home.”

There was something missing in the depths of his eyes. It was as if she were looking at a lake, a totally still lake with no ripples in sight. Butterflies fluttered in the pit of her stomach.

“Yes,” she offered. More than intrigued by the man, she wasn’t willing to accept that her pulse had actually increased as those soulful brown eyes held hers. She wanted to add more, speak intelligently; however, nothing came out.

“That’s terrible for you and all the others who lost their homes,” Colt continued. “We’ve been lucky here to have had only a few small grass fires that were caught early.”

Jess, who’d seemed content to listen as he studied his brother, added, “Those fires near Austin have been rough. Not as bad as the Bastrop and Montgomery fires last year, thankfully, still bad enough. Right, Colt?” he asked, and it sounded all the world to Annie like the man was trying to keep his brother involved in the conversation.

“We didn’t lose any lives in our fires,” Colt said again, quietly. His brows bunched and he glanced away, toward his truck. Even took a step toward it as if impatient to get away.

It hit her then that he’d been hurrying to leave when he’d barreled from the building. “I’m sorry,” she said, meaning it. “We’re keeping you from something.”

“No,” Luke and Jess barked at the same time.

“Don’t go,” Leo said, tugging at Colt’s pants, causing Colt to halt midstep.

“I need to get out of here. I’m sorry.” He looked down at Leo, and Annie’s heart tugged ruthlessly, stealing her breath with the sharpness of it.

“You can hang on a few more minutes, Colt. Can’t you?” Luke asked, clamping a hand on Colt’s shoulder and squeezing.

Her gaze latched on to that hand—was Luke squeezing extra hard on Colt’s shoulder?

“Yeah. Sure.” Colt hit his brother with sharp eyes.

Call her late to the dance—there was definitely something churning beneath the surface here.

“I need to get back to my place.” His words were quiet. And in that quietness she heard a very firm edge that was as clear as a heavy steel door slamming shut. Luke’s jaw hardened as he held his peace. He didn’t say anything more about Colt sticking around.

Uncertainty crashed into Annie with equal force. How would he react to the news that she’d come here to share with him? It would take more than this off-the-cuff meeting before she made her decision.

That was for certain.

“What brought you to Mule Hollow?” Luke asked, directing his questions at her, as if that would keep Colt from leaving. “I know it’s not just to see my bullheaded brother.”

Oh, if he only knew. “Actually, we were looking for a change. And I realized since my job at the landscaping business had burned up in the fire right along with our home, there was nothing holding us there any longer—”

“She decided it was time to make a fresh start,” Leo said, grinning, as if reciting her very words. Words he’d heard her say more than just a few times.

Annie tousled his hair. “Right, I needed to find a new job and I knew if I started one there, I might never get up the nerve to relocate us.”

Or the courage to tell you the truth.

Her plans for how to break the news to Colt rattled through her brain—all unusable. She’d forced herself to do this because it was probably the right thing to do, understanding that only time would tell if that were true. And also because Leo might need his daddy someday. A flashback of being trapped inside a burning building reminded her all too vividly of when she’d had that epiphany.

Pulling her thoughts away from those less pleasant ones, she saw Leo grinning up at Colt. He was rocking back and forth on his little cowboy boots as his eyes, so full of adoration, drank in his hero.

“Annie Aunt said we was coming on an adventure. I like adventures a lot. My momma used to tell me lots of stories about having adventures on bull riding and bronc bustin’ and rodeo’n.” He grinned wider at Colt. “You were always in the stories!”

Colt looked shocked, or as shocked as a man who was showing little emotion could look.

“You’ll have to come out here and ride horses. Isn’t that right, Colt?” Luke nudged Colt with his elbow when the man said nothing.

For a minute Colt looked like he was going to say something, but instead he reached for his door, wrenched it open and climbed inside the cab of his truck.

How rude—right in the middle of a conversation, the man was just going to drive off! And, he’d barely acknowledged Leo. For them to have come so far and for Leo to be so excited about seeing Colt, she knew this was going to hurt.

Just when she thought it was over and done, Colt looked down at Leo from his open window. “Hey, kid. I...I have to go. But take this.” He pulled the stiff blue rope from his truck. It had a loop on one end, and Annie recognized it was the kind used for roping steers.

“Do you like to rope?” he asked, causing Leo’s eyes to grow wide.

“I ain’t never done it before. Can I try?”

Colt handed Leo the rope. “Sure you can. Practice with this—it’s yours.”

“Thanks,” Leo gushed, his voice soft with awe, drawing the word out for a mile as he studied his gift.

Colt was backing out of the driveway before Leo got the entire word out. Annie was speechless.

“Colt, wait,” Luke called after him. But it was too late.

The cowboy was gone.

“Did you see what Colt gave me, Annie Aunt? Did you see what Colt gave me?”

“Isn’t that something?” Annie managed, totally and completely perplexed by the cowboy driving off into the midday horizon. What in the world had just happened?

Thank goodness Leo’s infatuation with Colt and the gift he’d been given distracted him.

Luke bent down and held out his hand to his nephew. Annie held her breath as Leo stopped trying to make the loop go around and shook Luke’s hand.

“You want me to show you how to hold that rope?”

“Sure. Are you a bull rider, too?” Leo asked, letting Luke position his small hands on the rope. “Or a roper?”

Jess laughed, stepping into the conversation. “Are you kidding? Luke couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a rope.”

Instead of getting mad, Luke’s mouth twisted into a wide grin. “Don’t listen to him. He and Colt are the better ones with the rope in the family, but ask them who taught them.”

Annie smiled, relaxing a little. Liking the kindness she sensed in these two men. They were teasing each other to smooth over the actions of their brother. Little did they know they were talking to their nephew. Hope kindled anew in her heart that she was doing the right thing.

Leo looked at Jess. “Who taught you?” he asked as Luke had suggested.

A teasing grin spread across Jess’s face. “My big brother, Luke. See, at one time when I was a little kid like you, I thought Luke was the best roper around. Then he taught me and Colt how to do it, and we found out just how bad he is at landing a loop. But he’s a real good teacher.”

Leo turned back to a smiling Luke. “Did you teach Colt to ride bulls, too? He’s the best there is, and I want him to teach me how to ride a bull.”

Nervous at all Leo had said, Annie realized she’d come without a well-thought-out plan of action and now she had to fess up. Before she could say anything, Jess spoke to Leo.

“I’m sorry about the fire, little buddy. But a bull busted Colt’s collarbone a couple of weeks ago, so he won’t be throwing a loop anytime soon. I bet when he’s all healed up, you could talk him into it, though.”

“Puppies!” Leo exclaimed, suddenly distracted when he spied two small puppies that came around the back of the office building, tumbling around as they wrestled together. Leo raced over to play, leaving Annie alone with the two brothers. They watched Leo fall to his knees and welcome the puppies into his lap. Both brothers had quizzical expressions as they studied Leo. When they turned almost as one to face her, Annie felt the weight of their gazes. An odd sense of guilt overcame her.

“That was good timing,” Luke said. “Is there something we can do for you? Anything we need to know?”

Annie’s heart hiccuped. That he’s your nephew.

“Yeah,” Jess added, an odd light in his eyes. “You came out here to see Colt. Was there a reason for that? Other than him being Leo’s...hero? Maybe something we can help with?”

The weirdest feeling overcame Annie—they knew. She shook it off as guilt making her paranoid as she contemplated her dilemma. She had no one to confide her problems to or to ask advice from other than her best friend back home who had urged her to leave Leo’s life as it was when Annie had confided that she was thinking of locating the boy’s dad.

Looking at Leo’s uncles, she told herself they didn’t know anything. Her imagination was playing tricks on her. Paranoia was setting in. Finally, realizing they were waiting on a response, she asked, “Can you tell me how to get to the veterinary clinic? I’m their new office manager.”

Jess snapped his fingers. “Oh, yeah—that’s why your name sounded familiar,” he said, his lip hitching into a lopsided smile. “My fiancée, Gabi Newberry, is the vet tech there. I knew they were expecting someone. We’ve had so much going on, it slipped by me that it was this week you were supposed to arrive.”

She was going to be working with Colt’s soon-to-be sister-in-law.... “Oh, really,” she said, hiding her surprise. “I talked to Gabi last week. I’m excited about working with her.”

After a few minutes spent talking about the clinic, Annie called Leo over and they headed to the clinic using the directions Jess had given her. The clinic was right down the road from the Holden Ranch.

Annie glanced in her side-view mirror at Leo’s uncles as she drove away. She wasn’t sure whether she was going to break her news or not—only time would tell. She was here, though, and she had to admit that she liked the brothers very much. But the jury was still out on Colt Holden.

Annie, and Annie alone, would decide if Colt was worthy of being Leo’s daddy—or if he would forever remain Leo’s rodeo hero.

Chapter Three

“We are going to make this last rodeo the best one yet,” a spunky-looking redhead declared as Annie and Leo entered the Mule Hollow Veterinary Clinic.

With her flaming-red hair contrasting against the tangerine capri pants and sunshine-yellow top, to say that she was bright would have been an understatement.

All four women in the room turned to look at them as Annie pulled the door shut behind her. Two other women who looked to be in their sixties, like the sunny redhead, stood in the waiting area.

One was a stout woman in a blue plaid shirt and a pair of denim overalls. Her short gray hair was the color of steel wool and just as coarse. She had a smile as wide as a half-moon, and the twinkle in her eyes was as bright as the Milky Way. Beside her stood a small-framed woman with noticeably blue eyes that contrasted with her snow-white hair, cut short and fringed around her face, and those amazing sapphire eyes. Looking at her, Annie felt immediately warm and welcome, even though she hadn’t said a word yet, just smiled.

Behind the reception desk was a woman in her late twenties. She wore her dark hair in a thick ponytail that had fallen across her left shoulder and hung over her heart. Annie assumed this was Gabi, Jess’s fiancée.

Before Gabi could say anything, everyone began greeting her and Leo at the same time. Mule Hollow, Texas, was known for its matchmakers, because of an ongoing syndicated newspaper column about the little town that had gone from a dusty, dying town to a thriving place. All because of a Wives Wanted ad. Annie knew instantly that she was looking at the matchmakers, better known as the matchmaking posse. The very idea sent a startled thrill of pleasure racing through her. Not that she was looking to be matched up. More like it was neat to actually see the ladies in person.

“Hello,” the redhead cooed, rushing forward and bending over to hold out her hand to Leo. There was no mistaking that this was Esther Mae Wilcox. “Aren’t you a handsome little fella!”

“Howdy,” the stout woman in overalls boomed, instantly bringing her larger-than-life personality off the page of the newspaper column. This had to be ranch woman Norma Sue Jenkins. “Now, Esther Mae, don’t go scaring the child before we find out what his name is.”

“I’m Leo. And I’m not scared,” Leo declared—the kid never met a stranger. He beamed up at the ladies while they chuckled at his bright-eyed declaration.

“You must be Annie, our new office manager,” the younger woman said, coming from behind the counter and holding her hand out to Annie. “I’m Gabi Newberry, the vet-tech-slash-receptionist up until now. I am so glad to see you.”

She hadn’t known how much trepidation she was feeling until this moment. The weeks of worrying over the choices she’d made and the weeks of praying, coupled with the fear that God wasn’t listening to her, disappeared as she felt the warm welcome of these four ladies. Relief washed over her. She had fears about what would happen with Colt, but this was going to be all right. Leo was going to thrive in this environment if all the folks of Mule Hollow were this caring.

“I’m so glad to be here,” she said, smiling.

The small lady’s dainty hands clasped Annie’s. “We are so glad you’ve come. I’m Adela Ledbetter Green, Gabi’s grandmother,” she said, confirming Annie’s thoughts on who the delicate, kind-looking woman was.

“And I’m Esther Mae Wilcox,” the redhead gushed. Then Norma Sue introduced herself.

“We are always glad to see new folks move to town,” Norma Sue added. “You’ve rented Lilly Wells’s old home, right? We call it the Tipps place because that was her maiden name and her family owned it for years.”

“Yes. We’re on our way out there now. We just stopped in to let the clinic know we made it to town. And that I’d be at work in the morning.”

“And I’m going to go see my new day care,” Leo declared before Annie could mention that they’d met Jess. “I’m six. I get to start first grade this year.” Leo beamed.

“That sounds like some fine apples. You two will have to come to the rodeo we’re having in town next week,” Norma Sue said. “I know Leo would really enjoy it.”

“I sure would. Is Colt Holden gonna ride bulls?”

The minute the question was out, everyone’s ears perked up—or was it Annie’s imagination?

“You know Colt?” They all asked, sounding like echoes of each other. It was definitely not her imagination.

“Sure I do. He’s the best bull rider in all of the whole world. And that’s big, you know.”

“Leo’s—” Annie stopped herself just before blurting out that Leo’s mother was a big fan. “Leo loves rodeo. And he is particularly a fan of Colt’s. I, um, took him out there to their ranch earlier, taking a chance that he might be in town.”

“How wonderful,” Esther Mae exclaimed, her gaze flicking from Gabi to Norma Sue, a grin spread across her face.

“I’m engaged to Colt’s brother, Jess,” Gabi offered. “Were they out there?”

“Yes, they were there and Jess told me you worked here. He gave me directions.”

Norma Sue planted her hands on her hips. “Was Colt there?”

“Yes, he was.”

“Colt gave me a rope,” Leo said proudly. “Can I go get it?”

“Sure, but stay right beside the office,” she said, glad for him to have something to occupy his time.

“That was nice of Colt to give Leo a rope,” Adela said, her blue eyes warm. “I’m glad he was there. I’m sure he enjoyed meeting a fan, especially one so cute.”

Thinking about his odd behavior, Annie wasn’t so sure about that.

“I know Leo enjoyed meeting him,” she said truthfully.

“Didn’t you tell Susan that you’re renting the Tipps place?” Gabi asked, referring to Annie’s new boss.

“Yes, we’re on our way out there now. I’m just so thrilled to have found it to rent.”

The ladies discussed the fact that the house was furnished, and it was out in the boondocks, down a dirt road with only one other home on the road, which belonged to Annie’s new landlords, Lilly and Cort Wells.

Soon the matchmaking posse left, and to Annie’s relief there had been no questions about whether she was looking for love. Annie was a little surprised by that, since the ladies were known to be fairly heavy-handed. Goodness, they were so good at what they did that it was one reason the town was flourishing. Annie figured if one day she did get a wild hair to look for a husband, then she’d come to exactly the right place. Not that that was in her foreseeable future. She had more pressing things to consider and no time to even contemplate romance.

She had Leo to think about. And that was all she had time to focus on right now.

Driving toward their new home, Annie was excited about her job. Susan had been out vaccinating a herd of cattle, and Gabi had said Annie would meet her tomorrow. Gabi said with Annie taking care of the office, it would be so much easier for her to go and assist Susan on vet calls. It was obvious that Gabi preferred being out in the field to sitting behind the desk.

Annie was excited about the people she’d met, and, despite her worries about Colt Holden and what she was going to do about Leo’s situation, she had a very good feeling about Mule Hollow. The posse had been so helpful and so encouraging. And they’d really been thrilled that she was renting Lilly Wells’s place.

It sounded a little secluded but nice, with plenty of wide-open space for Leo to run and play. She couldn’t wait to see it.

She was certain she and Leo were going to love it.

* * *

Annie stood on the back porch of her new home the following morning and could honestly not believe her good fortune. It was a typical country farmhouse—old but comfortable with a warm, cozy feel that pleased her. She’d been lucky to get it for a price she could afford. She knew she owed it all to her real estate lady, Hailey Belle Sutton.

When they hadn’t come up with anything that would work, Hailey had called her friend and the next thing Annie knew, this lovely place was offered to her. Hailey had told Lilly about Annie and Leo’s situation—that they’d lost everything in a fire and they needed a furnished place, if at all possible. Though Lilly normally didn’t rent her home out, she’d decided to do so for Annie and Leo.

She hadn’t met her landlady yet but couldn’t wait until Lilly came home from a trip out of town so she could thank her. Annie would never be able to tell Lilly how much her act of compassion meant to her.

The fact that the old homestead was surrounded by pastureland at the end of a dirt road for them to explore—as they were doing that morning—was even better. It reminded her of the ranch for abandoned and neglected girls she and Jennifer had lived in for a short time. Of all the foster homes they’d lived in, the ranch had been the best.

“Look, Annie Aunt, a baby calf!” Leo exclaimed after they’d walked about half a mile into the back part of the property. They’d seen lots of cattle in the adjoining pasture, but this calf was right in front of them and on their side of the barbed wire. Before Annie could stop Leo, he bolted toward the small, fairly new calf.

“Leo, stop,” she called, hurrying after him, her gaze locked on the momma cow that stood the distance of a football field away from the calf. Leo skidded to a halt when she hollered. He was only twenty feet from the calf. Startled, it began to wail as it bolted away from Leo.

At the baby’s bawl, the momma’s head whipped up and her big eyes flashed fire— Oh no! This was not good. Annie charged the same time the cow did.

“Run, Leo, run!” she screamed.

Leo’s eyes grew wide and he couldn’t move as he seemed transfixed to the spot, watching the huge cow barreling toward him. Annie reached him and scooped him up into her arms, her feet never slowing as she kept running. He screamed for her to hurry, as if finally finding his voice. The only thing remotely resembling a shelter was a scraggly tree not much bigger around than a flagpole. But at least it was better than a stalk of goat weed!

The mad bawling of the momma and the thunder of her hooves getting closer had Annie’s feet moving as fast as they’d ever moved in her life. Breathing hard, she screamed for Leo to hold on when he started to slip from her grasp. He was so much heavier than she’d realized. Annie prayed for a miracle. Where she expected help to come from, she had no idea since they were alone in the middle of nowhere.

Breathing hard, she made it to the tree. Letting Leo slip to the ground behind the tree, she turned to face the oncoming freight train.

Poor Leo was screaming and she realized she was, too. Holding her hand on Leo’s shoulder, she prepared to play ring-around-the-rosies with the cow all day if that was what it took to keep him safe.

Momma cow charged the tree, and they scurried to the other side as it slammed its head into the thin trunk. It shook with the impact and Annie screamed again.

Dear Lord, what had she gotten them into?

* * *

Colt winced while struggling to rip open the bag of deer corn. Here in the deep woods the early morning quiet filled every space, and the sound of the bag ripping sent shock waves crackling through the stillness. The rustling of leaves told him he’d scared half the wild kingdom in the process of getting the bag open with one hand.

Watching the deer come into the clearing behind his cabin every morning and evening gave him some small semblance of... He couldn’t call it peace—it was more a calming of the dark emotions lurking inside him these days.

Watching the deer come in droves to the corn was a positive sign. And with the drought that Texas had suffered through the last few months, the poor animals were hungry. Their ribs were showing worse than any time he’d ever known. They were so grateful for the corn.

Picking up the coffee can he used as a scoop, he dug it into the hard yellow corn, then began sprinkling the food along the ground, softened by the many hoofprints from the previous night’s feeding.

As he’d done too many times to count, his thoughts drifted to the woman and the little boy. He’d hated the way he couldn’t deal with Leo hanging on him and looking up at him with those adoring eyes.

Colt didn’t deserve those emotions shining up at him from Leo’s heart.

The aunt had been angry with him. He had seen fire flash a couple of times when she thought he wasn’t doing right by Leo. He’d not been able to shake the feeling that he’d missed something. But then, he wasn’t firing on all cylinders lately.

Digging the coffee can into the corn again, he sprinkled it out in a wide pattern and repeated the action several times. He needed the solitude that was here in his woods, needed to be away from people—being around Leo and Annie had solidified that belief. And yet, he was restless. And he figured he always would be. All the people who’d offered him advice had said that time would heal. He knew it wouldn’t. He couldn’t imagine time taking the slightest edge off the guilt he felt. Because no matter what his brothers tried to tell him, he knew in his heart that he could have stopped that wreck if he hadn’t been so tired. He’d known his mind was fuzzy and his head had bobbed several times. Try as he might, he couldn’t remember the impact of the wreck. He couldn’t remember that moment when he had seen what was happening. He couldn’t remember whether his head had been down and he’d been asleep when that drunk had hit him.

Had he been asleep at the wheel when that car had come across the yellow line and hit him, sending him plowing into the oncoming traffic? It was a question he would forever ask himself. And yet, what did it matter? He knew how much like soggy bread his thoughts had been and how elastic that had made his response time.

He knew.

And there was no amount of time that would distance him from that knowledge.

Nope, he was responsible for killing that family and he would have to live with that for the rest of his life.

There was no prison sentence harsh enough for what he’d done, so a life sentence of guilt was a most just penalty.

Having a child look at him with hero worship in his eyes had almost killed him.

He hadn’t been able to take it—and so he’d run.

Here in the solitude of his woods, for now, was where he belonged. At least until he figured out how to deal with this.

His fist tightening around the cup, he jammed it deep into the corn, then slung the hard yellow kernels in a violent arch. Almost in the same instant, shouts echoed in the distance.

Screams.

Colt froze, thinking at first he’d flashed back to the night of the wreck. When the screams came again, shrieks of unmistakable fear, he knew better.

Colt bolted into action. Tossing the coffee can to the ground, he ignored the pain shooting through his collarbone as he charged through the woods in the direction of the screams.

It was coming from the old Tipps place. But Lilly kept that property empty. Or had up till now.

The yells were getting closer. He raced, pushing through scraggly limbs, dodging rocks and fallen logs. Two people by the sound, one of them a woman and one a child. It was about two hundred yards between his cabin and the fence line that separated the two properties. Heart pounding with adrenaline and worry about what he would find when he got there, Colt did not let up as he ran. Briars tore at his arms and face, as he could use only one hand to brush them out of the way. His broken collarbone screamed at him in pain with each stride. He ignored it and focused on the two ahead of him.

He reached the fence quickly despite it seeming as though he’d been moving in slow motion. He could see them before he reached the fence. Annie Ridgeway and Leo standing behind a pitiful excuse of a tree as a blistering-hot momma cow charged them. Colt planted his good hand on the top of the wooden post, and catapulted himself over the fence. Grimacing, the pain very nearly brought him to his knees when he landed.

No time to waste, he began yelling to draw the cow’s attention his way. “Yah!” he yelled, loud and gruff. “Get on outta here.”

Annie and Leo whooped excitedly when they saw him charging across the pasture. The momma cow halted in its tracks, looked at him and then started to charge them again.

“Yah, yah!” Colt yelled louder. Coming up on the left side of the ol’ gal, he saw her calf in the distance. So that was the problem. They’d gotten between her and her baby and she wasn’t happy.

He waved his good arm, charged at the cow for a few steps, making her think he was coming after her, and she decided to take the baby and run. Tail tucked, she trotted away, glaring back at him once as if to dare him to come after her baby.

“Colt, Colt!” Leo exclaimed, racing from behind the sapling.

Seeing two Leos running toward him, Colt fought off dizziness and willed the pain that shuddered through his shoulder to go away.

“Boy, it sure is good to see you,” Leo said, sliding to a halt in front of him. “I thought we was done for! Yessir, I sure did.”

Annie was breathing hard when she reached him. Fear shone in her eyes like red flags, intertwined with relief. “I don’t know where you came from, but—” Her voice broke and she visibly fought down the need to cry. “I’m so glad you came.”

“That was one mad momma.” Leo’s voice squeaked from having screamed so much.

“Yeah, it was.” Colt patted the kid on the head, pulling his gaze from Annie. “You’ve got to always go cautiously when you’re around mommas and their babies.”

“We were just walking, checking out the place, when Leo spotted the calf and raced off toward it. He didn’t see the momma,” Annie explained, her breathing finally getting back to normal. “I almost didn’t get Leo away from her. If you hadn’t shown up...” Her lip trembled and her unspoken words hung between them.

“You would have figured something out,” he encouraged her. Something told him she would have, too. His own fear subsided a little bit as they stared at each other.

“So where did you come from?” she asked, pressing a hand hard against her stomach as if holding back her fear.

He yanked a thumb back over his shoulder to indicate the direction he’d run from. “My place backs up to this one. My cabin is just over that fence and through the woods a little.”

Annie’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“He don’t have to be kidding, Annie Aunt! I like it,” Leo exclaimed.

Colt chuckled. “I’m just as surprised to find you here as you are to find me here. Lilly doesn’t usually rent this house out.”

“That’s what I was told. It’s perfect for us, though.”

“We didn’t even know you lived in the woods.” Leo laughed, the joy in his eyes dug into Colt like pins and needles. “Ain’t that just a big ol’ kick in the pants?”

“Leo,” Annie warned.

“Sorry,” he said, looking up at Colt as if he were about to get thirty lashes. “I’m not supposed to say ‘kick in the pants.’”

“You are also not supposed to say ‘ain’t,’” Annie added, tugging gently on his ear.

He sighed. “Or ‘can’t,’ either.”

She chuckled at that, sending a warm shot of sunshine through Colt. It spread over him like rays melting ice, while she studied him with her pale gray eyes that again looked almost lavender in the morning light. Looking at her, it hit him how pretty she was. It wasn’t something he’d noticed earlier, and it startled him to be noticing now. She had a simple, quiet look about her, a peacefulness. It drew him to her and he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Colt was startled by the attraction. It felt nice, and so did smiling and chuckling as he’d been doing since he’d hopped the fence. But it also felt wrong.

Feeling the sunshine she’d sparked inside of him fading into the darkness, he fought to hang on to it. All the while knowing he didn’t deserve to feel that warmth and goodwill.

His gaze lingered on her. She was thin, but today her jeans and blouse fit her better and she didn’t look as rail thin as he’d thought. Yesterday he’d believed she looked as though she was wearing someone else’s ill-fitting clothes. Today, knowing about the loss of her home, he realized she very well could be wearing clothes she’d received from others after losing her things in the fire.

“Can I come over to see your house sometime?” Leo asked, tugging on his shirtsleeve.

“Come over. To my house?” Colt repeated the question, totally caught off guard.

“Yeah, your house. Can I come?”

He didn’t want Leo coming to his house. But looking down at the kid’s big smile, despite not wanting to feel anything, Colt felt stinging prickles of warmth. Like water on frostbite, feeling crept through him. “No—” The harsh sound of his own voice stopped Colt midsentence. He’d already run from the kid yesterday and he wasn’t proud of it. Seeing the light dim in Leo’s eyes cut straight into Colt’s icy-cold heart.

Suddenly Colt knew he couldn’t kill that light, no matter how unworthy he felt of such adoration, could he?

Chapter Four

“Leo, it’s not nice to invite yourself to someone’s home,” Annie said, trying to distract Leo’s attention. The child was persistent—which was nothing new to her. She’d known him for six years and he’d been persistent from the beginning, when he’d come into the world a month early after several weeks of trying over and over again to arrive early.

Though she shouldn’t be surprised at the harshness of Colt’s words, she was.

Call her crazy, when she saw the man come vaulting over the barbed-wire fence to their rescue, Annie had almost heard trumpets announcing that the cavalry had arrived!

Looking at Colt now, she couldn’t think straight. Mere seconds ago she was so happy to see him that she very well might have run to him and flung her arms around his neck. Even kissed him, she was so out of her mind with relief. Now, he was lucky she didn’t haul off and kick him in the knees.

“No.” Colt placed his hand on her arm. “He can come. I’m sorry. It’s, well, it’s complicated.”

“You mean it! I can come to your house?” Leo exclaimed, giving Annie a moment to gather her wits about her.

On the one hand, the fact that Colt was apologizing was a good thing. On the other hand, the man had his hand on her arm and electrical jolts were pulsing through her arm straight to the pit of her stomach. His gaze was locked on hers, too, with an intensity that could have knocked her over if she had been any shakier.

“Sure you can,” he told Leo.

“Complicated” Colt had said—the cowboy had no idea how complicated it was, and it was getting more so with every passing moment.

For Leo, and for the fact that the man had just saved them, Annie relaxed and gave him a free pass.

“That would be a thrill for him,” she said, pulling her arm away.

Hastily he drew his hand back as if he hadn’t realized he’d been touching her. She couldn’t get over the fact that he lived practically in their backyard. How in the world had that happened? Still, of all the places for her to rent... This was not divine intervention, was it?

She was standing in a pasture with Leo and his father, and that was either an odd coincidence or a God thing, only time would tell.

Colt stared at Leo, a curious expression on his face. The two of them were locked in conversation about where exactly Colt’s cabin was. Leo had his hand hiked to his hip and his left leg slightly bent. He’d stood like that when he was in conversation ever since he was old enough to do so. He cocked his head to the side slightly and dipped his chin.

Colt was standing exactly the same way.

Annie’s heart started hammering. Colt’s eyes shifted to her, holding her gaze before he moved his attention back to Leo with the same contemplation. Annie’s hand went to where the collar of her blouse would be, but she forgot she was wearing a collarless shirt! Instead she ran a finger along the edge of her neckline in a nervous movement that in no way matched the clanging alarm in her head. Colt was taking it in—seeing the uncanny mannerism of Leo. The one that she had seen all his life, never knowing till now he’d acquired it from the genes of his father. Genes that ran deep despite the boy having never been around Colt in person.

Suddenly Annie saw other things she’d never seen before. Things that a photo hadn’t picked up on. Such as the way Colt’s eyes flashed sharply with intelligence. It was the same way Leo’s flashed when he was learning new things.

“Well, thanks for coming to our rescue,” she blurted out, anxious for Colt to leave. She didn’t want him figuring things out before she’d decided what she really wanted to do.

“Have we ever met before?” Colt asked, not taking her hint.

His eyes flashed with curiosity. Annie could practically see him rifling through his memory trying to place why she and Leo looked familiar. She knew she and Jennifer looked enough alike that people could tell they were sisters. However, there had never been a huge, jump-right-out-at-you resemblance. There was a similar thing that had gone on between them that was going on between Colt and Leo. Annie and Jennifer had the same expressions in different faces. They had the same voice and when she laughed there was a similarity. Not that Annie had had anything to laugh about since they’d come here, but she suddenly wondered how close Colt and Jennifer had been. Would he recognize Jennifer’s laugh if Annie forgot herself and really got tickled about something?

“No. I don’t think we’ve met.” She forced the words.

He grimaced, favoring his collarbone for a moment.

“You are hurting.” Annie changed the subject. “I know all that running and vaulting over the fence could not have been good for your injury.”

“I’ll live.” He gritted the words out as he pressed his bent elbow closer into his side, adjusting the strap of his sling.

“And so will we, thanks to you.” Gratefulness filled her up to overflowing.

“You both just seem so familiar to me,” he said, stuck on figuring out who they were—maybe distracting himself from the pain that she imagined was stabbing through his broken bones.

“I ain’t never met you in person,” Leo said, bless his little heart. “I been want’n’ to meet you, though.”

Colt almost smiled. “Right. Maybe you both just remind me of someone. Anyway, I’m glad y’all are safe and that I heard y’all’s yells for help.”

Annie wanted to groan with relief as Colt changed the subject.

Leo edged closer to Colt. “I won’t ever forget you jumping over that fence. You looked like you could fly.” He held his arms out and pretended to fly. Colt laughed, shocking Annie.

He seemed as shocked by his laughter as she was. One minute it was rumbling out of him and the next he clamped his lips together and cleared his throat. It was as if he was rusty at laughing. As if he didn’t want to laugh.

“Look, I better walk y’all back to your house and then I’ll call Cort and tell him what happened. We’ll make sure that momma and calf are put into another pasture farther away from the house. You should be able to take a walk without worrying about getting trampled. If y’all are going to live here, Leo needs to be safe.”

“Aw, I can learn to scare them cows just like you did.” Leo grinned up at his hero. Though they didn’t look alike, there were indisputable similarities in Leo’s expression and that of Colt.

Her nerves shook like brittle autumn leaves clinging to a branch. Colt shifted his gaze from Leo to her, then back to Leo once more.

He’s seeing more resemblances with each passing moment. Right along with me.

Annie braced herself for his questions to resume.

“You’re sure we haven’t met? There’s something about Leo that seems so familiar. Of course, I’ve met a bunch of kids at the rodeos.”

The clock was ticking. She wasn’t sure how long it would be before Colt realized that the child reminded him of himself. For that matter, she wondered who else would spot the resemblance. There was nothing for her to do about it right now except pray that God left blinders on everyone long enough for her to figure out what her next move was going to be. All she could do right now was act as though she had nothing to hide.

What better way to find out what kind of man Colt really was to live nearby?

So far her arrival in Mule Hollow had been nothing like she’d expected. Then again, when Colt found out why she was really here and what secrets she was keeping, how would he react?

How would the kind folks of Mule Hollow act?

* * *

Annie understood why the clinic needed help. Staring at the books the next morning, she was floored by how busy the small clinic was. Being the only clinic within at least sixty miles, Susan Turner had plenty of clients. Especially taking into consideration that Mule Hollow was surrounded by ranches, many of them fairly large operations. There was no end to the varying array of procedures she was hired to do. That, plus small animal checkups, left her and Gabi very little time to keep up with the paperwork.

Paperwork was Annie’s specialty.

“So what do you think?” Susan asked after they’d gone over the books and the scheduling. “Do you think you can help us out?”

“I can,” Annie said confidently. Susan was a willowy blonde who looked more like a model than a vet. She had long blond hair pulled back into a thick, lush ponytail that looked more glamorous than practical. It was obvious, though she didn’t look the part, she was an excellent vet.

Gabi, on the other hand, was fresh faced, dark haired and had an athleticism to her movements that fit in with her career choice. Her energetic zest was evident, and there was no doubt in Annie’s mind that she was the best at what she did.

“It’s obvious the two of you have a great system. I’m not bragging, but I can promise you that I can handle this and even help streamline some procedures in the bookkeeping and paperwork department.”

Susan smiled broadly. “I’ll forever be in your debt if you can do that!”

Annie liked both women on the spot. Listening and observing how the two women spoke and treated each other, Annie noted that there was mutual respect and friendship here. She hoped that maybe she’d be able to be included in that over time. Even now, on her first morning, she felt the warmth of true welcome and, given the chance, she knew she could be a benefit to this business.

She said a quick thank-you to God for supplying this job to her. In the midst of the stressful situation she was here to address, having a job she was at peace with and enjoyed was going to be a real blessing. She ignored the pang of guilt that thudded like an undercurrent beneath every breath she took.

“So, now that we have that all settled...” Susan leaned against the counter. Holding a bottle of water between her hands, she toyed with the cap. “Gabi tells me you and Leo are big fans of Colt’s.”

“Leo is.” The undercurrent turned into a riptide, the easy feeling of seconds ago swept out to sea. “I mean, you know, Leo loves bull riding.”

Gabi poured herself a cup of coffee from the sideboard. “If you aren’t a fan, then who taught him to be?”

Annie knew she couldn’t keep Jennifer hidden for long. Everyone knew Leo was her nephew, so obviously there had been a sibling. “My sister, Leo’s mom. She was the rodeo fan. She passed away last year.” Gabi and Susan both gave their condolences. “Thank you. Jennifer never found a rodeo she didn’t like.” She didn’t add that she also had never seemed to find a cowboy she didn’t like. To this day Annie couldn’t understand her sister’s behavior.

“So you’ve raised Leo since last year?” Susan asked.

“Actually, I’ve been helping raise him since the day he was born. My sister moved in with me so I could help with him. He’s like my own son, really.”

“I’m so sorry he lost his mother. Thank goodness he’s had you.”

“I know this sounds nosy,” Gabi said. “What about his daddy? Is he in the picture?”

Annie felt as if sharp gears were grinding to a halt inside her chest. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t expected that question. She’d answered it many times before. But being here, so close to Colt, made things different. “He’s never been in the picture.”

Susan’s and Gabi’s gazes met as the tension in the room spiked. Annie looked away quickly, trying to tell herself once again that she was being paranoid. Gabi had only met Leo briefly the day before. Imagining that she’d put the pieces of the puzzle together when she didn’t even know there was one was just plain crazy.

She was going to have to have to get a handle on her mind. And she was going to have to do it soon.

* * *

Colt had racked his brain, ever since finding Annie and Leo next door to him, trying to figure out who Annie reminded him of. Both of them, actually, because there was something more familiar about Leo than Annie. But try as he might, it wasn’t coming to him. Not that his memory was what it used to be. Since the wreck, there were holes in his memories.

Restless and wishing he had the use of his arm, he found himself toying with the idea of going to see if his new neighbors were home. The thought hit him like a kick in the chest from a bucking bronc. Truth was he’d taken about all the sitting around he could take. But he wasn’t going to see Annie. He’d acknowledged that he was attracted to her, and was startled by the fact, since his heart felt as cold and hard as steel. The last thing he wanted was to tempt himself to seek out any kind of pleasure. It wasn’t right.

But she kept easing into his thoughts without his realizing it.

Needing something to occupy his mind with other than thoughts of the wreck and his new neighbors, he headed toward the ranch office. He was about to get into his truck when he heard someone call his name.

Leo.

The little kid, dressed in blue jeans, T-shirt and boots, came tromping from the trees, the rope Colt had given him clutched tightly in his hand. When he saw Colt, his eyes lit up and he started running.

“Colt!”

Annie was nowhere in sight as Leo skidded to a halt in front of him. “Hi, Colt. I came to see you,” he declared, as if he hadn’t just walked across a pasture and through a small stand of woods.

“Yeah, I see that. You look like you came to learn to rope.”

“I did. I brung my rope and ever’thing.”

Colt glanced back at the woods. No Annie. “Is your aunt coming?”

Leo kicked a rock with the toe of his small boot, and his shoulders drooped slightly. “She was busy.”

“Busy?” And she’d let the kid walk all the way across the pasture by himself, and then wander through the trees looking for Colt’s cabin? He hadn’t known Annie long but he knew this didn’t sound right. Colt stooped to eye level with Leo. “Little buddy, does your aunt know you’re here?”

Leo shrugged, not quite looking him in the eye. “She knows I went outside to play.”

The poor woman was going to be frantic when she realized Leo was gone. It took a while to walk the distance between houses, so he was pretty certain she was already searching for him.

“Come on, we better get you back home.”

“Aw, do we have to? I wanted to come see you.”

“And I’m glad you did. But from now on, you’re going to need to let your aunt know what you’re doing, because she’ll worry about you. Matter of fact, it’s probably not a good idea for you to come all this way by yourself.”

“You think Annie Aunt’s gonna be mad?”

Colt grinned at the kid before he could stop himself and he tousled Leo’s blond hair. “Maybe. But, come on... I’ll face her with you. When a man messes up, he has to face the music.”

Leo looked at him strangely. “I don’t think she’s gonna sing to me.”

Colt laughed. “Probably not. But we’ve still got to go face her.”

* * *

“Leo!” Annie scanned the pasture while she jogged, hoping to see him. But he was nowhere. She’d been unpacking some of their things in the bedrooms while Leo played with his rope in the backyard. When she’d checked on him twenty minutes later, he was gone.

“Leo!” she called again. Stopping to catch her breath, she scanned the pasture. He hadn’t been in the barn or the front yard. He hadn’t answered when she’d called his name over and over again. And then she’d thought about Colt. Leo had asked her on the way home from day care if he could go to Colt’s, and she’d told him that today wasn’t a good day.

Please let him be okay. Please.

She started moving again, just topping the slight hill when she spotted them. Colt and Leo walking side by side, crossing the pasture. They walk alike. The thought registered in the back of her mind, but she was too overwhelmed with relief for the implications to completely register. Gasping, Annie rushed forward.

“Leo! Honey, you scared me,” she scolded, though she was so relieved it was a wonder she could speak. Scooping him into her arms, she hugged him tightly, fear washing over her. “Please don’t go running off like that. Please.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, squirming as she set him back on the ground. “I just wanted to see Colt.”

“I brought him back the minute I realized you weren’t with him.”

Colt’s quiet words steadied her and she drew back from some of the terror that had clutched her. She tried to force the overreaction away. “Thank you. I feel awful. I was unpacking and he was right outside roping. I didn’t check on him for twenty minutes, so I didn’t know how long he’d been gone. And then I had to check the barn and the area around the house.” She was rambling and couldn’t seem to stop it.

“He’s fine. I don’t think he’ll be doing that again. Will you, buddy?”

Leo shook his head. “Colt told me I made you worry.”

“I know you didn’t mean to.” She fought to let the episode go as she brushed his bangs off his forehead. “I’m just glad a cow didn’t get you.”

Colt’s brows lifted a bit and he gave a slight nod of agreement.

“I was real careful. I crouched down real low, like this.” Leo leaned over, hunkering down and demonstrating how he’d scurried across the pasture. When he came to a stray clump of bitterweeds, he crouched down, looked about, then grinned at them. “See, I was real careful and watched out for mean ole heifers like y’all told me to.”

Colt and Annie laughed.

Then Leo headed home, continuing to sneak back across the pastures, obviously enjoying his game. Watching him, Annie and Colt began walking.

“Are you okay? You seemed...really upset.”

Self-conscious, she sure wished she hadn’t let her fear show. “I’m fine. I just got worried. Leo was gone.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just walked beside her, as they kept Leo in sight. “So, y’all are settled?” he asked, tucking his hands into his pockets.

Annie nodded, glad for a change of subject. “Pretty much. We really didn’t have a lot to unpack.”

“So, y’all lost everything?”

“Except each other.” Annie met his questioning gaze. “The fire was bad. I’m grateful Leo wasn’t harmed. If I’d lost him...or he’d lost me...” A lump lodged in her throat. “That would have been the tragedy.” Her heart raced again at the thought.

Every time that horrible day came to mind, especially the moments when she’d believed she was going to die not knowing what had happened to Leo, she had to fight not to tear up. Forcing herself to the bright side, she smiled. “Thankfully, we have each other, and we’re here in this neat little town, moved into this fantastic, quaint farmhouse that I’ve totally fallen in love with. I feel like I’m living on a smaller set of The Waltons when I’m in the kitchen.”

Colt stopped walking. “So you were home when the fire happened?”

“I was. Leo was staying in town at a friend’s house, because we knew our area was in a danger zone. When the fires struck it happened so quickly...” She paused, remembering. She rubbed her arms as Colt watched her with intense eyes. “It’s unbelievable how your life can change in a flash,” she added. Though she’d rather change the conversation, something in his expression, in his eyes, seemed to draw the words from her.

“Yes, it is.” He took a deep breath and studied Leo, who’d reached the yard and had begun trying unsuccessfully to rope a bucket he’d set out.

Annie felt sad. Among all the other things she thought she’d seen in him at their first meeting, she’d glimpsed what she believed to be sadness. She’d chalked it up to the fact that his injury must have taken him out of contention for the national championship. Now she wasn’t so sure.

“Have you eaten?” she asked impulsively. After all, she was here to find out who Colt Holden was. What better way to do that than to share a meal with him? “Leo would be ecstatically happy if you were to eat supper with him. I’ve got plenty.”

“I haven’t eaten, but—”

“Please join us. It’s the least I can do after you’ve saved the day, two days in a row. I promise you it won’t become a habit.” As if she could promise that when Leo was around! What was she thinking? You’re thinking about making this man laugh again and you know it.

He had a nice, rusty laugh and seemed to surprise himself every time one escaped the tightly guarded wall that surrounded him.

His eyebrows knitted slightly over deliberating eyes that darted back to Leo. Sensing their gazes, Leo looked up and waved. “Come help me, Colt.” His little voice was full of excitement.

Annie held her breath.

“I need—” Colt started, and Annie was certain he was going to say, “I need to go.” But he clenched his jaw and swallowed hard. If she’d hadn’t already picked up that something was wrong in Colt’s life, it was very clear now.

“Please,” she urged, touching his arm. His tortured eyes were fathomless when he turned them to her.

What had happened to this man?

He blinked and the agony was replaced with that semiblank facial expression she’d seen before.

“I don’t know what’s bothering you,” she blurted out. “But I’m thinking maybe some company would help. Please stay.”

Chapter Five

Colt couldn’t turn Annie’s invitation down. Oh, he’d tried. She was persistent, though, and despite the loss and guilt raging through him, when she’d touched him, when he’d looked at her, he couldn’t turn and run. Couldn’t tear himself away even though he tried.

“Great!” A warm smile spread across her face and crinkled the edges of her eyes. Immediately she headed toward the house, probably afraid that he would change his mind. “Not that I’m promising anything fancy. But with Leo around, I can always promise wonderful, entertaining company.”

She shot him a grin. “That kid’ll brighten any day.”

Colt took a deep breath. She had no idea that it was the little fella’s exuberance and liveliness that had him twisted into knots right now. He pushed the idea away. He had to come to grips with this somehow. It would be just like God to move Annie and Leo right in beside him to help him to dig up out of the hole he was in. It didn’t sit well with Colt, but that beef was between him and God; Annie and Leo had nothing to do with it.

* * *

Through the kitchen window, Annie watched Colt show Leo how to hold the rope and then toss it. Over and over it missed, and over and over Colt patiently showed him how to do it. Annie was supposed to be setting the table and putting the hamburger skillet dinner out, but she was drawn to the window to watch them. There was just no denying that Colt intrigued her.

The little voice in her head kept telling her he looked great, too—but she was ignoring the bothersome voice. Colt was crouched on Leo’s level and was explaining how to hold his hand as he held the rope, and she was seeing yet again how similar Leo’s movements were as he copied the way his daddy held his hand. So engrossed was Annie that it took a minute to realize she smelled something burning and that the room had somehow filled with smoke. “Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed rushing over to the stove, where the skillet of hamburger and noodles smoldered!

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