Lassoing the single mom’s heart...

A Rocky Mountain Heroes story

Socialite Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding...despite her fear of horses. But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school. As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart...or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears?

It took MINDY OBENHAUS forty years to figure out what she wanted to do when she grew up. But once God called her to write, she never looked back. She’s passionate about touching readers with biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. Mindy lives in Texas with her husband and kids. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Find more at mindyobenhaus.com.

Also by Mindy Obenhaus

Love Inspired

Rocky Mountain Heroes

Their Ranch Reunion

The Deputy’s Holiday Family

Her Colorado Cowboy

The Doctor’s Family Reunion

Rescuing the Texan’s Heart

A Father’s Second Chance

Falling for the Hometown Hero

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Her Colorado Cowboy

Mindy Obenhaus

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09624-9

HER COLORADO COWBOY

© 2019 Melinda Obenhaus

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“I usually like trying new things.”

“Such as?” Noah asked.

Lily shrugged. “Zip-lining, sushi—”

“Wait a minute.” He held up a hand. “You’ll eat raw fish that could have who knows what in it, but you’re afraid to get on a horse?”

At least she had the decency to look embarrassed. “I know it sounds silly—”

“Oh, it sounds more than just silly.”

She was quiet for a moment. Then, “What would be truly silly, though, is to tell my children the truth when I haven’t even made the effort to overcome my fear.” She looked him in the eye. “If you’re still willing to help me, I’m ready to accept your help.”

His smile was instantaneous. “Then I’ll see you Monday morning.”

Standing there in the shade of an aspen tree, he searched her pretty face, feeling his heart swell with something that hadn’t been there in a long time. Respect? The thrill of a challenge? Or something else he was too afraid to name?

Dear Reader,

Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we planned. Hearts are broken, dreams shattered...

Noah and Lily had both loved and lost. Sure, their circumstances were different, but the pain inflicted by those losses was the same. They were left to carve a new path for themselves, apart from the lives they’d once envisioned.

I hope you enjoyed watching these two fall in love as much as I did. When we first met Noah in Their Ranch Reunion, the first book in my Rocky Mountain Heroes series, I was intrigued. This bigger-than-life former rodeo champ had lost both his wife and unborn child. He was a wounded soul, yet despite his desire to join his wife, he recognized that God still had a purpose for him. A purpose that ultimately brought him and Lily together.

And I loved Lily. While she had more money than most of us could fathom, she was grounded and real. She loved her children and had a deep desire to impart the same Godly values to them that her grandmother had instilled in her when she was young.

Two brothers remain in this series. Jude and Daniel. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for them. Whatever it is, we’ll be heading back to Ouray again to take in the beauty and charm of this unique little town.

In the meantime, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me via my website, mindyobenhaus.com, or you can snail-mail me c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

Until next time...

Mindy

Weeping may endure for a night,

but joy cometh in the morning.

—Psalms 30:5

For Your glory, Lord.

Acknowledgments

Thank you, Allison Wilson, for helping me brainstorm this story and find the outcome it deserved.

Many thanks to Steve Wicke for sharing your roping expertise.

Betty Wolfe, you’re one of my favorite residents of Ouray. Thank you for all your help.

To my loving husband, Richard, where would I be without you?

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Readers

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

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

Chapter Eighteen

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Lily Davis had lost her mind.

She loathed horses. Yet, somehow, she’d allowed her children to talk her into taking them horseback riding. What was she thinking?

Knuckles white, she guided her luxury SUV across the cattle guard of Abundant Blessings Ranch and Trail Rides, her gaze darting from the majestic mountains that backdropped the picturesque setting to the menacing red-and-white metal building that sat a short distance from the road.

She swallowed hard. Any other time she would have put her foot down, but she was desperate. They’d only been in Ouray for three days, and already her kids were begging to go back to their friends and electronic devices in Denver.

Okay, so it was her ten-year-old son, Colton, who did most of the complaining. He thought everything was boring. On the contrary, her seven-year-old daughter, Piper, had proclaimed Ouray, Colorado, the most beautiful place ever. Which was good, because returning to Denver before the end of the summer was not an option. Not if she wanted to save her son from following in his father’s footsteps.

She eyed her firstborn in the rearview mirror. With his sandy brown hair and green eyes, he favored her, though his blatant lies were a hallmark of his father. Something Lily found increasingly disconcerting. But learning of how he’d bullied another boy at school had spurred her into action. Because despite what Wade Davis might believe, the fact that they had money did not make them better than anyone else.

He’d agreed to let her take the kids away for the entire summer, instead of splitting the time the way they usually did. Whatever deal he was working must be big. She could only pray he wouldn’t change his mind before August 15, the date they’d agreed upon for the kids’ return.

Easing to a stop between another SUV and a sedan, she shifted into Park. Why couldn’t they have just gone on another Jeep tour?

The kids were out of the vehicle before Lily even turned off the engine.

“Hurry up, Mommy.” Piper’s excitement had her blonder-than-blond ponytail swishing to and fro. The perpetually cheerful child had always been eager to try new things. A trait Lily usually admired. Until she suggested horseback riding.

Too bad Lily hadn’t had the guts to say no.

Setting her booted feet onto the gravel, she rubbed her arms, eyeing the two chestnut-colored horses staring at her from the adjacent paddock. Did they know? Were they able to sense that another horse had once gotten the best of her?

“Aww...” Piper noted the pair. “Aren’t they cute?”

Lily cleared her throat. “Horses are some of God’s most beautiful creatures.” Not to mention frightening. Her kids didn’t see it that way, though, so she wasn’t about to pass her fears on to them.

She drew in a deep breath, the once-familiar odor of horse and hay tightening her stomach. How was she ever going to pull this off?

“This is boring.” Colton shuffled toward the entrance. “I want to ride them, not look at them.”

Lily’s gaze lifted to the mid-June sky. God, please help me. She glanced at her son. In every way.

Inside, the walls of the small but tidy lobby were lined with rustic wood planks. A couple with two boys who looked to be a little older than Colton sat on an old wooden church pew that hugged one wall.

“Mommy, look.” Piper pointed above the doorway of what appeared to be an office. “A horseshoe.”

“It’s a horse barn.” Arms crossed, Colton rolled his eyes. “They probably have, like, a million of those things.”

“I don’t care, Colton.” Hands on her hips, his sister glared at him. “I still like them.”

Before Lily could intervene, the sound of footsteps on concrete drew their attention.

She turned, feeling as though she’d suddenly stepped into a country music video. From his boots and Wranglers to the shiny belt buckle and straw Stetson perched on his head, this guy was all cowboy.

He stopped to address the other family. “If you all will head straight down this corridor—” he pointed to the long aisle behind him “—and to the right, Amber and Jackie are waiting with your horses.”

As the group departed, he turned his attention to Lily and her children. “Welcome to Abundant Blessings Ranch.” Tall and clean shaven, he tipped his hat back just enough to reveal dark brown hair and even darker eyes, like a rich espresso. He was older than she would have expected. Perhaps even older than her thirty-eight years, but not by much. And while his smile was pleasant enough, it did little to put her at ease. “I’m Noah Stephens. How can I help you folks today?”

Pressing one hand against her stomach, she fingered the silver chain around her neck with the other. “Um—”

“We want to ride horses.” Piper stared up at the man, looking very matter-of-fact.

“You do?” His smile grew wider, forming creases around his eyes. “Well, I guess you’ve come to the right place then.” He reached for one of a series of clipboards that hung on the wall. “I’ll just need your mother to sign these papers.” He handed the clipboard to her, along with a pen.

The knot in Lily’s stomach grew even bigger as she filled in the required information. Why was she putting herself through this? She should have simply said no in the first place.

But then Colton and Piper would have wanted to know why. She couldn’t bear the thought of telling them she was afraid. After all, she was their mother. The one who was supposed to be strong. And she was, most of the time. Right about now, though, she felt like that four-year-old girl who’d just been bucked off her first, and last, horse.

“How much riding have you kids done?” The cowboy looked from Colton to Piper.

“I’ve never been on a horse.” Piper’s blue eyes sparkled. “But I can’t wait.”

“That’s good to know, because I want to make sure I pair each of you with the correct horse for your level of experience.”

“What does it matter?” Colton shrugged. “It’s just a stupid horse.”

The cowboy straightened to his full six-foot-plus height, and Lily froze. What would he do? Everyone knew cowboys didn’t tolerate disrespect. And her son had plenty. Would he tell them they couldn’t ride?

Wishful thinking on her part.

Arms crossed, the man stared down at Colton, his expression stern. “Actually, horses are quite smart.” His deep voice left no room for question. “And they’re able to sense what kind of people are riding them.” His gaze narrowed. “So you might want to keep that in mind, young man.”

Under different circumstances, Lily might have chuckled. But by the time she handed the completed paperwork back to the cowboy, her stomach was churning.

His brow lifted. “Are you all right, ma’am?”

“Yes.” However, the more she tried to psych herself up for this endeavor, the worse things became.

She grabbed a white-water rafting brochure from the rack against the wall and fanned herself, wondering when it had gotten so warm. All the while, the tossing and turning in her belly intensified.

This was not good. Not good at—

Just as the cowboy turned to talk with Colton and Piper, Lily bolted out the door. She rushed to the side of the building, her stomach in full revolt. Not once, but twice.

Standing there, doubled over, she heard someone behind her. Oh, no. God please don’t let it be—

“You look like you could use a little help.” That deep voice definitely didn’t belong to Colton or Piper.

Mortified, she glanced at the cowboy and managed to eke out, “Don’t let my children see me,” before hurling again.

When she finally collected herself a short time later, she leaned against the metal building, feeling more than a little embarrassed. And all over the mere thought of riding a horse. She wiped her mouth, praying she wouldn’t have a repeat performance.

Returning to the stable, she spotted Piper and Colton halfway down the wide corridor that ran between a small arena and some horse stalls.

“Where were you?” Colton eyed her suspiciously.

“I had something I had to take care of.” She forced a smile, hoping she didn’t look as pale as she felt.

Fortunately, the cowboy reappeared with two horses before her son could ask any more questions.

It pleased her that one of them was nothing more than a Shetland pony, and she wondered if they might have another for her.

The man stopped in front of them, looking far too serious. “We have a slight problem.”

Oh, no. Her kids were so looking forward to this, and now they weren’t going to be able to ride. All because of her. Her silly fear had blown it for all of them.

The cowboy continued, “We had another family that arrived just before you. Typically, we prefer not to have any more than six guests on a trail ride. With you three, that would be seven.”

Piper’s bottom lip pooched out. “You mean we don’t get to ride?”

“Man, we finally get to do something cool...” Colton kicked at clump of hay.

Lily’s stomach tightened again. If only she hadn’t panicked. Now she’d ruined everything.

“Of course,” the cowboy finally said, “if one of you would be willing to stay behind, the other two could still go.”

Lily jerked her gaze to his.

His dark eyes were directed right at her.

He was giving her an out. But why? Was he afraid she’d get sick again while they were on the trail? Or did he know she was afraid?

“I’m not staying,” said Colton.

“If Colton doesn’t hafta stay, I don’t want to, either.” Arms crossed, Piper peered up at Lily.

Looked like it was up to her to take one for the team. Something she was more than okay with this time. Thanks to Noah Stephens. However, it presented her with a new problem.

Mr. Stephens was a stranger. Colton and Piper were her greatest blessings. A gift from God she cherished with every fiber of her being. Could she trust this cowboy with her children?

Clearing her throat, she looked at her kids. Saw the disappointment etched on their faces. “I wouldn’t want the two of you to miss out, either.” She eyed the cowboy. He looked responsible. And he’d already shown he wasn’t the type to stand for Colton’s shenanigans. “Would it be all right if they went without me?”

He nodded. “So long as you signed the consent forms.”

She looked at her children. “Are you two okay with that, or would you prefer to wait until later when we can go together?” Not that she’d be any more enthusiastic, but she’d settle for less nauseous.

“I can watch Piper,” offered Colton.

“Yeah, Colton can watch me.”

Lily couldn’t help but laugh. For once her children were in agreement. “Okay. But I want you to be on your best behavior.”

“We will,” they said in unison.

The cowboy tipped his straw hat in her direction. “I promise to take good care of them.”

To her surprise, she actually believed him. Probably because he’d come to check on her when she was outside. Something she found very chivalrous. And as they walked away, she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to be taken care of by someone like that. Someone strong, caring... Not self-serving like her ex.

She quickly shook away the thought. God and her children were her only priorities. Not love or any notions thereof. Especially with a cowboy.

* * *

“Mom, you should have seen it.” Colton met his mother in the lobby, his enthusiasm obvious. And that made Noah happy.

The kid was far too young to have the kind of attitude Noah had witnessed prior to their ride. Angry. Disrespectful. The type of kid Noah hoped to help. Not that troubled kids were the focus of his soon-to-open rodeo school at Abundant Blessings Ranch. Still, Noah knew firsthand the difference horses could make in the lives of troubled kids and adults dealing with loss. They’re what helped him get past the deaths of his wife and unborn child. And he had a feeling the root of Colton’s anger had to do with some sort of loss, too. During their ride, the kid had mentioned that his parents were divorced. Was his father involved in his life?

While Noah’s parents had loved each other until his mother succumbed to cancer three years ago, he’d had many friends whose lives had been impacted by divorce. He understood the pain and anger that came from such an experience. Especially when it was something they hadn’t chosen and there was nothing they could do to fix it.

If only he could help those kids deal with their feelings by giving them a way to channel their emotions into something else. Or perhaps the kids would simply benefit from spending time with a good listener. He knew for a fact that horses were very good listeners.

“We got to ride on the mountain,” Piper said.

Cute kid. Happy, smart, energetic... If his child had been a girl, he’d have hoped she’d be like Piper.

“Can I get a soda?” Colton watched his mother hopefully. “Noah said there’s a machine around the corner.”

The woman—what was her name? Some sort of flower. Lily? Yes, that was it—pulled a series of ones from the pocket of her jeans. “Okay, but no caffeine. And get one for your sister, too.”

She looked at Noah then, her green eyes void of the anxiety that had been there before. “Thank you for taking them. I...hated to disappoint them.”

“No worries, ma’am. I’m pretty sure they enjoyed themselves.” He turned his attention to her daughter. “Right, Piper?”

“Right!”

They both chuckled at her daughter’s exuberance.

He eyed the woman again. She’d tucked her long reddish-blond hair into a crude ponytail, making him wonder if she’d gotten sick again after they left. “I trust you’re doing all right?”

The pink in her cheeks heightened as she tugged on the hem of her fitted gray button-down. “I am. Thank you again.”

“Good.” Suddenly uneasy, he glanced down the corridor. “If you’ll excuse me, I have something I need to tend to.”

“Of course.”

With the voices of Lily and Piper echoing in his ears, he rounded the corner and headed down the corridor. Passing the alcove where the soda and snack machines were, he saw no sign of Colton.

Weird. Had Noah been so lost in thought that he’d passed him without even realizing?

Continuing on to the tack room, he spotted the boy. And his heart sank.

There, beside the bridle rack, Colton was stooped over a bucket of horseshoes. Horseshoes meant to be given to kids as souvenirs. Instead, Colton grabbed two, stuffing one into each of the pockets of his Nike hoodie.

He was stealing.

“Colton.” Noah kept his voice firm, all the while keeping it void of any accusation.

The boy jerked his head up. “I...couldn’t find the soda machine.”

“And the horseshoes?”

Colton looked everywhere but at Noah. “I was just looking at them.”

“If you want one, all you have to do is ask.”

The kid’s green eyes narrowed. “They’re just stupid old horseshoes. Who’d want one of those?”

Noah shook his head. He’d hoped the kid would at least acknowledge his curiosity. Instead, he’d lied. And there was no way Noah could tolerate that.

He took hold of Colton’s arm. “Let’s go see your mother.”

“Why?” The boy’s voice held a note of terror as he jerked free and started down the hallway.

“I think you know why.” Noah could understand the kid’s attitude, but lying was a different ball game altogether.

Rounding into the lobby with Colton in tow, he saw the bewildered look in Lily’s eyes as she rose from the old pew.

Grateful no one else was present, he said, “I caught this young man stealing.”

“I didn’t steal anything!”

Noah glared down at the boy. “Care to show me what’s in your pockets?”

Colton promptly turned his pants pockets inside out to show them empty. “He’s lying, Mom. I didn’t take anything. See?”

A confused Lily looked from her son to Noah.

Undeterred, Noah said, “And your jacket pockets?”

The boy hesitated then. “This is stupid, Mom. I didn’t take anything. You believe me, don’t you?”

His mother’s confused and seemingly pained gaze moved between Colton and Noah. Once. Twice.

Finally, “If there’s nothing there, then you should have no problem showing us, Colton.”

After a few moments, the boy pulled out the horseshoes and thrust them at Noah, the clanking of metal echoing through the small space. “They’re just stupid horseshoes. You have a ton of them.”

The look on Lily’s face flitted between horror, disappointment and panic in a matter of seconds.

What saddened Noah the most was that he would have given the kid the horseshoes if he’d asked. But Colton hadn’t asked. He’d simply taken something that didn’t belong to him. Then compounded matters by lying.

Noah knew what he would do if this were his son. Question was, what would his city-slicker mother do? Offer to pay for it? Call it a misunderstanding?

That was the problem with today’s world. Too many parents eager to bail their kids out instead of letting them face the consequences for their actions.

“Colton...take your sister to the car and wait for me there, please.” With her arms crossed, Lily’s eyes never left Noah’s.

Yep, she was going to pay for her son’s transgressions.

“But, Mom—”

“Now, Colton.” She watched as the two moved slowly out the wooden door, then faced Noah. “Any chance we could work something out?”

All that was missing now was the checkbook. “Depends what you mean by ‘work something out.’”

She hesitated. “I don’t want my son to grow up thinking that money is the answer. He made a bad choice. He needs to learn that there are consequences for bad choices.”

Her words had Noah taking a step back. He cleared his throat. “Yes, of course.”

“Some parents are all too happy to pay for their kids’ mistakes, but I’m not one of those people. I want Colton—and Piper—to know that every choice has a consequence. And I want them to learn now, while they’re young.”

Hmm... He couldn’t have said it better himself. “That’s commendable.”

She glared at him. “I’m not looking for any commendations, Mr. Stephens. I simply want my children to grow up to be good people.”

Okay, so he’d definitely underestimated her. “All right then. What if we had him work it off?”

The light in her green eyes shifted. “I like that.” She hesitated then. “Depending on what you have in mind.”

Ah, now he got it. Pay the consequences without really paying the consequences. “I was thinking he could come by tomorrow morning and muck out the horse stalls.”

Lily choked back a laugh. Something he found rather cute. “That’s perfect.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Of course, it’ll be ‘stupid.’” She made air quotes with her long fingers.

“Of course.”

Her expression softened. “But I think it’ll drive home the message.”

“That stealing is wrong.”

“Among other things, yes.”

The heel of his boot scraped across the concrete floor. “Okay, so what time can I expect him?”

“The earlier the better. How about seven?”

“In the morning?” Humph. He would have taken her for a not-before-ten kind of girl.

“You don’t think I’m going to let him sleep in, do you?”

“I...obviously wasn’t thinking. My apologies.”

She studied him, a smile playing on her lips. “I believe in teaching my children values. So I will see you in the morning.” With that, she turned and marched out the door, passing his father as she went.

Moving beside Noah, Clint Stephens watched after her. “She’s pretty.”

Noah made a quick left into the office. “Is she?” He grabbed the day’s consent forms. “I hadn’t noticed.”

His father followed him. “Since when have you been blind?”

Noah chose to ignore the remark. He wasn’t blind at all. But his heart belonged to his late wife, Jaycee. Now and always.

Dad paused beside the desk. “Newspaper called. Wanted to know about the ads for the rodeo school.”

Noah scrubbed a hand across his face. While the new building should be completed in time for Ridgway’s annual rodeo on Labor Day weekend, now that summer was here, he’d barely had any time to think about the grand opening that was supposed to coincide with the Ridgway event.

“Oh, and that Realtor called again.” Dad watched him. “Have you given any more thought to renting out the cabin? Might bring you some extra income.”

Noah tossed the forms into the file cabinet and threw the drawer closed with more force than he’d intended. He didn’t need the extra income. He’d earned plenty during his rodeo days, made wise investments and lived modestly. Dad knew that.

And you’ve put all your savings into the rodeo school. Even so, how the old man could think that he would allow strangers into the home he and his wife had once shared boggled his mind.

“Son, you know I’ve never been one to tell you and your brothers how to live your lives, but Jaycee’s been gone twelve years now. Don’t you think it’s time you started living again?”

“Living?” He gestured to the stacks of papers and plans for the rodeo school. “What do you call this?”

“Oh, you’re going through the motions, all right. It’s just...”

“Just what?” Hands on his hips, he tried to get a handle on his annoyance.

The man looked everywhere but at Noah, then let go a sigh. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been happy.” He didn’t miss the sorrow in his father’s tone.

“Dad, I love this place, you know that. And the horses... I can’t wait to get the rodeo school up and running.”

His father held up his hands. “No need to get defensive. I believe everything you’ve said. I’d just hate for you to be so stuck in the past you close yourself off to the future God has in store for you.”

Noah chuckled, wondering what had gotten into his father. After all, he was a widower, too. Perhaps spending so much time with his old classmate Hillary Ward-Thompson was finally getting to him. But Noah wasn’t about to head down that road again. He’d loved and he’d lost. And he never wanted to feel that kind of pain ever again.

Chapter Two

Clouds dotted the sky as Lily passed under the arched metal sign that read Abundant Blessings Ranch late the next morning. She could hardly wait to hear about Colton’s experience. Lord willing, three hours of mucking out stalls would teach him a lesson.

A shudder ran through her as she approached the stable, though this time it had nothing to do with equines. Hands tightening around the leather-wrapped steering wheel, she stared straight ahead. Colton was becoming so much like his father it was scary. The lies, the bullying, now stealing...

God, please help me to train my son up in the way he should go.

Something that wasn’t always easy for a single parent. Especially when the other parent didn’t share your faith. Not that Wade ever spent any time with his kids. Even during their visitation, they were often left in someone else’s care. Because Wade didn’t care about anything but himself and having a good time.

Unfortunately, it was Colton who suffered the most. Like most young boys, he wanted his father’s approval. And, apparently, he thought that behaving like him was a means of getting it.

Only one of many reasons she’d wanted to get the kids away from the city. And while they usually took an extended summer trip, this year she hadn’t wanted to go somewhere exotic or to some exclusive resort. That was Wade’s style, not hers. She wanted something simpler. Something meaningful.

Okay, so it hadn’t even been a week since they arrived in Ouray. Still, she’d never expected things could actually get worse.

By the time she and Piper stepped out of their SUV, Lily had determined that there would be no TV, handheld devices or computers of any kind for Colton for at least a week. And if he pulled another stunt, or she caught him lying, his sentence would be even longer.

That should provide the perfect opportunity for plenty more Jeep rides and family hikes. Maybe the kids would enjoy exploring some of the old mining towns that dotted the area. Anything that didn’t involve horses was fine by her.

Inside the stable, she spotted her son midway down the wide corridor, standing on the bottom rung of the pipe fencing that surrounded the practice arena in the center of the building. His arms were draped over the top of the fence as he watched something or someone inside the arena. Whatever it was had certainly captured his interest, because not only had he not noticed her or his sister, he was completely engrossed. Something Lily had rarely witnessed outside of his video games.

Evidently noticing her brother, Piper let go of Lily’s hand and ran ahead of her, sending dust flying from her sneakers. “Colton!”

He looked their way and, to Lily’s surprise, actually smiled. He hopped down off the fence. “Mom, you wouldn’t believe all the horses Noah has.”

Funny, if Piper had made that same remark he would have belittled her the way he had yesterday when she pointed out the horseshoe.

“Wanna see them?”

That would be the last thing she wanted to do on such a beautiful day. Or any other day, for that matter. Still, she was happy to see him so animated.

“He’s even got one that can do tricks.”

“Oh.” Piper’s eyes widened. “I wanna see the horse that does tricks.”

“And look at that, Mom.” Colton pointed into the arena, where Noah was standing beside a young man on horseback.

“What are they doing?”

Her son’s gaze never left the horse. “Noah’s teaching him how to rope.”

“What does that mean?” Piper poked her head between the rungs for a better view.

“Just watch,” said Colton.

Noah stepped away from the boy then. “Go!”

Suddenly, on the other side of the dirt-covered ring, an all-terrain vehicle sprang to life, driven by another cowboy, pulling something that looked like a small cow with horns, except with a wheel at the front. As it moved around the ring, the hind legs bobbed as though it were running.

Behind that, the horse and rider took off, the rider swinging a rope in one hand. As they approached the makeshift cow, the rider sent the rope flying.

“He did it!” Colton thrust a fist into the air as the rope fell around the horns. He looked at Lily, his smile wide. “That guy’s been practicing all morning. He finally got it.”

She loved teachable moments like this. “Like they say, practice makes perfect. If you want something, you have to be willing to work for it.”

He looked toward the rider, who was getting ready to go again. “He’s sure been working, all right.”

“And all that hard work paid off.” She draped an arm around her son’s shoulder. “How did things go today?”

“Good.”

That was vague.

Just then, she saw Noah coming across the arena, looking all cowboy and sending a wave of unease rippling through her. She hoped Colton had done the work he was assigned. But what if he hadn’t or if he had been a problem?

“Hello again,” Noah said.

“Hello.” Lily watched as he deftly climbed the fence, swinging one long leg over, then the other, as though he’d done it a million times before. Next thing she knew, he was beside them.

“You’ll be happy to know that Colton did a real good job. Did everything I asked him to, didn’t argue much.”

Her son’s head shot up. “I didn’t argue. Did I?”

The man grinned. “No, you didn’t. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.”

Colton relaxed then. “Good. ’Cause I can’t wait to come back.”

Lily’s smile faded, her stomach muscles tightening. “Come back? You mean you want to go riding again?”

“Yeah, kinda. But what I really want is to learn to rope. With Noah.”

“Oh.” Uncertain how she felt about that, Lily’s gaze drifted to the cowboy.

His dark eyes held an air of guilt. Had he been planting ideas in her son’s head? “In addition to trail rides, we also offer riding and rodeo lessons.”

She felt her own eyes widen. “Rodeo?” The last thing she wanted was to see her son bucked off some unruly bull or equine the way she had been all those years ago.

“Well, that’s kind of an overarching term. Roping is only one part of rodeo. One that starts with learning how to use the rope correctly. It takes patience and discipline, but if he’s persistent...”

“I’m sure I can learn.”

Had she ever seen her son this enthusiastic about anything? Especially something that involved work? While she didn’t relish the idea of spending so much time with a bunch of horses, patience and discipline were things Colton desperately needed to learn. Perhaps this sort of training—any training—could be good for him. Give him something to focus on besides himself.

Tucking her fear aside, Lily addressed Noah. “How much do the lessons cost?”

He tipped his cowboy hat back with a smile. “They won’t cost you a thing.”

She bristled. “Nothing is ever free, Mr. Stephens.” In her experience, people always expected something.

“I said it wouldn’t cost you anything.”

She eyed him curiously, waiting for him to explain.

“Colton tells me you’re in Ouray for the summer.”

“That’s correct.”

“Well, he’s the one who wants lessons.” He turned his attention to her son. “And we could use another hand around here. What if we worked out a trade? You muck out the stalls three days a week in exchange for three days of lessons.”

The elation on her son’s face only added to her dilemma. “Can I, Mom? Please?”

She studied the rafters overhead, uncertain how to respond. If she said no, she’d be the bad guy. But while she liked the idea of Colton working and appreciated his excitement, she was still skeptical. And not only about the horses.

Her gaze shifted to Noah. Why was this long, tall cowboy being so nice after Colton stole from him? Was he simply trying to get some free labor or did he genuinely want to help her son?

No matter which way she looked at it, she couldn’t help wondering what this arrangement might cost her in the long run.

* * *

“That’s good, Colton, but you need to twist your wrist like this.” Standing alongside the boy in the arena the next morning, Noah demonstrated. “Which also turns the rope so it will lie properly as you’re coiling it.”

“Like this?” The boy ran a gloved hand down the length he held, then twisted his wrist outward the way Noah had.

“Now you’re getting it.” Noah’s gaze inadvertently veered toward the aluminum bleachers outside the arena where Lily and Piper had been throughout Colton’s lesson. Why had Lily been so cynical when he offered to teach Colton in exchange for some work? As if he was trying to take advantage of them. Wasn’t his word good enough?

The kid looked up at him. “It feels kinda weird.”

He again gave the boy his full attention. Or at least tried to. He sure hoped Colton’s mother wasn’t planning to be there for all of his lessons. Given her fear of horses, though, Noah had a feeling she’d be front and center for each and every one.

“At first, yes. But as you practice, it’ll become second nature.”

Colton tossed out his rope again, and a few moments later, he had it perfectly coiled. “Look, I did it.” He held it up. “It looks just like yours.”

His enthusiasm warmed Noah’s heart. This was what he loved about teaching kids. Sharing in their sense of accomplishment.

“Remember what I said yesterday about practice, patience and persistence?”

“Yeah.”

Noah lifted a brow, careful not to look too stern. “How about we say ‘yes, sir’?”

A hint of pink crept into the kid’s cheeks. “Yes, sir.”

Noah smiled then. “You exercised both patience and persistence as you practiced coiling that rope until you finally got it right.”

The kid was quiet for a moment. “Can I keep practicing?”

“Not only can you, you have to.” Noah tossed his rope out. “The more you practice—” he began to reel it in “—the more used to it you become.” He held up his freshly coiled rope.

“Awesome.” Colton practically beamed as he made another attempt.

Noah, however, found his thoughts preoccupied once again by the boy’s mother. Why did it chafe him so that Lily had questioned his integrity?

He glanced from Colton to Lily to one of the hands who was tending to the horses. Because in his world, integrity was everything. A man without honor was nothing but a coward in his book. And for some strange reason, he wanted Lily and her children to see him as honorable.

He shook his head. Ridiculous. Why should he care what they thought? They were strangers. Which made his reaction even more preposterous.

“How come I’m not on a horse?”

He jerked his gaze back to Colton, annoyed that he’d allowed himself to be distracted. “There are two parts to roping. Rope handling and horsemanship. You have to learn both, though we won’t put the two together for a while yet. We’ll work with a horse during your next lesson.”

“Next lesson? You mean we’re done already?”

“We’ve been working for almost two hours.” And Lily had been watching them from the second row the entire time.

Colton’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“Yea—Yes, sir.”

Noah ruffled the kid’s sandy brown hair. “Good boy.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father take a seat beside Lily.

She smiled as they talked, making Noah uneasy. What were they discussing? Colton? The weather? After Dad’s little talk the other day, not to mention his comment about Lily being pretty, there was no telling what the old man was apt to say.

Noah cringed at the possibilities.

“Okay, Colton, how about we plan to meet again Monday morning?”

“Aww, but I’m just getting good.”

“All right then, you can keep practicing while I go talk to your mother.” Because the more he saw Lily laugh, the more he wanted to know what she and his father were discussing.

A few minutes later, he hopped the fence to join the three of them. “What’s going on?”

Hands clasped, forearms on his thighs, his father looked up at him. “Lily here was just telling me that she plans a lot of charity events back in Denver.”

“That’s nice.” He glanced at Lily. Dressed in jeans and riding boots with a navy blazer over a white T-shirt, she looked ready for English riding. Something she wasn’t likely to find at Abundant Blessings Ranch.

“Big events.” Dad’s dark brown eyes glinted with pleasure. “Like grand openings.”

Noah glared at his father, knowing good and well what he was up to. He wanted Lily to help them. Well, Noah wasn’t biting.

“Mommy gave me the best princess birthday party ever.” Piper moved behind her mother, snaking her arms around Lily’s shoulders.

“I see.” Birthday parties. Kids’ parties, at that. Not exactly the kind of event he had in mind.

“She also hosted Denver’s Oil Baron’s Ball,” said Dad.

Noah lifted his hat to scratch his head. Okay, so that was a little higher up the scale. Still, that didn’t mean Lily should help him.

Straightening, his father twisted to give Lily his full attention. “Did you know that Noah is in the process of expanding our little riding school?”

She peered up at Noah. “I heard mention of rodeo lessons.”

Noah cleared his throat. “Actually, we’re expanding to a year-round rodeo school.” He shifted from one foot to the next. “The new arena is still under construction, but it should be ready sometime in August.”

“Is that the building going up next door?” She pointed in the general vicinity.

“Sure is,” Dad answered before Noah even had a chance. “The grand opening is set for Labor Day weekend to coincide with the annual rodeo in Ridgway. Problem is that Noah doesn’t have any time to promote or plan the event.” He shrugged. “Not that he really knows much about that sort of thing.”

Noah shook his head. He knew the old man was trying to help, that he wanted the rodeo school to succeed every bit as much as Noah did, but sometimes he just didn’t know when to shut up.

“Dad, I—”

“Mom could help you. She knows all about planning stuff.”

Noah jerked his head to discover Colton standing beside him. “I thought you were practicing.”

The boy lowered his gaze. “It wasn’t as fun without you.”

Noah’s heart swelled, though he quickly tamped it down. “Your mom is on vacation, Colton.”

“I know, but she always says parties and stuff aren’t really work.” He looked at Lily. “Right, Mom?”

The poor woman seemed to be at a loss for words. She was no more interested in giving Noah her help than he was in receiving it. Yet while he’d come to accept that he did, indeed, need some sort of help, he’d prefer to hire someone local. Someone familiar with rodeo. Not a city girl who was afraid of horses.

He set a hand on Colton’s shoulder. “Colton, that’s not fair to your mom. You all are here because she wants to spend time with you and Piper, not some grungy old cowboys.”

“That’s okay,” chimed Piper. “We can help, too.”

“Yeah,” said Colton. “We’ll still be together.”

Dad stood then. “I’m afraid Noah’s right, kids. It’s not fair to volunteer your mother like that.”

Noah’s brow lifted. Dad was the one who started this whole discussion.

“Thank you for understanding.” Lily reached for Colton’s hand. “This summer is all about my kids.”

“As it should be.” Ignoring the unexpected wave of disappointment that came over him, he studied the woman laughing with her children. Lily might know how to put on a good party, but she was the wrong candidate for this job.

Chapter Three

Lily stood at the top of Hurricane Pass the next afternoon, savoring the breathtaking view. At more than twelve thousand feet, it felt as though she was on top of the world.

Brown, barren peaks stretched out before her as far as she could see, while lush green mingled with patches of snow across their rocky slopes. She drew in a long breath of crisp mountain air. Simply glorious.

This was exactly what she’d envisioned when she decided to bring the kids to Ouray. Jeep rides in the mountains, exploring God’s creation...togetherness.

“What do you guys think?” She eyed her children, who had finally stopped throwing snowballs at each other long enough to join her.

“Spectacular!” Her daughter tossed her arms wide in typical Piper fashion.

“It’s okay.” Hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie, Colton squinted against the sun. “It would be cooler on a horse.”

Lily tried to keep her groan to herself. She was beginning to regret ever having taken the kids to Abundant Blessings Ranch. All she’d heard about the past four days was horses, riding, roping... Not to mention how she should help Noah with the rodeo school’s grand opening.

Her gaze drifted to the glacial blue waters of Lake Como just below where she stood. She was not here to plan an event. Especially the grand opening of a rodeo school. Spending this summer as a family, teaching her children to enjoy the simple things in life was what was important to her.

What could be simpler than spending time on a real ranch with good, hardworking people and beautiful animals?

Horses might be beautiful, but she still didn’t want to be around them. Or their cowboy owner.

You could at least consider helping Noah.

The thought stiffened her spine. And allow herself to be taken advantage of, the way she had when she was with Wade Davis? No, thank you.

When they returned to town a few hours later, Lily walked along Main Street with her children, allowing them to peruse a couple of souvenir shops while she relished the remarkable view. Unlike most towns where the mountains sat in the distance, Ouray was literally enveloped by them. No matter which way she looked, the mountains were right there. Only part of what made this town so appealing. Throw in the gorgeous Victorian-era buildings, friendly people and colorful baskets of flowers hanging from every lamppost, and she was smitten.

“Afternoon, Lily.”

She turned to see Clint Stephens. “Hello, Mr. Stephens.”

Hands dangling from the pockets of his Wrangler jeans, he glanced around. “Where are Colton and Piper?”

“In the gift sho—” She spotted the pair exiting the store. “Make that right here.”

“Hi, Mr. Stephens.” Their collective greeting revealed how genuinely happy they were to see him.

“What have you kids been up to today? Did you do anything fun?”

“We went to the top of the world,” said Piper.

“Top of the world?” Clint eyed Lily as a motorcycle rumbled past.

“We took a Jeep tour up to Hurricane Pass.”

“Oh.” He looked at Piper again. “Then I guess you were way up there.”

“I’m hungry.” Colton moved beside Lily. “What’s for dinner?”

She was surprised he’d gone this long without asking. Save for a small snack, he hadn’t eaten since lunch.

“Honestly, I haven’t given it much thought, but I’m sure we can find something at the house.”

“I’m on my way over to Granny’s Kitchen to grab some dinner.” Clint looked at each of them. “Would you three care to join me?”

Piper gasped while her brother’s eyes and smile grew wide.

“Could we?” said Colton. “We haven’t eaten there yet.”

Beside him, Piper prayed her hands together. “Please...”

Lily noted the sun hovering over the town’s western slope. “I guess it has been a while since we’ve gone out to eat.” Besides, she really wasn’t up to fixing a meal tonight. “Are you sure you don’t mind, Mr. Stephens?”

“Course not. It’ll save me from eating alone.”

“Okay then.”

Inside the quaint restaurant situated on a corner farther down the street, the four of them sat down in a booth by the window, allowing them to enjoy the view.

“Granny’s Kitchen is as close to home cooking as you’re going to get.” Clint removed his cowboy hat and slid in beside Colton. “And everything on the menu is good.” He ran a callused hand through his thick salt-and-pepper hair.

A waitress approached. Blonde, closer to Clint’s age and very well put together, from her perfectly styled short hair to her chic red patent leather ballet flats. “Looks like you’ve got some company, Clint.” She set four waters on the high-gloss wooden table top, then handed menus to each of them, along with crayons for the kids, before laying a hand on Clint’s shoulder.

“Hillary, this is Lily—” he gestured “—and her children, Colton and Piper.”

Lily held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Hillary.”

The woman took hold, her grip firm. “Are you in town on vacation?”

“For the summer, yes.”

“Well, we’re glad to have you.” Hillary eyed each of them. “I’ll give you minute to look over those menus.” With that she was gone.

Noting the familiarity between the two, Lily watched the older man. “Is that your wife?”

“Hillary?” Clint blushed. “No, she’s just an old friend. My wife died three years ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I won’t try to kid you, it was rough. But God has a plan.”

“Yes, He does.” Reaching for her water, she eyed the waitress behind the counter. Either Clint was unaware of Hillary’s feelings toward him or simply refused to acknowledge them. Whatever the case, Lily suspected they were more than just friends.

After turning in their orders, Lily rested her forearms on the edge of the table, curiosity niggling at her brain. After all, with Colton taking lessons, she owed it to herself to learn as much about his instructor as she could.

“Tell me about this rodeo school Noah plans to open.”

The man smiled like any proud father. “Noah’s always had a gift for teaching and a heart for kids.” He unwrapped his silverware and set the napkin in his lap. “This school has been his dream ever since he left the rodeo circuit.”

“He was a bull rider?” Lily regretted the surprise in her voice.

Clint’s amused grin was worth it, though. “Yes, but horses were always his specialty. He gets that from his mama.”

“Why was the rodeo school Noah’s dream?” Colton watched the older man intently.

“He...went through some hard times.” Fingering the unopened straw atop the table, he continued, “The rodeo—horses, in particular—helped him get back in the saddle, so to speak.”

Hard times? That could be almost anything. Drugs. Alcohol. But she wasn’t about to pry.

“What kind of hard times?”

“Colton!” Lily cringed.

“It’s all right.” The corners of Clint’s mouth tipped upward once again. “Can’t blame the boy for being curious.” He looked at Colton. “Noah lost some people that were very special to him.”

“Like his mommy?” Crayon still in hand, Piper looked up from her colorful place mat.

“That’s right.” Clint turned his attention to Lily. “Rodeo helped him cope.”

She watched the man across from her. “Was he any good?”

Clint’s grin seemed laced with as much sorrow as pride. “When you have nothing to lose, you tend to put it all out there.”

Nothing to lose? What did that mean?

Curious, Lily wanted to know more. So after the kids went to bed that night, she searched the internet for Noah Stephens and came up with a plethora of articles, photos and videos.

She clicked on the first link.

After the deaths of his wife and unborn child...

Lily found herself blinking back emotion. Though her ex-husband was still very much alive, she understood how it felt to lose someone you love. But to lose a child, too... She couldn’t imagine how painful that must have been.

She clicked on another link. The man had no fear. Every time he went out there, it was as though he was challenging God to take him, too.

When you have nothing to lose, you tend to put it all out there, Clint had said. Rodeo helped him.

She swiped at a wayward tear that trailed down her cheek. No wonder the rodeo school was so important to Noah. And he did seem to be good with the kids. In fact, Colton had rarely responded so well to a stranger.

Still...

She drew in a breath. That didn’t mean she had to help him.

* * *

Monday was a busy one for Noah. Aside from lessons and numerous people wanting trail rides, he still needed to run into town to drop off his ad for the July Fourth edition of the newspaper. Next week, thousands of people would flood Ouray for its annual Fourth of July celebration, which was as unique as the town itself. Giving Noah the perfect opportunity to let everyone know about the rodeo school. Some of those visitors might even be persuaded to return in September for the school’s grand opening and Ridgway’s Labor Day rodeo.

But first he needed to concentrate on helping Colton with his riding lesson.

Boots firmly in the dirt, he watched as Colton made a practice run around the arena. He was surprised by how quickly the boy was catching on. The fact that he had a positive attitude was a big help. It seemed that whenever Colton showed up, whether to work or learn, he was ready to give it his all. A far cry from the cantankerous, smart-mouthed kid Noah had met last week. Sure, there’d been a few complaints, but overall, the kid was as eager to help as he was to learn. Like he’d found his calling. Or just someplace to direct his pent-up anger.

And Noah was more than happy to help.

He took hold of the quarter horse’s bridle as the kid approached. “Good job, Colton.”

“That was fun.” The boy leaned forward to stroke the animal’s mane.

Sonic nickered in response.

“You hear that? I think Sonic likes you.”

“He’s a good horse.”

“Yes, he is.” Not to mention experienced, which was why Noah had chosen him. “Now, when you’re roping and riding, you’re going to need your hands to control the rope.”

The kid cocked his head, his brow marked with confusion. “So how do you hold on to the reins?”

“You don’t.” Noah couldn’t help grinning. “Let me show you something.” He moved beside the horse. “Let go of the reins.”

Colton complied.

“Now pull your legs together so they’re pressing into Sonic’s sides.”

“Like this?”

Noah knew the boy was doing it correctly when Sonic dropped his head and began to back up.

The kid’s eyes widened. “Did I make him do that?”

“You sure did.”

“That is so cool.” His excitement echoed from the rafters.

“When roping, a rider has to know how to control the horse without using his hands. We’ll work on that more next time.”

“Aw, we’re done already?” He reached for the reins, slapping them against his leg.

“Afraid so. I’ve got something I need to take care of in town.”

“Okay...” The boy reluctantly dismounted, the leather of the saddle creaking.

“Why don’t you take ol’ Sonic here back to his stall while I talk to your mom?”

“Can I give him some horse cookies?”

“A couple, yes.”

While Colton headed off with the horse, Noah made his way to the opposite side of the arena to talk with Lily. She was sitting alone in her usual spot on the bleachers.

“The kid’s a natural.” He hopped the fence.

“Really?” Lily stood, her long hair spilling over her shoulders. “He must get it from his grandmother then, because it certainly didn’t come from me.”

“Mommy?” An excited Piper skipped toward them, her ponytail bobbing, while Noah’s father followed a short distance behind.

“What is it, Piper?” Lily laid a hand on her daughter’s back as if to settle her.

“Mr. Stephens said I can have a soda if it’s all right with you. Can I?”

“Piper’s been working hard, helping me clean the riding helmets.” Dad grinned at the child. “Would it be all right if I rewarded her with a soda?”

“Of course.” Lily looked at her daughter. “But nothing caffeinated.”

“Okay.” Piper took hold of his father’s hand.

Noah couldn’t help smiling. She was a cutie with a personality to match. And just like his nieces, she brought out the best in his old man.

“Newspaper called.” Dad’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He looked at his father.

“They said you missed the deadline for advertising in the July Fourth edition.”

“No, I didn’t.” He shook his head. “The cutoff is tomorrow. I’m planning to drop the ad by the newspaper office in just a little bit.”

“The deadline was noon today.”

“Noon?” He looked at his watch. It was almost three. Then he remembered that they’d moved the deadline up a day this week due to the holiday. His stomach clenched. How could he have forgotten something so important? His life savings were riding on the success of the rodeo school.

He glanced in Lily’s direction to discover her watching him.

Just what he needed. Why’d his father have to bring that up in front of her?

“Mom, did you see me out there?” Colton approached, his smile wide.

“Yes. You looked very handsome.”

“Mr. Stephens said I could have a soda.” Piper peered up at her brother. “Maybe he’ll let you have one, too.”

“Can I?” Colton looked to the older man.

“Sure. Come on, you two.”

As the trio headed down the corridor, Noah sensed Lily was still watching him. But he didn’t dare turn around.

“You know—” he heard her boots against the bleachers before she stepped in front of him “—an interview with the newspaper might garner more attention than an ad. Besides, you have to pay for advertising. Interviews are free.”

He stared down at her, still frustrated. “What would they interview me about?”

Her expression went flat. “You’re a former rodeo champion who’s opening a rodeo school. And not just any rodeo champ, but one of the best champions ever.”

He studied her, his gaze narrowing. “How do you know that?”

She shrugged. “The internet.”

She’d googled him? Why? “Don’t believe everything you read.” He turned, ready to leave.

“Well, unless somebody made up those stats...”

He paused then and faced her again. “Do you really see me going to the newspaper and asking them to interview me?”

“No.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “First you have to create interest. Say, in the form of a press release.” She was talking way over his head.

He set his hands on his hips. “Lily, I don’t even know what that is.”

“Maybe not—” she inched toward him “—but I do.”

He wasn’t in the mood for games. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means—” with only a short distance between them, she dropped her arms to her sides “—that I’m willing to help you promote the rodeo school and get ready for its grand opening.”

“Why would you do that?”

Seemingly frustrated, she gestured around the arena. “My kids are completely enamored with this place. And you.” Her sideways glance hinted at annoyance. “Meaning we’ll likely be spending a lot of time here this summer. Especially now that Piper wants to take lessons. So I may as well make myself useful.”

A woman who was scared to death of horses wanted to help him promote the rodeo school? That had to be one of the craziest things he’d ever heard.

She was right about one thing, though. With both of her kids becoming more and more entrenched in events at the ranch, she’d likely be here a lot. At least helping with the rodeo school would give her something to do besides hover during the kids’ lessons.

He contemplated her a moment. What if she did help him? In the last two minutes alone, he’d seen that she knew way more about publicizing something than he did. Still, her fear of horses gave him pause.

“Perhaps I could give you riding lessons, too. I mean, if you’re helping me with the promotion.”

She straightened, her shoulders rigid, her expression pinched. “That’s highly doubtful, Mr. Stephens.”

Her quick response almost made him laugh. Because there was nothing he enjoyed more than a good challenge. And getting Lily comfortable around horses was a huge one.

Of course, he also knew when to loosen the reins. “Okay, then I will take you up on your offer, on one condition.”

One perfectly arched brow lifted in question.

“That you call me Noah. Mr. Stephens is my dad.”

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