A Cowgirl's Secret(25)

They drove the short distance to Cash and Wren’s house.

“Thanks for the ride,” Wren said once they’d reached the main road. “After finally getting a Sunday off, the last thing I felt like doing was driving—even if it is only a short way.”

“I understand,” Daisy said, adjusting the air conditioning to make it cooler.

“Trying to freeze us out?” her mother complained.

“Sorry.” Fanning her face, Daisy said, “It’s been a while since I’ve been in this kind of heat.”

From the backseat Kolt asked, “I like the hot weather. Why haven’t you brought me here, like, ever, Mom?”

Judging by Georgina’s pressed thin lips and Wren’s sudden fascination with the buttons on Robin’s overalls, Daisy wasn’t the only one feeling awkward about the question. Trouble was, as much thought as she’d given the subject, she still didn’t have a reasonable, justifiable answer. She couldn’t tell her ten-year-old that essentially Mommy had been afraid that if he’d been a girl, the bogeyman might return. Then, by the time she’d discovered she was having a boy, she’d been too ashamed of what she’d let Henry do to return.

“Mom?” Kolt prodded.

Swallowing the knot at the back of her throat and ignoring her mother’s silent tears, Daisy said, “For the longest time, I lost the way home, but now that I found it again, we’ll be here a nice long while, okay?”

He nodded. “Will there be food at the rodeo? I’m hungry.”

“Do you like funnel cake?” Georgina asked with forced cheer.

“I dunno,” Kolt said. “Never had it.”

That inconceivable fact earned Daisy another glare. The fried, powdered-sugared treat was a rodeo staple.

“Well,” her mother said with an extra serving of guilt, “that means we’ll have to get you lots of them to make up for all the ones you’ve missed.”



EXHAUSTED FROM THE LONG DRIVE, Luke knew better than to get back out on the road for a rodeo. But it was Weed Gulch’s annual fundraiser for “Town Beautification,” and since his mother was this year’s Beautification Chairwoman, she’d have his hide if he didn’t at least show up long enough to hand over his money.

Plus, he wanted to be there for his son’s first rodeo.

On the downside, the Buckhorn family was always in attendance. Luke hadn’t seen Daisy since that kiss. A good thing, since he’d lied like a dog about his not having a reaction. Every time he thought about it, he grew rock hard and grouchy. He hated her for what she’d done. It was high time his body got the message.

This would be the first year since before Duke Buckhorn had died that all four of his children were in attendance with their mother—at least Luke assumed all of them would be there. Aside from Christmas, this event was the pinnacle of the Weed Gulch social season.

Upon reaching the rodeo grounds, Luke parked in what felt like the next county and then zigzagged through screaming kids, rodeo queens and horses. He was just thinking he’d be better off back at his cabin when he caught sight of Daisy, all dolled up in her prettiest country wear.

Kolt stood alongside her, looking as if he’d spent his whole life doing just this thing. Decked out in head-to-toe cowboy, he was handsome as could be. Throat knotted with pride, Luke couldn’t wait to show off his son.

As for Kolt’s mother, Lord, but she was a beauty. Long legs and an easy smile.

She stood in front of the funnel-cake wagon, waiting her turn in line with Dallas’s evil twins, Wren and her baby.

Luke strode up to the group.

“Bonnie,” he said, tugging the girl’s crooked pigtails, “you buying me a funnel cake?”

“Nooo,” she said with a look as offended as if he’d asked her to give him her pony. “I don’t have any money. Aunt Daisy’s buying mine and Betsy’s.”

“Then maybe she’ll pay for me?” he said with a wink in Daisy’s direction.

Bonnie shrugged.

“How was your week?” he asked Kolt after obligatory greetings to Wren and Bonnie. Was it wrong that part of him damn near feared talking to Daisy? She made him hot and bothered and took his mind from the most important thing on the day’s agenda—sharing quality time with Kolt.

Not Kolt’s sexy-as-hell mom.

“Thought you couldn’t come,” Daisy said, hating the way her pulse raced at the mere sight of Luke. She felt the way she had back in high school. Save for the ten years she’d been gone, they’d attended this event together literally every year of their lives.