Cowgirls Don't Cry(34)

Brandt smiled before he turned and jogged to his brothers.

Grateful for the time to regroup, she sliced the cake and carried in the boxes from the daycare. By then the boys’d had enough football and were starving.

They demolished the cake in one sitting.

Brandt bathed a dirt-covered Landon, leaving her with Tell and Dalton, listening to their Saturday night plans.

“There’s a great band playin’ at Ziggy’s tonight,” Dalton suggested.

“Yeah, but it always gets so damn crowded on Saturday nights,” Tell said. “What else is goin’ on?”


“I heard Busby is havin’ a party at his place.”


Tell shook his head.

“Why not?”


“Remember his last party? Hell, most of those ‘hot’ girls he promised us were jailbait.”


“True.” Dalton repeatedly tossed a tennis ball into the air. “I wish we could go to that strip club in Wheatland. That’s always a good time.”


“Also true,” Tell said. He looked at Jessie. “Brandt said you were goin’ out on the town last night.

What did you end up doin’?”


“Simone and I went to the Pizza Barn for pizza and beer.”


“That’s it?”


“Yeah. Why?”


Tell rolled his eyes. “Brandt made it sound like you were goin’ out, getting wild and getting laid.”


“Brandt said that? About me?”


“Hell no, I didn’t say that,” Brandt retorted. “I said you had plans. That’s it.” He sat Landon on the couch next to Jessie.

“You are such a liar,” Dalton said. “I remember exactly—”


“Forget it. Let’s just go.” Tell grabbed his coat. “Thanks for the cake, Jess.”


“Yeah, it was good,” Dalton said.

Brandt frowned at his brothers. “You guys comin’ back here tonight?”


“No. Hopefully we’ll be getting wild and getting laid.” They sailed out the door.

Jessie watched Landon scramble off the couch and head to the boxes she’d brought in.

“What’re those?” Brandt asked.

“Some stuff we don’t use at Sky Blue I thought Landon might like.”


“Cool. Do you mind keepin’ an eye on him while I shower?”


Do you mind if I keep an eye on you while you shower?

“Jess?”


“Umm. Sure. No problem.”


Her mom called and they chatted about Thanksgiving plans since Jessie had promised to spend the holiday in Riverton. She watched Landon while she talked. He’d thrown the toys from both boxes all over the floor, but he’d stopped tossing things when he reached the stack of books. He’d stayed in one place and flipped through them slowly, mesmerized, as if he’d never seen a book before.

The truth hit her and she felt like she’d had the wind knocked out of her again. She studied Landon so closely she was barely aware when Brandt sat beside her.

“What’s wrong?”


She pointed at Landon, who hadn’t noticed Brandt entering the room either, which was a first.

Brandt whispered, “What? You’re surprised he’s bein’ good?”


“No. Look at him. It’s like he’s never seen a book before. I can’t believe…” She closed her eyes and dropped her chin to her chest.