Reunited with the Cowboy

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Heather would just have to take him as he was, he thought as he hung the towel up and walked out of the bathroom.

As he went past the porch and into the kitchen, he wished he had insisted that he and Adana have lunch in their own house, as he had the past couple days.

Yesterday he and Monty had been busy until suppertime fixing fences, getting ready for today. But he’d picked up Adana and taken her to the Grill and Chill in town, using a need to visit Gord, the owner, as a reason for not joining the Bannisters when he was invited.

This morning he’d brought Adana over right after breakfast and made sure that he’d scooted out of there fast, using the cows as the perfect excuse. But he didn’t have to rush. Monty had gone to Great Falls for the part for the hay bind. He had told John to wait on moving the cows until he came back, but John needed to keep busy and out of the house, so he’d gotten them all gathered in the sorting pens. But he couldn’t keep avoiding the family, so this morning he had accepted the standing invitation to join them for lunch.

Heather stood by the large table and was ladling soup into bowls as he came into the dining room. She glanced up when he walked in, then quickly looked away, underlining the awkwardness that surrounded any encounter they had. She wore blue jeans again, but her silk shirt negated the down-home effect.

He bent over and kissed Adana’s forehead. “Hey, sweetie,” he said, brushing his hand over her curls and smiling down at her. “You have a good morning?”

“Hi, Daddy.” She grinned up at him, then looked back at the bowl Alice set in front of her. “Yummy soup,” she said, picking up her spoon.

“How’s your aunt?” John asked Alice, his eyes shifting against his will back to Heather.

“She’s not doing as well as I hoped. I think I’ll spend a few more days with her,” the woman said, breaking some crackers into Adana’s soup. “She’s still fairly fragile, and now that Heather is staying longer, I’m hoping she can help take care of Ellen and Adana so I can go.”

John felt a moment’s anxiety. Heather taking care of his daughter more than just for an afternoon? He glanced her way and met her eyes. Once again he sensed her hesitation, then she blinked and the moment was gone.

Maybe he could find someone else to take care of Adana till Alice returned. He couldn’t ask his in-laws. They were gone. But there had to be someone who was willing to come out to Refuge Ranch.

“How’s Adana been?” John inquired, turning his attention back to his daughter.

“She’s been a little angel,” Alice said. “But she’s getting tired.”

“Where’s Keira?” he asked next as he picked up the small spoon Adana always used.

“Keira and Tanner went into Bozeman to talk to the wedding photographer,” Ellen said, stifling a yawn. “And Monty called. He’s still waiting in Great Falls for that tractor part that was supposed to come in on special order today. He didn’t think it was worth his while to drive back when the delivery is supposed to arrive at any moment.” She gave him an apologetic look. “Hope that’s not a problem.”

John tried not to sigh. “I’ve got the herd locked up. I was going to give them their precalving shots. Monty was going to cut the cows for me and run them through.”

“And neither Alice nor I can help you,” Ellen said.

“I can’t wait until Monty comes back to process them.” There was no way John could sort and run the entire herd through this afternoon on his own. “I’ll have to let them out.”

He gave Adana another spoonful of soup and, in spite of his frustration, smiled as she caught his wrist, bringing the spoon closer to her mouth.

“That’s a nuisance,” Ellen said. “I’m sorry Monty didn’t think this all the way through.”

“It’s okay. We’ll just have to try again Monday.”

“But cows are always harder to get in the second time, aren’t they?” Heather asked.

Her quiet comment drew John’s attention to her. He was surprised she knew that.

“And Monty is taking me to Helena to see the specialist on Monday, then we’re joining Tanner and Keira at the cattle show in Missoula,” Ellen added.