Her Favorite Cowboy

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“Look, son, I know you’re trying to say and do the right things so you and me can get our relationship back on track. There’s been a lot of bad blood between us, and it’s going to take some time for me to believe you’ve changed your haughty ways. So please do us both a favor and try not to tell this old cowboy what to do. It brings out my worst side, and right now, being here with all my friends, talking about my favorite writer, I don’t need a mother. What I need is my grandson. When you find him let me know, ’cause I miss that rascal more than I wanna say.”

Before Gage could respond, his grandfather slipped out of the sedan and walked off toward his friends who were gathering in front of the massive red stables. Everyone shared a smile and a nod as they moved on toward the Old West town that was part of the ranch. Breakfast would be served behind the hotel.

Gage sat there trying to digest what his grandpa had told him. It was the Gramps of his youth who had just lectured him, not the Gramps he’d been traveling with for the past couple of days. That Gramps hadn’t spoken a kind word to him since he’d said hello, and even hello had seemed forced.

The good thing was his grandfather had actually spoken to him in a calm voice. Now all Gage had to do to keep the momentum going was find his way back to being “that rascal,” so he and his grandfather could rekindle a relationship they both seemed to want more than either one of them was willing to admit.

As he stepped from the car and beeped it locked, another car pulled up, containing Cori, her grandmother and Hailey. Maybe now he could get to the bottom of Cori’s speedy departure last night.

“Hey,” Hailey said as she bounced out of the car, her white cowgirl hat momentarily slipping from her head, revealing golden curls catching sunlight. Gage could tell she was excited about her day. Her face and demeanor announced it loud and clear.

“All set for the ride?” he asked, eager to engage someone in Cori’s family in a conversation.

“You bet. I’ve never been on a real live horse before, just the fake kind on a carousel. Have you ever ridden a real horse?”

“Yep, when I was a kid.”

“I bet that was a long time ago.”

Gage chuckled. Did he look that old? Was thirty-two getting up there? He supposed that to Hailey anyone taller than her had to be old. “It sure was, and I’m a little scared I forgot how.”

She shook her head. “You can’t forget something like that, silly. It would be like forgetting how to dance. Just because you haven’t done it in a long time doesn’t mean you forgot how.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because my dad taught me how to ride a two-wheeler bike when I was three, and after he died and we moved to New York, I had to give my bike away. So I didn’t ride in a really long time. Then when we went to visit Grammy, she let me ride her bike and I remembered everything. Even how to use the bell and keep pedaling when someone is in front of me.”

Gage wanted to hug her, but he restrained himself. He wondered if all kids were as precocious as Hailey, or was she one of a kind?

“Thank you for telling me that story. I feel much better about riding now.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, beaming.

“I hope Hailey wasn’t bothering you,” Cori asked once Hailey skipped off with her grandmother, who never really looked his way. Apparently her dislike for Buck Remington was, by default, passed on to his grandson.

“Not at all. She’s surprisingly smart. Are all kids her age that smart?”

“I get the feeling you haven’t been around children much.”

“Hardly ever.”

“Most kids are pretty smart these days, but Hailey happens to be more intuitive than other children.”

“She takes after her mom,” Gage told her, hoping that would help cut through the icy chill.

Regrettably, it didn’t, and she began to walk away.

“About last night,” he called after her.

She stopped, and spun around to ace him, the sun dancing on her raven hair. She looked absolutely stunning in the morning light wearing a red T-shirt, tight jeans and boots. Gage wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and kiss those adorable lips. He knew he shouldn’t be feeling this way, knew he needed to take a step back, but the attraction was too strong. And given the way the light embraced her slim body, his thoughts were all about the bedroom, and definitely not about getting up on a horse.