The Texas Rancher's New Family

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It rather felt like tonight’s barbecue.

She was watching Cooper balance his way carefully through a barrage of questions, dancing over the heights of her family’s barely veiled curiosity. Were it not for the instant friendship that sprung up between Sophie and Audie, she wasn’t sure how the evening would have gone.

“Daddy didn’t want to come,” Sophie admitted as Tess and Audie gave her a tour of the barns and led her up to the fence that held Daisy and Russet, the only two bison on the ranch that were safe for human contact. “Safe human contact” was a relative term, meaning animals on one side of a very strong fence, humans on the other. But unlike the animals out in the pasture, it was possible to get close to these bison, and even to pet them, without spooking them.

I can just guess he wasn’t eager, Tess thought. “But you’re here.” She made sure to say it with a smile.

“I convinced him after you had the different of opinion,” Sophie pronounced, clearly quoting her father’s words. She was either unaware of the level of her frankness or didn’t especially care that she was revealing information Cooper probably didn’t want Tess to know. She’d known Sophie for less than a week and was already one hundred percent charmed by the girl. As to her father? The jury was still out on him.

“Russet got his name from me on account of his color,” Audie explained. “Bison babies are rusty colored when they are born. They only turn brown when they grow up.” Audie leaned in toward Sophie. “Gunnerdad thought I was going to give him a girly name like Rainbow Sparkle when he let me name her.”

“That’s silly!” Sophie said as the pair of girls burst into laughter.

“He said nothing on his ranch would ever have that name,” Audie shared through giggles.

The sound of two girls’ laughter, even at the expense of her brother for his now-infamous worry over Audie’s naming choice, melted Tess’s heart. If joy had a sound, Tess thought it would be very much like those two right now. Did Bardo have friends to laugh with?

“What’s so funny over here?” came Cooper’s voice from behind them. “And who’s this big fella?”

Tess let Audie, who never tired of introducing Daisy and Russet to guests, do the honors. “He’s Russet,” her niece said, pointing to the young male bison.

“Audie named him,” Sophie offered. “And not Rainbow Sparkle.” More giggles.

Cooper raised one eyebrow and scratched his chin. “I’m guessing there’s a story there?” he said to Tess.

“I’ll fill you in later,” Tess replied.

“And this is Daisy.” Audie continued. “She’s the bison who kept going over to visit your ranch when the mean man owned it.”

“I’d heard a few of your bison took a shine to wandering about,” Cooper said to Audie with a teasing tone and a wide smile. The first smile Tess had seen on him tonight, as a matter of fact.

“The cat in the barn had kittens two weeks ago,” Audie said to Sophie. “Wanna go see if they’ll play with us?”

No little girl on the planet could say no to that request. Within seconds Sophie and Audie were racing off toward the barn, chatting and laughing as if they’d known each other for months instead of hours.

“She ratted you out, you know,” Tess said as they watched the pair amble off.

Cooper merely adjusted his hat on his head and made a grunting sound.

“According to her, ‘Daddy didn’t want to come.’ And we had a ‘different of opinion.’”

Cooper put one boot up on the corral fence. “Well, I was warned.”

“You were also invited. And they’re having a ball, Sophie and Audie.”

He looked at her. “I’m glad for that, really I am.”

He didn’t have to say that he wasn’t sure it was worth the full-out inquisition he was putting up with tonight to give Sophie that fun. His aggravation with the questioning was clear to everyone—except, maybe, Sophie and Audie.

Tess didn’t want this to be the last time Cooper Pine set foot on the Blue Thorn Ranch. There had to be a way to bridge the gap between her family and his. “Honestly, Cooper, I don’t get the secrecy. It’s only hurting you, making folks suspect the worst.”

She should have kept her mouth shut. Cooper’s face fell sharply. “I don’t owe you—any of you—more explanation than what I’ve said. No matter how nice you are to Sophie.”

Tess pushed off the corral fence where she’d been leaning. “I would not use Sophie to get to you, ever. I’m not that kind of person, and we’re not that kind of family. Sophie will always be welcome here no matter what kind of circus you decide to put on over there.”