Cowboy Lullaby

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“I’ll stay here and hold down the bed,” Renata offered, collapsing into the armchair.

Banshee sniffed his way around the perimeter of the room and sat, staring at her.

“Pass inspection?” she asked Banshee. “No rats? Or snakes?”

“Or armadillos,” Scarlett added. “I hate armadillos.”

Banshee’s tail thumped.

“Doesn’t look like it. Good news,” Tandy said, rubbing her dog behind the ear and refusing to look out the window. Here she was, surrounded by an ocean of waving gold grass and wildflowers and rugged cliffs. Yet, just beyond the barbed-wire fence sat Lynnie’s house. And Click’s large gray truck.

“Lightbulbs,” Renata said, pointing at the ceiling fan overhead. The light fixture was bare.

“And candles,” Scarlett said, looking under the sink. “I’m thinking you’ll lose power whenever a storm rolls through. Candles are cheaper than batteries.”

Tandy grinned. Leave it to her ridiculously wealthy cousin to be cost-conscious. “Candles sound good. And matches.” She opened the small wood-burning stove built into the far wall. “Wood, too, I guess.”

“How about we bring in your gear and see what’s missing,” Renata said from the chair. “And when I say we, it’s understood that I’m not moving from this chair.”

Tandy laughed.

“Maybe you can bring in the bedding first?” she groaned, draping an arm across her eyes.

Scarlett giggled. “That’ll teach you.”

“Oh, I’ve learned my lesson, I promise,” Renata moaned. “No tequila. And no men. We should start a club.”

Tandy shook her head. “I’m getting my stuff.” She propped the front door open and headed for her truck, Banshee at her heels. “What do you think?” she asked him. “Lots of room to run. Peace and quiet—”

Banshee whimpered, staring at the fence line.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, following his gaze.

The hot West Texas wind carried the distinct sound of crying to her. A baby crying. She slowed, glancing at Lynnie’s house. Click was there, slowly making his way around Lynnie’s porch with Pearl in his arms. He was bouncing her, almost dancing with her—but Pearl kept right on crying.

Banshee whimpered again. He loved kids—loved them. Tandy had taken him to every babysitting gig she’d had, so it was a natural development. Somehow the dog had determined that, since he lacked a herd to care for, his job was wrangling babies and children. And now there was a baby in need. The dog stared at her, golden eyes shimmering.

“Hate to point this out, but you’re my dog,” she said. But poor Pearl was wailing. Her dog wasn’t the only one with a weakness for children. She sighed and gave up. “Go on.”

Banshee took off, his tawny coat a flash in the tall grass, knocking wildflowers flat as he made a beeline for Pearl. Tandy waited. The minute Banshee reached Lynnie’s porch, he barked and ran around Click’s long legs. Pearl’s wails came to an abrupt stop.

And Click laughed.

She swallowed hard and turned back to her truck, tugging her bag from the back with so much force, she wound up falling on her butt. She sat there, fighting laughter—and tears—taking slow calming breaths.

“What can I carry?” Scarlett asked. “You okay?”

She pushed off the ground. “I’m fine. A dork, but fine. Grab what you can.” She grinned. “Bedding is in that suitcase.”

Scarlett reached inside for the bag. “You sure you’re going to be okay out here?”

“It’s not so bad,” Tandy said, inspecting the small cabin. Truth be told, it would be nice to have the space.

“I’m not talking about the cabin.” She nodded at her neighbors. “What if he stays?”

Tandy shook her head, impersonating her uncle Woodrow as she said, “Let’s not put the cart in front of the horse.”

“I can’t believe you just said that,” Renata said from her spot, leaning against the door frame.

“It was scary good,” Scarlett agreed.

Tandy smiled, hooking her backpack over one shoulder and lugging a large suitcase with the other. She’d lived too much of her life worrying over Click Hale. That was going to stop, now.

* * *

CLICK SHIFTED PEARL to his hip and unhooked the gate between Lynnie’s and Woodrow Boone’s properties. A gate he had put in years before. It was rusty after sitting so long, but a solid push had it swinging open. How many times had he and the girls met up after the moon was high? They’d been damn lucky never to have run into a rattlesnake or javelina—or any other trouble. Those were happy memories. When he came to Lynnie’s, he’d pretend that this was his home and life was easy and carefree.

“Da-gee,” Pearl said, reaching for Banshee and kicking her little legs.

“Doggie.” Click nodded, repeating her words.

She smiled at him. “Da-gee. Do-gee. Da-gee.”

He laughed. “You like that doggie?”

Banshee stopped, looked back at them and took off.

“He wants us to follow him,” Click explained. He didn’t know enough about babies to know if Pearl listened or not. Half the time he thought she understood everything he said. Others, not so much. Like when he was trying to rock her to sleep at 2:00 a.m.

“Da-gee?” she asked, leaning forward in his arms, searching for Banshee.

“He’s over there,” Click said, pointing. “Right there. Banshee,” he called.

Banshee came trotting back.

“Da-gee!” Pearl squealed.

Banshee barked, making Pearl jump. Click smiled at her wide, startled eyes.

“Doggie said hi,” he said. “Say hi, Pearl.”

Clearly, his daughter wasn’t sure she liked the barking part of the dog. Her little mouth was puckered. The excited kicking and hand waving had stalled out, too.

“Hi, doggie,” he repeated, smiling. “Hi.”

She looked at him. “Hee, da-gee.”

Banshee barked.

“See, he likes it.” Click nodded.

Pearl nodded. Whether she was agreeing with him or doing what he did, he wasn’t sure. But she wasn’t crying, so he was satisfied. How she’d react to leaving Banshee with Tandy was another matter. How something so little could make such a loud noise was beyond him. Pearl had champion lungs.

“Howdy,” Scarlett said.

He nodded. “Banshee showed up. Didn’t want Tandy worrying over him.”

“I sent him,” Tandy said, patting the dog on the back. “Sounded like Pearl needed some distracting. He loves kids.”

Click couldn’t have been more surprised. “You sent him?”

She glanced his way, barely. “He gets upset when he hears a baby cry.”

“That makes two of us,” he said.

Did she smile? A small smile, but a smile nonetheless.

He knelt, holding Pearl’s hands while she found her footing. Banshee ran up, sniffing her up one way and down the other. Pearl thought this was hilarious—even when she ended up sitting in the grass.

“Banshee.” Tandy’s tone was soft. “Gentle.”

Banshee looked at Tandy and sat, then resumed staring at Pearl.

“He’s smart.” Click was impressed.