The Rancher's Family Thanksgiving

Meg and Luke had wanted her to go home with them.

She’d called Tyler and had him come and get her instead.

Tyler had told her parents he would stay with Susie through the night—a move that had turned out to be both good and bad. Good because when the enormity of what had nearly happened finally hit Susie she had started crying and couldn’t stop. Tyler had held her until the storm passed, and a different storm started. Once again, they had ended up in her bed.

Making love with him that night had been the perfect remedy for the calamity. The usual confusion and promises not to ever do it again had followed. And they had kept that promise. Until tonight.

The fact they had ended up in each other’s arms this evening really was no surprise, Susie silently reassured herself.

Her parents had a talent for driving her absolutely crazy. And now, thanks to her plea for his intervention, Tyler was being driven to distraction by the situation, too.

Fortunately, this time, for the first time, their coming together like that had started and ended with a single kiss. His emergency call had removed them from a situation rife with physical temptation and emotional pitfalls.

And now that she had gotten the much-needed break, she had to take a step back. Take a deep breath, and go back to what worked best for her, living moment to moment. No plans for the future, other than the ones she had for her business.

The upcoming holidays were going to be tough enough without adding another emotionally complicated but ultimately going-nowhere lovemaking session with Tyler to the mix. Thanksgiving was so family-centered. It always brought home to her the things that would never be hers—a husband, children, the deep, inherent belief she would have everything she had ever wanted, everything she deserved, and live to a ripe old age.

All that and more had been taken from her. She didn’t care what anyone said. No platitude or encouragement could bring it back.

“Still ticked off at me for kissing you that way?” Tyler drawled, turning his pickup into the fair grounds where the Laramie County barrel racing competition was being held.

How could she be mad at him when she was equally to blame?

Susie flashed a smile. “Not a problem as long as you don’t do it again.”

Tyler’s expression remained inscrutable. He searched for a parking place. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Which was not the same thing as promising to abstain, Susie noted.

Jimmy Rooney and his father met them at the entrance to the horse barn. Mr. Rooney was a mild-looking man, unlike his son, who seemed like an arrogant kid.

Susie sized up the sixteen-year-old with the custom-made Western clothing, expensive hat and hand-tooled boots, and the fifty-year-old man beside him. She figured out two things right off the bat. The kid was in charge here, not the parent, and the kid was trouble.

Mr. Rooney shook hands with Tyler. Unlike his son, he was all grace and warmth. “I’d like you to examine Catastrophe. I thought he was favoring his right front leg during the warm-up, but couldn’t be sure.”

“I told you, Dad. I didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary when I was riding him!” Jimmy Rooney glared at Tyler. “You’ll see. Nothing is wrong with my horse. Nothing that would keep me from racing him tonight anyway.” Jimmy brushed past the other contestants in the barn, and led the way to the stall where his horse was quartered.

With a gentle word to the sleek stallion, Tyler entered the stall and squatted to examine the dark brown quarter horse, with the glossy black mane and tail. “I can feel the heat in this leg.”

Jimmy sent a panicked, angry look at his father. “We’re supposed to compete tonight!” Jimmy turned to Tyler with a haughty glare. “It’s for the area championship.”

Tyler examined the rest of the horse, then settled next to the right front leg once again. As Tyler pressed gently, the horse snorted in response and attempted to push Tyler’s hand away by rubbing his head against his right leg.

Tyler petted Castastrophe, then stood and spoke gently in his ear. The horse calmed under Tyler’s ministering touch.

Tyler turned to Jimmy and his father. “I know this is disappointing, but I advise against racing Catastrophe tonight. His leg needs to be wrapped and iced.”

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