Love As Big As Texas by Hestand Rita

Author:Hestand, Rita
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, romance, historical, western, bride, rita hestand, ranching
Publisher: Rita Hestand

Chapter Eleven

"So have you picked out a name for him?" Ben asked Jimmy as they rode toward the crowd of cowboys doing the branding. Butch the sheep dog followed along their side.

"Yeah…I'm gonna call him Sugarfoot." Jimmy beamed.

"Where did you get a name like that?" Ben laughed.

"Mama used to call me Sugarfoot." Jimmy blushed.

"She doesn't call you that any more?" Ben questioned.

"Naw…I'm too big. I'll be five on my birthday."

"A birthday soon, huh?"

"Yes sir." Jimmy grinned, holding the reins like Ben had told him, and trying to keep his boots in the stirrups. However, his legs weren't long enough and they dangled most of the time. Ben noticed how he was sincerely trying to do everything Ben had told him.

"What day?" Ben asked.

"It's in July…"

Ben nodded.

"Do you like my Mama?" Jimmy blurted.

"Well of course I do…why?"

Jimmy shrugged. "'Cause I'd like you to stay my Pa."

Ben glanced at him with surprise and a small thrill raced through him. "You would?"

"Yeah…my real daddy…he wasn't home much. I can't remember him very good. Mama never talks about him. I don't think he liked my Mama much—"

"What makes you say that?" Ben glanced at him, alarmed that Jimmy would think that.

Jimmy looked down at the ground, digging his small boot into the dry earth, then up at Ben. "He was mean. He used to hit her." Jimmy frowned.

Ben stopped in the saddle and turned to stare at him. "Did he hurt her bad?"

"Uh huh." Jimmy hung his head. "One time real bad. He slammed her against the wall, and she didn't get up, she doubled over in pain, and I didn't know what was wrong. The lady next door came over and helped."

"I'll never hurt her Jimmy." Ben's frown grew.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Sometimes. Mama used to cry a lot. But now…she doesn't cry." Jimmy informed him. "She even smiles a little. She's a good Mama, and I don't want to go and live with my daddy's folks."

"You don't?"

"No sir. I don't like them."

"Well, I don't think you are going to have to worry about them, Jimmy." He glanced at him. "You know hitting a woman is the worse thing a man can do, practically. And I'm sorry you had to witness it. You and your mama have had it rough. But all of that is going to change." Ben declared. "And I want to adopt you and give you my name. Would that be alright?" Ben asked gently.

"You mean it?"

"I mean it." Ben smiled.

Jimmy smiled. "So my name would be Wyler too?"

"That's right."

Jimmy looked very happy. "Do you think she'll be proud of me today?"

"I think she will yes. You are doing great on Sugarfoot. I think he must like you. You pay attention, that's good." Ben saw Jimmy beam with a smile. "You keep paying attention and you just might be the best cowboy around."

"I like grandpa too. He tells me stories about stuff."

"Grandpa's are special." Ben laughed. "I remember mine. He did the same thing."

"Where is he?" Jimmy asked.

"He went to heaven." Ben explained.

"What's heaven?" Jimmy blinked hard.

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