The No. 1 Sheriff in Texas by Patricia Thayer

Author:Patricia Thayer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE following weekend, Nora drove out to the Circle B Ranch with a chatty Zach in the backseat, announcing all his plans for his day at the rodeo. Since Brandon had brought her son to the ranch just days before, he hadn’t talked about anything else.

Nora wasn’t going to come today, but Brandon had already invited Zach, so she didn’t have any choice unless she wanted to be labeled the meanest mom in the world. There were so many things Zach had already missed in his short life, so she didn’t want to keep him from this experience.

Good excuse, girl, she told herself. It had nothing to do with the fact that she, too, wanted to see Brandon today. It had been a long five days since he’d walked out of her apartment, but not before he’d announced she had to make the next move if they were to have a relationship. Coming today, she was not only encouraging her son, but also giving Brandon encouragement that they could possibly have a chance.

This was a bad idea all around.

She’d give anything to be with this man, to live a normal life without the threat of her past intruding. But she couldn’t.

“Mom, look,” Zach called.

There were rows of multicolored streamers hanging along the fence, and a big banner over the archway, reading, Circle B Annual Rodeo Everyone Welcome.

A tingle of excitement raced through her as she drove though the gate. She was going to see Brandon. She shook off the thought and concentrated on the guy directing them to park in an open field. They got out of the car and walked with the others heading toward the barn and corral. They passed several concession stands that offered a variety of food and drinks. Although they arrived early, there were a lot of people milling around, setting up tables and bleachers for the rodeo.

“Look, Mom, that’s where Brandon’s going to do the team roping event.” The boy looked around, frowning. “He said he was going to meet us.”

“Remember, he’s on the roundup.”

Zach couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Oh, I wish I could go with him.”

Before Nora could console her son, someone called to them. A smiling Abby approached, dressed in black jeans, a beautiful royal blue Western blouse, topped off with a black cowboy hat.

“Good, you made it,” she said. “Hi, Zach, you ready for the big day?”

He nodded. “I just wish Brandon was here.”

Abby smiled. “Let’s see what I can do about that.” She pulled a slim phone from her hip pocket and punched in a number, then turned to Zach. “The men are driving the cattle in now.” Abby paused and spoke into the phone. “They’re here. Okay, I will.” She hung up, then motioned them to go with her. “Come on, all the action will be in the branding pens. Brandon is out with the herd, but he wanted to know when you got here.”

Once they reached the large group of pens, Nora noticed groups of women already camped out.

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