Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming by Warren Linda

Author:Warren, Linda [Warren, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-01-03T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Cheyenne kept glancing at her watch. Almost five. Why hadn’t Tuf called or come by? She’d been waiting since she’d seen the cattle carrier and Airstream trailer go by. And the girls kept asking when Tuf was coming. She’d run out of things to tell them. “He’s working and has a lot to do” was beginning to sound flimsy. The girls were sitting on the front porch in their boots, jeans and cowgirl hats. What if Tuf didn’t come? What was she going to tell them then?

Feeling anxious, she put down the necklace she was working on. She was making a mess of it. The turquoise stones were expensive and deserved her full attention. She placed them in a tray and stored them in her workbox. She’d finish it later.

Tucking her hair behind her ears, she took a long breath. It hadn’t been easy to open her heart again. And to another marine, at that, but she felt a connection to Tuf. It was real, as real as anything she’d ever felt. He was kind, patient, understanding and cared about her girls. That was real, too. Before she’d known it, she was taking steps toward him instead of away like her mind had dictated. She’d been burned badly, so why was she exposing her emotions once again to the fire?

She gathered her jewelry-making supplies and took them to her room. They’d had a wonderful conversation on Friday night so she didn’t understand his silence today. Something had to have happened. But what? She was tired of trying to figure it out. She’d take the girls to get ice cream or a hamburger or both to get their minds off Tuf. As she placed her box in an old armoire in her room, she heard the girls screech.

They must have spotted a bug. She ran to the front door, preparing to be the bug slayer, but stopped short in the doorway. Tuf stood there with Sadie in one arm and Sammie in the other. He’s here. Her heart thumped against her ribs in excitement. She grabbed her jacket, slipped into it and stepped outside.

The girls chattered away. When they saw Cheyenne, they squirmed to be let down. Sadie asked, “Mommy, how long is five minutes?”

She understood the question. How long to tell Tuf to wait before coming to the barn to watch them ride. They wanted to get ready.

“Oh, a long time.”

“Good.” Sadie looked up at Tuf. “Five minutes and then come watch us.”

“You got it, munchkin.”

Sadie took Sammie’s hand and walked down the steps and headed for the barn. Cheyenne reached for her cell in her pocket and called her dad. “The girls are almost there.” She clicked off and stared into Tuf’s dark eyes. He looked tired…and sad. Something had happened.

“Could we talk for a minute?” he asked.

“Sure.” He sat on the step and she sat beside him, preparing herself for his next words.

He clasped his hands between his knees. “I could have come over earlier but…I think it’s best if I don’t see you anymore.

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