Ranch at River’s End by Brenda Mott

Author:Brenda Mott [Mott, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Me & the Kids, You, Category
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-08-01T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

SATURDAY MORNING DAWNED slightly on the chilly side, a few scattered clouds threatening to bring showers. Darci hoped the rain would hold off. She wanted today to be perfect for Michaela. She was afraid if they didn’t get the little girl’s lesson in right away, Jordan might change his mind.

They met at the Shadow S shortly after lunch, and by then the sun had come out, though the breeze was a bit chilly. Darci wore a jean jacket over her T-shirt, and tugged her cowboy hat low over her eyes as she got out of the car with Christopher. Jordan and Michaela pulled in beside them as they were parking, Nina with them.The girl’s entire face lit up like a Christmas tree as she got out of the SUV. “Hi,” she said to Darci. “Where’s my horse?”

Darci laughed. “Slow down, kiddo. He’s not ready yet because I thought you might like to help tack him up.”

“I sure would!”

Nina chuckled and Jordan shook his head. “I don’t think she slept a wink last night. She was up at the crack of dawn, ready to ride.”

“This will be good for her,” Nina said. “You’ll see.”

“I hope so.”

“Don’t worry,” Darci said. “We’re putting her on the gentlest horse we have on the place.”

“My horse,” Chris muttered.

Darci ignored him. “Dollar’s great with kids. So come on, Mac. Let’s go get him.”

Mac leaned on her cane, walking more quickly than Darci had imagined she could. Inwardly, Darci smiled. Nina was right. This was going to be good for the girl.

Darci felt Jordan’s closeness as they all walked to the barn with Stella. She still couldn’t get the kiss they’d shared off her mind, no matter how many times she tried to convince herself it had meant nothing. If so, then why did it keep her awake at night?

She should just be happy that Jordan hadn’t written Chris off as the town villain—that he seemed willing to give her son the benefit of the doubt. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket, not so much to ward off the chilly breeze as to keep from biting her nails. Jordan’s nearness had her rattled.

“I saw the flyers for the ranch rodeo,” he said. “I take it Shauna Roark approved?”

“She was thrilled,” Stella said.

“I’m really glad she didn’t have a problem with us doing this for Tara,” Darci added. “Hopefully the Indian summer we’ve been having will come back for a while.” The rodeo was planned for the second Saturday in October.

“So, tell me,” Nina said. “How does a ranch rodeo differ from a plain old rodeo?”

“The events are a little different,” Darci said, “and local ranches compete with each other in teams of four to five people. There will be events like team penning and wild cow milking.”

Jordan chuckled. “That ought to be interesting.”

“It’s something to watch all right,” Darci said. “I’ll be entering on Aunt Stella’s team. It will be her and Uncle Leon, and me and Christopher.” She laughed. “I may end up visiting you in the E.

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