LITMIR.BIZ

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at the man. “And I’m the stupid city-boy brat’s mother,” she said angrily. “His spill was an accident, but mine was on purpose because you’re a jerk.”

      For a brief heartbeat she feared the man was going to punch her, and then Daisy was between them. “Let’s all just calm down,” she said. “Lloyd, go on and take care of your business and leave the kid and the ladies alone.”

      The man she called Lloyd gave Nicolette a glare that chilled her to her very bones and then headed on to the back. “Don’t pay him no mind,” Daisy said and patted Sammy’s shoulder as he began to cry, his face buried in his hands. “He’s just a cranky old man.”

      “It...it was an accident,” he said between sobs. “I didn’t mean to do it.”

      “We know it was an accident. How about I bring you one of my special chocolate chip cookies with some ice cream for dessert?” Daisy asked with a wink at Nicolette. “I’ve never known a little cowboy who didn’t love my cookies.”

      Sammy swiped his tears and looked up at the red-headed owner. “That would be really nice. Thank you.”

      As Daisy left to get the dessert, Nicolette reached across the table for her son’s hand. “It’s really okay, Sammy. Accidents happen and he was not nice at all.” She squeezed his hand and then released it, knowing Sammy would be embarrassed if anyone saw him holding his mother’s hand.

      By the time Daisy delivered the goodies to Sammy, Lloyd and his buddies had left the café and Nicolette breathed a sigh of relief.

      They finished their meals without further incident and left the café to find Lucas’s truck. The minute Nicolette spied the black pickup with Lucas seated on the tailgate, his hat low over his face, her heart began that crazy beat that was definitely not normal.

      He sat up as he saw their approach and bumped his hat back, a frown crossing his forehead. He must have noticed the soberness of the group.

      “How was lunch?” he asked as he stood.

      “An experience,” Nicolette replied, hoping he could read her eyes to know she didn’t want to discuss it at the moment. The last thing she wanted was for Sammy to get upset all over again.

      He turned to the back of the pickup, which held a variety of grocery bags, and grabbed a big shoe box. He bent down so that he was eye to eye with Sammy. “I see you got your hat, but I have a feeling you’ll be needing these, too.”

      Sammy took the lid off and his entire face lit up at the sight of the black polished cowboy boots. “Really? For me?” he asked.

      Lucas laughed. “They sure aren’t my size. Why don’t you pull them on and take a little stroll down the sidewalk to make sure they fit.”

      Sammy sat on the tailgate and quickly shucked his tennis shoes and then pulled on each boot. When he took off walking down the sidewalk, Nicolette turned to Lucas. “Just tell me how much they were and I’ll pay you.”

      “Don’t offend me,” he replied. “This is a gift from me to Sammy and has nothing to do with you.” He smiled at her, tiny lines radiating out from the corners of his eyes. “Besides, if he’s going to be one of the ranch hands, he needs a good pair of boots. Those white tennis shoes won’t last a week in the pasture.”

      “Then I guess I’ll just say thank you,” she replied.

      Sammy ran back to them. “They fit perfect. I love them. Thank you, Cowboy Lucas.”

      “You’re welcome, partner. Now, let’s get in the truck and head back to the ranch.”

      Nicolette and Sammy rode in the small seats behind Lucas and Cassie as they headed back home. The conversation was neutral, focused on the weather and the passing landscape. Lucas pointed out other ranches they passed and mentioned who owned them, but Nicolette paid little attention.

      The gift of the boots had obviously erased the trauma of the spilled milk for Sammy, and Nicolette was grateful to see her son dancing his feet against the floorboard and adjusting and readjusting his hat on his head.

      Despite her desire to the contrary, Lucas Taylor was definitely getting under her skin. If the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, the way to Nicolette’s heart was through Sammy.

      When they got to the house, Lucas dropped them off and then drove on toward the bunkhouse in the distance. Nicolette knew he had supplies to drop off and then probably afternoon chores to take care of.

      Sammy went up to his room, Cassie disappeared into her bedroom and Nicolette wandered the downstairs restlessly. She tried to keep her mind off the lunch debacle and the way Lloyd’s glare had made her feel.

      He’d frightened her more than just a little bit. For just a moment she’d thought he was going to pick up Sammy by the scruff of his neck and slam him against a wall. There had been that kind of wild meanness in his eyes. She’d believed he was going to punch her in the face. She didn’t want to think about what might have happened if Daisy hadn’t intervened.

      It was almost nine that night when she tucked a happy and exhausted Sammy into bed. She kissed him on the cheek, but before she could leave he grabbed her hand and indicated he wanted her to sit next to him.

      She sat on the edge of the mattress, wondering if he wanted to talk about what had happened at lunch. “I want to stay here forever,” he said. “I don’t ever want to go back to New York. I like it here.”

      She looked at him in surprise. “Honey, you know we can’t stay here forever. This is Cassie’s home, not ours, and she isn’t planning on staying long. We have our home in New York.”

      He sat up. “We don’t have our own home in New York. We have Cassie’s apartment. Why couldn’t you and me get a home someplace around here where we could visit with Cowboy Lucas all the time and I could always be a cowboy?”

      “Sammy, honey. My work is in New York. I have the shop to work in. I can’t just pick up and move here. This isn’t where we belong.”

      Sammy flopped back down on his back. “I think we could belong here if we wanted to.”

      She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead and then stood. “Just enjoy being here now, Sammy. Besides, Cassie hasn’t made up her mind yet about what the future holds. Who knows what might happen. Good night, my sweet cowboy.”

      “Good night, my sweet mom,” he replied, and she left the room to the music of his soft laughter.

      “Got the little bug tucked in?” Cassie asked from the sofa when Nicolette entered the great room.

      Nicolette collapsed into the comfort of a big easy chair. “He wants to stay here forever.”

      “It didn’t take long to get the city out of him. I wonder how long it will take to get the country out of him when we go back home,” Cassie said.

      “I have a feeling he’ll have to outgrow those boots before he willingly stops wearing them,” Nicolette said.

      “How did Lucas know what size to buy?” Cassie mused. “He got it right on the money.”

      “No idea how he did that. I imagine he and the salesman just made a lucky guess.”

      “I sure didn’t feel any welcome from anyone around town today,” Cassie said. “We’re definitely the outsiders.”

      “Daisy was nice,” Nicolette said.

      “Daisy is probably a smart business owner. She has to be nice to everyone who comes into the café.”

      Nicolette gazed at her friend thoughtfully. “You should be glad that nobody was particularly friendly. You’re the one who said we shouldn’t get friendly with people since we aren’t sticking around.”

      “I know. I’m just feeling perverse. It would have been nice if somebody acted like they wanted to meet the new owner of the ranch.” She curled her slender

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