Her Homecoming Cowboy

Leo turned back to a smiling Luke. “Did you teach Colt to ride bulls, too? He’s the best there is, and I want him to teach me how to ride a bull.”

Nervous at all Leo had said, Annie realized she’d come without a well-thought-out plan of action and now she had to fess up. Before she could say anything, Jess spoke to Leo.

“I’m sorry about the fire, little buddy. But a bull busted Colt’s collarbone a couple of weeks ago, so he won’t be throwing a loop anytime soon. I bet when he’s all healed up, you could talk him into it, though.”

“Puppies!” Leo exclaimed, suddenly distracted when he spied two small puppies that came around the back of the office building, tumbling around as they wrestled together. Leo raced over to play, leaving Annie alone with the two brothers. They watched Leo fall to his knees and welcome the puppies into his lap. Both brothers had quizzical expressions as they studied Leo. When they turned almost as one to face her, Annie felt the weight of their gazes. An odd sense of guilt overcame her.

“That was good timing,” Luke said. “Is there something we can do for you? Anything we need to know?”

Annie’s heart hiccuped. That he’s your nephew.

“Yeah,” Jess added, an odd light in his eyes. “You came out here to see Colt. Was there a reason for that? Other than him being Leo’s...hero? Maybe something we can help with?”

The weirdest feeling overcame Annie—they knew. She shook it off as guilt making her paranoid as she contemplated her dilemma. She had no one to confide her problems to or to ask advice from other than her best friend back home who had urged her to leave Leo’s life as it was when Annie had confided that she was thinking of locating the boy’s dad.

Looking at Leo’s uncles, she told herself they didn’t know anything. Her imagination was playing tricks on her. Paranoia was setting in. Finally, realizing they were waiting on a response, she asked, “Can you tell me how to get to the veterinary clinic? I’m their new office manager.”

Jess snapped his fingers. “Oh, yeah—that’s why your name sounded familiar,” he said, his lip hitching into a lopsided smile. “My fiancée, Gabi Newberry, is the vet tech there. I knew they were expecting someone. We’ve had so much going on, it slipped by me that it was this week you were supposed to arrive.”

She was going to be working with Colt’s soon-to-be sister-in-law.... “Oh, really,” she said, hiding her surprise. “I talked to Gabi last week. I’m excited about working with her.”

After a few minutes spent talking about the clinic, Annie called Leo over and they headed to the clinic using the directions Jess had given her. The clinic was right down the road from the Holden Ranch.

Annie glanced in her side-view mirror at Leo’s uncles as she drove away. She wasn’t sure whether she was going to break her news or not—only time would tell. She was here, though, and she had to admit that she liked the brothers very much. But the jury was still out on Colt Holden.

Annie, and Annie alone, would decide if Colt was worthy of being Leo’s daddy—or if he would forever remain Leo’s rodeo hero.

Chapter Three

“We are going to make this last rodeo the best one yet,” a spunky-looking redhead declared as Annie and Leo entered the Mule Hollow Veterinary Clinic.

With her flaming-red hair contrasting against the tangerine capri pants and sunshine-yellow top, to say that she was bright would have been an understatement.

All four women in the room turned to look at them as Annie pulled the door shut behind her. Two other women who looked to be in their sixties, like the sunny redhead, stood in the waiting area.

One was a stout woman in a blue plaid shirt and a pair of denim overalls. Her short gray hair was the color of steel wool and just as coarse. She had a smile as wide as a half-moon, and the twinkle in her eyes was as bright as the Milky Way. Beside her stood a small-framed woman with noticeably blue eyes that contrasted with her snow-white hair, cut short and fringed around her face, and those amazing sapphire eyes. Looking at her, Annie felt immediately warm and welcome, even though she hadn’t said a word yet, just smiled.

Behind the reception desk was a woman in her late twenties. She wore her dark hair in a thick ponytail that had fallen across her left shoulder and hung over her heart. Annie assumed this was Gabi, Jess’s fiancée.

Before Gabi could say anything, everyone began greeting her and Leo at the same time. Mule Hollow, Texas, was known for its matchmakers, because of an ongoing syndicated newspaper column about the little town that had gone from a dusty, dying town to a thriving place. All because of a Wives Wanted ad. Annie knew instantly that she was looking at the matchmakers, better known as the matchmaking posse. The very idea sent a startled thrill of pleasure racing through her. Not that she was looking to be matched up. More like it was neat to actually see the ladies in person.

“Hello,” the redhead cooed, rushing forward and bending over to hold out her hand to Leo. There was no mistaking that this was Esther Mae Wilcox. “Aren’t you a handsome little fella!”

“Howdy,” the stout woman in overalls boomed, instantly bringing her larger-than-life personality off the page of the newspaper column. This had to be ranch woman Norma Sue Jenkins. “Now, Esther Mae, don’t go scaring the child before we find out what his name is.”

“I’m Leo. And I’m not scared,” Leo declared—the kid never met a stranger. He beamed up at the ladies while they chuckled at his bright-eyed declaration.

“You must be Annie, our new office manager,” the younger woman said, coming from behind the counter and holding her hand out to Annie. “I’m Gabi Newberry, the vet-tech-slash-receptionist up until now. I am so glad to see you.”

She hadn’t known how much trepidation she was feeling until this moment. The weeks of worrying over the choices she’d made and the weeks of praying, coupled with the fear that God wasn’t listening to her, disappeared as she felt the warm welcome of these four ladies. Relief washed over her. She had fears about what would happen with Colt, but this was going to be all right. Leo was going to thrive in this environment if all the folks of Mule Hollow were this caring.

“I’m so glad to be here,” she said, smiling.

The small lady’s dainty hands clasped Annie’s. “We are so glad you’ve come. I’m Adela Ledbetter Green, Gabi’s grandmother,” she said, confirming Annie’s thoughts on who the delicate, kind-looking woman was.

“And I’m Esther Mae Wilcox,” the redhead gushed. Then Norma Sue introduced herself.

“We are always glad to see new folks move to town,” Norma Sue added. “You’ve rented Lilly Wells’s old home, right? We call it the Tipps place because that was her maiden name and her family owned it for years.”

“Yes. We’re on our way out there now. We just stopped in to let the clinic know we made it to town. And that I’d be at work in the morning.”

“And I’m going to go see my new day care,” Leo declared before Annie could mention that they’d met Jess. “I’m six. I get to start first grade this year.” Leo beamed.

“That sounds like some fine apples. You two will have to come to the rodeo we’re having in town next week,” Norma Sue said. “I know Leo would really enjoy it.”

“I sure would. Is Colt Holden gonna ride bulls?”

The minute the question was out, everyone’s ears perked up—or was it Annie’s imagination?

“You know Colt?” They all asked, sounding like echoes of each other. It was definitely not her imagination.

“Sure I do. He’s the best bull rider in all of the whole world. And that’s big, you know.”

“Leo’s—” Annie stopped herself just before blurting out that Leo’s mother was a big fan. “Leo loves rodeo. And he is particularly a fan of Colt’s. I, um, took him out there to their ranch earlier, taking a chance that he might be in town.”

“How wonderful,” Esther Mae exclaimed, her gaze flicking from Gabi to Norma Sue, a grin spread across her face.

“I’m engaged to Colt’s brother, Jess,” Gabi offered. “Were they out there?”

“Yes, they were there and Jess told me you worked here. He gave me directions.”

Norma Sue planted her hands on her hips. “Was Colt there?”

“Yes, he was.”

“Colt gave me a rope,” Leo said proudly. “Can I go get it?”

“Sure, but stay right beside the office,” she said, glad for him to have something to occupy his time.

“That was nice of Colt to give Leo a rope,” Adela said, her blue eyes warm. “I’m glad he was there. I’m sure he enjoyed meeting a fan, especially one so cute.”

Thinking about his odd behavior, Annie wasn’t so sure about that.

“I know Leo enjoyed meeting him,” she said truthfully.

“Didn’t you tell Susan that you’re renting the Tipps place?” Gabi asked, referring to Annie’s new boss.

“Yes, we’re on our way out there now. I’m just so thrilled to have found it to rent.”