Samantha's Cowboy

“Let’s take a walk.” Sam slipped her arm through Duke’s and they strolled toward the barn. “How’s life in Detroit?”

“Renée’s working with a local teacher to create a homeschooling program for the kids who end up in Santa’s Shelter when the doors open this September.”

“What’s happened to the kids you discovered hiding in your warehouse this past Christmas?” Aside from Timmy, Sam couldn’t remember their names.

“Renée’s keeping a close eye on the group. Mrs. Jensen suffered a mild heart attack a few months ago and Renée worried that she’d have to find a new home for Crystal and Evie. Crystal surprised everyone by stepping up and caring for the other children while Mrs. Jensen recovered.” Duke chuckled. “Crystal even ditched the gothic clothes and dyed her hair back to blond.”

“Wasn’t there a teenage boy in the group?”

“José. He never surfaced after running away from the Covenant House, but a few weeks ago Renée found a note in our mailbox with the words I’m okay scribbled on it.”

“From José?”

“We can’t be sure but the paper smelled like cigarette smoke and Renée was never able to convince José to quit the cigarettes.”

They stopped at the bench outside the barn and sat. “Willie’s story took an interesting turn,” Duke continued.

Sam wracked her brain but couldn’t recall a boy named Willie.

“Willie’s birth dad entered the picture and not by choice. Evidently the young man wasn’t aware that he’d gotten Willie’s mom pregnant.”

“Is he going to raise Willie?”

“Not sure. It’s a tabloid mess. Willie’s father is white and the son of Richard McDaniel, a prominent plastic surgeon in Detroit.”

“How did the story become public?”

“You’ll have to ask Renée for the details but apparently a disgruntled patient of McDaniel’s leaked the information to the press.”

“Where’s Willie now?”

Duke chuckled. “Living at the McDaniel mansion. Willie’s father is in college and his grandfather’s divorced, so the boy’s under the supervision of the McDaniel housekeeper.”

“Wasn’t there one more child?” Sam asked.

“Ricci. He was arrested for street racing. His foster family gave up on him and Renée had to place him in a boy’s orphanage. His probation officer keeps a close eye on him, but Renée believes it’s only a matter of time before he runs away and joins a gang.”

Sam couldn’t imagine the day-to-day emotional upheaval her sister-in-law experienced as a social worker. “Renée’s a special woman.”

“I’m lucky to have Renée even though I share her with hundreds of kids,” he said.

“What about your condo? When do you two plan to move in?” Her brother had purchased an old warehouse along Detroit’s riverfront. Company offices and a condo were to occupy the top two floors while the rest housed a recreational center and shelter for homeless children.

“Renée and I decided against the condo.”

“Really?”

“We want our kids to grow up in a neighborhood with other families. And Renée worried about moving away from her mother. For now we’re keeping Renée’s house and making plans to expand.”

“You said kids as in plural.”

Duke grinned. “Don’t tell anyone but Renée’s pregnant.”

“Oh, Duke, that’s wonderful!” Sam fought a pang of envy as she hugged her brother. “When is she due?”

“Middle of January.”

“Is Timmy excited?”

“He doesn’t know yet and we don’t want to make the news public until after Timmy’s surgery at the end of August.”

The boy had been born with a clubfoot but because he’d been shuffled from one foster home to another through the years he’d never had the deformity corrected.

“Would you call me when Timmy checks into the hospital? I’d like to send him a gift to cheer him up.”

“Sure thing.” Duke cleared his throat. “Matt hasn’t known Amy or her daughters long. Has he said much about their relationship?”

Sam laughed. “You’re one to talk. You met Renée in December and married her in February.” Her teasing remark earned her a pinch on the arm. “Hey!”

“How does Matt feel about inheriting an instant family?”

“How did you feel about marrying a woman who’ll always be involved with other people’s children?” Sam countered.

“Touché.” Duke chuckled. “That Rose sure is opinionated and Lily, with her blond curls, is nothing but a handful of cute.”

Sam’s turn to share her personal news. “I bought the old Peterson homestead on Route 38 two weeks ago.”

“I’m listening,” Duke said, offering his undivided attention.

That’s what she loved about her stepbrother—he never rushed to judgment like Matt did. Duke heard a person out before offering an opinion. “I need to be part of a worthwhile cause. I hate working in Daddy’s office. There are days I can’t breathe let alone concentrate.”

“I’m sorry, Sam.”

“For what?”

“I should have taken your complaints more seriously when you came to Detroit before Christmas. I could have spoken with Dominick.”

“I wasn’t ready to do anything then. But I am now,” she insisted, hoping to reassure herself as well as her brother.

“What exactly are you doing?” he asked.

“The same thing you and Renée have done for homeless kids, except I’m opening a sanctuary for neglected and abandoned horses.”

“An admirable cause but are you ready to work with horses again?”

“Yes.” She didn’t have a choice—not if she intended to move on with her life. She needed to put her fears to rest if she wanted to experience again the special relationship with a horse that she’d always treasured. “I’ve been visiting the SPCA equine center for several months.”

“Does Dominick know you’re hanging around horses?”