The Wrangler And The Runaway Mom

“I hate to disappoint a customer. Hang on.” He spurred Scout to a trot and was rewarded with a shriek of glee from the boy.

The warm summer sun warmed her back as Maggie leaned on the fence watching Colt and her son. Nicky was absolutely eating this up. Already, he was imitating everything the cowboy did, from his slow—and she had to admit, very sexy—drawl, to the the way he cocked his dark head when he grinned.

She wasn’t exactly sure how that made her feel. Amused, certainly. And maybe a little bereft, too, as if Nicky was pulling away from her.

She did know it shouldn’t move her so much to see the big, rough cowboy being so gentle with her son. Colt sat with one hand around Nicholas’s belly to hold him in place and the other on the reins. As they came around the track again, she could see him dipping his dark head as he talked to Nicky. A few moments later he handed him the reins to let him control the horse for the rest of the ride.

Soon they reined in the horse in front of her again.

“Did you see me, Mom?” Nicky nearly bubbled over with excitement. “I rode Scout, and Colt didn’t even help me. Well—” honesty compelled him to admit “—not very much.”

“I watched you. You make a good wrangler.”

“That’s what Colt says. He says maybe I can ride Scout again tomorrow. Can I, Mom?”

“We’ll see.”

He was still chattering when Colt hefted him down from the saddle and set him on the ground.

Colt glanced up at the sun, now high overhead. “Looks like it’s about lunchtime. How would you two like to go somewhere for lunch?”

The invitation took her completely by surprise. “I don’t—”

“Please, Mom!” Nicky asked, obviously loath to leave his new hero’s side.

Refusing would sound churlish, especially after he had been kind enough to take them riding, but she knew he couldn’t have much money or he wouldn’t be desperate enough to ride on the circuit.

And heaven knew she didn’t have much, not even to go Dutch for fast food.

“Why don’t I make us some sandwiches?” she offered, knowing even as she said it that she would regret it later. “We could take them over to the park across the way and have a picnic.”

“Sounds great,” he replied. “Nick, why don’t you help me take care of Scout, here, and then the two of us can see if we can rustle up something to drink.”

Yes, she was definitely going to regret this, she thought as she watched Nicky’s eyes light up with excitement. How was she supposed to keep distance between them when her son obviously adored the man?

Chapter 5 (#ulink_0d386387-b978-5730-873b-44f958392d4b)

Would two sandwiches be enough for Colt? Knife in hand, Maggie studied the bread laid out in front of her, then pulled two more slices out of the bag. Better safe than sorry. And she hoped he liked turkey, since that was the only lunch meat she had.