Hannah grinned, looking mischievous. "I need cowgirl boots to go with my pony. I wanted red ones to match Aunt Hedy's, but not now. They've got to be pink!"

When Kent burst out laughing, Lauren joined him.

Hannah looked back and forth between them, appearing concerned. "You like red better?"

Lauren laughed even harder. "I think pink is just perfect for you." She glanced up at Kent and felt an upwelling of love like she hadn't felt in so many years. She took a deep breath. If she wasn't careful, she was going to lose complete control around him.

Kent smiled at her, warmth shinning in his eyes. "Pink's starting to be my favorite color."

"Good." Hannah clapped her hands together. "Now we've settled on pink, let's go get my pony."

Chapter 22.

"I'd invite you inside, but I think if I did we might have a mutiny on our hands." Kent gestured toward Hannah, who was hanging over the porch railing with both hands as she tried to peer around the house toward the barn. He hoped his words didn't sound rude, because they were the best he could come up with on the spur of the moment. His place was a mess. No telling where he'd thrown his clothes or pizza boxes or whatever. He wished he could hose out the inside like he'd hosed off his truck, but it wouldn't be that easy. Whatever had to do with animals or business, he kept top notch, but he always let things for himself slide because he didn't figure it made much difference. Now he might have to rethink that habit.

Lauren nodded as she walked over to Hannah, eased her daughter back from possible danger, and turned to Kent. "Looks like you've been decorating. I'd love to see all the changes you've made inside."

"Pony. Pony. Pony," Hannah chanted as she twirled around on tiptoes.

"I'll be happy to show you later." Much later, if he had anything to say about it. As a distraction, he leaned forward, ready to catch Hannah if she overbalanced and started to fall. He suddenly realized he'd need to keep an eye on her near horses or anything else. "Were we that full of energy at her age?"

Lauren chuckled, nodding. "I bet. She'll run out of steam later. For now, we'd better just get this show on the road."

"Okay. While she's still full of get-up-and-go, let's look at the facilities." He gestured down the stairs. "Mom and Dad moved the horses and tack to the new barn by their place. That means my barn and arena aren't in use. Why don't we take a look and see if they'll suit what you have in mind."

"That's generous." Lauren frowned slightly as she looked at him. "But are you sure you don't mind? It could be a lot of trouble."

"Pony. Pony. Pony." Hannah danced down the stairs and over to the big oak tree in front. She leaned back against the trunk and crossed her arm as if impatiently waiting for them.

Kent chuckled at the sight. "She reminds me more of you all the time."

Lauren smiled at her daughter. "Hannah's fitting in quicker than I could've hoped for around here."

"Chip off the old block." He caught Lauren's hand and squeezed her fingers. "I talked with Mom, and she's anxious to see you and meet Hannah."

"She was always great. I can't wait to see her again, too."

"I'll set something up later." He tugged Lauren closer, feeling the heat of her body against him. "She likes your idea about horse-a.s.sisted therapy and wants to help any way she can."

Lauren eased away and gave him a hard stare. "You told her?"

"I thought it best since you may be working here."

"But I don't know anything yet. I mean, I don't know if it'll be possible, if we can get horses, if-"

"Let's count on everything working out just fine." He pulled her back to him, fitting her body to the long length of his own. She was creating a wildfire in him that was building all the time. "And we can start right here on Cougar Ranch."

She put her hands against his chest, splayed her fingers against his hard muscles, and tilted her head back. "I'll pay you rent."

He shook his head. "No way in h.e.l.l."

"Yes, I will. And I'll buy horses and equipment and-"

He lifted one of her hands and kissed each fingertip. "Lauren, I'm taking some time off to help you."

She jerked her hand away and stepped back, shaking her head negatively in concern.

He saw tears brim her eyes and couldn't figure out what he'd done or said wrong to upset her. "What?"

She turned away and clasped the railing with both hands. "We're not a couple anymore. You don't owe me anything." She glanced back over her shoulder. "And I don't want to owe you anything."

He felt a cold chill race down his spine followed by a hot burn that spread outward to engulf his entire body. He wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her, but that wasn't the answer. She had to come to his reasoning on her own. "Did you forget we're friends? Did you forget how friends help each other in Wildcat Bluff? Did you forget we'd all do just about anything to make Hedy better?"

He stepped toward her, holding down his frustration by force of will. "You're trying to throw away all of us in this county who'd consider it an honor, as well as a duty, to get your idea off the ground. You might even end up providing jobs for some down-on-their-luck horse folks."

She groaned and put her face in her hands. "No more, please." She raised her head and looked at him, tears shining in her dark eyes. "I'm not used to so much kindness and generosity."

"You better get used to it. n.o.body's letting you make a go of it on your own. All you have to do is let us do what we know how to do."

"And what is that?" She sniffed back her tears as she gave him a tentative smile.

"Whatever is needed." He returned her smile, feeling so much l.u.s.t and love rolled into one big ball of hope that he thought he'd fair burst with it. He'd promised himself that he'd protect his heart, but he was going to have one h.e.l.l of a time keeping that promise. He could see now that Lauren was everything he'd ever wanted in a woman. But she'd been hurt, just like him, and she'd need to be eased back into country life so she could believe in family and friends and community again.

"Mommy! Cowboy Daddy!" Hannah called as she stepped away from the tree and planted her hands on her hips, looking all sa.s.sy.

"Come on." Kent placed a gentle kiss on Lauren's forehead. "I bet the barn looks about like it did the last time you saw it."

"Just so you know, I'm not making any promises, but I can use help. Hedy and Hannah come first. I'm willing to do whatever needs to be done for them."

"It seems to me as if you've been putting yourself last for too long. That works for a while, but after a time it backs up on you." He smiled to ease the sting of his words and encourage her. "As long as I'm around, n.o.body's putting you last. You deserve better, and you're going to get it."

She appeared a little surprised by his words, but nodded anyway. "I've given that same advice to my patients on occasion. You're right. It's the strong ones that need to hear it before they collapse from good intentions."

"I'm here to catch you if you fall, but you're not going to need it. You just need a little help carrying the load. And that's what friends are for." He held out his hand. "Let's shake on it."

"Still, Hannah and Hedy-"

"Trust me."

When Lauren put her small, soft hand into his big, rough one, he felt as if they were committing to much more than getting her hippotherapy center off the ground. He looked into her chocolate-brown eyes and felt himself melt like a candy bar on a hot summer day.

"Now?" Hannah ran up to the porch and whirled in a circle.

Lauren smiled a rueful twist of her lips. "And that's being a parent."

"All I can do today is show you both where horses can live, so don't get your hopes too high." Kent chuckled in a raspy tone. "At least, Hannah knows what's important in life."

Lauren joined his laughter. "Horses!"

As they all tromped around the side of the house toward the barn, Kent felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He hadn't known being part of a family like this would be so much fun. And then a cold dose of reality hit him. Lauren and Hannah weren't his family, even if he was starting to think of them that way. He'd better get his head screwed on straight or wrap barbwire around his heart if he was going to stay out of trouble. Fact of the matter, he was simply helping out friends, nothing more and nothing less.

That point set in his mind, he lead the gals through a gate in a fence that was constructed of white-painted pipe that wouldn't hurt horses. The original wooden barn had collapsed long ago. It'd been replaced in the seventies with a simple structure built of concrete blocks that had a peaked tin roof for ventilation and a gated entry on each end of the structure.

Hannah ran ahead of them, reached the barn, and patted the cement blocks lovingly as she looked through the metal bars of the gate.

Kent opened the gate and she ran ahead of them into the cool, shadowy interior that had a packed dirt floor so as to ease the strain on horses. On one side were several metal gates made of vertical bars that opened into horse stalls with empty water troughs. Each stall had another gate in back that led into an enclosed arena for exercise and training. On the other side of the wide center aisle were a couple of large horse stalls and a big tack and feed storage room. He liked this basic, efficient horse stable even though it couldn't compare in design, size, or function to the new one his parents had built.

He smelled the lingering scent of hay, oats, and horse as he watched Hannah run down the center aisle and peek into one horse stall after another. Finally, she stopped, put her hands on her hips, and looked back.

"I know." Kent threw wide his hands. "No horses."

Hannah vigorously nodded in agreement.

"First thing," Kent said, "I need to know if you and Lauren think this place will do to start."

"Oh, Kent, it's wonderful." Lauren wandered down the center aisle. "I remember when we used to saddle horses here and ride out over the ranch."

"Good days." He watched her repeat Hannah's movements as she walked from stall to stall and looked inside each as if reliving memories.

"It's a pity this place isn't in use." Lauren glanced back at him.

"Yep. But it was best to consolidate business at the new headquarters."

"I'm very lucky. This is absolutely as perfect as I remember."

"Glad you think so. It'll easily handle six horses, but we can start with two."

Lauren nodded in agreement. "One for Hedy and-"

"One for me!" Hannah danced up to them and clapped her hands.

"Besides horses," Lauren continued, "I'll need equipment, tack, feed, and who knows what all."

"We're not starting from scratch. We can borrow stuff from Mom and Dad."

"I hate to impose. I've got some savings."

"No need to go there yet. Let's start simple with two horses and see how it progresses from there." He gestured around the barn. "You've got a place here if you want it."

"Oh, I do! Thank you."

"Maybe later you'll want to get your own headquarters. But right now, isn't this all about Hedy and Hannah?"

"Absolutely. I'm grateful to borrow at first. Later, we'll see." She looked toward Hannah. "What do you say about your own pony?"

"I need pink cowgirl boots." Hannah ran over, grabbed Kent's hand, and swung back and forth. "Right?"

"Sure do." He couldn't resist picking Hannah up, swinging her high, and setting her on his shoulder. "How does the world look now?" He was surprised at his own actions, but he was enjoying his gals too much to resist.

Hannah shrieked in delight and patted the top of his head. "Go, horsey, go!"

"Now you've done it." Lauren laughed as she watched them. "Once she likes something, there's never an end to it."

"Come on." He set a rocking-horse gait as he headed for the exit. "Let's go get the real deal in Sure-Shot."

He set a ground-eating pace back to his pickup with Lauren by his side. Hannah remained perched on his shoulders, giggling and patting the top of his head. He'd never dreamed he could become so fond of a child so fast, but Hannah was stealing his heart. She was making him feel younger and happier like the days he'd thought long gone.

Soon he stopped by his pickup and eased Hannah to the ground. "Why don't I drive us over to Sure-Shot? We could pick up lunch at the Bluebonnet Cafe."

"I only now realized that I haven't discussed any of this with Hedy," Lauren said. "We've just decided what's best for her without including her in the discussion."

"You're right." He felt uneasiness sweep over him. "And we know better than to do something like that, particularly with an independent lady like Hedy."

"I feel kind of bad about it now. I haven't even been to see her today, and that's why I came back to Wildcat Bluff."

"We can put our trip to Sure-Shot on hold till you talk to her about your idea. I'm sure she'll love it."

"What about my pony?" Hannah clasped Kent's hand and tugged on him.

He looked down at her and saw tears glistening in her eyes. He felt like the lowest form of snake. They'd gotten a little girl's hopes up only to dash them. He glanced back at Lauren. "What does Mommy say in situations like this?"

"I'm going to get my pony!" Hannah dropped his hand and ran around the house toward the road.

"We can't let her out near traffic." Kent took off after Hannah, who was running as fast as her short legs could take her.

"I don't know what got into her," Lauren called right behind him.

When he reached Hannah, he hurried in front of her, knelt down, and held out his arms. "I'll make sure you get your pony."

Hannah threw herself into his arms, clasped him around his neck, and sobbed against his shoulder.

He glanced up at Lauren in confusion. He had no idea how to handle the situation, but he patted Hannah on the back before he gave her a gentle hug until her tears slowly gave way to hiccups.

"Hannah, come here," Lauren said gently as she knelt beside the two of them. "We need to talk."

"Thanks, Cowboy Daddy." Hannah patted his shoulder and then slowly walked over to her mother with her head down.

"Is that any way to act?" Lauren asked as she clasped Hannah's small hands.

"No, Mommy. But I'm afraid I'll never get my pony."