Kent gestured toward Hannah. "Maybe she'd like to take her first ride as a cowgirl."

Lauren grinned with happiness. "Hannah, would you like to sit in the saddle?"

Hannah stepped back and whirled around. "Now?"

"Sure," Lauren agreed.

"But how will I get up there?"

Kent walked over to her. "If you'll allow me, I'll lift you up and set you in the saddle."

Hannah's eyes grew big. "She won't run away with me, will she?"

"No," Billye Jo said. "I'll hold her halter."

"And I'll keep my hands on the saddle," Kent added. "When you want to get down, just let me know."

"Mommy?"

"I'll be right here." Lauren walked over and gave her daughter a hug. "You're a big girl now that you've got your very own pony friend."

"Okay." Hannah held up her arms to Kent. "Cowboy Daddy, I'm ready to ride."

Lauren watched while Billye Jo took hold of Spot's bridle. Kent gently lifted Hannah and set her in the saddle with her feet hanging well below the stirrups. She grabbed the saddle horn and held on as if for dear life. Lauren suppressed a chuckle at her daughter's reaction, wondering if she'd reacted the same way when she'd first been put on the back of a horse. Probably so.

"Mommy! I'm riding a horse."

"You look just like a cowgirl."

"I am a cowgirl!"

"That's right," Kent quickly agreed.

"You look mighty fine," Billye Jo added.

"Hold still and I'll get your photo." Lauren pulled out her phone and snapped several quick shots. Now she'd have a photo of this miraculous moment to keep and to share. She quickly texted a copy to her parents so they could share in this wonderful moment.

About that time, several people pushed open the front door of the Bluebonnet Cafe and stepped outside. They waved at Hannah, laughing in enjoyment at the sight.

Hannah waved back. "I'm a cowgirl!"

One of the diners gave Hannah a thumbs-up before the group walked toward a pickup and got inside.

Lauren felt tears sting her eyes. Her daughter-who'd been so withdrawn for so long-was actually talking to strangers. And she was even proclaiming herself to be exactly what she'd wanted to be for so long. Life in Wildcat Bluff was definitely going in the right direction.

"Guess we'd better save more horseback riding for the arena at home," Kent said. "Pretty quick, we'll be putting on a show for the whole town."

Billye Jo laughed. "I kind of doubt it. If they've seen one horseback rider, they've seen a million."

"But they haven't seen me!" Hannah exclaimed, raising her fist in the air. "Look, Cowboy Daddy, I'm the best cowgirl ever."

"That's right," Lauren agreed. "But for now, let's go home so Billye Jo can bring Spot to the ranch later."

"Now?" Hannah looked downcast.

"Don't you want to have Spot at home?" Kent asked, stroking her long hair with one hand.

Hannah nodded, then reached down and patted Spot's mane. "Now you be a good pony till you come home. I'll get you some-" She stopped and looked at Lauren. "Mommy, may we get treats?"

"I'll bring some with Spot," Billye Jo said. "Is tomorrow okay? I think there's a cowgirl in town who'd like to say good-bye to her former pony."

Hannah suddenly looked contrite. "Tell her, please, not to be sad. I'll take good care of Spot."

"I'll be happy to tell her," Billye Joe agreed.

"Come on, let's get down." Kent lifted Hannah out of the saddle and set her on the ground.

She ran around and gave Spot a loud smack of a kiss on her long nose. "Don't be lonely now. You've got a good home."

Billye Jo held out her hand to Lauren. "Thanks. I'm excited to be working with you. Equine-a.s.sisted therapy. Just think about it."

"I'm thrilled to be working with you, too." Lauren shook her hand. "And I've got someone in mind who'll greatly benefit from our services."

"Who is it, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I'll be happy to tell you later." Lauren hoped against hope that somehow she could get Hedy to change her mind. "First, let's just get everything in working order."

"Fine by me." Billye Jo picked up Spot's lead, then easily leaped up on the back of Rowdy. "Let's talk tomorrow and set up a time to bring the horses to your place."

"Sounds good," Kent agreed. "You know I'm living at the old farmhouse, don't you?"

"Sure do."

"Need directions?"

"Nope. It's been awhile, but I've been there."

"Good. See you tomorrow." Kent raised a hand in good-bye.

Billye Jo nodded, clicked to her horses, and started back toward the Sinclair station where Dune's truck was still parked in front.

Lauren glanced at Kent. "I'm amazed at how quickly and easily everything is coming together."

"That's because it's right." He clasped her hand with a gentle squeeze. "Like we are." He held out his other fingers to Hannah, and she trustingly grabbed his hand as she grinned up at him.

And Lauren felt as if she'd truly come home.

Chapter 30.

Kent felt an almost overwhelming sense of protectiveness as he held hands with Lauren on one side and Hannah on the other. He'd had no idea he could become a family man so fast or want it so much. He guessed he'd put a family of his own on the back burner after Lauren had left Wildcat Bluff. Now he realized he'd wandered in a whole lot of directions till he'd come back to the one that felt most like home.

He supposed pride and youth could get in the way of a lot of sound decisions. He'd felt rejected by Lauren when she'd left, he realized now, even if the move hadn't been her fault. He'd run hard to fill in the s.p.a.ce she'd left in his heart. He'd even tried to fill that gap with Charlene, but she hadn't belonged in Wildcat Bluff any more than he belonged in Dallas.

He knew he shouldn't rush Lauren, but it didn't feel like rushing her. He felt like he'd been waiting forever for her to come home. Now they both had baggage from their lives. He was willing to put his false starts behind him, but could she move on from losing her husband for a second chance? He didn't know, but he was willing to put everything on the line to find out.

"Ladies," he said, glancing from one to the other, "we've worn the morning away. How about getting some lunch, or dinner as we say around here?"

"Yay!" Hannah kicked up her feet. "Ice cream!"

Lauren chuckled as she shook her head. "I'm starving, but it's time for some real food."

"Stick to our ribs?" He smiled down at her.

"Perfect."

"Chicken strips?" Hannah asked, swinging Kent's arm back and forth. "Yummy!"

"Let's see what Elsie's got on the menu." Lauren pointed at the front door of the cafe.

As Kent started to open the door, he heard the loud rumble of a truck's engine as it came to a stop in the parking lot. He glanced over and saw a King Ranch pickup painted smoky gray with embossed, black leather seats inside. A couple of rifles stretched in holders across the back window.

Kent would recognize that fancy, one-of-a-kind, clean-as-a-whistle truck anywhere. The Holloway family lived in high clover. Not that Kent was against anybody living life high on the hog, not when they'd earned it fair and square. What concerned him, as a volunteer firefighter, was the string of fires a.s.sociated with Holloway buildings. All in all, he gave the family a wide berth while remaining on friendly terms.

Kent hesitated, wanting to go inside and avoid the Holloways but knowing it'd be rude to ignore them. Besides, he'd been raised to be friendly the Texas way.

He stepped back from the door, angling Lauren and Hannah toward the pickup.

"What's up?" Lauren asked.

"Looks like we've got company. It's probably a good idea to say h.e.l.lo."

"Friends of yours?"

"The Holloways."

"I'll be happy to say h.e.l.lo."

Kent heard truck doors slam simultaneously as two tall men stepped down from the pickup. Both were good-looking guys wearing Western-cut suits-one in navy and the other in charcoal-with Zuni inlay silver-and-turquoise bolo ties, expensive ostrich cowboy boots, and rancher-style gray cowboy hats. Bert had thick, dark hair streaked with silver while Bert Two's hair was still dark brown. They both had tanned skin from time spent golfing and hunting in the sun.

"Kent Duval!" Bert called jovially. "You're just the man I want to see."

"Really?"

"Yep." Bert quickly walked over and held out his hand. "I can't thank you and our firefighters enough for putting out that blaze on our property."

Bert Two stepped beside his dad and held out his hand, too. "Fine job. Thanks."

Kent shook both their hands, quick, hard, get-it-done movements.

Bert Two tipped his hat. "And who are these two lovely ladies?"

"Looks like you've come up in the world," Bert quickly agreed, tipping his own hat.

Hannah tugged on Kent's hand and when he looked down, she raised her arms to be picked up. As Morning Glory would say, she must not like the vibes. He quickly raised her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her face against his chest. He patted her back, comforting her in a way he hadn't even known he could do.

"Now that's real sweet." Bert Two gave a big smile at the sight.

"Bert Two," Lauren said, drawing the Holloways' attention away from her daughter, "don't you remember me?"

Bert looked her over, frowning, before his face eased into a grin. "You've got Hedy's eyes! Darn tooting I remember you. Lauren, isn't it?"

"That's right! You grew up real fine." Bert Two grabbed Lauren in a tight embrace, hugged her hard, then set her back as he looked her over top to bottom again. "Real fine."

"You've got to admit Wildcat Bluff County has the most beautiful ladies on this green Earth," Bert said.

"That's the truth of it," Bert Two agreed.

"What are you doing in our neck of the woods?" Bert asked.

"She's visiting her aunt." Kent gave Lauren a look to let her know he wasn't willing to let the Holloways know about their venture yet.

"That's right," Lauren quickly agreed. "I wanted my daughter Hannah to spend some time with Aunt Hedy."

"That's good." Bert looked at Hannah. "Beautiful little girl. She looks just like her mother and aunt."

Hannah glanced up at him, then buried her face against Kent's shoulder again.

"Shy little thing, isn't she?" Bert Two asked.

"Sometimes." Lauren stroked a hand down Hannah's back. "She's not used to a lot of strangers."

"That's the way of children," Bert agreed.

"What brings you to Sure-Shot?" Kent protectively moved the conversation away from Lauren and Hannah. "Are you buying horses?"

"Not exactly." Bert pointed past the Sinclair station. "That old drive-in theater beyond the station came up for sale. Not much to it anymore, but-"

"We kind of like the location. And the vintage buildings," Bert Two finished. "And Sure-Shot appears to be getting its feet under it."

"So why not invest in a growing part of our county?" Bert asked. "A little bit of land, a few buildings, and who knows what we might do with it."