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The words were all it took for the child to giggle loudly and take off down the terminal. The woman stood to chase after him, catching her purse strap on the chair.
Shane ran after him, smiling at the boy’s duck-waddle steps. For a moment, he felt like he’d time-warped to the days when he thought Dylan was his son. The sudden ache in his heart caught him off guard when he swung the toddler into his arms. The woman quickly caught up with him, frustration creasing her brow.
“Thank you.” She reached out for the boy. “I can’t believe they made me take their shoes off. Really, thanks again.”
Before he responded, the woman went on her way down the terminal.
A few minutes passed once he arrived in the designated waiting area and the gate door opened. A flight attendant emerged with a lanky dark-haired, ice-blue-eyed preteen in tow. Shane approached them and gave Hunter a hug.
“It’s good to see you again.” Shane released him to get a better look at the soon-to-be man. “You’ve shot up these past few months.”
Shane had met Hunter Rathbone and his parents in Denver during a high school rodeo clinic he’d led in April. Hunter raved that Shane was his idol, and when Shane mentioned he was opening the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School, Hunter practically begged his parents on the spot to let him attend the school’s inaugural session. Shane kept the Rathbones apprised of the school’s progress and even flew out to a couple of Hunter’s events. He was drawn to the kid’s talent and natural ease in the saddle. The fact that Hunter and Dylan were close to the same age caused Shane to wonder more in recent months about the child he’d lost.
Hunter beamed. “I can’t believe I’m actually here with you. This is a dream of a lifetime.”
“Easy, kid, you have a whole lot of living to do.” Shane winked at the attractive flight attendant and handed her his license and gate pass. “Trust me when I say you have much better things to dream of when you get older.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were picking me up or if someone else from the school was. I’m so excited we’re staying in bunkhouses. Just like real cowboys.”
“You are a real cowboy.” Shane tousled the boy’s hair. “Half your class is coming in from out of state. You and one other are flying in, the rest are driving. And since you’re our first official student, I thought I should be the one to meet you.”
Shane wondered if he’d see Dylan’s name on the student manifest one day. An impossible pipe dream considering Tab probably knew more about the rodeo than he did. He hadn’t come across Dylan on the circuit yet, but with a bull-riding champion for a father, rodeo coursed through the boy’s blood. He’d heard Tab retired, married and had more children after he gained full custody of Dylan. As far as he knew, Dylan had a good life, and in the end, that’s what mattered most to Shane.
There were days he wondered if Dylan remembered their time together, and realized it was unlikely. Dylan had just turned a year old when Tab left with him, and after the way Shane had shoved Sharon out the door, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be remembered for treating the child’s mother that way. Not that she’d win any parent-of-the-year awards. Rumor had it she was down in Brazil trying her hand with another country’s cowboys.
“I hope you’re ready for a month of hard work?” Shane asked while they rode the escalator down to the baggage claim area.
“Tight!” Hunter said with enthusiasm. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“Tight?” Shane stopped walking and looked at Hunter’s feet. “Are your boots pinching or something?”
“Huh?” Hunter tilted his head and slowly looked from Shane to his feet. “What are you talking about?”
“You said tight. What’s tight?” Shane asked.
Hunter patted Shane on the back and urged him to walk forward before they caused a traffic jam at the bottom of the escalator. “How do I translate this for you, old man? Tight means the same as cool back in your day. You don’t hang with many kids, do you?”
“No, I don’t.” Old man? Shane’s ego took a bit of a hit at the comment. “And for the record, thirty-one’s not old.”
“In terms of a hundred being the oldest, no, you still have time. I’m sure I can teach you enough in the next month to survive the average kid. But since you’re practically old enough to be my dad, it may take a little work.”
“Oh, nice shot.” Shane arm nudged the teen. “We’ll see who teaches who this month.”
His anticipation of the next four weeks began to shift, nervousness replacing his usual confidence. Maybe teenagers weren’t so easy after all.
Chapter Two
“Surprise!”
“Oh, good Lord!” Miranda wobbled backward, her hands protectively on her round belly. “Don’t you people know never to startle a pregnant woman?”
“Now I told you to surprise her, not surprise the young’uns out of her.” Mable’s mocha cheeks flared with a hint of red. “We don’t need a repeat of last year, but Tess, honey, ready the shower curtain liner, just in case.” Originally, Double Trouble’s house manager, Mable became a surrogate mother of sorts when Miranda moved to town and purchased the ranch. Never having had children of her own, Mable doted on Miranda as if she were her own daughter. Since Miranda’s drunk of a mother had died a few years ago, Mable easily filled the void in her life.
Lexi doubted anyone would soon forget the day Vicki Slater went into labor shortly after her own baby shower ended. Miranda was right there to catch the bundle of joy in the middle of her living room. So indebted to her friend, Vicki named her daughter Randi Lynn, after Miranda.
Randi Lynn had celebrated her first birthday a few days ago and Miranda had a few weeks before she and Jesse welcomed twins. Once their honeymoon started, they immediately went to work in the baby-making department. But they weren’t the only children with a birthday this time of year. One was missing. Lexi tried to push the thought from her mind.
Lexi had liked Miranda from the day she pulled into town, determined to start a new life. She’d been down that road herself and anyone with the courage to make that kind of move had her vote. Jesse couldn’t have chosen a better bride—they were perfectly matched in their fire and passion.
Inside Cole and his wife Tess’s newly renovated cottage, Ramblewood’s women gathered, showering the latest mommy-to-be with gifts. And Jesse, the only male in the room, seemed to relish the attention. Tess and Cole’s adopted daughter, Ever, helped hand Miranda her presents, although Lexi sensed she wanted to tear into each one of them herself.
“I just thought of something,” Miranda said, straightening her back to rub it. “I didn’t see any cars when we pulled up. Where did you all park?”
Everyone laughed.
“That was an adventure of its own,” Mazie, Lexi’s younger sister, giggled.
“That son of mine almost lost a few of your guests along the way,” Kay said. “We had everyone park at the winery and Shane chauffeured them here in that blasted Jeep of his. Poor Bridgett almost flew out of it.”
On a quarter-of-a-million-acre ranch, it was a cinch to hide a few cars. Besides being Dance of Hope’s CEO, Kay oversaw the small ranch winery, and since it wasn’t open on Saturdays, it was the last place Miranda would venture.
Feeling wistful, Lexi looked around the cottage at the people she considered her extended family. Lexi’s parents had grown up with both Tess and Vicki’s parents, and then all their kids grew up together. Now a new generation had begun and the cycle would repeat. Minus one.
Everyone had been surprised when Shane offered to renovate the house for Cole as a peace offering for trying to block the Dance of Hope hippotherapy facility last year. When Shane and Chase battled Cole and Jesse for control of the ranch’s finances, Kay had been relegated to watching her family tear itself apart. Looking around now, Lexi admired the extensive attention to detail Shane had given the remodel.
Recently her friends’ lives had changed drastically. They were married and creating families of their own. She’d wanted the same for herself thirteen years ago, if Shane hadn’t cheated on her. Lexi tried not to dwell on the what-ifs, but the past still tormented her every day. Especially now that she and Shane were testing the waters again, even though she’d made it clear she wasn’t sure where it would lead.
“Honey, did you see Ever’s bedroom?”
“Mom...” Lexi shushed her mother. “Are you snooping?”
“No, I’m not snooping,” Judy said. “I merely observed the room across the hall when I came out of the bathroom. It’s adorable with purple ponies in tiaras painted on the walls. And did you see the mini hitching post out front for Ever’s horse? She’s one lucky little girl.”
Lexi watched the five-year-old across the room. She was sitting on Tess’s lap in a lilac party dress, her legs encased in braces up to her knees. Ever had a mild form of cerebral palsy, but physical therapy and daily hippotherapy sessions had increased her strength and ability to the point where she didn’t rely on her crutches much anymore. Surrounded by horses her entire life, Lexi was still in awe of the therapy that utilized the animals’ movements to treat people with injuries and physical disabilities.
“She certainly is,” Lexi agreed. “Cole told me the day may come when she won’t need the braces.”
“Isn’t Cole such a darling with her?” Judy asked. “All the Langtry men are angels except that Shane. He can’t keep it in his pants long enough to—”
“Mom, please.” Lexi held up her hand. “Let’s not go down this road again. Enjoy the party and stop trying to fight my battles from years ago.”
“Who’s talking years? I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. And just the other day, Charlotte Hargrove told me—”
Not wanting to hear any more, Lexi left her mother and walked down the hallway to the bathroom, allowing herself a glance in Ever’s room. Cutely decorated with its feminine frills, she remembered the animated way Shane had described the low wall-length banquette he’d built under the window so Ever could easily sit on it without assistance.
Inside the bathroom, she locked the door and rested against it. Light cornflower-blue paint decorated the upper half of the wall over white wainscoting. A tiny walker stood near the white pedestal sink. Grip bars of various heights lined the wall next to the tub so she could lift herself out without relying on someone to help her. Shane had thought of everything.
She had to hand it to him. And in his care for his little niece, Lexi knew Shane still missed Dylan, even though he refused to speak his name.
The walls suddenly seemed to close in on Lexi. Her chest tightened and she desperately needed the freedom of wide open spaces, preferably on the back of a horse. Ducking out the kitchen door, she walked to the side of the house, safely out of view.
Lexi slid to the ground and closed her eyes. Flashes from that Colorado hospital room flooded her vision and she wrapped her arms around herself. This time of year was the hardest and memories she’d rather forget invaded almost every thought.
“Lexi?” a voice called to her. “Are you all right?”
Her head shot up. Silhouetted against the sun, Shane sat astride Ransom. Shielding the light from her eyes, Lexi wasn’t able to see the other riders, but she quickly made out Dream Catcher’s unusual silver dappled legs and assumed their friend Clay Tanner was astride the horse. Considering the other horses she saw were under her care, the riders must be students.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I pulled a muscle earlier and it’s acting up—hardly worth mentioning. What are you doing here? I thought you’d want to be miles away from a house full of women and baby talk.”
“Shane finally let us out of the classroom,” one of the young students called out while the rest of them laughed.
Shane maneuvered his mount away from Lexi. “You’ll be in the arena tomorrow. I warned you this wasn’t all fun and games.” Nudging the horse forward with his legs he nodded at Lexi. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look awfully pale.”
“Thank you, but I’m good,” Lexi choked out. She wanted to forget the past and find some happiness in her life.
“See you later,” the students called out.
Lexi waved, closed her eyes and wondered if her son had the rodeo bug...wherever he was.
* * *
“WHO WAS THAT?” Hunter rode up alongside Shane.
“That was trouble with a capital T,” Shane grumbled. “Let me give you some advice, kid. Don’t get married.”
“You and Trouble were married?” Hunter asked. “Wow, she’s pretty.”
“No, Trouble and I weren’t married,” Shane said. “And her name’s Lexi. We could have been, though, if I hadn’t screwed things up.”
“What’d you do?”
“I got married.” Shane looked over his shoulder. “The trail narrows up ahead when we get closer to the stream. Let the horse do the work, they know these trails.”
Shane nudged his horse ahead of Hunter, ending the conversation. He didn’t want to remember what he’d lost with Lexi. The pain he’d caused reflected in her eyes whenever she looked at him, and the guilt he carried for breaking her heart was always present.
Lexi had remained close to his family, and he’d managed a friendship with her, but for the longest time, he’d vowed never to be alone with her. He didn’t think either one of their hearts could take it. But once things began to change between them in recent months, Shane had allowed himself to dream of the day she’d let her guard down enough to spend time alone with him, secretly vowing to make things right between them.
At the top of his game now, Shane had a school to run with Chase and a full schedule of rodeos to ride in. The world all-around title eluded him so far and he was determined to win it before Chase did. With the help of Jesse and Cole, who filled in when needed, along with the rest of their teaching staff, he and Chase still actively competed in the rodeo and against each other. Friendly in their competition, the boys were in a tight race to bring home the grand prize. Shane wanted that championship more than anything...well, almost.
Since they’d broken ground on the new facility, Shane had found himself in Lexi’s vicinity more often than not. It was all he could do to prevent her from distracting him in his quest to win that coveted belt buckle. Being able to say Ride ’em High! was owned by a world all-around champion would help make the school the best in the country. Their facility offered everything from rodeo clown bullfighting and rough-stock training to barrel racing and roping, and Shane wanted his students to walk away with the confidence and knowledge it took to best any competitor they came across. What better way to do that than with a champion as your instructor?
“How about a drink at Slater’s Mill later?” Shane asked his best friend, Clay Tanner, when they arrived back at the stables. “I need some adult time, if you know what I mean.”
“All right.” Clay removed his saddle. “You need help returning the women to their cars?”
“Nope, Chase has those honors.” Shane removed his straw Stetson and wiped his brow with the back of his arm. The last day of June meant it was the start of the sweltering season. They’d designed the new facility with an indoor arena, and divided it in half. Hippotherapy had one side of the building and the rodeo school had the other. It would allow horse and rider to work without the Texas sun exhausting them. But at Kay’s insistence, until the official ribbon-cutting next week, instructors and students had to ride outside. Classes would be taught at the picnic tables near the main corral.
A few hours later, Shane made his way back to the main house for a shower and a change of clothes. After double-checking that Chase was staying in as the bunkhouse den dad for the night, Shane headed out for a kid-free evening. Slater’s Mill usual Saturday night crowd gathered near the bar. Different ball games played on the screens while Elvis Watts and his band belted out a cover of “Red Solo Cup.” Lifting a longneck to his mouth, he stopped midswig when he noticed a familiar sexy number shake and shimmy on the dance floor in turquoise boots and jeans so tight they must have been painted on.
Making his way through the crowd, he two-stepped next to her. “Hey, sugar britches, how’s that pulled muscle?”
Lexi swung to face him, not losing rhythm with the music. “It was a polite way of saying none of your business, Shane. Don’t take it personally.”
Before he responded, she danced her way to the edge of the floor and dropped into the circular booth where the regulars congregated. The roster had changed over the past year. Shane’s cousin Brandon and his wife Vicki had a little one to tend to at home, but Brandon still popped in from time to time to help bartend for his dad, Charlie, who owned the honky-tonk. Since adopting Ever, Cole and Tess stayed home most nights. Jesse and Miranda had two of their own on the way. The crowd had dwindled down to Bridgett, a waitress in town, Lexi, Clay and Chase. Shane wondered which of them would be the next to jump ship. At this rate, he was willing to bet he’d be the last one standing.
Placing his empty on the bar, he looked down the row of men, most sitting by themselves. Men once like him, now past their prime and alone. Was this his future? A lonely old man at a bar, night after night?
Kendra Anderson, Lexi’s cousin, slipped in next to him and handed Charlie her orders.
“When do you go on break?” Shane asked the well-rounded waitress.
“In about twenty minutes.” Her red tank top strained and dipped in the right places, leaving little to the imagination. “Let me guess, you’re going to drill me about Lexi again?”
“I need your advice—” Shane halted at her laughter.
“Either marry her or forget her, but stop flounder-flopping about it already.”
“We have a special guest singer tonight,” Elvis boomed from the stage. “Let’s give a big round of applause for our hometown girl, Lexi Lawson.”
Lexi slinked across the stage with her arms in the air, rousing the crowd. She turned her back to the audience and picked up a vintage red Fender Telecaster, tuning it to her satisfaction. When she played a twangy, steady beat, the crowd roared, recognizing the tune. Facing her audience, she strode to the microphone, owning the stage. Looking right at him, she began singing Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble.”
Mesmerized for a moment, he felt like they were alone and she was singing only to him, even if it wasn’t the nicest of songs. Breaking her gaze, Shane threw a ten on the bar and headed for the door. Her voice was as intoxicating as she was beautiful, and if he stayed a second longer, he’d wind up making a fool of himself in front of the entire town.
* * *
THE CROWD SCREAMING at her feet and the blinding lights didn’t block out the sight of Shane leaving. Opening a bottle of water that Bridgett handed her from the side of the stage, Lexi knew she’d probably upset Shane when she directed the song to him. Over the past few years she had watched the man drift from one woman to the next while he never cared how hard it was on her. Lexi still wasn’t sure how much he’d legitimately changed, but she had noticed he wasn’t catting around like he used to.
A part of her saw the old Shane she’d fallen in love with start to reemerge, but despite his newfound loyalty to her, she also knew the man had tunnel vision when it came to winning the championship. Admittedly, Lexi wasn’t sure what kind of life she’d be able to build with Shane when she was a little jealous of the dream he chased. Truth was, she blamed their demise on the rodeo.
The band invited her to sing a few more songs, and when she finally stepped off the stage with an adrenaline rush and smile of satisfaction, she searched the bar, but Shane still wasn’t anywhere in sight. Not that it mattered. She was perfectly capable of having a nice evening out without Shane Langtry. She’d been doing it for years, but if she was honest with herself, she’d concede that she did enjoy having him around.
Bridgett leaned into her once she was back in the booth. “I assure you he left empty-handed tonight.”
“Bridge, I’m not his keeper.” Lexi pulled her hair up and off her shoulders. “He’s a free man.”
“Oh, please, Shane hasn’t been a free man since you two broke up after high school. Someday you two will get a clue,” Bridgett said.
Kendra set a folded note and two beers on the table and popped the tops off. “Compliments of the man in the tan shirt at the bar.”
The three women turned to look at the stranger. He lifted a hand to wave and tipped his hat as Lexi read his scribble.
“Did you read this?” Lexi asked.
Kendra shook her head.
Lexi’s eyes narrowed as she rose from the booth, grabbed both bottles and honed in on the man.
“Oh, dear, what’s she going to do?” Kendra asked. “Charlie’s going to be ticked off at whatever it is.”
“This isn’t going to be good,” Bridgett replied. “I’ll settle our tab because I have a feeling this night is about to end.”
Weaving in and out of the crowd, Lexi approached the tawny-haired, middle-aged man with a mustache in dire need of a trim. She lifted her hands in front of her, the longnecks dangling from her fingers.
“Did you send these to my table?”
He winked. “I sure did.”
“So you thought it was appropriate to ask—how was it you put it?” Lexi unfolded the note and read it aloud. “For a redhead-and-brunette sandwich? Honestly, if that’s the extent of your creativity, I think we’d be incredibly bored.”
“I, uh, I can teach you a few things.” The man leered at her chest, making his greasy hair all the more obvious.
“Really? I can teach you a few things, too.” Lexi winked in return.
“I bet you can.” He openly gave her body a once-over while making a disgusting clicking noise with his tongue. “Where do we start?”
“Lesson one.” Lexi held the beers above his crotch and poured out the contents, then slammed the bottles down on the bar. “Asking a woman and her friend for a threesome is just plain rude.”
“Dammit, Lexi!” Charlie yelled from behind the bar. “Stop pouring drinks on my customers.”
“Sorry, Charlie.” Lexi laughed and headed toward the door.
* * *
SHANE SAT IN his Jeep and listened to Lexi sing. Standing and staring at her in the middle of a crowded bar sure didn’t do his heart any favors. No, it was safer outside where he wouldn’t be tempted to rush the stage and kiss her in front of the entire town.
Lexi and Bridgett burst through Slater’s double doors laughing hysterically. Unnoticed, he watched them as they walked by. The two women climbed into Lexi’s black Mustang convertible and drove off, their laughter carrying across the parking lot. A man thundered out of the bar behind them, swearing at their car.
Shane ventured a guess at what had happened from the way the man wiped at his jeans. It wasn’t the first time Lexi dumped a drink on someone. He wondered what the poor sap had done to warrant such a response. She had a fiery temper when it came to men and he felt he was to blame for her defensive attitude. The country girl who left for college never returned. In her place was an extremely independent woman with walls so high, no one could possibly scale them—but he would damn sure try.
“What are you doing out here? I thought we were getting a drink.” Clay braced his arms on the roll bar above the Jeep’s passenger seat. “I saw Lexi and Bridgett peel out of here. You look unscathed, so who was her victim?”
“Some guy.” Shane shrugged. “Listen, I’m not up for another round in there tonight. Care to grab something at the Still ’n’ Grill instead?”
“When are you going to admit you’ve never gotten over her?” Clay laughed when Shane tried to take a swing at him. “Hey, I just call ’em as I see ’em. You’ve had two loves in your life. Lexi and the rodeo. Swallow your pride and tell her, because you’ve exhausted the entire female population in town. Literally and figuratively.”