Home to the Cowboy
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“So she’s a ward of the state?” Tess asked.
“Pretty much, although my family is her benefactor.”
“Her benefactor?” Tess tried to process the fact that this tiny girl in front of her was treated like an object instead of a human being.
“This past spring, Ever needed new leg braces. She had outgrown her old ones and I’m sure she’ll outgrow these soon. Without new braces she can’t walk, but since she’s in foster care, sometimes there’s red tape involved in getting what she needs.”
“I don’t understand. You said she can’t walk without them.”
“She can’t,” Cole explained. “They not only support her, they stretch her overflexed muscles, allowing her more mobility. Without them, she’s confined to a wheelchair.”
“How can anyone deny her something she needs?” Tess grew more flustered by the moment. “What kind of quality of life does she have without them?”
“Calm down, Tess.” Cole motioned for her to move farther away from the pen so Ever wouldn’t hear their conversation when she came around. “She’d have gotten them eventually, but there was no telling if it would take a week or a month. My father wanted to take control of the situation and speed the process up, so he stepped in and became her benefactor.”
“Why didn’t your parents adopt her?”
“Because they’re over the age limit. Honestly, I thought of it myself, but a single male can send up some warning flags. Ever is one of thousands of children with disabilities available for adoption. Those big blue eyes are the sole reason my father wanted to build the hippotherapy facility.”
“So children like her can be provided for.” Tess narrowed her gaze. “I’m going to bust your brothers right in the nose.”
“Whoa.” Cole laughed. “Easy there, slugger.”
“Have Chase and Shane been out here?” Tess waved when Ever rode by on her horse. “You’re doing great!”
“That’s my rodeo princess!” Cole strode back to the fence. “Yes, and they have no problem being her benefactor, but they feel there are enough hippotherapy centers in the state and don’t want to build another one.”
“But you said there isn’t one for a hundred miles.” The realization of the situation suddenly hit Tess. “It comes down to money, doesn’t it?”
“There isn’t another PATH International facility around for a hundred miles and yes, their decision’s money propelled. You earn more with a rodeo school than you do with a nonprofit. They only see the bottom line, not who it benefits.”
“We have to change their minds, Cole.”
“That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”
Chapter Four
Tess didn’t hear her mother leave the house, but she’d bet Maggie was up and out shortly after Tess called it a night. The sun peeked over the horizon, gently waking the songbirds from their slumber. After a few hours of sleep, she enjoyed the brief walk into town, even in the briskness of the fall air, strolling past a few cemetery-filled front lawns all ready for Halloween. No matter the time of day, or spooky decorations, Ramblewood felt safe and secure. A foreign concept in her five-story New York City walk-up.
Light spilled onto Main Street through the luncheonette’s picture window, casting shadows of magpies on the sidewalk. Outside, Tess watched her mother and Bridgett bustle through their morning routines. The casual gestures her mother made toward Bridgett made Tess yearn for the same closeness. A stranger would assume Bridgett was Maggie’s daughter by their ease and camaraderie.
“Tess, this is a surprise.” Maggie hefted a tray of pies onto her shoulder, carrying them to the display case near the front window. “You got in so late, I figured you’d sleep through to afternoon. Did you and Cole have a good time yesterday?”
“Cole, huh?” Bridgett peered through the kitchen opening. “Do tell! Especially since you never showed at Slater’s.”
“I don’t want to hear any dirty details,” Bert said. “You leave those parts out, you hear?”
“Put your tongues back in your mouths.” Tess fixed herself a cup of coffee. “I was out at the ranch working with Kay on some marketing ideas and Cole wasn’t even around. One of the mares was foaling and he was in the barn. I hate to break it to you, but there was nothing salacious going on.”
Bridgett’s shoulders visibly slumped. “And here I thought I could live vicariously through you.”
“Not when it comes to Cole Langtry, you won’t,” Tess said. Unless you counted the impromptu kiss in the gas station parking lot.
Tess considered herself the good Girl Scout and was prepared for most things in life. But for some reason, Cole’s kisses managed to take her off guard. It was one thing when they were kids, but as an adult, he shouldn’t have this much of an effect on her. If she closed her eyes she could still feel the heat of his body inside the truck’s cab. “Oh, this is ridiculous!”
“You look like a snake bit you on the toe.” Bridgett whispered through the kitchen pass-through, “What are you hiding?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Bert’s head popped out. “Stop gossiping and finish slicing those lemons or else we won’t be ready in time to open.”
Bridgett mouthed, Tell me later, to Tess before she returned to work.
“Mom, I met the most amazing—”
“One second, dear.” Maggie pushed through the swinging door of the kitchen, returning immediately with another tray. She motioned around the room with her free arm. “Can you straighten out those chairs, please? We’ll have a full house in a few.”
Tess aligned the vinyl-covered stainless steel chairs while her mother ducked behind the counter for a rag and made one more pass over the Formica surface for good measure.
“Bridgett, add tomato bisque to the Specials Board. I’m going to start a batch in a minute.” Maggie didn’t bother to look up. “I’m sorry, Tess, what was it you were saying?”
“It can wait.”
For some reason she felt a conversation that involved Ever deserved more of her mother’s attention. Tess had hoped to make the best of this trip, visit with family, catch up with a few friends, attend the wedding and head home to New York. Already her plans were shifting since Kay had asked her to help market Dance of Hope.