"But that was before Cowboy Daddy got here."

Kent wasn't about to argue. No doubt about it. You fed kids and critters first. He just reached over and cut up Hannah's meat, beginning to feel like the cowboy daddy she'd named him.

"Thank you." Hannah forked up a piece of meat. "You did that real good."

"Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint the li'l dogie." He couldn't keep from chuckling at her compliment, feeling a mite on the proud side for no good reason except he'd made a little girl happy.

As he chewed, he looked across the table at Lauren. She definitely had tears in her eyes. He glanced at Hedy. She probably hadn't eaten a bite. He looked out of the corner of his eye at Hannah. She was staring at him instead of eating her food. Finally, he focused on Ruby. She was the only one who was totally into the barbeque. She raised her fork in a slight salute.

He returned the gesture even though he felt a little like he'd fallen down the rabbit hole behind Alice into Wonderland. Maybe that's what kids did to you. They turned your life upside down and you ended up not wanting it any other way.

Guess that's how they finagled their way into your heart.

Chapter 13.

Lauren watched the others eat at Ruby's table, thinking that they truly felt like a family. Even Kent had gotten over his initial surprise and taken Hannah's neediness for a father in stride and been wonderful to her. They were so cute together, although she'd never say that to either of them.

Beyond that, Hannah was making it so clear how much she wanted and needed a father figure in her life. Lauren hadn't realized just how desperately Hannah had missed her own dad. From now on, she'd simply need to make sure Hannah had time with Slade, Trey, and others along with Kent. She felt sure that once Hannah realized there were dependable guys in her life to take the place of her father, she'd regain her self-confidence. At least, she hoped that'd be the case.

For now, Lauren simply enjoyed the cozy family gathering, not the least of which reminded her of those long-ago days when she'd sit at this table with Jake and Gladys, along with Ruby, Hedy, Kent, and whoever happened to be around in time for supper. Maybe Lauren should've stayed back East so Hannah could've enjoyed her Grandma and Grandpa, but Texas had been a big draw. Now she could understand why. And she wouldn't be a bit surprised if her parents moved back to Wildcat Bluff when they retired from their jobs.

She glanced over her shoulder out the window. Night had already fallen. When she looked across the table, she noticed that Hannah's eyes had begun to droop. Her daughter needed to get to bed early before she got fussy from being too tired after her long, exciting day. She was feeling a little tired, too, but maybe she was also simply feeling relaxed among friends.

"I cleaned my plate. Almost," Hannah said. "Now sweets."

"You did real well," Ruby agreed as she got up. She returned with Slade's pie and set it on top of the table. "Who wants a piece?"

"It's about time you asked," Hedy mock-complained. "I've been waiting forever."

"Me too," Hannah agreed.

Ruby expertly cut the pie, quickly set one piece after another on vintage Frankoma dessert plates, and pa.s.sed them around the group.

Lauren cut through the flaky pie crust and put a piece into her mouth. Wonderful flavor exploded and she moaned in delight. "Delicious!"

"Yum," Hedy agreed, quickly eating several bites until her plate was empty. "Slade sure knows how to bake pies."

Hannah finished off her small piece and then patted her stomach.

"If Slade keeps this up, he might win a blue ribbon at the next county fair." Kent said as he set down his fork.

"If he enters," Hedy chuckled, "he'll put every county fair pie-winner's nose out of joint. Our local ladies won't take kindly if they're shown up by a bull rider turned pie baker."

"True enough," Kent said. "Maybe he won't enter his pies."

Hedy laughed louder. "As if he's not a born compet.i.tor."

"Cookies, Aunt Ruby," Hannah said. "Bet we make blue-ribbon cookies."

"Okay," Ruby agreed. "When county fair time comes around, we'll enter our cookies to win."

"Yay!" Hannah grinned from ear to ear. "Cowboy Daddy can help, can't he?"

"Why not?" Ruby said. "The more the merrier."

Kent simply shrugged, shaking his head but saying nothing.

"Folks, I'd better be on my way. I like to be home close to dark." Hedy rolled back her wheelchair. "Lauren, are you sure you don't want to stay with me?"

Lauren leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her aunt's soft cheek. "Thanks for the offer, but Hannah can be a handful. Besides, I'm sure you've got more than enough on your plate without adding guests."

"You're family, not guests," Hedy said. "But I'll give you a chance to get settled in before we make plans for you and Hannah to come out and see the old homestead. Call me tomorrow."

"I will." Lauren stood up and started stacking dishes.

"I'll wrap up the rest of the pie so you can take it home." Ruby got to her feet and hurried into the kitchen.

"I'd better be on my way, too." Kent stood up and stepped back from the table. "First, what can I do to help clean up?"

"Cowboy Daddy, you're going?" Hannah jumped and threw her arms around his legs again.

Lauren watched him freeze, not knowing how to handle her daughter. "Hannah, we'll see Kent later. Right now he has to go home."

"And take care of horses?" Hannah looked up at him.

"That's right." Ruby handed a sealed plastic container to Hedy. "For the road."

"Thanks." Hedy smiled up at her.

"Great-auntie, you're going, too?" Hannah left Kent and threw her arms around Hedy. "Can't you stay?"

Hedy gave Hannah a big hug, then stroked her long, blond hair. "You're in Wildcat Bluff now. None of us ever goes anywhere for long."

"For sure?" Hannah stepped back to look at Hedy's face.

"Cross my heart." Hedy used two fingers to cross her heart.

"Okay." Hannah glanced up at all the faces above her. "We're family."

"That's right." Ruby flipped on the outside porch light, then she took hold of Hannah's hand. "Why don't we go upstairs? I've got a special bubble bath for you to try. And then I'll read you to sleep in your very own little rollaway in your mom's room. Sound like a plan?"

Hannah looked at Lauren. "Mommy?"

"Good idea. Y'all go ahead and have fun."

"Yeah," Kent agreed. "We've got it covered down here."

Hannah turned toward Kent. "Don't forget to take your cookies."

"I'll get your mom to bag them up for me."

She grinned, hugged his legs hard, then grabbed Ruby's hand and tugged her toward the stairs. Temple quickly ran around them and led them up with his tail held high.

Lauren watched them disappear to the top level before she looked back. "Ruby's a gem, isn't she?"

"Sure is." Hedy headed toward the door.

"Kent, if you'll wait a moment, I'll walk Aunt Hedy outside."

"I'll get started cleaning up the leftovers." Kent gave her a warm smile before he stepped up to the bar.

Lauren grinned, feeling more lighthearted now that she knew Hannah was enjoying herself with Ruby. "Eat the leftovers more likely."

He laughed, revealing his dimples. "Might at that."

She turned away and followed Hedy outside. She felt full of good food, but she felt even fuller of love and home and happiness.

At Hedy's van, she reached down and hugged her aunt. "I'm so glad to be here. I really think it's good for Hannah."

Hedy nodded thoughtfully. "I'm glad you're here, too. As much as I'd like you with me, I can see Ruby's got the energy to keep up with a little girl."

"That never slowed you down before."

"Water under the bridge." Hedy slid open her van's door. "To tell you the truth, I just don't have the oomph I had in younger years."

"Are you in pain?"

"No more than usual." Hedy sighed. "But time's running out for me and it's coming home to me plain as day that I'll never get on the back of a horse again. I'm not complaining. I had a good run. I'm proud of all you kids. And now you've brought little Hannah back home. I want to see her ride a horse. She's obviously got it in her blood."

"She does want to be a cowgirl."

"And I want to see you settled here. And happy."

"I'm here now. And we'll see how it goes."

"It'll go fine if you give it, and I mean everybody, a chance." Hedy squeezed the arms of her wheelchair.

"I will."

"Promise?"

"Yes." She kissed her aunt's cheek again.

"Guess I can't ask for more." Hedy hesitated again, then looked up at Lauren. "It's just that sometimes I think that if I could get back on a horse again-well, it'd be like having my legs under me. I could ride across the land and feel like I was young and strong."

"Oh, Aunt Hedy-" Finally Lauren understood what was going on with her beloved aunt. She was giving up on life. If Lauren didn't find a way to intervene, she didn't know how long Hedy would last before she gave up.

"Shhh now. I'm just getting to be a maudlin old lady thinking back on her glory days."

"You're not nearly old and I don't want to hear it."

"Maybe not yet, but I'm staring seventy in the face." Hedy gave Lauren a thoughtful look. "Let's face it, every day I spend in this wheelchair I shrink a little bit more. Still, I'm not going to complain, but when I rode horses I was strong and agile."

Lauren felt tears sting her eyes as heaviness entered her heart, because she knew her aunt was right. She'd had enough experience as a physical therapist to know the end game. And she wasn't going to let it happen to her beloved aunt, not if she could do anything about it.

"Got to be on my way," Hedy said in a crisp voice. "I'm putting a downer on your return, and I don't mean to do it. But I'm glad you're here."

"Wait! I'm not letting you off that easy."

"What do you mean?"

"You know I'm a physical therapist, don't you?" Lauren stepped closer to her aunt as unexpected possibilities whirled through her mind.

"Yes. But I've been through all of that. I've got upper body exercises. I know the drill and I take care of myself."

"When I came here, I didn't know what I was going to do. I'd lost my job and I was at loose ends." Lauren felt excitement race through her as an idea to help Hedy and others began to form in her mind.

"You can find work here or over in Sherman or even down in Dallas."

"I'd like to stay in Wildcat Bluff, if it's possible."

"I can always use your help at Adelia's Delights. I'm behind in buying new products and stocking shelves. And the store will be yours eventually anyway."

"I'll be happy to help. But I'm hoping to use my skills here, too."

"That'd be good." Hedy backed toward her van. "Let me know what I can do to help."

"As soon as I've got a workable plan, you'll be the first to know." Lauren hugged her aunt, feeling the fragileness of her body but also the strength of determination that had always been at Hedy's core.

"Now that you're home, I think all will be well in Wildcat Bluff. You remind me of our Christmas angel."

"What Christmas angel?"

"Misty Reynolds. She arrived here last Christmas as a troubleshooter and saved us from dangerous fires. Now she's engaged to Trey Duval."

"Somebody finally snagged him?"

"It took our Christmas angel to do it." Hedy squeezed Lauren's hand. "And now you've returned to us. And brought Hannah. You make me proud."

Lauren grinned at her aunt. "Just you wait. I'm going to make you even prouder now that I'm back in Wildcat Bluff."