Lauren couldn't keep from chuckling at Storm cutting a rug with her uncle Slade as he shuffled along, compensating for his bull-riding injury. He wasn't letting anything slow him down, but she hoped later she could help his mobility with hippotherapy. She figured a lot of rodeo injuries, or just sheer wear and tear on bodies, could benefit from equine-a.s.sisted therapy. At least, she intended to give it a well-deserved try.

Morning Glory stepped in front of the band with a swirl of multicolored skirts and jingling necklaces. She raised her tambourine and led the musicians in Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors," a number that always brought tears to eyes. She segued into Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and "Always," other powerful numbers that made Lauren think of Patsy's tragic death at thirty and what she might have done if she'd lived longer.

Like her aunt now, Lauren intended to enjoy a long life so she could be there for her family and friends. She had a lot of reasons to be grateful this evening. Hedy was already stronger and happier in just a matter of days. Hannah had blossomed like the early daffodils. And Kent had given her, as well as Hannah, unconditional love. She had a long list of folks who'd helped make her return a success, and she appreciated each and every one of them. For the moment, she simply stood with her hands on the white railing and enjoyed the beauty of the evening.

As she took a deep breath of the sweet-smelling air, she heard the front door open. She glanced around and felt her breath catch in her throat. Kent stood in front of the pink door, smiling at her and looking more handsome than ever. He wore a charcoal-gray Western suit with a crimson snap shirt and a turquoise thunderbird bolo tie with black cowboy boots.

"Miss me?" He gave her a dimpled grin along with a gleam in his bright hazel eyes.

"Were you gone?" she teased, knowing her gaze held the same gleam as his eyes. As much as she was enjoying the party and meeting folks, she really just wanted to be alone with her love.

He chuckled at her words, then walked over and looked across the balcony. "Good party, huh?"

"Wonderful. Your mom is just as amazing as I remember."

"Good thing she took my house in hand and made sure it was presentable."

Lauren laughed as she shook her head. "You never were the neatest boy in town."

He laughed harder. "That's an understatement." He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. "But I'm willing to reform for you."

"And Hannah. We don't want her learning bad habits, and she'll do exactly what you do."

"I hadn't even thought about how kids learn more from what we do than what we say."

"And you never know what will strike their fancy and stick."

"Lots of good stuff sticks in Wildcat Bluff, doesn't it?"

"So true." She wanted Hannah to learn from the best, so she'd definitely brought her daughter to the right place.

"Where's the little minx?"

"She went off with Billye Jo and Hedy. They were laughing and whispering about some secret." Lauren squeezed Kent's arm as she looked up at him. "What is so wonderful is that my daughter feels perfectly safe and secure with them."

"And she's safe enough for you to let go a bit."

Lauren nodded, thinking about it. "I didn't want to let Hannah out of my sight in Houston. I felt more and more like a hovering helicopter mother. But I still wanted her to grow in strength and independence."

"You couldn't take a chance there." He motioned toward the party. "We won't take chances here either, but Hannah will grow up with a wide circle of supportive friends and relatives."

"Just like we did."

"Yep."

She leaned into his warmth as she continued to watch the party from her vantage point. She saw Bert and Bert Two talking with three strangers as they moved closer to the house. "Who are those guys?" She nodded in their direction.

Kent took a look. "Mom invited them. They must be visiting the Holloways."

"Do you know them?"

"Yeah."

"And?" Lauren couldn't help but appreciate the tall, good-looking guys around her age with dark hair and muscular bodies. They walked with a definite Texas swagger that spoke of confidence and power.

"They're the Tarleton brothers out of East Texas."

"Single? Married? Engaged?" She grew more curious at Kent's reluctance to discuss them.

"Single. And they've got a rep with the ladies."

"No wonder." She leaned forward to get a better look. "Cowboys?"

"Ranchers. They've got a big family spread where they run cattle and horses. But they're into oil and gas, too. Their great-granddaddy was a wildcatter and friends with Dad Joiner. You know Joiner brought in the Daisy Bradford gusher that started the East Texas oil field back in the thirties."

"I didn't know it, but that's interesting."

"Bottom line in dealing with the Tarletons is that they're wildcatters at heart. And that includes their sister."

"Is she here?"

"Doubt it. She's got a popular Western line of clothes that keeps her busy."

"Really?" Lauren grew more interested in the family all the time.

"What I wonder is why they're so far afield," Kent said thoughtfully. "Maybe they've got a business deal going with the Holloways."

"That'd be good for the county, wouldn't it?"

"Remains to be seen." Kent squeezed her hand. "They're volunteer firefighters, so maybe they're giving Bert and Bert Two some pointers about protecting their property."

Lauren chuckled as a funny thought struck her. "Are you saying they're wildcatter cowboy firefighters or just cowboy wildcatters or-"

"Nope." Kent sighed and glanced down at her. "Guess I'm feeling territorial. Fact of the matter, they're Cherokee to our Comanche. Now will you let it go?"

She chuckled at his jealous frown. "Give me a kiss and I'll forget all about them."

He caught her face between his hands and slowly leaned toward her while he traced her face with his gaze as if he would memorize her features to carry with him for always. When his hot mouth touched her lips, she felt an instant sizzle that spread outward to engulf her entire body with flames.

When he raised his head, his eyes were lit with a fire that rivaled the setting sun in brilliance. "Lauren," he said in a voice thick with emotion as he put his right hand in his pocket. "There's something I want-"

"All right, folks!" Morning Glory hollered as the band went silent. "We've got somebody who wants to say a few words." She gestured toward the side of the farmhouse.

"What's going on?" Lauren asked as she leaned over the railing and looked where Morning Glory had pointed with her tambourine.

Three equestrians dressed in bright Western outfits emerged from the long shadow cast by the house. As they walked their horses toward the center of the party, revelers fell back and then surrounded them until the riders were the center of attention.

"Oh my," Lauren whispered as her eyes filled with tears at the sight of Hedy, Hannah, and Billye Jo on horseback.

Kent glanced down at her and grinned big enough to show his dimples.

"You knew?"

"Mom and Dad planned it with them." He clasped her hand and entwined their fingers. "We all wanted to surprise you."

"Me?"

"Just wait." He pointed toward Hedy. "She's wearing Morning Glory's soaring eagle necklace that I finally got around to giving her."

"Looks perfect." Lauren clasped her own macrame necklace, smiling at the thought that pretty soon everybody would be wearing one.

Hedy raised her bright-red cowgirl hat and waved it around in a circle over her head. "It's yeehaw time!" She pointed around the group with a hand in a showy red leather-fringed glove. "Let's hear it!"

As a wave of yeehaws washed over the party, up on the balcony, and around the ranch, Lauren put a hand over her heart, feeling an upsurge of love and appreciation for the folks of Wildcat Bluff.

Hedy put her hat back on her head and the crowd grew quiet in antic.i.p.ation. "I guess y'all are seeing a sight you never thought you'd see again-namely me riding a horse!"

Again, a wave of yeehaws floated across Cougar Ranch.

"I owe it all to my niece Lauren Sheridan for equine-a.s.sisted therapy." She pointed toward Lauren.

Still with her hand over her heart, Lauren bowed her head to the audience, feeling almost overcome with emotion.

"As well as to this magnificent horse named Chancy Boy who received special training from none other than Sure-Shot's famous horse trainer Billye Jo Simmons." She made a wide gesture toward the horsewoman with one hand while the other remained clutching the pommel.

Billye Jo bowed in her saddle as the crowd went even wilder with enthusiastic yeehaws.

"I'd be remiss if I didn't include my very own grand-niece, Hannah Sheridan, who encourages me as she learns to ride her first pony."

Hannah raised her pink cowgirl hat with a sparkling rhinestone tiara in place of a hatband and grinned from ear to ear.

"We're here tonight," Hedy continued, "to ask your help in funding a center for equine-a.s.sisted therapy right here in Wildcat Bluff County. I'm living proof that it works. And we're perfectly positioned in the middle of horse and cattle country to provide the best of the best for those in special need."

Again, a round of yeehaws filled the party with wild clapping and nodding of heads in agreement.

"We're gonna pa.s.s the hat, folks, so be generous."

Bert stepped out of the crowd and up to Hedy, grinning big as you please. "If you'll allow me, I'll be pleased to pa.s.s my hat and be the first to donate to this excellent cause."

Hedy grinned back at him. "Bert Holloway, you're making this county proud."

Bert quickly took off his silver-gray cowboy hat and held it over his heart. "If you'll allow me to show you my bluebird collection, I'll be the happiest man in the county."

Hedy laughed at his words, nodding her head. "I may just have to take you up on that offer."

"It'd be my honor."

She winked at him before she looked back at the crowd. "Okay, folks! Bert is bringing around his ten-gallon hat, so fill it up for a good cause."

Lauren could hardly believe her eyes, and yet nothing could have made her happier than to see her aunt and daughter together. She looked up at Kent. "Thank you. I want to tell your mom and dad how much this means to me."

"There'll be plenty of time later." He glanced toward the pink door. "Right now I want you to come inside."

"And leave the party?"

"If you don't mind, I'd just as soon the whole county didn't see me down on my knees."

"Are you hurt?"

"Not one bit." He clasped her fingers in a tight grasp, tugged her across the porch's wooden floor, and shut the door behind them.

"This better be good," she said, wondering what had gotten into him. "I want to congratulate our riders before they take their horses back to the barn. I know Hedy and Hannah can't stay on horseback long at this stage of their training, so I need to hurry back."

"They're fine. Billye Jo is watching over them." Kent put his hand in his pocket, dropped to his knee, and looked up at her with a mischievous smile.

"What are you-"

"Lauren, I love you more than ever. I love Hannah as if she were my very own daughter."

Tears of happiness filled Lauren's eyes as she looked down at the man who'd held her heart since she was sweet sixteen.

"Will you marry me?"

"Oh, yes-a million times yes."

He held up his closed hand and opened it to reveal a shiny ring nestled in the center of his palm. "I've kept this ring for you these past thirteen years. It's got a little diamond, but it's all I could afford back then."

"Oh, Kent, I love you so much. And I'd love nothing more than to be your wife and for you to be Hannah's Cowboy Daddy." She put her hands on his shoulders and urged him to stand up. When he did, she held out her left hand, palm down.

"I'll get you something big and shiny, if you want, but in my heart this one has always been yours." He slipped the ring onto her third finger.

"Only this ring will do," she said, smiling happily, "because it represents our love that will last a lifetime."

Acknowledgments.

I'd like to extend my appreciation to Jane Archer for her excellent Native American history and mythology book, Texas Indian Myths and Legends, for the Comanche information and myths used in writing Blazing Hot Cowboy.

Special thanks go to Donna, Darmond, Christina, Brandon, and Buckley for our inspirational research trip deep into the Kiamichi Mountains to visit legendary Medicine Springs and see Gilbert Jones's famous mustangs.

About the Author.