The Cowboy Code. Christine Wenger

could barely see the path in front of her. She stopped to let her eyes send a message to her brain, sorting out the shadows and shapes.

      Then she made out the tall figure of Joe Watley approaching, carrying a flashlight. Relief washed over her as he called out.

      “I thought this would help.” She heard a click, and he handed her a flashlight of her own. “Keep it while you’re here.”

      “Thanks.”

      The bunkhouse was aglow in the distance, and it looked warm and welcoming. She took another deep breath, and pushed thoughts of tomorrow aside.

      “What’s for dinner?” she asked as they walked.

      “Cookie’s mystery stew.”

      “Shall I ask about the name, or don’t I want to know?”

      “He makes it different each time. One of the cowboys called it that, and the name stuck. The meat he uses is a mystery, too.”

      “Ouch.”

      They both laughed, and Maggie warmed to his sense of humor. Yet being with Joe—the whole situation—made her jumpy. If they walked in together, it would be like admitting that he was spending extra time with her.

      Sure enough, when they entered, they were greeted with a moment of hushed silence. Then the talking and frivolity began again in earnest.

      She noticed Danny right away, along with the poke in the ribs that the big kid on his right gave him. Danny winced, and so did Maggie. She clamped her lips together and took a seat at the head of the table, next to Joe—the only two seats left.

      Everyone seemed to have been waiting for her to arrive before they ate, and she vowed that she’d never be tardy again. She checked her watch—five after six. She was only five minutes late.

      Joe cleared his throat. “Gentlemen and Maggie, let’s take a minute to reflect silently on the bounty of the meal and the opportunity to be in Cowboy Quest.” He bowed his head.

      Emulating Joe, the cowboys removed their hats and put them over their hearts. It took a moment before the boys in the program decided what to do, but eventually they bowed their heads—everyone but Danny, the smallest kid in the program, and his newfound friend, the biggest kid in the program. They smirked.

      Joe spoke quietly. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this food which we are about to eat, and may everyone around this table get what they can out of Cowboy Quest, and more. God bless us all and keep us safe. Amen.”

      “Amen,” echoed most everyone around the table.

      A warmth, like a plush blanket, enveloped her. She remembered sitting around her parents’ big oak table as they all bowed their heads to pray. As they ate, they’d discuss current events, school, the weather—anything and everything in between.

      These days she always ate on the run—stopping at the deli next to her condo, or for Chinese take-out somewhere, or for a quick slice of pizza. Max’s delivered, so she’d arrange for Danny to have most of his meals from there.

      She hired a housekeeper, a math and reading tutor and got him a membership to the gym down the street. They went to counselors. She did everything she possibly could to help Danny, but she still wished she could have given more of herself.

      Now, even though there were two dozen other people at the table, she was sharing a meal with Danny for a change.

      Speaking of meals, Cookie’s mystery meal was stew, and it was fabulous, loaded with carrots and potatoes.

      Ronnie tapped on his coffee mug with a spoon. “Let’s all go around the table and introduce ourselves.”

      After all the introductions were made, Maggie noticed that Danny and she were the only ones who came from the east coast. All the rest, including staff, were from either the west or southwest.

      No surprise there.

      Maggie found out that Danny’s new friend was named Brandon Avery and he was from Billings, Montana.

      As she stifled a yawn, Joe stood again. “Since this was a long day of travel, everyone will help with the cleanup. The Cowboy Quest participants will hit the hay ahead of schedule tonight because tomorrow morning will come early, five-thirty, to be exact. We have stock to feed and water, stalls to muck out and then you all will be taking riding lessons after your school lessons. Let me stress once again that you’ll get out of the program what you put into it—so give it your all.”

      “He’s getting free labor out of this. So, like, how many juvenile delinquents does it take to run a ranch?”

      The guffaws and tittering washed over her like a tidal wave. She couldn’t believe Danny would be that rude.

      “Danny, you shouldn’t—” Maggie began.

      Joe held up a hand like a traffic cop, and she got his message: He was in charge.

      “I’ve heard that before,” Joe said. “So I’m glad that you cleared the air, Dan. But if you really believe that I’m getting free labor out of this, well, then, I’d better fire all these cowboys, huh? After all, I won’t need them because I have the twelve of you.”

      This time it was the cowboys who laughed and snickered. The boys looked somewhat awkward, as did Danny and his new friend.

      Maggie checked her watch. Seven o’clock. If she went to bed at eight, she’d have over eight hours of sleep. That was definitely more than she got in a typical night.

      She was exhausted. Danny looked dead on his feet, too.

      There was no way that she was going to be late on her first day, even if she was scared out of her mind. No way.

      “I’m going to walk Miss McIntyre to the ranch house,” Joe said. “Then I’ll be right back to help in the cleanup.”

      She wondered if Joe had stressed that for the rest of the participants, or just for Danny.

      Maggie sighed. In spite of the fact that Joe wanted to handle things, she had to find the time to talk to her nephew, to alleviate his concerns.

      And make sure he didn’t blow their last chance.

      Joe walked Maggie up the brick walkway to the main house, the glow of their flashlights combining to illuminate the way.

      He’d had an enjoyable meal with everyone, but particularly Maggie. He’d even arranged to take her into Mountain Springs tomorrow for some real Western wear. She needed cowboy boots— real boots—not those fluff designer shoes she’d brought.

      He’d already received a heads-up from Quint that Danny’s clothes weren’t proper for ranch work, either. They were okay for a gangster, but there’d be none of that for the young Daniel Turner.

      “I’m sorry I jumped in earlier, Joe.”

      “That’s okay. I’m sure it’s difficult to make the adjustment from aunt and primary caretaker to just one of the guys.”

      “Yeah, it’s hard.” She shook her head. “As you can tell, Danny’s got a problem with peer pressure. He’ll say or do anything for a laugh.”

      “I know. I’ve seen it time and time again. Give me and my staff a little credit, Maggie, and trust in Danny a little more.”

      “I’ve trusted Danny in the past. You can see where it got me.”

      “But today is a new day.”

      She knew Joe was right. She had to back off and calm down.

      But it was too darn difficult when she was so desperate to help Danny.

      “I’m sure it’s much easier if there were two parents to help raise kids.” She sighed. “Are you married?”

      He was quiet for a moment. “No, I’ve never been married. I was engaged once, but it didn’t work out.”

      He