Blame It on the Rodeo. Amanda Renee

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