Heart Of A Cowboy. Margaret Daley

      Jordan wanted to tell Nicholas no, but she knew she couldn’t deny him an opportunity to ride, especially since it was his father who would be teaching him. As she pulled away from the barn, she glimpsed Zachary leaning back against the railing, studying her with those intense green eyes.

      His last expression, totally unreadable, stayed with Jordan the whole way home. Twenty minutes later she pulled into the driveway of the two-story house where she’d grown up. Her sister lived down the street. After years away, she and Nicholas were finally surrounded by family members—more than she’d counted on when she’d decided to return to Tallgrass.

      “I need to take care of Tucker. I’ll be out back.” Nicholas hopped from the car and raced toward the backyard and the dog that had been his companion through his ordeal to fix the hole in his heart.

      Inside she found her mother lying down on the couch in the den with a cold pack on her forehead. Jordan started to back out of the room when her mom shot up.

      “How did it go riding?”

      Jordan sank into a chair, her muscles protesting the afternoon ride, her head pounding with tension from dealing with Zachary. “Why didn’t you or Rachel tell me Zachary owned the ranch?”

      Her mother’s eyes widened. “Maybe your sister knew, but I didn’t. I’d heard he was back in town, but that’s all.”

      “Well, then, why didn’t you tell me that at least?”

      She swung her feet to the floor and faced Jordan. “Because I was afraid you wouldn’t come home. Isn’t he the reason you’ve stayed away?”

      “My work kept me in South Carolina.”

      “Your graphics design business can be done from anywhere. You had a few clients there, but you’ve managed to serve them from here, haven’t you?”

      “Okay, you’re right. Most of my clients are from all over.”

      “See, I knew it.”

      Jordan removed the rubber band that held her hair off her neck. She shook her curls loose, running her fingers through them. “It’s hot out there.”

      “It’s August in Oklahoma. That means hot. And you’re avoiding talking about your encounter with Zachary.”

      “I didn’t know that was what we were talking about. Why the cold pack?”

      “Your grandmother is driving me crazy.” Her mother frowned. “And you’re doing it again. It’s obvious you ran into Zachary. How did it go?”

      “I’ve been manipulated by my son into taking him back out to the ranch for more lessons with Zachary as the instructor. Not something I’m looking forward to.”

      “Are you going to tell him about Nicholas?”

      The question shot Jordan to her feet. She hurried to the entrance and checked to make sure her son wasn’t anywhere he could overhear, then moved back to the chair and plopped down. “I don’t want Nicholas to know until I’m ready to tell him. He thinks his father didn’t want to be involved with us.” Which was what she had convinced herself of. Now she wasn’t so sure of anything. Even if Zachary found out about Nicholas, he might not want to be in his son’s life, but after today she realized she probably should have pursued getting in touch with him more than a couple of times. But her feelings had been so hurt she couldn’t bring herself to make another call that might go unreturned.

      “He never questioned you about his father?” Her mother schooled her voice into a whisper.

      “Sure, when he was young. I think he saw how upset I got by the subject that he decided not to ask any more questions.”

      “So what are you going to do?”

      “That’s a good question. One I need an answer to.”

      “Hon, you’ve got to figure that out yourself. I know it’s been rough raising Nicholas by yourself, especially with his heart problem, but the doctor said he was fine now, that the surgery was a success. You’ve done a wonderful job with him.”

      “But, Mom, I’ve made some big mistakes.” She was blessed to have Nicholas in her life and wouldn’t trade him for anything. But a mistake she had been paying for these past eleven years was believing that she and Zachary would be together forever and giving herself to him before they were married.

      “We all make mistakes. Remember Christ was the only person who walked this earth who was perfect. I’m not perfect. You aren’t. Zachary isn’t.”

      “I know, but in South Carolina I could forget that Zachary was the other half of Nicholas. Here I can’t. I discovered that today. My past has caught up with me.”

      “Then you need to tell Zachary right away.”

      “I’ve got to find the right place and time. I want to tell Zachary before I say anything to Nicholas. I owe Zachary at least that much. I’m giving myself some time to figure it out. What to say. Where to say it. I’m not rushing into it. I’ve got to do it right.”

      Her mother pushed to her feet, clutching the cold pack. “You always have to analyze everything. You never rush into anything. Don’t wait too long, hon. The truth needs to come from you and frankly Nicholas looks a lot like Zachary.”

      Her son’s features were similar to Zachary’s, but Nicholas’s hair was blond and his stature was small like hers.

      “As sharp as your son is, he might figure it out if given the time and given the connection between you two.”

      Jordan stood. “Okay, you’ve made your point.” She couldn’t have that. She needed to decide how and when.

      “Now if I could only make my point with your grandma.”

      “What’s going on with Granny?”

      “She has a date tonight.”

      “What’s wrong with that?”

      “Don’t you think eighty is a little old to start dating after being a widow for twenty-five years?”

      Jordan chuckled. “It’s wonderful. Where did she meet him?”

      “At church. He’s a widower. Doug Bateman lives down the street. She can barely walk without her walker, but I think she’s been sneaking out to meet him in the park.”

      “She’s an adult. I think she can do what she wants.”

      Her mother snorted, rounded the coffee table and crossed the den to the doorway. “I’m gonna see if I can get more support from your sister,” she mumbled as she left the room.

      Jordan eased into the chair again. The throbbing beat of her headache pulsated behind her eyes. She buried her face in her hands and massaged her fingertips into her forehead.

      I need help, Lord. I don’t know how to tell Zachary or Nicholas. Everything will change if I do.

      “Ashley told me a new kid named Nicholas joined them today riding and his mother is Jordan. Do you have something to tell me?” Becca approached Zachary not an hour after Jordan had left the ranch with her son.

      Zachary slanted a look at his sister standing on the other side of the corral fence with her hand on her hip. “Nope.”

      “The other day I heard Jordan Masterson came back to town. Was that her?”

      “Why didn’t you tell me she was back?” He removed his hat and tapped it against his jeans. “I don’t like surprises.”

      “I didn’t think she would come out here.”

      “So it was okay not to say anything to me? I was bound to meet her sometime in Tallgrass. We have a number of the same friends, and I’m sure she’ll get reacquainted with them.”

      His older sister studied him. “I thought