Blame It on the Rodeo. Amanda Renee

turned his attention to the woman in the next aisle who was balancing toddler twin boys in matching overalls on either hip. The strain of the day already evident in her face, and he sincerely hoped she was meeting someone and not heading out on a flight of her own.

      He tugged off his boots, placed them on the conveyer belt and emptied his pockets into the bin. After the obligatory pat-down that left him a little uncomfortable, he hopped on one foot while he pulled on his boots.

      Exiting the checkpoint at the same time, the frazzled woman struggled with her children’s shoes, reminding Shane how difficult it could be to stuff a kicking foot into a tiny sneaker. Not much more than in her early twenties, she haphazardly tucked a lock of hair, which had escaped her loose ponytail, behind her ear.

      “Steven, stay next to Mommy.” She kneeled in front of one child, jammed his pudgy foot into the shoe and fastened the Velcro closure while looking over her shoulder at her other restless child. “Steven, come here.”

      The words were all it took for the child to giggle loudly and take off down the terminal. The woman stood to chase after him, catching her purse strap on the chair.

      Shane ran after him, smiling at the boy’s duck-waddle steps. For a moment, he felt like he’d time-warped to the days when he thought Dylan was his son. The sudden ache in his heart caught him off guard when he swung the toddler into his arms. The woman quickly caught up with him, frustration creasing her brow.

      “Thank you.” She reached out for the boy. “I can’t believe they made me take their shoes off. Really, thanks again.”

      Before he responded, the woman went on her way down the terminal.

      A few minutes passed once he arrived in the designated waiting area and the gate door opened. A flight attendant emerged with a lanky dark-haired, ice-blue-eyed preteen in tow. Shane approached them and gave Hunter a hug.

      “It’s good to see you again.” Shane released him to get a better look at the soon-to-be man. “You’ve shot up these past few months.”

      Shane had met Hunter Rathbone and his parents in Denver during a high school rodeo clinic he’d led in April. Hunter raved that Shane was his idol, and when Shane mentioned he was opening the Ride ’em High! Rodeo School, Hunter practically begged his parents on the spot to let him attend the school’s inaugural session. Shane kept the Rathbones apprised of the school’s progress and even flew out to a couple of Hunter’s events. He was drawn to the kid’s talent and natural ease in the saddle. The fact that Hunter and Dylan were close to the same age caused Shane to wonder more in recent months about the child he’d lost.

      Hunter beamed. “I can’t believe I’m actually here with you. This is a dream of a lifetime.”

      “Easy, kid, you have a whole lot of living to do.” Shane winked at the attractive flight attendant and handed her his license and gate pass. “Trust me when I say you have much better things to dream of when you get older.”

      “I wasn’t sure if you were picking me up or if someone else from the school was. I’m so excited we’re staying in bunkhouses. Just like real cowboys.”

      “You are a real cowboy.” Shane tousled the boy’s hair. “Half your class is coming in from out of state. You and one other are flying in, the rest are driving. And since you’re our first official student, I thought I should be the one to meet you.”

      Shane wondered if he’d see Dylan’s name on the student manifest one day. An impossible pipe dream considering Tab probably knew more about the rodeo than he did. He hadn’t come across Dylan on the circuit yet, but with a bull-riding champion for a father, rodeo coursed through the boy’s blood. He’d heard Tab retired, married and had more children after he gained full custody of Dylan. As far as he knew, Dylan had a good life, and in the end, that’s what mattered most to Shane.

      There were days he wondered if Dylan remembered their time together, and realized it was unlikely. Dylan had just turned a year old when Tab left with him, and after the way Shane had shoved Sharon out the door, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be remembered for treating the child’s mother that way. Not that she’d win any parent-of-the-year awards. Rumor had it she was down in Brazil trying her hand with another country’s cowboys.

      “I hope you’re ready for a month of hard work?” Shane asked while they rode the escalator down to the baggage claim area.

      “Tight!” Hunter said with enthusiasm. “I can’t wait to get started.”

      “Tight?” Shane stopped walking and looked at Hunter’s feet. “Are your boots pinching or something?”

      “Huh?” Hunter tilted his head and slowly looked from Shane to his feet. “What are you talking about?”

      “You said tight. What’s tight?” Shane asked.

      Hunter patted Shane on the back and urged him to walk forward before they caused a traffic jam at the bottom of the escalator. “How do I translate this for you, old man? Tight means the same as cool back in your day. You don’t hang with many kids, do you?”

      “No, I don’t.” Old man? Shane’s ego took a bit of a hit at the comment. “And for the record, thirty-one’s not old.”

      “In terms of a hundred being the oldest, no, you still have time. I’m sure I can teach you enough in the next month to survive the average kid. But since you’re practically old enough to be my dad, it may take a little work.”

      “Oh, nice shot.” Shane arm nudged the teen. “We’ll see who teaches who this month.”

      His anticipation of the next four weeks began to shift, nervousness replacing his usual confidence. Maybe teenagers weren’t so easy after all.

      Chapter Two

      “Surprise!”

      “Oh, good Lord!” Miranda wobbled backward, her hands protectively on her round belly. “Don’t you people know never to startle a pregnant woman?”

      “Now I told you to surprise her, not surprise the young’uns out of her.” Mable’s mocha cheeks flared with a hint of red. “We don’t need a repeat of last year, but Tess, honey, ready the shower curtain liner, just in case.” Originally, Double Trouble’s house manager, Mable became a surrogate mother of sorts when Miranda moved to town and purchased the ranch. Never having had children of her own, Mable doted on Miranda as if she were her own daughter. Since Miranda’s drunk of a mother had died a few years ago, Mable easily filled the void in her life.

      Lexi doubted anyone would soon forget the day Vicki Slater went into labor shortly after her own baby shower ended. Miranda was right there to catch the bundle of joy in the middle of her living room. So indebted to her friend, Vicki named her daughter Randi Lynn, after Miranda.

      Randi Lynn had celebrated her first birthday a few days ago and Miranda had a few weeks before she and Jesse welcomed twins. Once their honeymoon started, they immediately went to work in the baby-making department. But they weren’t the only children with a birthday this time of year. One was missing. Lexi tried to push the thought from her mind.

      Lexi had liked Miranda from the day she pulled into town, determined to start a new life. She’d been down that road herself and anyone with the courage to make that kind of move had her vote. Jesse couldn’t have chosen a better bride—they were perfectly matched in their fire and passion.

      Inside 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