Cinderella And The Cowboy. Judy Christenberry

      The older man grinned at his longtime friend. “He always has, Elizabeth. I knew he’d do what I asked him to do.”

      “There was one thing I forgot, Tom,” Jack interjected. “A new coat for Elizabeth.”

      “I have a winter coat already. I was wearing it when we arrived.”

      As if she hadn’t spoken, Tom agreed with Jack. “Good. We’ll plan on you going again.”

      Elizabeth stood there with her mouth open, and Jack couldn’t stop the big smile from overtaking his face.

      “I don’t know about you, but I need to get started on supper.” Elizabeth began pulling ingredients out of the refrigerator, grateful for the diversion. How could Jack simply ignore her like that? Tom was well meaning, she knew, but Jack could have been the voice of reason. Instead he added fuel to the fire.

      “What are we having?” Jack asked, coming up beside her.

      “A Mexican dish.”

      “Is that all you’re going to tell me?”

      “I don’t think you need to know much more. Don’t you trust me?” She gave him a saccharine look.

      “Not with that chili sauce in your hand.” He nodded toward the bottle she held. “I’m afraid my constitution isn’t made to withstand too much heat.”

      “Then you needn’t worry.” She got out a thick cutting board to chop onions and chili peppers.

      She nearly laughed at his expression when he saw the chilis.

      “Uh, maybe I’d better go put a clean sheet on the crib and transfer Jenny to her very own bed.”

      “Thanks, Jack. And bring the monitor down, will you?”

      When he left the room, Elizabeth picked up another chili. She hefted it in her hand and debated silently. Should she?

      Dinner was ready when Tom and Brady came in from playing with the puppies in the barn and Jack finished up some ranch chores.

      She admonished them all to wash up before taking their seats at the table.

      “If you’ll pass your plates, I’ll serve the casserole.” She noticed Jack didn’t budge and stifled a laugh. “You go first, Brady. Grandpa and Jack will try it after you.”

      Brady held his plate up to his mother. She gave him a spoonful of the casserole. Then she filled Tom’s plate with two spoonfuls. When Jack finally offered his plate, Elizabeth heaped on three servings.

      “That’s enough, Elizabeth. I’m not that hungry tonight.”

      “Nonsense,” she said as she scooped out a fourth spoonful. “I’ve seen you eat, remember?”

      Jack hesitated, then finally took a bite. Then, as if surprised, he broke into a smile. “Delightful!”

      “Not too hot for you, Jack?” she asked as innocently as a lamb.

      “No, it’s perfect, Elizabeth.”

      She returned his smile. “I told you you could trust me.” But boy, she admitted to herself, how she’d been tempted!

      Elizabeth heard Jenny stirring in her bed, making cooing sounds as she woke up.

      Running up the stairs, she got there before the baby had a chance to really come awake. The others heard her tender words to baby Jenny.

      Tom nodded. “She’s a good mother. Just as I knew she’d be.”

      “Yeah, she’s a good mommy.” Brady grinned at his grandpa.

      “I think we should do the dishes for her while she takes care of Jenny.”

      Brady jumped to his feet and in no time the three of them had the table cleared. They were loading the dishwasher when Elizabeth came down with Jenny.

      “Why, thank you, guys. You did a great job.”

      “I helped, Mommy!”

      “Of course you did, sweetie. You’re a very good big boy.”

      “How’s little Jenny?” Jack asked.

      “Hungry.”

      “Here, I’ll heat her bottle,” Jack said.

      “Thanks, Jack.” She took a seat at the table and talked to Jenny. Brady pressed against his mother.

      “Can she talk yet?” Brady asked.

      “Not yet. But she can make sounds.”

      “Show me.”

      “Okay, Jenny, will you talk for your big brother? Come on, Jenny, say ooh.”

      The baby made ooh’s for her mother.

      Brady laughed and clapped, startling his sister with the loud noise. She burst into sobs, and he looked as if he was about to follow her. “Sorry, Mommy.”

      She bent down to kiss her son’s cheek. “It’s okay, Brady. Next time you’ll know not to make any sudden noises.”

      He smiled up at her.

      Jack brought the bottle to Elizabeth. “I checked it. It’s just right.”

      “Thanks.”

      He smiled down at the baby. “Hi, there, Jenny.”

      She oohed for Jack, too.

      “That’s my girl,” he said with a grin.

      “Don’t listen, Jenny,” Elizabeth crooned to her daughter. “I bet he says that to all the girls.”

      She fed the baby her bottle, talking to her while she sucked the milk.

      Tom and Jack sat down at the table, watching.

      “I haven’t even held my granddaughter yet,” Tom said. “Do you…do you think I could feed her?”

      “Sure, Tom.” Elizabeth got up immediately and settled the baby in her grandfather’s arms. “You’re like a pro already,” she noted with a pat on his shoulder as she hovered over him.

      In the few days that they’d been here Elizabeth had seen a big change in Tom. He no longer spent most of the day in his room, either in bed or in his chair by the fire, choosing instead to spend time with Brady out in the barn or in the living room. His cheeks had color and his legs seemed stronger. Sitting there with Jenny, he looked like he’d taken twenty years off his age.

      “I could watch her for hours,” Tom said, never taking his eyes off his grandchild. “It’s better than dessert.”

      “So you don’t want dessert?” Elizabeth asked.

      Tom suddenly looked up. “You made dessert?”

      That night when she settled down in bed, Elizabeth took a moment to sigh. She had to admit all the new clothes, especially for Brady and Jenny, made a difference in her life. Every night since Brady had been born she’d gone to sleep worried that she couldn’t provide for him. Then she’d added Jennifer.

      She’d panicked when she’d learned about Reggie’s death.

      Their marriage had been over long ago, the love that she thought she’d felt for him long since dried up. She’d known what kind of man Reggie truly was, and that she’d made a huge mistake marrying him. Except that he’d given her children.

      But when he died, she knew she had to take care of those children.

      She should’ve checked about his bank account before she left for the Ransom Ranch. She knew Reggie had another checking account, because he’d sent her an occasional check from that account.

      Maybe tomorrow she’d ask Tom about it. Maybe she could pay him back if she found out there was money remaining. Then she realized Tom would feel bad