Certified Cowboy. Rita Herron

       Did she think he would hurt her?

       Maybe she had seen that news story…

       But she conducted another visual sweep of the area, then gave a reluctant nod to her son. “Okay, Kenny, but stay here by the building. Don’t wander off.”

       Kenny plunked down on the grass under a Texas red oak, and Cleo rested her head in his lap. “Then we can see the puppies?”

       Johnny nodded. “Do as your mama says and yes, then we’ll see Cleo’s pups.”

       Kenny’s crooked teeth shone as he bobbed his head up and down, then he cuddled the dog and began to rub her belly.

       “He’s always wanted a pet,” Rachel confessed as they climbed the porch steps and entered the cafeteria-style room. “But I hope he doesn’t become too attached.”

       Meaning she probably didn’t plan on sticking around. “We’ll probably be looking for homes for the pups,” Johnny said anyway.

       She glanced at him, but again that wary expression returned. But she was saved from answering by Ms. Ellen, who came bounding around the corner of the kitchen.

       The scent of homemade cinnamon rolls filled the air, and Johnny’s stomach growled.

       “Well, if it ain’t the Johnny Long,” Ms. Ellen said. “You must have smelled the buns in the oven.”

       “Thought I was smelling heaven,” Johnny said with a wink. Ms. Ellen was a plump middle-aged woman with a smile as broad as her hips and a heart that never quit giving. When Brody had mentioned needing a cook, Johnny had visited one of the homeless shelters near San Antonio and found the gem of a woman.

       After all, she needed a second chance herself, so hiring her was the perfect solution.

       Ms. Ellen wiped her hands on her apron and looked at Rachel. “And who is this, Mr. J.? Your girlfriend?”

       Rachel’s face blanched, and Johnny nearly choked. “No…uh…she’s your new assistant cook.”

       “Well, thank the Lord,” Ms. Ellen said. “With all those hungry kids and the hands coming in, I need some help.” She narrowed her eyes. “But you’re awfully skinny, girl. You really know how to cook?”

       Rachel smiled, seemingly grateful to have the awkward moment pass. “Yes, ma’am.”

       Ms. Ellen made a smacking sound with her mouth. “Well, then, welcome to Ms. Ellen’s kitchen. How about I show you around?”

       “Can it wait till tomorrow?” Johnny said. “She just arrived, so I need to give her a tour of the rest of the ranch and settle her into a cabin.”

       Ms. Ellen nodded, then bundled up them both some cinnamon rolls before she allowed them to leave. Johnny dug into one as they walked back outside, then handed one to Kenny, whose face lit up as he sank his teeth into the gooey pastry.

       Rachel laughed, and the three of them, plus Cleo, climbed back into his truck for the rest of the tour. He showed her the stables where they kept the quarter horses, the pens for training and for riding lessons, the arena where they planned to hold the rodeo, and the barn and pastures for the beef cattle and calves.

       Kenny seemed to loosen up, his excitement mounting with each discovery, and Rachel finally relaxed. And when Johnny showed them inside the barn, and Kenny saw the puppies, he thought he detected tears in Rachel’s eyes.

       “Kenny,” Johnny said gruffly. “If you’re going to stay here, you have to earn your keep.”

       Kenny’s smile faded and apprehension streaked his little face. Then he inched closer to his mother and ducked behind her, his big eyes frightened again. “Yes, sir.”

       Johnny grimaced at the sudden change in the boy’s demeanor.

       “What does he have to do?” Rachel asked, her tone defensive.

       Johnny knelt in front of Kenny and scooped up one of the puppies. “I thought you’d look after Cleo and her boys. Make sure Cleo gets food and water every day, and play with the pups. They’re just babies and need exercise.”

       The frightened expression in Kenny’s eyes morphed from relief to childlike glee in a millisecond.

       “Do you think you can do that for me?” Johnny asked, careful to use a gentle voice. “It would really help me out.”

       “Yes, sir, I can do it.” Kenny squared his shoulders as if he was a little man and had just been given an important job.

       Johnny gave him a high five, but the boy’s reaction still troubled him. Kenny had expected something worse to be asked of him. Just what had happened to the kid?

       Johnny glanced at Rachel and noticed she was trembling slightly.

       Dammit. He hadn’t meant to frighten her or the boy. But someone else obviously had. And he intended to find out who it was.

       Then he’d see to it that it never happened again.

      RACHEL SAVORED THE FRESH night air as Johnny showed them to the cabin, yet her eyes constantly scanned the area for signs that Rex had followed them.

       “The cabin isn’t large,” Johnny said almost apologetically. “But it’s clean and furnished and you’ll have your own kitchen, so you can make meals on your days off and if you and Kenny decide not to eat every meal in the dining hall.”

       He unlocked the door and Kenny bounded in, racing through the den/kitchen combination to explore.

       “There are two bedrooms,” Johnny said. “But you’ll share a bath.”

       “That’s fine,” Rachel said, admiring the wood floors and beams in the ceiling. “This has a lot of rustic charm.” And was more cozy and homey, with its country furnishings, throw rugs, pillows and the painting of horses above the couch, than any place she’d stayed in the past year.

       “Mom, there’s bunk beds!” Kenny shouted from the second bedroom.

       Johnny chuckled. “I always wanted bunks when I was a kid.”

       “Did you get them?” Rachel asked, curious about the rodeo star. He’d seemed so…normal today. Not like the arrogant playboy the papers had claimed him to be.

       He shook his head. “Nope. A couple of friends of mine, we built a fort in an old tree. That was about as close as I got.” A faint blush stained his cheeks. “But I did put them in one of my guest rooms at my place.”

       Rachel quirked a brow, wondering about that detail. Had he planned to have a family someday?

       He shifted, then gripped the front door. “Let me help you bring your stuff in, then I’ll let you get settled.”

       “I can handle it,” Rachel said, stiffening.

       Kenny raced back in. “I can see the horses from the window by the top bunk.”

       Rachel smiled. It had been a long time since she’d seen her son so happy.

       She only wished it could last.

       “Come on, partner,” Johnny said to Kenny. “Let’s bring in your stuff.”

       Kenny loped up beside Johnny and the two of them headed back to her Jeep. Rachel followed, tensing as Johnny opened the back and spotted the two small suitcases.

       He pivoted to look at her, questions in his eyes. “Is this it?”

       She nodded. “We like to travel light.” Because I had to leave my other stuff behind.

       He stared at her for a long minute, then nodded, lifted her suitcase and Kenny’s smaller one, handed Kenny his backpack of toys and strode back inside the cabin.

       Rachel heard a truck rumble and jerked around, fighting panic, her heart racing as she searched for Rex.