Little Cowgirl Needs a Mum / Once Upon a Proposal. Patricia Thayer

hug. She couldn’t help but close her eyes and revel in the comfort of those big arms, then reluctantly step away, turning to his younger son.

      “It was nice to meet you, too, Matt.”

      “It was my pleasure.” He hugged her too. “Hey, don’t let this guy run you off.” He nodded toward Evan. “I’ll protect you from him.”

      Evan wanted to slug his brother. Why did everyone think he was such a grouch? He caught his reflection in the mirror over the family-room mantel and saw his grim look. Damn.

      Jenny started out of the room. “I’ll go and say goodnight to Gracie.”

      Evan watched her leave, wanting to follow her, but knowing Gracie probably wouldn’t appreciate the intrusion.

      His father came up next to him. “Don’t chase her off, son. At the very least Jenny Collins is willing to help with Gracie.”

      Evan glared. He wasn’t ready for this. “Maybe I don’t want her help.”

      Matt moved closer. “Oh, boy, I’d take her help in a second.”

      “You stay away from her. She’s not your type.”

      Matt exchanged a look with his father before he turned to Evan. “She’s pretty. So she’s my type.”

      “She’s befriended Gracie, and I think that should come first, before you finding your girl of the month.”

      From Matt’s earliest years, he’d had a well-known reputation with the ladies around town. He’d probably dated just about every girl in the county. Now, his eyes lit up. “Do I hear a little jealousy in your voice?” He slapped Evan on the shoulder. “Welcome back, bro.”

      Jenny went upstairs to Gracie’s room. She wanted to make this quick, before she ran into Evan again.

      She peeked in the door and smiled at the little girl sitting in bed, looking at a book. “Hey, sweetie.”

      “Jenny.” Gracie motioned for her to come in. “Sit with me.”

      She walked toward the bed and sat down. “For a little while.”

      Gracie looked sad. “Did Daddy get mad at you ‘cause you want to help with Mommy’s quilts?”

      Jenny quickly shook her head. It didn’t matter if he was.

      “No.” She brushed back the girl’s bangs. “Your dad and I just talked awhile. How do feel when you look at your mother’s things?”

      “A little sad, but mostly happy.” The girl glanced away. “I wish … I wish I could talk to her again.”

      “I know, honey. That part is hard. But you can still talk to her.” Jenny glanced up at the ceiling. “She’s up there watching over you.”

      “That’s what Papa Sean says.”

      Jenny nodded. “She might not be able to answer you, but she’s listening. And if it makes you feel good to talk to her, then you should.”

      This time Gracie nodded and looked upward. “Mom? Mom, I want to sew your quilt, but Daddy doesn’t want me to. He says I’m too little. I think he’s sad ‘cause you went away.”

      Jenny forced a smile. “Now, tell her something that makes you happy.”

      “I got an A on my spelling test.” The girl looked thoughtful. “And Carrie asked me to come to her house for a sleepover, but Daddy won’t let me go. He thinks I’m still a baby.” Gracie looked at Jenny. “Will you talk to him about that, too?”

      Jenny was now catching on to this child’s plan. “Oh, Gracie, that’s between you and your dad.”

      “But you asked him to let me come to your class.”

      “And I’m still working on that.”

      “But I hafta go to the sleepover. If I don’t everybody will call me a baby.” Tears flooded her eyes. “And I won’t have any friends.”

      “Gracie, that’s not true. Real friends stick by you.” How could she convince a little girl to believe that when life had already thrown her the hardest knock of all? She glanced up and saw Evan walk into the room.

      He must have heard Gracie crying. “What’s wrong?”

      Gracie shook her head and buried her face against Jenny’s blouse. “Nothing.”

      “It isn’t ‘nothing’ when it makes you cry.” He sent a look toward Jenny. “Tell me and maybe I can fix it.”

      The girl sat up straight, wiped her tears and announced, “I want to go to Carrie’s sleepover.”

      Evan knew he’d walked into that one. “Gracie, you’re too young.”

      “All the other girls get to go, and she’s my best friend.”

      Jenny glared at him. “Best friends are important. Didn’t you have a best friend?”

      He ignored her. “You can have your friends over here.”

      “Really? You mean it?”

      He nodded, relieved that his daughter was so receptive to the idea. “Sure.”

      “A sleepover!” Gracie was so excited. “I get to have a sleepover.”

      Evan shifted uncomfortably. He didn’t remember agreeing to that. “Well, huh, that might not be a good idea, since there aren’t any women living here. Some of the mothers might not like that.”

      Gracie looked thoughtful. “What about Jenny? She’s a girl.”

      Jenny’s eyes widened. “I’m not sure that’s what your dad wants, Gracie.”

      Evan decided to play her game. “Wait. That might work,” he told Jenny. “You could organize whatever kids do. I bet you could recruit a lot of girls for your class. Maybe you could even work on Gracie’s quilt.”

      “Oh, Daddy, no.” Gracie shook her head. “That’s not what girls do at sleepovers. We do things like put on makeup and do our hair, paint our toenails. We get to stay up all night and watch videos.”

      “Sounds like fun.” He looked at Jenny. “But you still have to be supervised by an adult woman.”

      Evan knew he was crazy for involving this woman in his life, his daughter’s life, but he was desperate. Gracie was growing up and she needed things he didn’t know how to give her.

      “I guess it’s up to Jenny.”

      She studied him, then murmured, “You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you, Rafferty?” Then she turned a sweet smile toward Gracie. “I think your daddy and I need to discuss this … alone.” She leaned down and kissed Gracie’s cheek and whispered. “You get some sleep.”

      “Okay. Night, Jenny. Night, Daddy.” After a quick kiss from her father, the child burrowed under the blanket and closed her eyes. If he didn’t know better, he’d think his daughter had set him up.

      “Good night, Gracie.” He closed the bedroom door and walked down the steps behind Jenny. Without a word, she grabbed her purse off the table at the door and walked out.

      He hurried after her. “Jenny. Wait.”

      She stopped on the walkway. Night had fallen, and the only illumination was from the porch light. “What do you want now, Rafferty?”

      “Nothing. Nothing at all.” He studied her. “Why are you angry? You came out here and got involved in this. I didn’t ask you to come. So don’t get all bent out of shape when my daughter starts clinging to you.”

      She folded her arms across her chest. “Maybe that should give you a clue.”

      “About what?”

      “That you don’t