Page 35 of When a Cowboy Falls Hard
“I know. But the chemistry’s there, so our best bet is to avoid spending time together. Which means I won’t be seeing Tex much, either. That’s why I don’t want him getting too attached.”
“Sounds like you have a plan.”
“Um, yeah.” Making it up as he went along.
“How come she’s calling you Montgomery? Have you already discussed?—”
“No. She was searching for a way to handle the foal and me having the same name. She doesn’t like calling me Mister Monty like Tex does. I suggested Montgomery.”
“You did, huh?”
He shrugged. “Seemed like the obvious answer.”
“The name thing won’t be much of a problem if you two are intent on avoiding each other.”
“Guess you’re right.” What a depressing thought.
Chapter Twelve
After applying more lipstick and shoving the tube in her jeans pocket, Zinnia gathered up a couple of quilts and two pillows. Time to check on Tex.
He was proud of being able to dress and undress himself and she’d left him alone to accomplish that. He should be in his cowboy-themed pjs by now.
He stood in the middle of his room wearing his pjs, boots, jacket and hat. He glanced at her, then returned his attention to his bed.
“Changed your mind, sweetie?”
“Nope. But Smokey wants to go.”
“Then he should.” Mari had gifted him the iconic plush bear for his second birthday and he’d slept with that cuddly mascot ever since.
“Cowboys don’t sleep with bears.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He nodded.
“What if you take him and ask Mister Monty about it? If he says they don’t, then I’ll bring him back inside for you.”
“Okay.” He grabbed his bear and hugged him tight. “Let’s go, Smokey.”
Once they were outside, he ran ahead and she swallowed an automatic be careful. She’d been raised to take care of herself and she wanted the same for him.
But what she wouldn’t give for the chance to ask her parents for advice. Sometimes she consulted Uncle Graham, but he’d never had kids and admitted he wasn’t as knowledgeable as her folks would’ve been.
She gazed up at the stars twinkling overhead. “Miss you guys.” She liked to think they could hear her, and that sometimes, when she followed her instincts regarding Tex, they were guiding her.
He got to the barn door first, which was closed to hold in the heat from the sunny day. The night had turned chilly enough to make her shiver. She should have copied her son and put on a jacket. Hadn’t thought of it. Too busy deciding how long she should stay at the barn. Not long.
Tex didn’t have the strength to slide the door open, so he pounded on it and called out to the men inside. Made her smile. He could have waited for her to open it, but that wasn’t his style. He liked having agency over a situation. She encouraged that as much as possible.
She’d never left him with anyone but Mari or Graham. But tonight she was entrusting him to a man she’d met just this morning. She had no hesitation about doing it, though. Monty would watch over her kid with the same dedication he’d afforded Speckles and her foal.
Montgomery. She was having trouble making the name switch. Did it even matter? How often would she need to call him by name? Once this episode was over, she wouldn’t be seeing much of him other than at the birthday party.
The muffled conversation and laughter behind the door stopped and Uncle Graham pushed the door open. “Hey, Monty, there’s a cowboy out here who’s hankering to join us. You okay with that?”
“Always got room for another cowboy,” Monty called back.
