Page 14 of A Cowboy Holiday

“I’ll make a note of it. We’ll get started first thing in the morning,” Hudson said. “I’m going to take care of a few things in the office and head home early. Moody’s getting ready for the Halloween parade this weekend, and I agreed to hang extra spider webs in the bookstore…or something like that. You’re both welcome to join the fun.”

Tanner gave a thumbs-up. “I bet your daughter would love the parade. If you haven’t been to Christmas Town yet, you should think about going.”

“Uh…”

Hudson chuckled. “No pressure, man. It’s an open invitation. See you tomorrow.”

I nodded, expecting Tanner to leave too. But no…he was still there, looking good enough to eat. I scowled and he smiled.Weird.

“Did you need something?”

“Yep. You were going to tell me what I’m the perfect audience for,” he replied.

My lips twitched of their own volition. I furrowed my brow as if that might straighten my mouth, but somehow that made Tanner’s eyes crease with amusement and damn it, I was losing this battle.

“We debated if Lou was sharing his Pebble Beach bogey story with you.”

“Ha! No, but he got a new putter.” Tanner stepped around me and tugged at Moses’s lead. “C’mon, I’ll help you get this crew into the barn.”

We had people who could take over from here, but I didn’t argue. We wrangled the horses inside and set about watering and brushing them down.

Tanner was quiet, speaking in his usual slow, honeyed tones to the animals. I was doing the same, more aware of the cowboy than I was on the horse in front of me.

Ten minutes later, he met me in Buttermilk’s stall, brushing his hands as he moved closer.

“She’ll be okay,” I assured him. “Her appetite is low, but it’s mild indigestion. And she’s the only case so far.”

Tanner inclined his head. “I figured as much. I’m anxious to move the cattle, but it’s smart to wait till the new herd has acclimated a bit. How about you? Have you acclimated?”

I cocked my chin. “Uh…yes. Thank you.”

“Good.”

C’mon, Axel. You can do better than that. Talk to the guy. Say something, anything. Don’t be so fucking awkward.

“I’m no stranger to this work, though. Been doin’ it a long time.”

Okay, that sounded dismissive and ungrateful.

I opened my yob to smooth out my rough edges, but Tanner beat me to it.

“How about Phoebe? Does she like school?”

“Uh…yeah. She’s doing well,” I replied, heat flooding my face.

Thankfully, I doubted he could tell that I was blushing like a nun in a sex shop—for no reason whatsoever, I might add.

“Glad to hear it. Has she been on a horse yet?”

“Uh…no. She’s been on a pony, but she’s still pretty small and…” I stopped puttering around the stall, looking for things to do and finally met Tanner’s gaze. “Phee wants to dance. It’s all she talks about lately. Wants to be a ballerina.”

“Good for her.” His eyes sparked with pure sunshine. “What do you know about ballet?”

“Absolutely nothing.”

Tanner snort-laughed. “I can’t help you there, either. But Vicki probably can.”

“Who’s Vicki?”