Page 4 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Ford poked his shoulder. “So, why did you ask me who she was?”

Ashton gave him a guilty little smile. “Because I wanted to see what you’d say about her. I didn’t know if you and her were already... you know, together.”

Ford let out a breath but didn’t comment.

Ashton raised his eyebrows and inclined his head toward the last piece of garlic bread.

“Sure, you can have it.”

“Thanks, Uncle Ford. I can help if you want to ask her out.”

“Appreciate the offer, kid.” He checked his watch. “You want to help me with the dishes instead? We’re going to have to start the movie soon if we’re going to get you home on time.”

“Don’t worry; Mom won’t be mad at you if we’re late.”

“It’s not about that – it’s about keeping our word. We said we’d have you back on time, so we will.”

Ashton sighed as he got up from the table. “We should ask if I can come on a Friday or Saturday – she’d let me stay later then.”

“We can do that. But it’s not about how late you can stay – it’s about doing what we say we’ll do, when we say we’ll do it.”

“That’s part of the cowboy code, right? Being a man of your word.”

Ford smiled. He knew that Tanner used the concept of a cowboy code a lot with Ashton. He understood why, but… “I think it is, but either way, it’s about being a decent person – doing what’s right.”

Ashton nodded solemnly as he gathered the plates from the table. “Right – you’re a good man and you’re not a cowboy, so it’s not just a cowboy thing, is it?”

“It’s not.” He opened his mouth to continue but closed it again when he realized that any attempt to explain the difference in his mind between a cowboy and a cattleman would probably be lost on Ashton. More than that, it would be about rationalizing it – defending himself in a way that wasn’t needed.

“Do you want to wipe the table over or load the dishwasher?”

“Wipe the table,” Ashton said with a grin. “Then I’ll be finished first and I get to take your spot on the sofa and control the remote.”

Ford chuckled as he started to load the dishwasher. He wasn’t going to tell the kid that he was happy to give up both – most nights, he had the remote and the entire house to himself.

He checked his watch again, wondering what time Amelia might be back.

He had no problem sharing his space with her, either.

~ ~ ~

Amelia took her coat from Shane with a smile. “Thanks. And thanks so much for inviting me over. This was great. I want to say we should do it again soon, but… I can’t. Not yet.”

Shane gave her a puzzled look. “Why not? I thought you were sticking around now.”

Cassidy laughed. “She is sticking around. What she means is, she doesn’t want to invite herself back again too soon. And that she can’t exactly invite us over there, right?”

Amelia smiled. “You got me.”

“Ah, right,” Shane nodded.

“You could invite us anyway,” Cassidy said with a smile.

Shane rolled his eyes. “It’s all right, Ford wouldn’t blame you, Amelia – he’d know damn well that Cass had invited herself, and that there was nothing that you – or I – could do to stop her.”

“I’m just saying, it might do Ford some good to have people over once in a while.” Cassidy grinned at Amelia. “And I’d be happy to come. I like Ford. He’s a good-looking guy.”

“Excuse me, wifey dear. Husband standing right here.”