If they asked for more detail, Tex was more than willing to give it, including what he’d named the foal who was officially his. Why hadn’t she seen all this coming?
All the smiles and laughter told her they were on board with this romance even if it had come out of the blue. She and Tex were more than welcome to join the Bridger Bunch.
Monty was all smiles and laughter, too, but she knew him better now. He was as uncomfortable as she was. Maybe more. They needed to talk, but how? When?
Picnic benches were lined up in front of the barn and everyone was finding a seat. They insisted she and Tex sit up front, and with Monty of course. Uncle Graham also scored a front row seat because he’d only seen the show once.
Someone, she thought it was Monty’s older brother Zay, suggested Monty put Tex on his shoulders so he could see better. When he swung Tex up there and he gave a little whoop of joy, it made her throat hurt.
He was mesmerized by those little critters, each one wearing a kid-sized cowboy hat like his. “They gots cowboy hats like mine, Mommy.”
“I see that. Pretty cute.”
“When are they gonna start?”
“Any minute, sport.”
“Howdy, ladies and gents!” Cole altered his voice to sound more folksy. “Presenting the Beaver Bunch!”
The group clapped and cheered. So did Tex, bouncing and clapping so enthusiastically that Monty had to grab his legs so he didn’t topple off.
“That’s Rufus on the fiddle, Buster’s on the washboard and Shorty’s on the washtub bass. Rufus, want to say a few words?”
The fiddle player’s mouth moved and Cole’s drawl got more pronounced. “Shore do, boss! I’d like to welcome all these good folks to our show and give a shout-out to our special guests Tex and Zinnia!”
More clapping from everyone except Tex, who sat stunned. “Mommy, he knowed our names!”
“Must be a smart little beaver.”
“Got a song for us, Rufus?”
“Shore do, boss. Let’s do it, boys!” Slapping their tails in time to the music, their paws manipulating those instruments, they played The Gambler.
“Mommy! It’s our song!”
“I know, son.” She glanced at Monty, eyebrows raised.
He lowered his voice. “He asked. And he happened to have it.”
She had no words. He’d listened to her unconventional lullaby and then remembered it when Cole asked for a favorite song. Was he trying to make her fall in love with him?
“C’mon folks!” Rufus called out. “Join in on the chorus! Y’all know the words!”
The concert turned into a singalong, and nobody sang with more gusto than her beloved son. The crowd began to sway with the music. Uncle Graham on her left and Monty on her right swayed, so she could either go along or get bumped.
Once she was in motion and singing, something unexpected happened to her anxiety. It disappeared. Or maybe it was the words of the song. Advice to live by.
She certainly was sitting at the table right now, and the dealing was far from done. Tex was having the time of his life. Maybe she should just keep playing the game and see if her hand improved.
Chapter Twenty-Five
It was the damnedest thing. Monty wasn’t surprised that Tex was such a hit with his family. Zinnia was, too, but Tex was in demand and he lapped up the attention.
Monty was glad for the kid. He really was. He was also jealous as hell. While Tex didn’t exactly ignore him, he was mostly busy talking to Monty’s brothers and Cole, the magician in charge of the Beaver Bunch.
Adam gave Tex a tour of the barn. Luis showed him the other barn, the one for the semi-wild horses being trained for adoption. Zay took him for a ride on the new John Deere Gator the ranch had just purchased for checking the water tanks in the sanctuary.
Rio even searched the attic for a toy set of horseshoes and everyone took turns playing with Tex. Monty did, too, but it wasn’t like the kid was more excited to play with him than anyone else.
