Page 215 of Cowboy Daddies

Oh hell no.

“Guess not, sugar. Finding a short-term job seems to be impossible. So I’ll just sit around and twiddle my thumbs. I’m not quite sure what twiddling your thumbs actually involves. Sounds a bit weird. Maybe I could do aura readings. What do you think? I could set up a little area on the side of the road. Aura readings for five dollars. Do you think that would go over well with the locals?”

“No,” both Jeb and Wyatt said at the same time.

“Bummer,” she muttered.

Wyatt was staring at him pleadingly.

Jeb really didn’t know how to feel about this. On the one hand, Casey and Wyatt got on really well. On the other hand, she was a stranger and a bit of a loose cannon. Could he really trust her with his child? She couldn’t even seem to take care of herself.

However, at the end of the day, he was desperate. And Tex said he’d looked into her and she was clean.

She was an adult. Surely she could keep Wyatt safe and alive for a few days?

“All right,” Jeb said. “We’ll go get your stuff, Casey. And we can settle you into the house this afternoon.”

“Yes!” Wyatt cried.

“Huh?” Casey asked. “What are you talking about? Why would I move into your house?”

“Because I’m giving you a short-term job. For the next few days or so, you’re going to look after Wyatt and the house. Now, you’re both a mess. Go and clean up. Then we’ll get moving. We’re wasting sunlight here eating this junk.”

“My ice cream is not junk, Jeb Wilder!” Susan yelled from behind the counter.

Crap.

“Sorry, Susan,” he called out.

She just glared at him.

“Winning the hearts of women everywhere, huh?” Casey asked. “Also, I don’t believe I agreed to take this job. As nicely as you asked.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“I know you didn’t ask,” Casey said with a frown.

Interesting. This was the most grouchy he’d ever seen her.

“I think she means that you should’ve asked, Papa,” Wyatt told him.

Yes, he’d picked up on that. She wasn’t really wrong. But he didn’t really want to ask either because then she could say no.

Casey crossed her arms over her chest staring at him steadily.

“You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?” he asked.

“Yep,” she replied.

“You really should ask, Papa,” Wyatt told him. “It’s not nice to just assume.”

“Great. Casey, will you come and look after Wyatt please? I’ll pay you and it includes room and board.”

“Wow, what a lovely offer. My schedule is pretty busy but I’ll see what I can do.”

Awesome.

Somehow he thought he was going to come to regret this.