Page 220 of Cowboy Daddies

Actually, there might be more than one. But she was choosing not to think about that. She’d wrapped her hand up as best she could and they’d finally found a smooth piece of wood.

Then she’d had to figure out how to secure the wood to the rope that they’d also found in the shed.

Finally, she’d managed to drill some holes in the wood. It had taken her a while but she’d made the holes big enough to slide the rope through and tied some big knots underneath.

“And now all we have to do is secure it to the tree,” she said. “Good choice of tree by the way.”

“Mama always said she’d like a swing in this tree,” Wyatt told her.

“Then that’s what we’re gonna do. I’m just not sure how. Maybe I’ll climb it with the rope tied around my waist. Then I can drag the swing up and tie it over the branch.”

Wyatt gave her a skeptical look. “I don’t know, Casey.”

“Why? I’m a great climber.”

“Yeah, but that’s a long way up and you’re hurt.”

Wyatt had been worried about her hand and her foot all day. But she was fine. Sure, they were both throbbing. And she was a bit concerned about how to get the splinter out of her hand . . . but that would sort itself out.

It would be all worth it in the end.

“Don’t stress. I’ve got this. Look, I’ll tie it around my waist.” She tapped her temple. “Up here for thinking, sugar.”

“Maybe I should climb up,” he suggested.

“Yeah, that’s not happening. I might make some crappy decisions when it comes to my own safety, but I won’t put yours at risk. I’ve got this. Don’t worry.”

Casey tied the rope around her waist and started climbing the tree. The only issue was that the branches weren’t always that close together and she wasn’t the tallest sunflower in the garden.

Finally, she heaved herself up over the biggest branch.

That’s when she made a mistake.

She looked down.

Now, she wasn’t actually scared of heights. She really had climbed a lot of trees in her younger days. But the moment she looked down, a dizzy spell hit her. And then the wind whipped through the tree, making the branch shake.

Actually, that might be her shaking.

Not good.

Really, really not good.

“Are you all right, Casey?” Wyatt called out.

“Who me? Yeah, of course I am, sugar.”

She wasn’t.

“Are you going to tie the rope over the branch?” he asked.

“Sure am.”

As soon as she figured out how to let go of the branch and sit up.

Come on, Casey.

You have this.