Page 267 of Cowboy Daddies

Well. If you guessed her, then you’d be wrong. She now drove around in a brand-new SUV with a high safety rating.

Jeb had actually hired a ranch manager so that he could spend more time with her and Wyatt. Which was amazing. He and Wyatt were getting along a lot better as well.

And whenever Wyatt went on a playdate and sometimes while he was at school, she got to spend time with Daddy.

She’d talked to Jeb about getting a job, but he wanted her to think about what she truly wanted to do. And not feel pressured into having to work since he could easily provide for her.

Casey wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life, but she’d figure it out. Jordan had been a bit upset that she wasn’t moving to Santa Barbara, but she’d understood once Casey explained it all.

Casey was even starting to feel calmer around the horses. Jeb and Wyatt had helped her a lot with that. One day, she even hoped she might be able to ride Frost.

Jeb picked up the bowl of soup and held up a spoonful. It actually smelled kind of good. She’d been taking some cooking lessons in town and she was getting better. Slowly.

She swallowed the soup.

All right. That was really good. It kind of warmed her from the inside out.

She’d hidden her tooth issue from Jeb for as long as she could, but when she’d curled up in agony last night, he’d forced her to the dentist this morning.

Unfortunately, Max had said the tooth had to be taken care of immediately.

“See? That’s good, isn’t it?” Jeb asked.

“I guess so. I still think ice cream would be better, though, Daddy.”

“I know you do. I’ve got to grab Wyatt from the bus soon, so I want you to have a few more mouthfuls.”

“I can get him!”

“No. Ed said you had some strong drugs and to rest for a while.”

Pfft.

Wyatt was enjoying school much better now that Billy was gone. His family had packed up hastily and moved about two months ago. Soon after Jeb learned about the rumors Billy’s father had been spreading.

Strangely, Megan had left about the same time.

She didn’t know what Jeb had done. When she’d asked him, he just said that he’d had a word with them. Had he threatened them? She had no idea and she didn’t actually care. He’d taken care of things. He’d protected her and Wyatt.

And that was what counted.

He’d held back with Happy, it seemed, since he was still in town. Although it seemed that the sheriff had him under heavy supervision.

The sound of a car door slamming shut had him setting aside the bowl of food and moving to the window.

“Hmm. Stay here, little girl. Hear me?” Jeb said sternly.

“Who is it?”

“No one you need to worry about. I’ll be back in a moment.”

No one she needed to worry about? Why didn’t she believe him?

Deciding that she needed to investigate, she took off her bib. Then she got up and grabbed her dressing gown, drawing it on before she made her way out of the bedroom.

There were voices below from the porch and she made her way carefully down the stairs, stopping at the bottom as she heard him.

What was he doing here? How had he found her?