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When Johnny was across the room, looking at the bookshelf, Tony leaned back and crossed his arms. “This parenting stuff sure is tough to adjust to, especially when I’m just the uncle trying to fill the roles of both Mom and Dad.”
“You look like you’re doing a good job.” Not that Cord had any basis for his observation, since he had zero experience with little people.
“I’m trying. I just never know if I’m doing anything right.”
“I don’t know if anyone knows what they are doing. They just give it their best try. And fake the rest.”
Tony’s brows rose. “You think?”
Cord nodded.
“Hey, I just got a new stallion.” Tony smiled. “You should stop by sometime and check him out. He might be as big as that one you’ve got. What’s his name?”
“Midnight Star. I bet they’d certainly put on a fine race.”
“Is that a challenge?” Tony’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll have to see your horse first. I’ll stop by when I get a chance.” This wasn’t the first time Tony had invited him over, and Cord had always meant it when he’d said he’d stop over sometime, but sometime never seemed to roll around. Cord was stuck in a rut, so used to keeping to himself. It was hard to change.
The blare of a car horn drew his attention. He glanced out the window, finding his truck was blocking traffic. He was hesitant to leave in case he was needed, but what would they need him for? His biggest contribution would be holding Lexi’s hand, and obviously, she could do fine on her own. He shoved his Stetson on his head and strode up to the reception window.
Mrs. Willard slid open the clear glass partition. “What a horrible thing to happen to that poor girl. Don’t you worry now. Doc will get her fixed up. You’ll see.”
“I’m going to step out for a moment and move my truck. It’s blocking traffic. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded. “If anyone is looking for you, I’ll let them know.”
He thanked her and stepped outside. He was actually happy to have something to do other than get lost in his troubled thoughts. They always came back to Lexi. Her sickly complexion haunted him.
He drew his thoughts up short. What was wrong with him? He didn’t even worry like this when his favorite horse had colic. After all, this woman was a stranger to him. Well, maybe they weren’t exactly strangers any longer. They’d shared a lot during their visit to Haggerty. He’d noticed that opening up about her parents had been extremely hard for her. The fact that she’d taken him into her confidence gave him an unfamiliar sensation in his chest.
And then there’d been that kiss.
It hadn’t been just any kiss. When her sweet lips moved beneath his, he’d wanted to stay in that moment and forget the reality of their situation. She made him want to believe in rainbows and fairytales.
He drew his meandering thoughts up short. There was no room in his life to get caught up in fantasies—no matter how pretty they are. He couldn’t let her get under his skin like Susan had—he couldn’t let Lexi sweet-talk him into selling her the land.
Which sounded all fine and good, but he just couldn’t readily dismiss how nice she’d been to him—genuinely nice. Sure, she wanted his land, but she didn’t have to bother listening to him and trying to understand his deep connection to the land. And he couldn’t—wouldn’t—forget her kindness.
When
he returned from moving the truck, Mrs. Willard called out, “Cord, you can go on back.”
“Thanks.” He wasted no time heading to the exam room.
The door was cracked open. Not wanting to intrude, he rapped his knuckles on the doorframe.
“Come in,” Doc called out.
Cord stepped inside to find Lexi sitting up, holding an ice pack to her hand. Her face remained a bit flushed, but her cheeks were no longer fiery red. His gaze moved from her to the doctor.
“How is she?”
“I’d like to admit her to the hospital overnight—”
“What? How bad is she?”
“Relax, Cord. If you’d let me finish, I was going to say I’d put her in for observation—as a precaution.”
