Read Online Once a Father by Kathleen Eagle - Free Book Online

think there’s nothing in it.”
    Sally leaned back for a look past Hank’s shoulder. “Annie, where are you going?”
    â€œPersonally, I wouldn’t mind staying to watch the girls talk the boys out of their decoder rings, but Zelda’s got work to do.” She tossed her keys up and caught them. “And these people have cold burgers to choke down.”
    â€œMy day’s not over either,” Hank said. He tapped Logan’s shoulder with his fist. “Hang in there, man.”
    â€œWell, damn,” Sally said. “I guess that means we’re leaving. Unfortunately I have some calls to make. We’re looking for twenty-five competitors, and we’re still ten short.”
    â€œYou’re too picky,” Hank said.
    â€œSelective.” Sally nodded toward the tipi. “I’m bringing the camera next time I come out. This is perfect for the calendar.”
    Ann stopped in her tracks. “ What calendar?”
    â€œThe wild horse calendar.” Sally grinned. “Part promotion, part fundraiser. I was going to do trainer of the month, but the applicants aren’t falling into the two cake flavors I was hoping for—cheese and beef—so I’m looking for Western romance.”
    The men exchanged glances.
    â€œHumor me,” Sally said. “It’s for a good cause.”
    â€œI can come back and get you guys later,” Ann suggested. “Cake is not on my diet.”
    â€œC’mon, woman. I’ll humor you.” Hank squeezed Sally’s shoulders. “You want something to pin on your wall?”
    â€œIt won’t be cold beef,” Logan said as they stood together watching the couple walk away, the man steadying the woman while the woman lifted the man.
    So that’s what a good fit looks like, Mary thought. Separately they looked like pieces from two totally different toys, like Lincoln Logs and an Erector Set. It must have taken some serious creativity—not tomention courage—to put one and one together. This one and that one. Neither part was pushing to reshape the other, but they were moving in sync. Amazing.
    If anyone could do the math, of course, Sally could. No matter what kind of division had been done on her, Sally could rebuild from the smallest remainder. Small but mighty, that was Sally. Mary didn’t have that kind of imagination. She preferred to do her thinking inside the box. Much safer. Sure, she’d traveled a lot, but she’d taken the box with her. She was a turtle and her best friend was a hare, but there was no contest. Venturing outside the box was a stupid move for a turtle.
    But, oh, that hare truly made it look tempting.
    â€œIs that what we’re having?” She reached for Logan’s paper bag. “Ready to eat last Thursday?”
    He swung the bag out of reach. “You think you can do better?” She lunged for the bag. He dodged easily. “Show me what you got.”
    â€œI got a promise from you.” She grabbed for the bag again, and he laughed. “Supper, you said.”
    â€œAnd you can have it the way it is, or you can heat it up. What you can’t do is pin it to your wall.”
    â€œI don’t have a wall.”
    â€œNo trophy room?” He dropped the bag, and she caught it. “Quick hands,” he said with a smile. He snatched at his hat, which she instinctively tried to defend. “But not quick enough.”
    â€œIf I had a trophy room, I’d be selective in what I’d display. Who says you’d make the cut?”
    â€œNice steal. You’ve played this—”
    She grabbed the cowboy hat back and hoisted it overhead, grinning. “ That’s a steal.”
    â€œWe’ve got two different games going here.”
    She whipped hat and bag behind her back. “And I have both balls.”
    â€œOuch.”
    â€œThat’s right.” She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth and