Read Online The Cowboy's Healing Ways (Cooper Creek) by Brenda Minton - Free Book Online

funny thump. “You think I’m a handsome prince?”
    “I said Abigail would think that. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.”
    “Gotcha.” He handed her the purse she’d thrown in the backseat of the truck. “I’ll be back at noon. Right?”
    “Right.”
    Laura smiled a last thank-you and got out of the truck. As she did so, Abigail ran to her, throwing little-girl arms around her waist and holding on tight. Laura looked back at the truck she’d just climbed out of. Jesse tugged the brim of his hat and nodded just slightly.
    She mouthed thank you as he backed out of the parking space and then Abigail had all of her attention, pulling her toward the building and the caseworker.
    “Can you braid my hair, Mommy?” Abigail led her into the room where they would spend their quality time—a large room with green carpet, chairs meant for children, boxes of toys, a table with crayons and coloring books.
    “Of course I will. I even have new hairbands for you.”
    “Pink ones?”
    “Pink ones.”
    The caseworker took one of the few adult-size chairs. She pulled out a book and a notebook and watched them as they talked, did each other’s hair and then sat together and read books. Abigail wanted to do everything. So did Laura. She wanted to do everything they hadn’t been able to do in the months they’d been apart.
    After they’d done everything else Abigail climbed up on her lap. “I want to go home with you, Mommy.”
    “I know, honey. Hopefully soon.” She glanced at the caseworker, who had stopped reading and was writing in that ever-present notebook.
    The caseworker had a name. Annie. Laura even liked her. She was doing her job. She wasn’t the enemy.
    “Let’s read another book,” Laura suggested, hoping to get both of their minds off the reality that they would soon be separated again.
    Annie moved to the chair next to them. She sat quietly while Laura read and then she asked Abigail if she wanted a snack. Another woman appeared and Annie smiled and pointed for Abigail to go with her.
    “Liz will get you a sandwich.” Annie gave Abigail’s hand a light squeeze. Before she ran off with the other worker, Abigail hugged Laura tight.
    “She’s doing really great, Laura. The foster home she is in is one of our best. Though I know that doesn’t make it any easier.”
    “No, it doesn’t. I miss her. I need her back.”
    “I know. We’re going to have a caseworker from your new county of residence stop by your home and talk with you. We want to inspect the home, of course. We want to talk to your employer. Of course, we’ll do another lovely drug test.”
    “They’ll always be negative.”
    Annie touched her arm. “I know. Believe me, I’m on your side. If it was up to me, Abigail would be with you, no question.”
    “Thank you.” Laura closed her eyes tight against the sting of tears. Because someone believed her. Someone believed in her.
    “We have to do this in the proper way, but I promise, I’m going to move through the steps as quickly as possible.”
    “Oh, Annie, thank you.”
    “Laura, thank you for making my job so much easier. I don’t always get to reunite children with parents. And I don’t always get to feel good about it when it does happen.”
    Abigail returned, her smile wide as she bit into peanut butter and jelly. She walked to the window and looked out.
    “Is that the man who brought you here, Mommy?” Abigail climbed back on her lap.
    “It is. That’s my new boss. I clean his house. And he has horses, dogs and cats.”
    Annie smiled “Tell her about the home you live in, Laura.”
    “It has two bedrooms, Abigail. Your new bedroom has a pretty bed with a quilt and a white dresser. You’ll love it. When you look out the window you can see horses. There’s even a trail to the lake and we can go fishing together.”
    “I want to go now, Mommy.” Abigail leaned into her, the peanut-butter sandwich forgotten.
    “Not today, but soon.”
    “When is soon?”