Read Online The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family by Linda Ford - Free Book Online

added when she realized he had nothing to say.
    Her comment eased his stubborn mind. “Even though I was young at the time, I remember my ma explaining to one of the cowboys why she allowed her young sons to explore so freely.” At the memory a smile started in his heart. “She said we’d learn best by trying things and seeing if they worked or not. Like the time I tried to rope a bull. I got the rope over his head and he jerked me off the fence. I hung on. I’m not sure what I thought I’d do. The bull dragged me along, bumping across every rock and lump in the ground. But I wouldn’t let go. Might still be there if Pa hadn’t rode up. He grabbed me. Had to pry my hands open to release the rope.” He chuckled.
    Susanne looked shocked. “Were you hurt?”
    He looked at the palms of his hands as if checking for the rope burns and rubbed his stomach, remembering the bruises. “Nothing serious. You know what I said to Pa?”
    â€œYou thanked him for rescuing you?”
    â€œNope. I said, ‘Guess I won’t do that again.’” He leaned back on his heels, the memory ripe with so many good things. His pa’s concern, his ma’s pride in how hard he tried and the knowledge that they both cared about him in their different ways.
    She laughed. “I would hope not.”
    They returned to putting seeds in the ground. After the beets, beans and corn were planted, Susanne said, “I’ll have to do the carrot seeds. They need to be sprinkled carefully.”
    The children stood to one side, watching. Robbie shoved Frank hard enough to make him fall down. Janie kicked at the dirt sending up puffs of dust.
    â€œStop doing that!” Liz said.
    The children were getting restless. “Let’s do potatoes,” Tanner told them. “They’re fun.”
    â€œYeah!” Robbie yelled. He ran to the bucket holding the eyes.
    â€œWhoa, there.” Susanne ran after him to save the potato eyes. Her bonnet fell down her back and her brown skirts flicked back and forth with each step. Her laughter filled the air as she caught up to Robbie and swung him off his feet. “What’s your rush?”
    Tanner leaned on his hoe and enjoyed the scene.
    â€œTanner said it was fun.”
    She set him down. “And so it shall be.”
    Tanner’s inside warmed as he watched the pair laughing together.
    Susanne found tin cans for each of the children and divvied the potatoes among them. They returned to his side where he waited with the hoe.
    â€œWait one minute,” Susanne said, and raced away.
    Tanner again admired the view.
    â€œWhere’s she going?” Liz demanded.
    â€œI don’t know. I guess we’ll find out when she gets back.” For his part, he was content to watch.
    She ducked into the barn and he heard a clatter come from inside. Had she fallen over some of the farm implements strewn about? He started to toss the hoe aside so he could go after her when she marched out, triumphantly carrying another hoe.
    â€œLet’s work in teams,” she said as she reached the garden. “That way the work will go twice as fast. Who wants to be on my team?”
    To Tanner’s utter amazement, all four said they wanted to be on his.
    Susanne tossed one hand in the air in what he hoped meant surprise. A part of his mind worried she might be offended. “You’re going to make me plant by myself? Does that seem fair?”
    â€œI’ll help you,” Liz said, and went to her aunt’s side.
    Tanner edged backward. He had no desire to come between Susanne and her charges. But perhaps he could offer a solution. “Tell you what.” He addressed the children. “We’ll make teams and plant one row then make new teams for the next row. Agreed?”
    They nodded.
    â€œLiz and Robbie are on your aunt’s team for the first row. Frank and Janie are on mine.”
    The children sorted