Read Online Wyatt: Return of the Cowboy by Cathy McDavid - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cathy McDavid
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even better man. Here’s to Mom and Dad and here’s to you. Welcome home, brother.”
All the guests raised their glasses, cheering and clapping when Jay hopped off the stage.
He headed straight for Wyatt. “I hope you can forgive me.”
Wyatt’s reply was to pull Jay into a bear hug. They were quickly engulfed by dozens of their parents’ friends, all of them seconding Jay’s welcome home. Wyatt’s heart, closed for too many years, swelled.
After countless handshakes and hugs, he searched the room for Paige. He found her near the food tables, talking to Jay and his wife. Kerri Anne stood close to Jay, their daughters hanging onto Jay’s hands in that Daddy-pay-attention-to-me way. All at once, Kerri Anne reached for him, her gesture tender and familiar and achingly sweet.
Everything was going to be all right, Wyatt thought. Somehow, some way, Jay and his wife were going to make it.
Paige must have noticed the subtle interaction, too, for she wore the same lovely smile that had completely captivated Wyatt when he first arrived home.
Was he crazy? What was he doing standing over here and not next to her?
Before he managed two steps, his father appeared, waylaying Wyatt with a hand on his arm.
“You have a minute?”
“Sure, Dad. Happy anniversary, by the way.”
“Thank you.”
Wyatt noticed his mother watching them intently, staring over the shoulder of a friend, an anxious look on her face.
His father cleared his throat and swallowed. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Just say what’s on your mind.”
“I know I said and did some terrible things to you. Since you’ve been back and before you left.”
“You weren’t alone. I let my temper get the best of me, too.”
“She’s a good woman.” His father nodded in Paige’s direction. “I hope you treat her right.”
“I intend to do just that. Fortunately, I have a good example to follow.” Wyatt placed an affectionate hand on his father’s shoulder.
The band promptly launched into their first number, a rollicking country/western hit.
His father cleared his throat again. “Guess that’s my cue to ask your mother to dance.”
A little rocky but enough of a beginning to give Wyatt hope that he and his father would one day have the kind of relationship he’d always wanted.
His parents took to the dance floor. Other couples quickly joined them, Wyatt and Paige among them.
“I don’t think we’ve ever danced before,” he said, drowning in her deep green eyes.
“There’s a lot we haven’t done.” Her mouth curved seductively.
Oh, boy.
He stopped then and there. Mindless of the other people bumping into them, he gave her the kiss he’d been wanting to since they were interrupted earlier.
“Keep that up,” she said breathlessly, “and I won’t ever be letting you go.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
She searched his face before laying her head on his chest. “I love you, Wyatt.”
“I love you, too.” Sweeping her into his arms, he danced her around the floor.
This homecoming wasn’t anything like he’d imagined. It was much, much better.
Wyatt hadn’t merely mended broken bridges, he’d built a whole new life for himself, one that Paige and her son completed.
* * * * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cathy makes her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, near the breathtaking McDowell Mountains, where hawks fly overhead, javelina traipse across her front yard and mountain lions occasionally come calling. She embraced the country life at an early age, acquiring her first horse in eighth grade. Dozens of horses followed through the years, along with mules, an obscenely fat donkey, chickens, ducks, goats and a potbellied pig who had her own swimming pool. Nowadays, two spoiled dogs and two spoiled-er cats round out the McDavid pets. Cathy loves contemporary and historical ranch stories and often incorporates her own experiences into her books.
When not writing, Cathy and her family and friends spend as much time as they can at
All the guests raised their glasses, cheering and clapping when Jay hopped off the stage.
He headed straight for Wyatt. “I hope you can forgive me.”
Wyatt’s reply was to pull Jay into a bear hug. They were quickly engulfed by dozens of their parents’ friends, all of them seconding Jay’s welcome home. Wyatt’s heart, closed for too many years, swelled.
After countless handshakes and hugs, he searched the room for Paige. He found her near the food tables, talking to Jay and his wife. Kerri Anne stood close to Jay, their daughters hanging onto Jay’s hands in that Daddy-pay-attention-to-me way. All at once, Kerri Anne reached for him, her gesture tender and familiar and achingly sweet.
Everything was going to be all right, Wyatt thought. Somehow, some way, Jay and his wife were going to make it.
Paige must have noticed the subtle interaction, too, for she wore the same lovely smile that had completely captivated Wyatt when he first arrived home.
Was he crazy? What was he doing standing over here and not next to her?
Before he managed two steps, his father appeared, waylaying Wyatt with a hand on his arm.
“You have a minute?”
“Sure, Dad. Happy anniversary, by the way.”
“Thank you.”
Wyatt noticed his mother watching them intently, staring over the shoulder of a friend, an anxious look on her face.
His father cleared his throat and swallowed. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Just say what’s on your mind.”
“I know I said and did some terrible things to you. Since you’ve been back and before you left.”
“You weren’t alone. I let my temper get the best of me, too.”
“She’s a good woman.” His father nodded in Paige’s direction. “I hope you treat her right.”
“I intend to do just that. Fortunately, I have a good example to follow.” Wyatt placed an affectionate hand on his father’s shoulder.
The band promptly launched into their first number, a rollicking country/western hit.
His father cleared his throat again. “Guess that’s my cue to ask your mother to dance.”
A little rocky but enough of a beginning to give Wyatt hope that he and his father would one day have the kind of relationship he’d always wanted.
His parents took to the dance floor. Other couples quickly joined them, Wyatt and Paige among them.
“I don’t think we’ve ever danced before,” he said, drowning in her deep green eyes.
“There’s a lot we haven’t done.” Her mouth curved seductively.
Oh, boy.
He stopped then and there. Mindless of the other people bumping into them, he gave her the kiss he’d been wanting to since they were interrupted earlier.
“Keep that up,” she said breathlessly, “and I won’t ever be letting you go.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
She searched his face before laying her head on his chest. “I love you, Wyatt.”
“I love you, too.” Sweeping her into his arms, he danced her around the floor.
This homecoming wasn’t anything like he’d imagined. It was much, much better.
Wyatt hadn’t merely mended broken bridges, he’d built a whole new life for himself, one that Paige and her son completed.
* * * * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cathy makes her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, near the breathtaking McDowell Mountains, where hawks fly overhead, javelina traipse across her front yard and mountain lions occasionally come calling. She embraced the country life at an early age, acquiring her first horse in eighth grade. Dozens of horses followed through the years, along with mules, an obscenely fat donkey, chickens, ducks, goats and a potbellied pig who had her own swimming pool. Nowadays, two spoiled dogs and two spoiled-er cats round out the McDavid pets. Cathy loves contemporary and historical ranch stories and often incorporates her own experiences into her books.
When not writing, Cathy and her family and friends spend as much time as they can at
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