a deep breath, and bit down on her bottom lip. “And I’m supposed to come up with some kind of plan for better supervision of Danny when we get back home and a way to spend more time with him. That’ll be a challenge. If I could have found a better plan, I would have instituted it.”
That lost look crept into her eyes again. “You’ll come up with something, Maggie. Maybe I can help.”
Joe knew that he had been given a lot of power over her and her relationship with Danny, and if he were Maggie, he wouldn’t like it either.
“It’s going to be hard trusting anyone with Danny,” she continued. “You see, I’ve had custody of him for the past two years. You’ve known him for—what?—twelve seconds?”
“I understand your concern. I do. But Cowboy Quest met with one hundred percent success the first time. This is our second run.”
“Define success,” she said, suddenly cooler.
“On paper, I’d say success would be all the boys completing all the requirements. But what I’d really want would be for them to use the components of it—the practical and character lessons—for a lifetime.”
She crossed her fingers. “I really hope that happens.”
“Me, too.”
“I read in your pamphlet that you have a master’s degree in special education,” she said.
“With a minor in psychology.”
She folded her arms in front of her. “And those cowboys in the bunkhouse? What are their credentials?”
“Believe it or not, a couple of them have graduate degrees, most have bachelor degrees, but more importantly, they are good men and good role models. And they care about each and every kid.”
“That’s good to hear,” she said. “How did you get into this, Joe?”
He rubbed his chin. Where to start? “My own father wasn’t around much when I was growing up. Either he was busy hauling livestock around the country, or he was traveling with my mother, taking photos for travel books. If it weren’t for Mr. Dixon—my pal Jake’s dad—I would have been placed in a juvenile correctional facility and never let out. He helped me in more ways than one. I guess I’m paying that back.”
He was worried about his program this time around. He had shared with his staff that the twelve boys they were getting seemed more difficult than the first group, and they all had a history of running away, including Danny. They’d all have to be extra vigilant.
But he was going to think positively. He had a good team.
“And if someone fails to complete the program?”
“No one has yet.” Joe studied her. Her brows were almost touching, and her hands were clasped tightly on her lap.
“But you’ve only had one run of Cowboy Quest so far. Danny’s future hinges on an almost untested program.”
“I suppose you could put it that way.” He met her worried look. “But Cowboy Quest has been under a lot of scrutiny from the state and county. It’s being studied as a model for other, similar programs.”
Her lips were pinched now, and she was looking away from him. She was definitely anxious.
“Maggie, don’t worry. Cowboy Quest is not about the riding or the livestock. It’s about problem solving, maturing and working as a team. We use the Cowboy Code as a guide for basic rules of living. So don’t worry. The boys and I will do everything possible to get everyone through the program with flying colors.”
Her grass-green eyes pooled with unshed tears and once again he felt the urge to comfort her.
The only reason he’d send in a negative report to Judge Cunningham on Maggie and Danny was if they didn’t make some attempt to resolve their issues, but he wasn’t going to tell her that yet. He needed to wait and see just how things played out, and just how hard Danny and Maggie worked on their relationship and solving the problems between them, logistical and otherwise.
From what he could see, Danny was a thirteen-year-old who couldn’t be trusted to attend school and not run the street.
Maggie was trying to work and support the two of them, in a job with horrible hours, and in his current state, Danny needed more—if not constant—supervision. He needed a parent.
Somehow in all that there needed to be a plan for their future together, or they would spend their future apart.
“Remember, Maggie, I have a vested interest in making sure that all the participants are successful. We have a good program here—but we’re under a lot of scrutiny from the state. I don’t want to give them any excuses to shut us down.”
“So you might lose your program, and I might lose custody of Danny.” Maggie took a deep breath. “Then we’d both better make Cowboy Quest a success.”
Chapter Three
Maggie tried to stay optimistic as she leaned back against the cushioned seat of the golf cart and watched the sun set over the rugged, snow-capped mountains in the distance. A sweet, unfamiliar heat washed over her. She was sure that it was caused by her new tour guide’s hard, muscular thigh pressed lightly against hers.
She enjoyed listening to Joe talk about his ranch. She could hear the pride in his voice when he pointed out which animal won Bull of the Year from the Professional Bull Riders Association and which ones were up and coming.
But she couldn’t forget how much power Joe had over her. With one report to the judge, she might lose Danny forever. And here they were, both fish out of water, trying to fit into a program that they didn’t have a clue about.
But as Joe said, it wasn’t about the livestock or the riding. That they could probably muddle through with a little luck and a lot of help. It was the bonding between her and Danny that was going to be the hardest. There was a lot of hurt between them. But she had faith in Danny. She’d loved him since he was born, and she still did. Somewhere in that teenage mess was the Danny who loved her back.
As they neared a hillside pasture, she could see the silhouettes of bulls grazing in the distance. Beautiful horses graced the corral; more were in a lower pasture.
“Would you like to see the barn?” he asked.
“Sure.” Actually, she really didn’t. She wanted to curl up somewhere and sleep. It had been a long traveling day.
He pulled up to the corral and several horses came to inspect them. He took a bag of sugar cubes from the glove compartment and handed some to her. “Keep your hand flat. You don’t want to lose any fingers.” He jumped out of the vehicle and led her into the barn.
Lights blazed inside. As Joe walked past the stalls, he called all the horses by name, and she petted them.
“You sure look at home in a barn, Maggie.”
“As it happens, I grew up on a dairy farm in northern New York.”
His eyes grew as wide as his belt buckle. “Well, I’ll be. And here
