not interrupting,” Dawson said at the same time.
The older woman smiled at him, then Mattie. “I just wanted to let you know that Willa’s already gone upstairs, and Ryan and I are going to make an early night of it, too. But please make yourselves at home.”
Dawson nodded. “Thanks.”
“One more thing.” Lily looked from Dawson to his fidgety dinner companion. “Mattie, I just remembered something.”
“Yes?”
“Tomorrow a group of schoolchildren are coming to the ranch on a field trip. I think the principal said they were eleven or twelve years old. They won a contest, and their prize is a day of horseback riding on the Double Crown.”
“Can’t think of a better reward,” Mattie answered enthusiastically.
“I have a favor to ask you. Would you supervise choosing horses for the children? You have such a way with the animals, and the kids couldn’t be in better hands than yours.”
A sweet smile transformed Mattie’s face, making her eyes glow. “I would be happy to, Aunt Lily.”
The older woman nodded approvingly. “I understand there will be four or five children. It might be best if you have one of the ranch hands assist you.”
The glow in Mattie’s eyes turned to a gleam that Dawson didn’t trust. He remembered Griff’s warning that she was looking to run off with one of the cowboys. Although she’d been working with them on the ranch for some time, Lily had just reminded him how closely. Because of his promise, it was now his problem. He could only think of one solution.
Before opening his mouth, his last thought was that this must be what it felt like to jump out of a skydiving plane. Then he said, “I would be happy to help her.”
Mattie, just sipping water, started to cough. Lily patted her on the back. “Are you all right, dear?”
Still coughing, Mattie nodded. Then she stared at him and asked, “You?”
“No, Mel Gibson,” he said, hoping to pull this off with humor. “Of course me.”
He would have to take the day off. But he’d been working a lot of hours lately, bringing Brody up to snuff on Fortune financial affairs. Dawson had earned himself a comp day. He was meeting Brody at the office in the afternoon. But he could use the morning for baby-sitting detail. To keep her away from the cowboys, he would stick to her like lint to tape.
“Really, that’s awfully nice of you.” Mattie shot him a look that made a lie of her words. It told him she wished the earth would open and swallow him up. “But one of the ranch hands would probably be more helpful.”
“Not necessarily. I’ve spent a lot of time riding with Zane. I can handle horseback riding basics for kids.”
“You don’t need me to work that out,” Lily said. “I’ll say good-night now.” She smiled at each of them. “Sleep well, you two.”
When they were alone again, Mattie said too sweetly, “Don’t you have some numbers to crunch tomorrow? Some minutiae to commit to memory?”
“It can wait.”
“You’re very generous to offer assistance. But I was thinking of asking Ethan McKenzie.”
She’d sure picked someone quick. Maybe she’d had him on her mind all along. For something of a romantic nature? Or an elopement? He couldn’t help wondering if Griff was right about her determination to run off with a cowboy. Had she already culled one from the herd, so to speak? All the more reason for Dawson to hang around. Although he had a sneaking suspicion that if he tried to cut the cowboy out completely, she would become even more determined to have him. Not only that, but it could push Dawson into a situation that would tip his hand, and she would figure out that he had promised Griff he’d guard her.
As long as Dawson was around to supervise, he didn’t much care who the unfortunate cowboy helper was. “Okay, ask Ethan. But with that many kids, you can probably use more help.”
“Probably.” She nodded. “Kids can try your patience. They’re pretty unpredictable.”
“Then you won’t mind if I hang around, too.”
She looked at him as if he had just said he planned to walk naked from San Antonio to Houston. “Very sporting of you. But I think Ethan and I can handle them. After all, we’re both still limber, and practically children ourselves.”
“True. An oldtimer like myself has brittle bones. I have to be careful not to break anything. But hasn’t anyone ever told you there’s no substitute for wisdom and experience?”
“I’ve heard that. I’ve seen you riding here on the ranch. But what experience have you had with children?”
“Not much, I’ll admit.”
“Then give me three good reasons why you would volunteer to put yourself in harm’s way with them,” she said suspiciously.
“One, maybe it’s about time I tried interacting with them. Two, I could be an uncle soon, and kids are still a real mystery to me. And reason number three—if I hang out with kids, maybe I can figure out what makes you tick,” he said, watching her face and waiting for the sparks to fly. He wasn’t disappointed.
Her gray eyes darkened with something that wasn’t quite anger, but was damn defensive. Or maybe it was a defense mechanism. “And why, pray tell, would you want to get to know me better?”
“Beats the heck out of me,” he said. “But I do.”
Oddly enough, he found that he did want to get to know her better. Something about her intrigued him. Her pride. An indomitable spirit that came through loud and clear. She was barely a woman, but he sensed a strength of character beyond her years.
She met his gaze for several moments, gauging him. Finally she said, “I have to give you points for honesty, Mr. Prescott.”
“Dawson, please. I feel old enough without you making me feel like my father.”
He winced at his own words. After the thoughts he’d had about her, he was hovering way too close to his father’s shortcomings as it was.
“All right, Dawson. It’s your funeral. But I would appreciate an extra pair of hands. Thanks,” she said grinning.
“You’re welcome, I think.”
She stood. “I’ll say good-night then.”
“Yeah. I guess it’s about that time.”
“Oh? And what time would that be?” she asked, the doubtful note in her voice causing her friendly smile to waver.
“Curfew,” he answered.
The words produced exactly the effect he’d intended. Her shoulders stiffened, her gray eyes narrowed and finally her full lips thinned. Oddly, he found himself longing to have her sunny smile back.
“I
