She’s rounding up some clothes for the boy.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m also going to stop by the trading post and get him some underwear and socks—and a pair of shoes. He has a pair of old tennis shoes that I don’t think even fit him.” She thought about Corey’s former foster family and got angry all over again.
“I know you’ve wanted to help this child, Leah, but I’m concerned about you, too. You’ve gotten so involved in the situation…Are you going to be all right when he goes to a foster home?”
Leah wasn’t ready to talk about her own demons. She only knew that she couldn’t walk away from this boy…Not like she had before with another child in another place, another time.
“It’s Holt Rawlins who’s taken the responsibility for Corey. I’m just helping him out.”
“You’ve moved out to the ranch. I’d say you were helping quite a bit.”
“Mom, how can you talk when years ago you and Dad took us in.”
Claire Keenan smiled, tiny lines crinkling around her beautiful eyes. “Outside of marrying your father, it was the best day of my life. And from the moment we saw you, we fell in love with you, Morgan and Paige.”
Leah grasped her mother’s hand across the table. “And I love you and Dad. But please try to understand that since I’m the one who found Corey I do feel responsible.” She blinked back tears. “It sounds crazy, but it’s as if I were meant to help him.”
“And he’s lucky to have you,” her mother continued. “I’m just concerned about what happens when you have to leave for your next photography assignment.”
Leah didn’t want to think about that. “I’d never hurt Corey intentionally.”
“I know, but a lot of people deserted him in the past.”
She groaned. “I have six weeks off. Maybe he’ll be in a good foster home by then.”
“Or maybe Holt Rawlins will keep the boy with him.”
Leah frowned. “Well, they were getting along better this morning.” But Holt as a foster parent? That was too much to expect. “I assume Holt will be going back to New York.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
They both turned as Morgan walked into the kitchen.
Dressed in a far too long and loose fitting dress, her sister seemed determined to play down her beauty. She came to the table. “Mr. Rawlins has taken the Silver R Ranch off the market,” she told them.
“Holt Rawlins is going to stay and run the ranch?”
Morgan shrugged. “That’s what Susan Horan told me this morning. She’s the real estate agent who was handling the property.”
Leah had thought that Holt’s plan was to go back to New York…and his life there. She wondered if there was someone special in his life. Her thoughts took her back to what happened at the waterfall yesterday. How could there be another woman when Holt had kissed her like he had?
“So tell me, little sister, you’re home less than a week and you’ve already managed to move in with the best-looking man in town.”
She frowned. “Morgan, you know why I stayed at the ranch last night. Because a frightened little boy needed me.”
“I know.” She raised her hand. “But you have to admit Holt Rawlins is a good-looking cowboy.”
“Cowboy? Holt Rawlins is from the East.”
Morgan’s eyebrows rose. “Then let’s agree he’s got a lot of his father in him. The man could be on a billboard. Just ask any woman in town.”
No one had to tell that to Leah. She could still see his smile, feel his touch and taste his kiss.
“Of course the town council was hoping to get a section of the Rawlins property,” Morgan said.
“Why?”
“We’re interested in promoting more tourism for revenue. A new ski area and hiking trails are at the top of the list. The Silver R’s property cuts off access to what we have. I approached John about it, but we never really got down to the details before he passed away.” She smiled at Leah. “Since you know Holt better than anyone else in town, I thought maybe you could talk to him.”
“Oh, no.” Leah jumped up. “The man barely tolerates me. And I don’t know him that well”
“Sure. That’s why he asked you to move in and help him with a runaway boy?”
“No, because Sheriff Larkin was threatening to take Corey to a group home.” Leah paced. The one thing she did know about Holt was he was leery of people, especially of his father’s friends. “Give me a few days to see how things go with Corey. Then I’ll introduce you to Holt and you can ask him.” She checked her watch. “I need to go shopping for a young man.”
Leah spotted the apple pies cooling on the counter. “Hey, Mom, you wouldn’t have any extra, would you?”
“Oh, I think your father can get by with one pie.”
Pie in hand, Leah kissed her mother and sister goodbye and took off to do her errands. The first stop was the trading post to pick out clothes for Corey. She couldn’t help but wonder how long it had been since the boy had anything but hand-me-downs. Well, a new pair of jeans and a shirt was a must. She walked by the shoe section and spotted a pair of buckskin boots.
She smiled. Every cowboy needs his own pair of boots.
Leah arrived back at the Silver R Ranch about two o’clock in the afternoon. When she found the house deserted, she went down to the barn. No one was there, either. It wasn’t until she heard voices that she wandered outside to the corral where Corey sat on top of Daisy and was being led by Zach around the arena.
Holt sat on the fence as Corey took instructions on riding. Leah took the time to watch the man on the railing. As much as he tried to act indifferent, she could see he was intensely interested in the boy’s progress.
Why did Holt hold himself so apart? What had happened between John and Holt to keep a father away from his son? She had a dozen questions that she knew she wouldn’t get answered anytime soon. So she focused on the happy looking boy on the horse. Maybe Corey would be the one who broke through the man’s tough shell.
One could always hope.
Suddenly Holt’s face went through a transformation. His mouth twitched and curved into a hint of a smile.
The sound of Corey’s laughter made her turn to the small rider on the horse. Zach had let go of the bridle so the boy handled the reins on his own. The youngster beamed as he sat high in the saddle and directed the horse around the corral.
“You’re doing great, son,” Zach called.
Leah watched as Corey glanced toward Holt. Even she could see that the boy wanted his approval.
She strolled to the fence,
