sharp gazes roamed over him, and Joel saw the questions on their faces. They looked at the horse trailer beside him.
“You with the rodeo?” the older child asked.
They huddled together, waiting.
“I am.”
“What do you do?” the older boy asked.
“I help around the rodeo with chores. I also compete in events.”
“What events?”
“Calf roping, bareback riding and steer wrestling.”
“When’s your birthday?” the younger boy piped up, stepping forward.
Joel’s brow wrinkled. “March. I had a birthday last week.” He’d turned thirty-four and felt every day of his age.
The younger boy turned to his brother. “See, you’re wrong.” His words were a singsong na, na, na. He moved to Joel’s side. “What’s your name?”
Joel squatted to get eye level with the boy. “My name is Joel Kaye. What’s yours?”
“I’m Todd and that’s my brother, Wes, who doesn’t know nothin’.”
Obviously, Joel had landed in the midst of an argument. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“What are you doing here?” Todd persisted.
“I’m here to talk to your mom.”
“Why?” Wes demanded.
“Do you do bull riding?” Todd asked, scooting closer, leaving Joel no time to answer his brother’s question.
Holding up his hand, Joel motioned for quiet. “I’ll answer your questions, but I need to talk to your mom.”
“Mom,” the older boy bellowed again.
The boys seemed to vibrate with excitement.
“So, are you two rodeo fans?”
Their heads moved like bobblehead dolls.
“I love the bareback riding,” Todd added, his eyes filled with eagerness. “And bull riding.”
“You’ve got to be mighty strong to ride those bulls,” Joel warned. His first time on the circuit he’d tried bull riding and caught a hoof on his upper arm and had six stitches. Now he only rode horses.
Todd’s eyes widened. “I know, but I can. I do calf scramble now.”
“I’m impressed.” Joel remembered the first time he’d managed to rope the gatepost of the corral behind his family’s barn. He’d been about Todd’s age and his father had witnessed the event.
The back door slammed, bringing his attention to the woman exiting the house. Several strands of her soft brown hair, piled on her head, hung around her face, giving her the look of a woman who cared for and chased after small children. Tall and slender, there was a quiet strength in her that drew him, something none of the flashy women hanging around the rodeo had. She had a little girl riding on her hip.
Joel stood and tipped his hat to her. “Ma’am, Joel Kaye. I’m here to pick up the horses you wanted to sell to the rodeo.”
“Mom, you’re not going to sell our horses, are you?” Wes asked, racing to her side. A note of fear laced his voice.
“No, I’m not going to sell Buckwheat and Sammie.”
His rigid posture eased.
“I’m selling Sadie and Helo. You know Opa planned on selling them to the rodeo.”
Todd’s posture didn’t ease, broadcasting his distrust.
“Really?” Wes eyed his mother.
April cupped her son’s chin. “Really. Your grandfather gave you Buckwheat. He’s yours, and Sammie is your brother’s horse. I will not sell them.”
Wes studied her. “Okay.”
Turning to Joel, she waved him forward. “C’mon, I’ll show you where the horses are.”
“Did you know he calf ropes in the rodeo?” Todd hurried after his mother. “And his birthday is in March,” Todd added, sticking his nose up in a see-I-told-you-so-attitude.
Joel caught her smile.
“It’s a long story.” She turned and walked to the corral behind the barn and pointed out the black horse with the star on her forehead and the tan horse with a darker brown mane and two front stockings. “Sadie and Helo are the two my father-in-law thought would work well in the rodeo.”
Her words sent his mind off in a different direction. Her father-in-law. Jack Murphy had told him that the Landerses had supplied animals for the rodeo for several years.
“I hadn’t planned on selling them so soon, but the drought being as severe as it has been, I couldn’t afford to keep them another six months.”
The little girl in April’s arms smiled at Joel and shyly laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.
He winked at her and she turned her face in to her mother’s body.
“Well, I know Jack is glad to have the stock. I’ll go get some halters out of the trailer.” The boys huddled around their mother.
“Can I help?” Todd asked, coming out from behind his mother’s leg.
April visibly tensed.
“Of course. I could use some help.”
A sigh of relief escaped her. Todd beamed and followed Joel to the trailer. As they were walking away, Joel paused and waved Wes toward them. “I could use your help, too. I have two halters, one for each horse.”
Wes’s face lit. “Okay.” He looked at his mother. “I’m going to help.”
April’s stance eased and she smiled. “I heard, and I know you can help, too.” Beaming with pride, Todd and Wes trailed behind Joel.
Thank you, she mouthed.
Joel nodded. Together they moved to the trailer. He opened the back door and walked into the divided interior. Two ropes sat on the floor. Joel handed each boy a rope and watched as they slipped them up their arms, holding the coiled ropes close.
Joel left the doors to the trailer open. “Okay, guys, let’s go get those horses.” The boys grinned at him and followed.
Hearing the boys walking behind him brought a smile to Joel’s lips. His gaze collided with April’s. Her expression, a curious mixture of caution and appreciation, caught him off guard. Did she think he’d be cruel to her boys? Ignore them? But then again, she didn’t know him from Adam. Joel found himself admiring the mama bear, determined to protect her cubs.
“How
