My True Cowboy Read Online Free Page A

he’s going to have to go back to the hospital for another round of tests,” she said slowly. “But I’ll play on Monday. Kay should be fine with that.” Though it was a school holiday for Hank, she hadn’t even thought about asking for the day off.
    For a moment, Rosa’s eyes softened. “That’s fine, Susan. We’ll see each other on Monday. No problem.”
    â€œThanks for understanding.”
    â€œMind if I give you a piece of advice?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œYou put that boy of yours first, every single day. A mother’s duty is more important than any job.”
    â€œI know that. But it doesn’t pay the bills.”
    â€œBills will get paid—they always do, sooner or later. But you can’t get days missed back. I can promise you that.”
    Susan would have hugged the lady if she was the kind of person who hugged. “Thanks, Mrs. Ventura.”
    The older woman waved Susan off with a hand. “We don’t need a scene now. Now, you best go mill around and chat with the rest of the folks here. The last thing you need is the dragon lady to fuss at you again.”
    Doing her best not to chuckle at the name, Susan stood up. “Thanks, I will.”
    â€œAnd, Susan?”
    â€œYes, ma’am?”
    â€œThat Stan is sitting over there by himself, struggling with his crossword again. Why don’t you go see if he needs some help. He almost always does. He’s not too smart, you know.”
    â€œI’ll go do that right now.”
    Â 
    O N S ATURDAY AFTERNOON , Cal was sipping a Coke from the machine and trying to determine how many cattle they should plan to take to market, when two people he hoped never to see again in his lifetime appeared down the hall. The smaller of the pair scampered over.
    â€œHi, Mr. Riddell. It’s me, Hank.”
    Seeing them only made him recall being a complete and total jackass. Holding out his hand, he shook Hank’s. “Hey, buddy. How are y’all doing?”
    â€œNot so good,” Hank said as his mother approached and stood right behind him. “We’re here. Again.”
    Susan patted her son’s shoulder. “It couldn’t be helped.”
    â€œIn that case, I’m sorry to see you.” When her eyes narrowed, he silently groaned. Was he ever going to be able to have a conversation with her without sticking his foot in the middle of it? “What I meant to say was, I thought this place would have been just a memory for y’all by now.”
    Hank answered for the still-silent Susan. “Well…we were home, but now we’re back. I’m getting tests again, aren’t I, Mom?”
    â€œTests?” A strange sensation burned the back of his neck, reminding him that he hadn’t spared a thought about why Hank was getting stuck so much.
    â€œYes. More tests.” Susan nodded, punctuating the gesture with a smile that didn’t come close to meeting her eyes. “Excuse us. We need to be on our way, as well.”
    Now he felt even lower than a snake’s belly. Just because he was in a permanent bad mood, it didn’t mean he had to take it out on innocent women and children. “About the other day—I’m sorry if I was a bit abrupt.”
    â€œA bit?”
    â€œA lot. This thing with my dad, it’s brought out the worst in me. I’m sorry,” he repeated. “And, Hank, you’re right. I shouldn’t have said shut up to you.”
    Hank grinned, showing a wide gap where an incisor used to be. “S’okay.”
    For a moment, he didn’t think she was going to respond. Then, ever so slowly, she nodded. “Apology accepted. Now, we really need to be on our way.”
    Just as she passed, Cal smelled gardenias again. Gardenias and something spicy underneath. For too long, his gaze tarried on that auburn hair of hers, wondering how a person could manage so much of it…when he met