A Rancher for Their Mom (Rodeo Heroes) by Leann Harris Page B

she walked back into the house.
    * * *
    April sat in her office, catching up with her mail and messages. She heard Joel walk down the hall and enter the boys’ room. She couldn’t hear the exact exchange between them, but she heard the boys’ laughter.
    The sound made her want to smile and cry at the same time. Why couldn’t her boys experience that joy every night? She’d done everything right, but—
    She clamped down on the pity party.
    “I’ll be back tomorrow.” Joel stood in the doorway of her office. “So continue to think of chores you need done.”
    “You sure you’re going to be here tomorrow?” Wes called out.
    Joel turned and walked back to the boys’ room.
    April hurried after him, concerned at Joel’s reaction.
    He stopped at the boys’ door. “I gave my word, Wes. I’ll be here.”
    There wasn’t a hint of annoyance or impatience in his voice or attitude.
    “Okay.”
    Joel moved toward her.
    Relief and gratitude washed over her. Moisture gathered in April’s eyes. “You’ll have to excuse the boys. When their father was home, they couldn’t count on him to tuck them into bed. Vernon took over the job. How my in-laws managed to raise such a st—” She clamped her mouth shut.
    “Good night.” He turned and walked down the hall.
    She took a deep breath, dumbfounded she’d said so much to Joel. He didn’t need to know about the ugly part of her life. About the selfish and unreliable husband she’d married. She couldn’t blame his parents after knowing them. She was the one who’d married Ross. His callous actions had hurt his parents as much as they’d hurt her.
    She stepped into her office but heard movement in the hall. She turned but didn’t see anything. She waited, her curiosity driving her. Finally, Joel sneaked out of Cora’s room.
    “She was asleep and I wasn’t going to wake her.”
    The man kept confusing her with his concern for her children. Why would a man who had only been with them less than a week concern himself with kissing her daughter good-night?
    “Thank you.”
    “I’ll leave as soon as I coax my horse into her trailer.”
    “Use some of that charm you cowboys are so famous for on that female.”
    “Whoever told you that doesn’t know what they are talking about.”
    Her eyes widened at his abrupt response. He strode past her, saying nothing. She heard him cross the living room and move through the kitchen. The back door didn’t slam but closed firmly. Whatever had she said that irritated him? Sometimes men took offense so much easier than women. Go figure.
    * * *
    “‘Use some of that charm you cowboys are so famous for,’” he grumbled to himself. “What does she know about cowboy charm?” He strode out to the pasture where Spice grazed. Stopping at the fence, he called to her again.
    The horse ignored him.
    He stared out at Spice. Never, in all the time Joel had owned her, had he had a problem. She didn’t fail him in the calf roping—always shot eagerly out of the gate after the calf. So why had his horse suddenly grown contrary?
    He walked to the horse trailer and opened the side door to his bunk and pulled open the door to the compartment where he kept some peppermint. Back at the fence, he unwrapped the peppermint and called out. Buckwheat trotted up to Joel. He closed his hand. “That’s not for you, boy.” Buckwheat nudged his fist. After a moment, Joel opened his hand and gave the peppermint to Buckwheat.
    “You lost your treat,” Joel called out to his horse. Spice wasn’t going to leave. He could run after her, but maybe the best way to deal with this out-of-control girl was to leave her for the night. Maybe after a day or two she’d be willing to start working again.
    He turned his back and rested against the fence. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he fished out his cell and called Jack.
    “I’m running a little late out here, Jack. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes to help with the evening chores.”
    “That’s