Cowboy for Keeps by Debra Clopton Page B

her patients feeling better.
    The memory of that boyish grin replayed across her mind all afternoon, though. Each time it did she found herself smiling. Just like she was doing now.
    She parked in front of Heavenly Inspirations hair salon. The bright pink building could be seen all the way from the crossroads, a beacon for the town. The pink car sitting in front of it did the same. It was one of those Elvis Cadillacs, the kind from the 1950s with the shark-tail fenders. Who did it belong to? No telling, since there seemed to be a good amount of folks in town today.
    Cars lined the street and a chattering group was heading into the diner that very minute. And at Pete’s, the feed store directly across from the salon, there were three trucks backed up. Cowboys were loading big sacks of feed into the beds. As she was standing there, she noticed a sign on the window of the salon. There was going to be a roping event at the Matlock Ranch Arena the following Saturday. Amanda was thinking that this sounded like fun when the salon door was flung open and a small woman with a head of very blond hair stepped outside.
    “Hey there! I’m Lacy Matlock.” She held out her hand and smiled. Her hair was about three inches long all over her head and looked like she’d just stepped out of a wind tunnel. It was tousled this way and that way and looked really cute on the perky gal whose blue, blue eyes were twinkling with warmth. “You’re Amanda, the one working out at Wyatt’s, aren’t you?”
    “Yes.” Amanda shook Lacy’s hand. “How did you know?”
    “Norma Sue and Esther Mae described you to me perfectly and when I saw you through the window, I knew it had to be you.”
    Amanda couldn’t help smiling at the bubbly blonde. She was the kind of person who made you feel good just by being near them. She was animated with joy and energy, smiling and waving her orange-tipped fingernails about as she talked. “Should I ask how they described me or should I be afraid?”
    “Oh, it’s all good. Believe me, those two liked you the minute they saw you. Which only got better when they found out you were here to take care of their boy.”
    “Their boy?”
    “They claim Wyatt, Cole and Seth. They claim all the cowboys within the seventy-mile radius around Mule Hollow, but those Turner men practically grew up at their houses. They were real close with Wyatt’s parents.”
    “Oh, I see. That explains why they were so excited that I was here to take care of Wyatt.”
    “Yep. They have been so worried about Wyatt. And they have been talking nonstop since you arrived. How are you doing? Are y’all getting along all right?”
    How did she answer that? “We’re getting used to each other.” That was the truth.
    Lacy’s expression grew compassionate. “He’s been through a lot, I’m guessing he’s still having a hard time dealing with the situation. Even with the blessing of being alive, men don’t enjoy being tied down. My Clint would be like a penned-up bull if he couldn’t get out and tend to his ranch.” She patted her small rounded stomach. “And I’m sure our baby will be the same way.”
    “I’m sure you are really excited about the baby even if he or she is a ball of energy.”
    “Oh, yeah, that is for certain. We have wanted a baby for a long time. God finally said the timing was right and here we are, waiting for the happy day. I’m loving every minute of it.”
    Amanda decided to open up a bit but didn’t feel right saying too much. “Wyatt is having a hard time. But each day he’s getting further along.”
    Lacy checked her watch. “Are y’all going to try and get out some? He’s not even been to church since he was injured. We’d love to have y’all come tomorrow. Or even if Wyatt doesn’t want to get out, we’d love to see you.”
    “You know, I hadn’t thought about going to church just yet, but that is actually a wonderful idea. It would get Wyatt out of the house and get him around people who