The Cowboy and the Cougar by Helen Hardt Page B

much you’re going to have to feed Sam when he hits his teens." She laughed. "You’ll go broke."
    "Just like my mom and dad did." Jack let out a chuckle. "Teenage boys are bottomless pits. Don’t I know it." He turned to Sam, who was busily buttering his flapjack. "You stay here with Holly for a few minutes. I need to make a phone call in the office."
    "Okay, Daddy."
    Holly eyed the boy as he slathered syrup over the pancake, and then dove in. He was a beautiful child. If only....
    "What kind of things do you like to do, Sam? Other than ride horses and help your dad."
    "Lots of things," he said through a mouthful. "Play games with Luisa and Carlos. Sometimes I get to spend the night at their house. Or at my grandma’s. That’s fun. She makes really good cookies. Chocolate chip are my favorite."
    "They’re my favorite, too." Holly smiled.
    "Plus, there’s some kids my age who live close to my grandma and she invites them over when I’m there. Derek and Kathleen. They’re twins."
    "Oh?"
    "Yeah. They’re six, too and it’s fun to play with other kids. There aren’t any who live around here."
    "I’m sorry about that. Do you get lonely, Sam?"
    "Sometimes. When Daddy’s workin’ all day and Luisa’s busy. One day, I hope I’ll have a little brother. I really want a little brother. I’ve wanted one forever. Daddy says maybe someday. I’ve been waitin’ a long time."
    Holly’s throat constricted and her tummy sank to her bowels. Icy fingers crept along her spine.   Sam wanted a little brother.
    Luisa hurried into the kitchen waving a dust rag. "Off, you two. It’s time for me to clean up in here."
    Holly stared at Luisa, and then said in a robotic tone, "Please, let me do it."
    "Nonsense, it’s what I’m paid for. You go have a fun day with Jack and Sam."
    A fun day with Jack and Sam. Right. The air in the kitchen seemed thick, suffocating.
    Little brother? Oh, God.
    "Luisa? I need a favor."
    Luisa turned from the sink. "What do you need? I’ll help if I can."
    "Sam? Can you run along and play for a little while? I need to talk to Luisa."
    "Sure thing. See you later." He ambled off, whistling a lively tune.
    "What is it?" Luisa asked, concern etched along her brow. "Is something wrong?"
    "I’m afraid so. I need to leave. I don’t have a car. Jack drove me."
    "What’s wrong? Is it an emergency?"
    "No, no. Nothing like that." The only emergency is that I need to get out of here. Her breath caught in her chest. Breathe, Holly. Breathe.
    "How can I get a ride home? Will a cab come out here?"
    "Carlos can drive you home. He gets Sundays off."
    "God. Thank you. I’ll owe you both big time. Where’s Jack?"
    "He’s in his office. Then he said something about checking on a few things in the main barn."
    "Will he be gone long, do you think?"
    "I don’t know. You can run out and tell him what’s going on."
    "No!" Holly adjusted her voice quickly. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so upset." But upset she was. "I need to get home right away. How quickly can Carlos get here?"
    "In a couple minutes. Please, Holly, can you tell me what’s wrong? Jack will be worried."
    "It’s nothing to worry about. Just something came up that I need to take care of."
    "What do you want me to tell Jack?"
    "Just that. I’ll...I’ll call him later. Tell him not to worry."
    "Okay. If you say so."
    Holly raced to the bedroom while Luisa picked up the kitchen phone, presumably to call Carlos.
    Within fifteen minutes, she was packed and in Carlos’s truck, driving toward downtown Denver .
    The only problem was, she’d left her heart at Jack’s ranch.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jack didn’t call her. Hell, she didn’t blame him, the way she’d run off like a freaking coward. Minutes turned into hours as she lay on her bed, holding her pillow to her face, inhaling Jack’s scent. She’d never wash that pillow case. How long would the aroma last? It would slowly dwindle away and she’d be left with nothing.
    Why had she fallen in