What a Man Needs by Patricia Thayer

and stood in a line patiently, waiting for their turn on one of the six mounts.
    Kevin came out of the barn, leading Ranger. He smiled. “So Patrick roped you into volunteering.”
    â€œActually it was Nora. But I’m happy to help.” She tugged Daisy in behind another horse, waiting to get to the stand and Davy. Patrick walked up beside her. His hat was cocked low on his head, and he was wearing a Tanner Ranch T-shirt the same as she had on. It just happened to look so fine covering his muscular chest and wide shoulders.
    His voice drew her back. “Think you can handle a seven-year-old?”
    She nodded, knowing that he was entrusting her with a big responsibility. “That is, if you just want me to walk Daisy around the corral.”
    He finally smiled. “Just don’t let Davy talk you into anything more.”
    â€œI can handle him.”
    He gave her the once-over, causing her pulse to race. “No doubt.” He tugged on Daisy’s reins to bring the horse to the stand where Davy was waiting.
    â€œHi, Daisy,” the boy said as he petted the horse’s forehead. “I get to ride you.” The mare bobbed her head, making Davy giggle.
    Patrick helped the boy climb into the saddle, then he buckled the safety strap and sent them off.
    Both Forest and Nora were leading two horses with young children. They were all moving lazily around the corral. Kevin had an older boy named Mike on Ranger, teaching him the different commands.
    â€œGo faster, Cyndi. I want to go faster.” Davy started kicking the horse’s sides, causing Daisy to pick up her pace. Cynthia quickly took charge and pulled back on the reins.
    â€œNo, you don’t, young man. We can’t go fast because I can’t go fast.”
    â€œBut Patrick can make his horse go real fast.”
    â€œI’m not Patrick. I’m just learning to ride like you are.”
    â€œYou are? How’s come?”
    â€œBecause I wanted to learn.” She patted Daisy’s neck. “It’s fun.”
    â€œPatrick says when us kids get really good he’ll take us on a trail ride.” He took a hand off the saddle horn and pointed toward the mountain range. “Up there. We’re going to build a campfire. Just like real cowboys. And I get to wear a cowboy hat and boots.”
    Cynthia eyed the discount-store sneakers the child wore, and it tore at her heart. Never again would she complain about anything.
    â€œMaybe if you ask Patrick, you can go with us.”
    Cynthia couldn’t help but watch Patrick Tanner lift a little girl into the saddle. His face split into a wide grin and the girl smiled back. She could almost picture him doing the same thing with his own sisters.
    â€œWe’ll see.” She realized that she would like to go on a trail ride with them. She hadn’t been around kids much, and she saw today what she’d been missing. They looked at her with such awe, such wonder. Would she have felt like this if she’d become a teacher?
    â€œAre you anyone’s mom?”
    A familiar ache tightened in her chest at Davy’s question. “No, I don’t have any children.”
    She thought back ten years to her one long-term relationship with Clark Madison. He’d wanted to get married. At the time she’d been twenty-five, and her movie career was at its peak. She’d thought they had plenty of time. But they hadn’t. Soon after that they broke up. The last she’d heard, Clark was married with three kids.
    â€œMy mom didn’t want me.” The words came out of Davy’s mouth as if he had resigned himself to that fact.
    She didn’t know what to say. When those chocolate eyes lowered to hers, she wanted to pull him down from the saddle and hold him, comfort him. She swallowed hard, then turned away to see Patrick waving for her to bring Daisy over.
    â€œLooks like we have to go back.” She tugged on the mare’s reins