Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
What had she done? When Zinnia had accepted Monty’s birthday party invitation two days ago… had it only been two days ago? Sadly, yes. How little time it took to turn her life and Tex’s upside down.
She’d accepted because she’d known her cowboy-obsessed son would love it here. Experiencing this gorgeous ranch would be the equivalent of Disneyland for him.
And it was. So many cowboys, so many horses grazing in the pasture. A ranch house with a long front porch and rocking chairs just like in the movies. A barn right out of the movies, too.
While Monty’s brother-in-law Cole headed up to the apartment above it so he could set up the Beaver Bunch show, Monty introduced her and Tex to the rest of the family. And they were all family at this party.
Somehow she’d missed that she, Tex and Uncle Graham would be the only people here who weren’t connected to the Bridgers by blood or marriage. This wasn’t just a birthday party. It was a family gathering.
He’d invited her on impulse driven by lust. She hadn’t cared about his motives if it meant Tex could come along. Two days later, she was on a runaway horse. She’d lost control of the narrative.
Clearly his family had decided she and Monty were a couple. Some already knew about the foaling but others were just finding out that Monty had spent the night in Uncle Graham’s barn.
If they asked for more detail, Tex was more than willing to give it, including what he’d named the foal who was officially his. Why hadn’t she seen all this coming?
All the smiles and laughter told her they were on board with this romance even if it had come out of the blue. She and Tex were more than welcome to join the Bridger Bunch.
Monty was all smiles and laughter, too, but she knew him better now. He was as uncomfortable as she was. Maybe more. They needed to talk, but how? When?
Picnic benches were lined up in front of the barn and everyone was finding a seat. They insisted she and Tex sit up front, and with Monty of course. Uncle Graham also scored a front row seat because he’d only seen the show once.
Someone, she thought it was Monty’s older brother Zay, suggested Monty put Tex on his shoulders so he could see better. When he swung Tex up there and he gave a little whoop of joy, it made her throat hurt.
He was mesmerized by those little critters, each one wearing a kid-sized cowboy hat like his. “They gots cowboy hats like mine, Mommy.”
“I see that. Pretty cute.”
“When are they gonna start?”
“Any minute, sport.”
“Howdy, ladies and gents!” Cole altered his voice to sound more folksy. “Presenting the Beaver Bunch!”
The group clapped and cheered. So did Tex, bouncing and clapping so enthusiastically that Monty had to grab his legs so he didn’t topple off.
“That’s Rufus on the fiddle, Buster’s on the washboard and Shorty’s on the washtub bass. Rufus, want to say a few words?”
The fiddle player’s mouth moved and Cole’s drawl got more pronounced. “Shore do, boss! I’d like to welcome all these good folks to our show and give a shout-out to our special guests Tex and Zinnia!”
More clapping from everyone except Tex, who sat stunned. “Mommy, he knowed our names!”
“Must be a smart little beaver.”
“Got a song for us, Rufus?”
“Shore do, boss. Let’s do it, boys!” Slapping their tails in time to the music, their paws manipulating those instruments, they played The Gambler.
“Mommy! It’s our song!”
“I know, son.” She glanced at Monty, eyebrows raised.
He lowered his voice. “He asked. And he happened to have it.”
She had no words. He’d listened to her unconventional lullaby and then remembered it when Cole asked for a favorite song. Was he trying to make her fall in love with him?
“C’mon folks!” Rufus called out. “Join in on the chorus! Y’all know the words!”
The concert turned into a singalong, and nobody sang with more gusto than her beloved son. The crowd began to sway with the music. Uncle Graham on her left and Monty on her right swayed, so she could either go along or get bumped.
Once she was in motion and singing, something unexpected happened to her anxiety. It disappeared. Or maybe it was the words of the song. Advice to live by.
She certainly was sitting at the table right now, and the dealing was far from done. Tex was having the time of his life. Maybe she should just keep playing the game and see if her hand improved.