The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family

“Thanks.” Susanne thought it best to keep to herself the fact she was a town girl and knew nothing about horses except what looked nice.

The children all admired the horses, as well.

“They are real pretty,” Janie said. “Especially that one.” She pointed. “Her name is Pretty Lady.”

No one disputed her announcement.

“My pa would have been proud,” Frank said, his voice a little uncertain.

Tanner patted his back, a manly gesture. “Your pa built a fine set of corrals and I’m honored to be able to use them.”

Frank nodded.

Robbie, not to be outdone, added, “Pa was a good builder.”

The men all agreed.

Levi backed away from the fence first. “Guess we better get back before Pa comes looking for us.” He said it with so much regret that Susanne chuckled.

“He’ll have work for us,” he added.

Johnny sighed. “Only Tanner here is getting the summer off to pursue his own interests.”

“I’m the oldest,” Tanner said, as if to defend himself. “It’s time for me to try my hand at other things.”

Johnny draped an arm across Tanner’s shoulders. “Yeah, I know.”

Johnny and Levi ambled back to their horses. Tanner followed his brothers and mounted his, as well.

The children waved to them as they rode away.

Susanne stared after them, a confusion of ideas, regrets and if-onlys filling her head.

If only Jim hadn’t died. If only she didn’t need help to run the farm. If only she didn’t find it so hard to accept help even on fair terms. Then perhaps she could let herself enjoy having visitors, seeing the horses in the corrals, even letting the children befriend Tanner.

But if-onlys were but vapor in the sun, disappearing into the air.

It was time for dinner and she’d prepared nothing. Good thing they all loved fried eggs and potatoes. Again, she realized how little time she spent on household duties. Again, too, she thought of how displeased Aunt Ada would be.

As she made the simple meal she realized how often she thought of Aunt Ada as she worked. Would there ever come a day when she didn’t measure every decision, every activity, against her aunt’s reaction?

The children came at her call and gathered round the table. She prayed and then the children dug in.

“I’m going to watch and learn everything I can,” Frank said. “Maybe someday I can be like my pa.”

Susanne’s chest muscles clenched. She must make it clear that the children had to stay away from the horses, but first, she had to reassure Frank. She squeezed his shoulder. “You remind me of him already. He’d be very proud.”

Frank looked pleased.

If only she didn’t have to tell him the rest. “Children, I want you to listen to me.” She leaned forward, waited until she had the attention of all four. “Those horses are wild and unpredictable. Dangerous, even. I want you to stay away from them. I have only allowed them here because Tanner said he would put in the crop in exchange for using the corrals.”

Frank’s jaw tightened. “Pa said I could help with the horses.”

“These aren’t your pa’s animals. Tanner isn’t used to watching out for children. Frank, I’m sorry, but I must insist you stay away from them.”

Frank looked straight into her eyes. He didn’t speak a word but he didn’t need to. She knew he did not agree with her decision.

Would he disobey her?

Liz leaned forward. “Auntie Susanne, maybe we can invite them to share a meal with us. It would be the neighborly thing to do. I could help you make something.”

Susanne’s shoulders sank. She could warn Frank about the horses, but how did she warn Liz about the dangers of giving too much of her heart to those men?

“I really like that vegetable barley soup you make,” Liz continued. “Maybe we could make that for them.”

Susanne tried to redirect her. “Why don’t we make some for supper?”

Janie got a faraway look in her eyes, not unusual for the child. “Mr. Tanner is the best-looking one of his brothers, isn’t he?”

It felt as if someone had kicked Susanne in the middle of her chest. She struggled to get in enough air to speak. She’d seen the adoration in Janie’s eyes and been concerned she’d develop a fondness for Tanner. But she hadn’t expected it to occur so soon. How was she to nip this in the bud without hurting the child?

She reached for Janie’s hand. “Honey, it doesn’t matter if he’s good-looking or not. What matters about a man is whether he is honorable and trustworthy. We don’t know if that is the case with Mr. Tanner. Please keep that in mind.”

Janie’s mouth pressed into a defiant line. She blinked twice then sucked in air. “He is so. Why don’t you believe it?”

Susanne knew the futility of trying to reason with a stubborn six-year-old. “Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. Only time will tell.”

Janie crossed her arms over her chest. “I know it already.”

Susanne sighed. Her agreement with Tanner might become a bigger problem than she could have anticipated.

Robbie pushed away his fork with a clatter. “I’m going to ask him if I can ride his horse.”

Alarm bells clanged in Susanne’s brain. Had he not listened to a word she’d said? “Robbie, you’ll do no such thing. Those horses are wild and dangerous. You stay away from them, you hear?”

Robbie gave her a look of surprise. “Auntie Susanne, I only meant Scout, the horse he rides all the time.”

Her breath whooshed out. “Still, you shouldn’t bother the man.” Not that he was around to bother. He’d been quick enough to take advantage of his side of their agreement, but then he’d left once his horses were in the corrals. When did he plan to plow her field?

They finished the meal and as they cleaned up, she heard a horse ride into the yard. The children crowded to the window.

“It’s Mr. Tanner. He brought Pa’s horse in.”

Susanne joined them at the window. He had indeed brought in old Pat, the plow horse. She had been trying for days to drum up the nerve to bring the big animal in from the field. Frank insisted the horse was as gentle as a kitten, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it. He was far too big to be compared to a kitten.

Tanner waved at them and she ducked back. She didn’t want him to think she watched him. If he’d noticed her, she hoped he’d thought she was eager to see her side of the agreement fulfilled. Indeed, it was the truth.

“He’s coming to the door,” Janie said, and rushed to open it for him.