brides for brothers 04 - cowboy surrender by judy christenberry Page B

Uh, is it okay if I take tomorrow off? Anna and I thought we’d spend it together.”
    “If you don’t mind, why not wait until Wednesday? I’ve got plans for tomorrow afternoon, and we don’t want to leave the place too shorthanded.”
    Jake opened the door and strolled into the kitchen, knowing Brett would follow.
    “Plans? What are you doing?”
    “Birthday shopping with Toby.”
    The rest of the family was already in the kitchen, and Jake’s words stopped all conversation. Suddenly everyone was staring at him.
    “What?” he demanded, frowning.
    “Is B.J. going?” Anna asked.
    “Of course she is. I’m buying Toby a cowboy hat, and we have to try them on, find one that suits him.” He ignored his family’s intense interest. “I’m going to clean up. I won’t be long.”
    “Take your time,” Red said.
    Once Jake was out the door, everyone started talking about his announcement.
    “I wonder when he and B.J. decided this? Last night?” Janie asked.
    “Probably this morning,” Red said.
    “This morning? When did he see B.J. this morning?” Pete asked, frowning.
    “When he left you, he went straight to B.J.’s house, then the two of them walked over to the barn,” Red reported, continuing to work at the kitchen cabinet, pouring green beans into a serving bowl.
    “You spying on Jake?” Chad asked.
    “Nope. Just working here at the sink, looking out the window. Couldn’t help but see.”
    “Great,” Janie said, enthusiastically. “Let us know if you see anything else.”
    J AKE STRODE from the house after dinner, wanting to check some supplies before he went into town the next day. Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.
    He turned toward B.J.’s house and saw what had distracted him. Toby.
    His smile broadened. In Toby’s hands was the rope he’d given him last week to practice.
    “Hold still, Spot,” Toby called to his dog as he swung the rope.
    Jake realized he’d neglected an important detail in his roping instructions.
    “Hey, Toby, how’s it going?”
    “Mr. Jake! Look! I’ve been practicing.”
    “I can see.” Jack squatted down and scratched behind Spot’s ears after the puppy wriggled his way to Jake. “But I forgot to tell you something.”
    “What, Mr. Jake?” the little boy said, raising his gaze anxiously. “I’m holding it just like you said.”
    Jake couldn’t resist giving the boy a hug. He’d enjoyed teaching Toby to rope last week. The boy’s serious concentration, emphasized by a frown on his forehead, had tickled him.
    “You’re doin’ fine. But I forgot to mention that you shouldn’t use Spot as a target. You might hurt him.”
    Toby’s eyes widened in alarm. “Oh, no!” He reached for his dog, clutching him to his chest. “I wouldn’t hurt Spot, Mr. Jake.”
    “I know you wouldn’t. How about we set up a post over there—” he gestured toward the barn “—and you can practice on it? Then, when you’ve got it down, we’ll take you out and let you try to rope a real cow.”
    Toby’s eyes widened again, this time in excitement. “Gee, Mr. Jake, that’d be neat! I’ll practice all the time!”
    “But not tomorrow. We’re going shopping for a hat, remember?”
    “I remember. I want a hat just like yours.”
    “Not like this one,” Jake said, fingering his cowboy hat. He forgot Toby as he remembered how his hat had been flattened. And the kiss that had preceded it. B. J. Anderson was some kisser.
    “Mr. Jake?” Toby tugged on his jacket. “Why are you smiling?”
    Jake stared at the boy, trying to collect his thoughts. “Uh, I guess I was thinking about your mom.”
    “Mommy?” Toby paused and then said, “Do you like my mommy?”
    “Of course I do.” Jake’s mind flashed back to his previous thoughts. Yeah, he liked Toby’s mother. B.J. was a very attractive woman.
    “I like you teaching me things. Mommy doesn’t know how to rope.” Toby leaned against his knee, and Jake put his arm around