The Cowboy Next Door by Brenda Minton Page A

maybe you’re not going to be George Strait anytime soon.”
    â€œHe does rope, doesn’t he?”
    â€œYep.”
    â€œI stink. Tell Duckie I’m sorry.”
    Jay’s smile dissolved. “Come on, let me help you up. You sound a little loopy and I want to make sure you’re okay.”
    â€œI don’t sound loopy. I’m fine.” She eased herself to a sitting position, aware of his arm around her back and that cinnamon-gum scent.
    If she turned he would be close, really close. And being near him upset her balance more than the fall she’d taken.
    â€œYou’re not fine. That was a hard spill.”
    â€œHelp me up.” She stood, slow and steady, and a little sore. “Nothing broke.”
    â€œJay, is she okay?” Bill stood at the gate. Lacey smiled at Jay’s dad and saluted.
    â€œShe’s fine.” Lacey answered. “My pride is hurt. I really thought roping would be easy.”
    â€œCome on out here so we can take a look at you.”
    Jay’s arm was around her, holding her close like she mattered. “Why in the world did you jump?” he asked.
    â€œI thought it would be better than being thrown.”
    Jay and his dad both laughed. Jay shook his head. “Did you really?”
    â€œYes, I really did. And I was wrong. I can admit that.”
    â€œNext time grip her with your legs and hold steady on the reins. She spooked, but she wasn’t going to throw you.”
    â€œI’ll remember that. Stay on horse, don’t try to jump. Got it.”
    Jay’s arm tightened around her waist and he pulled her against his side. “Lacey, I haven’t smiled…”
    And then he was quiet and Lacey didn’t know why he didn’t smile. But she was glad it was time to go home.
    Â 
    Lacey’s phone rang late the next afternoon. She was stiff from the fall and from working all day. As she reached for the phone she grimaced a little. Bailey was sitting at the dining room table and she laughed. But she had promised not to mention the fall again.
    â€œLacey, they’ve got Corry in custody.”
    Lacey closed her eyes. “Okay. What now?”
    â€œI’ll pick you up and take you to Springfield. Family Services has Rachel.”
    â€œWill they let me have her?”
    â€œWe’re making phone calls.” Jay paused. “It’ll work out. I’ll be down there in a few minutes.”
    Lacey hung up and then turned to Bailey. “They have her in custody.”
    â€œJay’s taking you to Springfield?”
    â€œHe is.” Lacey tossed her cell phone in her purse. “I’m scared to death.”
    â€œDon’t be. This is going to work out. Call me when you get home, so I know you’re okay.”
    Lacey nodded. “I’ll call.”
    Five minutes later Jay’s black truck pulled up in front of the house. Lacey had popped a few ibuprofen and she met him at the front door. He stepped out of the truck, leaving his hat behind.
    He was the one there for her.
    No, not for her. She pushed that thought away, because it was dangerous to her heart. That thought didn’t even belong. It was like a kid’s activity book, one of these things doesn’t belong. The thing that didn’t belong was Jay Blackhorse in her life.
    This was about Corry in trouble, the baby and the police. Jay wasn’t in her life. He was…
    She wasn’t sure and now wasn’t the time to deal with suspicion, worrying that he had other motives for helping. She didn’t want to get caught up in questions, prodding her to ask why he was involved in her life and what he wanted.
    â€œCall me.” Bailey stood behind her. “And stop looking like the sky is falling. That isn’t you, Lacey. You’re my sunshine friend, not a dark cloud.”
    Lacey turned and smiled at Bailey, remembering a time when they were on opposite sides of this fence and Lacey had been the